Break Me Down
Kai and Hikone sat on chairs next to Shido's hospital bed. Of course he was still in a coma, but he did look a little lighter at least.
An empty flower pot rested next to him.
"Hey Shido. A lot happened today so I'll tell you all about it. Yuki and Senjuro finally fought, but Senjuro did some weird stuff so he got disqualified. It looks like I'll be fighting Yuki in the semi-finals, but only if I get past my opponent. He looks tough, but I'm sure I'll win. I've visited Master Madarame's dojo an awful lot since then so I'm in tip top shape for tomorrow. Won't you just wake up already?"
After finishing, he saw that what he was doing was pointless. But even then he had to continue. Eventually it got late so he had to go. Just before he left however, a familiar pair entered the room.
It was a semi old man with a couple grey hairs, along with another male in his 30's who was much bigger and muscular. They both wore Rukon district rags.
"Village elder!? And.... who were you again?"
"GAH! YOU!?"
It was the new village elder who was the assistant and caretaker of Shido before he left, and Kubo who had discriminated against him for seemingly no reason once before. The two held a bouquet of flowers for Shido.
"Calm down boy. This is Shido's friend, so you should be respectful to him."
"His friend?? What kind of a friend is he, if he doesn't even know about that?"
Kubo looked at Kai who really had no clue what he was talking about. This only made him even more angry at him.
"It's because of you that Shido left the village that day. A bunch of horrible stuff happened while you were there, and things only got better after you and that demon left. Shido ended up following you, and now's he's ended up in this state?? What kind of a friend even are you??"
Hikone easily tackled him to the ground and was about to beat the crap out of him while the new elder didn't intervene.
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!"
Just before he could though, Kai grabbed his arm.
"Hikone... it's okay. I'm meant to be his friend, but I honestly don't know that much about him at all. I don't even know the things he likes so that makes me terrible guy. All I can do is fall down a rabbit hole, and watch as I drag him down with me, but even then I don't want to let go."
Kubo struggled to get back up, and threw the flowers he brought at Kai who managed to catch it.
"PATHETIC!"
He stormed out without even apologising. Hikone was frustrated, but for some reason Kai was smiling. The elder asked him if he was alright, but Kai just shook it off.
"If you want, I can tell you about what happened to the village? The thing that Shido still hasn't told you all this time."
"No, it's fine. When Shido wakes up I'll ask him myself. If I want to be his friend, then I need to hear it from him."
He smiled as he could see how much Kai had matured since he came to soul society. He put the flowers in the empty flower pot, bringing some more life to the room.
"I better head back to the village now. But you two don't get lazy you hear me? When Shido wakes up, you three better come visit some time. Walking all the way here is tiring on these legs of mine."
They said their goodbyes as he left the room, but it was also time to bid farewell to Shido.
That was the case wasn't it? This was the last time I could speak with Shido as an ally?
-The next day
The arena wasn't as hyped as it usually was. Those with some knowledge on hollows could recognise that Senjuro used a Cero, and so it had already been leaked to the outside world what had happened.
News spread fast, and riots were forming not just outside, but in the Rukongai too.
"THEY'RE HOLLOWS! I BET THEY'RE HIDING THEM IN THE 13 COURT GUARDS TOO! I THOUGHT YOUR JOB WAS TO PROTECT US FROM THEM?? SO WHY ARE THEY IN YOUR RANKS? ARE THEY AMONGST US TOO? HOW MANY ARE THERE!?!?"
Although it wasn't as big inside the arena, the crowd was more angry than anything. It had only been a day, but it was as if the Gotei 13 were completely ignoring the situation.
Shunsui sighed as he could already imagine the amount of work he had instore for him.
"I know that it might seem suspicious, but I can assure you all that what happened yesterday was a surprise for us as well. No amount of apologising can excuse the mistake we made yesterday, but we would be glad if you could-"
A voice cut in from the crowd which could be heard loudly, even without a microphone. He acted as a sort of ring leader for them all.
"CUT THE BULLSHIT! YOUR JUST MAKING EXCUSES TO HIDE THE HOLLOW ARMY YOUR BUILDING BEHIND THE SCENES!"
Suddenly the crowd got even more aggressive as they started to grow too imaginative. A pyramid scheme, secret plots, all the stupid conspiracy theory's like the earth being flat had suddenly become a possibility to them.
Shunsui was about to speak again but the grand master blocked him.
"Your only going to make this worse, let me take care of it."
"Uh oh."
She had that look.
She flash stepped all the way from the luxury box, to the other side of the arena where the leader of this riot was sitting. The second she appeared, he immediately shut up.
"You wanted someone to complain to? Well I'm right here. Despite how obnoxiously loud you are, I thought it would be a better idea to come to you instead."
Cold sweat began to fall from his forehead as he felt fear. He thought he would die any minute.
"You represent everyone here right? Speak up, leader."
"..."
"The next time you open that big mouth of yours again, your jaw might just fall off."
She quickly returned back to her seat, leaving the entire arena stunned. Unfortunately, this wasn't a permanent solution but as long as she remained in the Colosseum no one would bring up the events of yesterday.
The black box opened up as it did once before. Daihatsu Benamino, the armoured giant quickly entered inside, but Kai was a little bit more hesitant.
He breathed in and out heavily, as he realized that his dream was so close to being fulfilled. He just needed to push a little bit more.
Before he could enter though, he felt a strange sensation. Something had changed in the air, but he couldn't tell what. It wasn't goosebumps from the pressure of competing, but his instincts screaming at the immense danger he was in.
"Somethings wrong, somethings really wrong. But what is it exactly?"
Kurenai who had left him only moments ago, suddenly flew back at him quickly. Using the telepathy ability of the Hell butterfly, it spoke to him.
"KAI, YOU- NO- EVERYONE HERE NEEDS TO LEAVE! YOU CAN FEEL IT TOO RIGHT!?"
The sky grew dark as the air was blocked out by something. The object that was hidden in they sky slowly revealed itself, as its immense size casted a shadow over the whole Seireitei.
It had a unique V shape, reminiscent of the head of an arrow with its target being set on everyone down below. The confused masses had no choice but to look up to that floating ship in the sky.
Shinten said in confusion, "Is that a flying boat?"
They were so far away that no one could notice the numerous amount of doors opening on the ships belly. But all the Shinigami could feel the spiritual pressure of what came out.
Emotions of both shock, fear and despair overcame them, as the spiritual pressures of at least 50 Vasto Lorde class hollows jumped out, and made their way to the Seireitei.
Ichigo could faintly remember what Tōshirō Hitsugaya had once told him before.
"If Aizen has 10 or more of these Vasto Lordes under his command... then Soul Society... is doomed."
Although they weren't as big of a trouble as they should've been, the espada were certainly very strong. But now 50 of them at that level were raining down on Soul Society. Even he was a little shaken up by their sheer number.
The head of the Kido corps, Joshin Haruki did not even hesitate after sensing their number.
"Hidden Way of Binding: First Path — All Embrace Of The Beyond!"
As he casted this spell, he made a variety of hand signs which caused him to emit a bright light which took the shape of a giant golden flower, engulfing the whole floating colosseum. As long he held up this barrier, nothing shall ever enter it.
Unfortunately, the protection of this barrier did not reach those below as the Hollows unanimously fired a wave of Cero's, all bombarding Seireitei.
Thousands of souls were wiped out in an instant. Those who did survive the initial wave, would now have to deal with the Hollows that had finally landed.
The citizens couldn't fend for themselves, but this was a threat that ordinary shinigami couldn't exactly slow down either.
There was no hope for them, they were as good as dead.