literature

Outbreak Ch. 3

Deviation Actions

ValkyrieKago's avatar
By
Published:
739 Views

Literature Text

OUTBREAK
Chapter 3: Golems, Shadows, and Harpies

"Captain, the head count for all the squads has come in."  Shizuko handed the report to her captain.  

Unohana had ordered that all shinigami from every squad check in with their captain before continuing their duties.  So far, this method was successful in showing who was and was not sick.  Niji Metsuki from Squad 10 had come to report that everybody in her squad was fine and healthy.  But then she passed out and was now in a bed with the same conditions as Unohana's other patients.  

The captain sighed as she looked over the list.  "Two people are missing, both of Squad 2 and both high ranking officers.  If you two aren't busy, would you mind going to look for them?"  Unohana looked up at Douglas and Kaji who were still sitting in the room.

Douglas stood up almost immediately. "Why not?"  

Kaji got up hesitantly and followed.  But once they opened the door, a Hell Butterfly darted straight at the 11th Divisioner.  

Shizuko watched as it landed on the surprised Kaji's finger. "That's a fast little bugger isn't it?  Why does it look different?"  This Hell Butterfly was indeed different from the others.  This one had a stripe of red going along the top and bottom of its wings.  There was also a few white stripes.

When the messenger flew off Kaji looked at Unohana. "We are about to have 2 guests coming."

"You mean we're already here."  A girl slid the door open with her foot.  She was carrying an unconscious girl on her back.  

A man followed her in.  "Sorry to bring you more trouble, Unohana.  But we found this girl while on patrol and I thought this would be a good reason to come."  

Unohana smiled "I never thought I'd see you two here again, Captain Tsurugi and Lieutenant Jubakuno of Squad 14."

Rusari Jubakuno smiled. "We had to check on our subordinates.  Plus, I wanted to make sure my friend got here safely.  This is Kumiko Tsukimonono of Squad Z's Sector B."

Shizuko scratched her head. "Another one?"

Captain Tsurugi looked around. "Where's Kagome?"

"She's being treated now in the R&D Department."  Seeing the man raise an eyebrow she added. "I left Isane to watch over them, so don't worry."

The Captain shook his head. "I wish I could help, but Yamamoto ordered me not to get involved.  He says that he can't risk losing a captain."  

Rusari sighed. "There are some times where I really hate that man.  Well, we gotta go report to him anyway."

"Why don't you go with them first?"  Unohana nodded toward Douglas and Kaji.  "They're going to go find two Squad 2 members who went missing.  I can tell the Head Captain that you were aiding us."

The two of Squad 14 nodded and the group left to search.  Shizuko went over to her captain.  "Was it just me or was that captain a bit too worried about his subordinate?"

Unohana chuckled. "I think you should go back to work."

*****

"What kind of place are we in now?" Kisara stated as she looked around.  

The place they were in was a bright and sunny field of grass.  About every ten yards stood a 10 foot statue.  They had a wide base that narrowed as it reached the top.  However, the tops had a large umbrella like formation.

Yoriuku chuckled. "What are they, stone mushrooms?  At least it's not as bleak as the last one."  He turned and saw Houtai standing next to him.  "No offense."  Houtai silently shrugged and walked forward.

Rukoro was circling one of the statues, examining it.  At one point, she stopped and sat down in the grass, crossing her legs.  "They look almost human."

Setsuna ran over and sat next to the ninja girl.  "You're right!  If you take off that funny plate on top, they almost look like a person sitting down."

Kisara went up and studied the sculpture. "Whose mind would have these things in it?"

"We'll find out later!"  Yoriuku was on top of one of the figure.  "How many of these things are there?"

"It's an inner world, so it's probably an unlimited amount," suggested Houtai who was right next to him.

"Well then, where should we start looking?"

"HEY!!!" Setsuna jumped up next to the two.  "Look for one of the statues that move!"

Houtai tilted his head.  Yoriuku stared at the girl with a perplexed look on his face "One that moves?  Why would one of these things move?"

"I think this is my sister's inner world!  Her bankai takes the form of a large stone golem with a flat and wide hat like these!" She stomped on the stone beneath her feet.  "If I'm right, then that golem is her zampaku-to spirit, only bankai made it look bigger."

Suddenly the earth began to shake.  Everybody climbed to the top of one of the nearby statues.  A few miles away, one of the statues had stood up.  Yoriuku watched as the being rose. "That doesn't look like its 100 feet tall.  More like 15…..maybe 20 tops"

"Personally, I think his height is good enough to label him as a threat."  Rukoro stated.

"Well then let's go say 'Hi.'"

The group ran to the golem, jumping from statue to statue.  As they approached, the shinigami saw that the monster was punching at something on the ground.  "Draw your swords."  Houtai's command was not really needed as most of the group had already done so.

Suddenly, the golem slammed his fist into the ground and pulled up a large black lance from the earth.  It was then that a black beam shot from the ground at the golem's head.  Despite his size, he was able to quickly block the attack with his lance.  

Finally, the group was able to see the attacker.  "What are those?"  Kisara's question was thought by all.  Standing on the statues were little black creatures that bore a striking resemblance to octopi.   They were trying to get past the golem, where Satomi Shizujima lay unconscious.

Setsuna ran ahead of the group. "Split the sky, Wakemetsuchi!" Her sword began to glow and turn into a staff, but then it broke in two.  Setsuna grabbed the other half of the pole and with a quick spin, both turned into a pair of large green fans with white streaks going down the center.  "Yamano Hakaisha!" Two gales of wind shot forward and sliced through the most of creatures.  One of the creatures managed to survive and shot towards Satomi.  One was crushed by the large golem's lance, but the other was able to reach the girl.  Once it touched her, there was a bright purple flash.  When the light dimmed, there was a glowing tattoo above her left eye that curved across her foread and down her cheek.  

Houtai ran to her, but the golem stopped him with the lance.

"You're Harino Kakougan, aren't you?"  The golem turned and stared at Setsuna.  He had only one eye and there was no visible mouth.  However he was able to answer her by nodding.  "Do you know who I am?"  Harino Kakougan nodded again.  "He won't hurt her.  He's a friend and I'm sure she'll trust him."

The golem looked back at Houtai and then slowly raised his lance.  Houtai ran quickly to Satomi.  The golem stared at the other shinigami.  Yoriuku waved at him. "Hiya, Big Guy!"  

Harino Kakougan ignored him and looked toward Rokoro who simply nodded.  After he nodded back, the zampaku-to crouched down and looked closer at the statue Rukoro was on.  Kisara gave a shaky wave as the glowing red eye looked directly at her.

"She has another virus in her."  Houtai's hand was on Satomi's forehead and had a slight green glow to it.  

Setsuna jumped down and stood next to him.  "Well that good.  If it's just a virus, then you can take care of it easily."

Houtai nodded. "I can do that.  I'm afraid what would happen if I used my zampaku-to in the spirit world.  I don't know what the effect can be on the person whose world I am in.  But there's something that worries me."

"What's wrong?"

"The virus has a strange pattern.  It seems to target just the brain.  I didn't wait to see what it did, but some of the virus was attached to the part of her brain that deals with memory."

"So…she would have had amnesia?"

"Probably, but I can't be sure.  It's gone now."  

He removed his hand and the tattoo that was there earlier had vanished.  When Yoriuku saw this he faked a sad look. "Awww, but she looked cool with that…and kinda cute too."  Harino Kakougan smashed his lance into the ground next to the former captain.  "Geez, can't you take a joke?"

Satomi slowly opened her eyes, then sat up.  She grabbed her head and looked at her surroundings.  She looked at her zampaku-to spirit, then to Houtai, then finally settled her gaze upon Setsuna.  "Please explain."

Instead, Setsuna practically jumped on her sister. "YOU'RE ALRIGHT!!"

Houtai back away and let them have their moment.  Then, Satomi stood up with the help of her little sister.  "Now will somebody explain this to me?  Please?"

Rukoro stood in front of her. "Unohana will explain.  At the moment, I think this is simply like a meditative state for talking to your zampaku-to.  Try to leave as you normally would."

"But when you do, don't take off the headband."  Satomi had a look of confusion at Kisara's remark.  "You'll understand, just lay there for about five minutes."

Satomi nodded then closed her eyes.  Slowly, she faded away.  Once she disappeared, another rift appeared nearby.  Setsuna looked toward it. "I guess that's our ticket out!"  And she immediately jumped through.

Rukoro watched as her friends vanished through the portal.  She turned and saw that Harino Kakougan had vanished and was now camouflaged by all the other statues.  She bowed to the stony forest and jumped trough the rift.

*****

Satomi lay there with her eyes open and just stared at the ceiling.  After a few minutes, she sat up and looked toward Isane who nearly toppled out of her chair in surprise.  "Satomi!  You're awake!"

"Now can someone explain?"

A voice answered her from behind. "You were infected with a virus that forced you into a coma."  Satomi turned and saw Nemu standing there.  "When he saw your brainwaves return to normal, Mayuri ordered me to gather visual data."  

Isane stood up.  "I know this is sudden, but Unohana wishes you to help in the search for a girl.  She and another woman went missing.  Shanookami Yukino, the 6th Seat of Squad 2, was found in the forest.  She was in a coma like the one you just woke up from."  

Satomi got out of bed and stretched.  "Who is it?"

"Reiko Manami, 3rd Seat of Squad 2."

Satomi sighed.  "I can see why you need help.  I'll report to Unohana later."  Isane bowed as Satomi walked by.  Before she left, Satomi turned and pointed at Nemu. "Tell your captain to keep his hands off my sister, or he'll lose another lab."  With that, she left.

*****

"It's c-c-c-cold here!" Kisara was rubbing her arms, trying to keep warm.

They were on top of a large snowy plateau.  At the bottom of the cliff was an endless pine forest that was covered with snow.  At the center of the plateau was a stone pillar spiraling toward the cloudy sky.  

"Cold, calm, and mysterious…"  Yoriuku turned to Rukoro. "This is your inner world, ain't it?"

Rukoro shook her head as Setsuna came up from behind.  "This is my inner world!  Now, with that in mind, hurry up and find the portal!  We should leave soon."  Rukoro pointed toward the bottom of the pillar where the rift had opened.  "Crap…let's run!"  Setsuna ran forward toward the portal.

Kisara was running next to Houtai. "Do you know why we're running?"  

Houtai shrugged.

Setsuna kept looking up toward the top of the pillar, then back down to the portal.  "I think we can make it!"  The portal was getting closer. "We can make it!"  Only a few seconds away. "We can make it!"

"SETSUNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"  The cheerful voice made everybody look up.  A dark green and white blur dive bombed from the top of the pillar.  It swooped down and slammed into Setuna, sending snow into the air.  "You didn't tell me we were having visitors!"

When the snow fell back to the earth, the other shinigami saw what it was.  Hugging Setsuna tightly was girl who looked to be the same age.  It was easy to notice that she was not entirely human.  She had long dark green hair, with white cat ears poking out the top.  Her arms were covered with feathers and unmistakable wings folded down onto them.  Her feet were that of a bird with talons and everything.  Her clothing was a simple piece of armor that covered her breast and white and armor cloth that was at her waist.

Yoriuku was able to label the clothing the best with his question. "Who's the dancer?"

Houtai tilted his head to the side. "It's a harpy."

Setsuna stood up with the girl standing next to her. "Correct.  This is Wakemetsuchi.  We always play a game of sorts where I try to stay away from her.  As you could tell, she can be a bit affectionate."

"Nyaa~ I wanna play!"

"I'll play with you later.  But we have to go now."

The harpy girl pouted. "Fine.  Come back soon, okay?"

Setsuna waved to her as she jumped through the portal. "Bye!"

As the others went through the portal, Wakemetsuchi went up to Yoriuku.  He winked at her. "Hello cutie!"

"You're weird!" said the girl with a bright smile on her face.

"That wasn't nice."  Yoriuku left through the portal as the harpy giggled in amusement.
NO MORE OC'S!!!
All but Taiki Kazahiro has been metioned. He'll be in the next chapter!!!
Also, Reiko has not yet been met, but she'll also have a part later. :meow:

OK!!! New charas!!!

Niji Metsuki (c) ~LEXDoomDragon
Kumiko Tsukimonono (c) ~RusariJubakuno
Rusari Jubakuno (c) ~RusariJubakuno
Kaji Tsurugi (c) ~KajiTsurugi
Harino Kakougan (c) ~Kagome-Nezumiro
Wakemetsuchi (c) ~Kagome-Nezumiro
Shanookami Yukino (c) ~Yamu-Yukino

AGAIN! Thanks Kemma for helping me check!!!
© 2010 - 2024 ValkyrieKago
Comments186
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
CraftyFairy87's avatar
Wooooot this story is awesome Kagome!! now must read next chapter!!