[DISCONTINUED] Strive | Bleach

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Abaron's Adventures in Hueco Mundo - Part Two!

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Abaron's Adventures in HuecoMundo - Part Two!

-

                                    - Abaron Kakaku -

"Yes, well, that definitely could have gone better." I hit my chest with the side of my fist. "Ouch." Tolo popped his head out of my bag and looked around. I watched the boulder finally disappear from sight and down one of the two forks that were in the labyrinth. "Are we good?"

"For now," he answered quietly. "But there's an Arrancar guarding the room ahead, and another that's coming our way from the south."

"How long do we have?" I asked breathily. "And how far is the exit?"

"Roughly two and a half minutes. As for the exit, I'm not sure. The spiritual energy levels here are interfering again." I sighed.

"Then I'll have to get Kurotsuchi's samples later," I concluded. "So, what's your plan?" He crawled over my shoulder and into my arms. "I know you have one."

"And you would be right," he said. Tolo pointed toward the right fork, where the boulder had gone down. "We should come across the room if we go that way."

"A-and if that thing comes back?"

"It won't."

-

"It won't? It won't?! Are you kidding me?!?"

"I-I may have misinterpreted its trajectory!" Tolo choked out from my hand, which was holding him by his neck, as we bolted toward where we had come from.

"Misinterpreted?" I repeated, furious. "You moron! If I don't get crushed, I'll crush you!" I leapt upward with a groan and let myself fall behind the giant pebble. It disappeared through the next hallway.

"J-just keep going, please," he said. I looked down at him.

“What’s the rush?”

“I sense a Hollow,” he answered. His eyes suddenly widened. “It’s huge!”

“H-how can you tell?” I asked, sheathing my Zanpakuto. I scooped him up onto my shoulder, strung my bag further up my arm, and began running through the hallway opposite the one the boulder went through. 

“He’s wasting so much spiritual energy—how can’t you?” He chastised me with his eyes. I laughed sheepishly, and turned down another hall. It was just as dark as the others. 

“Ever since mine and Ichigo’s spiritual energy came in contact with the other, I haven’t been able to control my spiritual energy properly,” I told him loudly.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m here, then.” I nodded once and stared straight ahead again, smiling. “What is it?”

“It’s just that… I’ve met so many silly people,” I murmured. “And I’m glad.”

“Why’s that?” I turned off to the right and pointed at my heart with my thumb.

“That’s why.

-

Things only went downhill from there.

“Watch out!” Tolo would scream in my ear every so often. Trap doors, boulders, Reishi-induced booby traps—what the hell was going on? I’ve definitely met a few intelligent Hollows before, and since I was in a world of Hollows, they would be the only ones capable of such maneuvers.  It was all too intricate for a regular Hollow—“Abaron!”

I vaulted over another pit, this one with fire spewing out from the bottom. I underestimated its distance and ended up coming up short. I propelled myself forward by exerting some of my spiritual energy beneath my feet, and clung to the very edge of the pit. 

“Abaron, I’m coming!” There was a sudden flash of light that severely blinded me. Panicked, I shut my eyes and spat on the ground in front of my hands so I could get a better hold. My fingertips stretched to their limits, and finally, my will broke. Something hot scolded my backside, but before it could burn me whole, a pair of hands reached out for mine and tugged me out of the hole, which shut behind me with a bang, I looked to my saviour and held in my breath.

No way, I thought, incredulous. Tolo – the vessel containing him – smiled. 

“How the hell did you get your gigai here?” I asked him. “And why does it look so different?”

“Kisuke,” Tolo answered, as though it should’ve been obvious to me, “for both of your questions.”

“Uh…” I bit my upper lip and nodded. “… okay, then. I know you’ve never been all that great at giving me details, and that we’re pressed for time, but I’d appreciate it if you explained to me how you became so… so good-looking all of a sudden!”