Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Dusk had long since began to fall by the time the two teens found themselves running along the trail of blood and fabrics. It was decided no-contest who would go: Rukia would stay with the still weak Madoka, and Ichigo would accompany Yohko to rescue Azusa.
"And just who are we looking for?" The orange haired boy questioned, eyes down at the concrete, allowing himself to be led by the trail of red which was quickly fading from sight in the approaching darkness.
"Azusa, my sidekick. We have to find her, she's just a kid."
The sound of sand scraping along cement was clear as Ichigo skid to a halt. "You get kids involved in this?!" He asked, staring narrow eyed and incredulously at the hunter. Yohko however, didn't stop, brown eyes flicking between the horizon, and the trail that was malevolently left for her to follow.
"Don't stop!" She called over her shoulder, not bothering to look to see if Ichigo was following; she could hear his footfalls behind her. "And her getting training wasn't my idea! Her grandmother sent her. Our grandmother's are friends or...something. Anyway, it was her wish to train, and Grandma thought it was a good idea I guess. She's helpful." Yohko added in a more confident tone, feeling the sudden obligation to defend the girl. If Azusa was to be found safe and sound, Yohko had to believe the young hunter in training to handle herself. "She's good."
"All I know is," And like that, Ichigo was beside her, running at a pace even with her own. "that I'd never let Yuzu or Karin do the kind of things we do."
"Yuzu and Karin?" Yohko chanced a side glance towards Ichigo, mentally taking in the angles of his stern face.
"My sisters. Twins."
An expression which surpassed mere emotion darkened Ichigo's eyes. It was strong, almost mad. An urge to protect, the need to keep something dear safe. Yohko's own eyes softened in empathy.
"Then let's find these devils, so that they won't have to." Yohko concluded, sparing a well intentioned wink of her eye in Ichigo's direction, before springing up into the air and disappearing from his sight onto the roof of a house.
The sky was like pitch now, and in this extreme darkness, the two fighters only had the scent of the blood to follow- it was virtually invisible against the concrete, and the fabrics had long since blown away. Following the rooftops was a quicker means of travel, Ichigo understood that part, but he worried that the trail would be lost up here. Regardless, he watched the dark, blood coloured streak that was Yohko, hopscotch from one roof to the next, and followed suit.
"Won't we lose the trail this way?" Ichigo finally called out, voicing his concerns.
"Don't need it anymore. I can feel her. She's close."
Civilization such as buildings and roads gave way to nature; have long since been abandoned as a mode of transportation and the two squished and crunched their way through mulch and wet autumn grass. Trees stretched towards the sky, but as the pair moved deeper into the forest, vines began to creep and strangle the brush, leaving nothing but tangles of thorns and bramble.
"Yohko!" Ichigo summoned. "Over here!"
The girl headed to his side, and saw what caught his attention. On an especially wicked looking thorn was hooked and curtained a torn swathe of material similar to that of Yohko's costume.
"Azusa..." As her voice trailed off in concern, Yohko lifted her head and gazed over the mess of unnatural overgrowth. The distant backdrop which stood beyond the bramble and barbs seemed dark and oh so silent. Not a bug chirped, not a bat squeaked. Not even the wind had strength to whisper in the fighter's ears.
Silent.
Deathly silent.
The feeling of a kick in the gut punctured through Yohko Mano, and a boiling hot shiver crawled down Ichigo's spine as they took in the sound of the Hunter's name being tortuously screamed through the clouds.
Part B
"YOOOHHHKOO!!"
Azusa Kanzaki's little mousy voice tore through the night, it's echos mercilessly shredded by the unnatural thorny vines along the ground and up the trunks of the ancient, black trees. Yohko gripped her hold on the handle of her Soul Sword, body shooting forward as she swung down, slicing at the calloused thorns. The tangle that they grew in seemed nearly impregnable, but the devil hunter continued to hack at the barricade, taking the role of a frenzied lumberjack.
"AZUSA!"
As wood was chipped and splintered away, the nearly chitinous branches let flow a noxious gray liquid. It was thick and filmy with muted, oily colours languidly swirling about in it. Yohko coughed and felt some of this morning's won ton soup climb up into her throat. She coughed again, stumbling back as the putrid scent full invaded her nostrils.
"ASU--...!" Desperately, Yohko tried to call out again, but she couldn't resist the urge to crumpled to the ground in a fit of coughing. Knees gave way under her as she gathered her strength enough to stab into the branches, vainly aiming to cause just that much more progress.
A sure grip caught the dazed girl by her upper arms, Ichigo's one arm wrapping around Yohko's chest for support, while his other carried his blade, slashing in rage, continuing the progress Yohko began, and clearing a path through the mutated, poisoned barbs. Step by step, inch by inch, Ichigo forced his way through the defacto fortress, eyes narrowing as they focused on some unknown target in the distance.
Gradually, Yohko found herself more competent and slowly stepped in time with Ichigo, swinging her blade when she found herself able. When he was satisfied with Yohko's cognitive abilities and motor skills, the orange haired fighter finally released her.
"This is taking too long!" Ichigo finally admitted, ignoring the burn in his overworked shoulder.
"So, what else can we do?" Said the girl.
"I got an idea." He answered. "You keep working on this."
And like that, Ichigo launched himself into the air, leaping past a few treacherous yards of this Demon field. Carefully, he landed on one of the creeping branches covered in thorns, before immediately bouncing off again. He was nearing the heart of the creature- if it could be called that- and the thorns and branches were now growing more knotted, with serrated black thorns that stood up to three feet long.
Were Ichigo to look while midair, he could see what could only be described as a demented gazebo. One form hung from it's roof, ties keeping her off the ground.
The center! It was nothing more then a violent, helter skelter snarl of branches and thorns, woven so tight that it seemed nearly petrified.
For one final time, Ichigo jumped up, while lifting his zanpaktou, the blade of his soul, over his head with the strength of both his fists.
The teenager felt warm and weightless as he focused everything within himself, gaze steady on the rapidly approaching core of this plant. Then suddenly it all dropped out into a proverbial brick moving from his chest, channeled through his hands and out his blade as he swung down, unleashing the energy in a surge of kinetic force.
Yohko shielded her eyes as the technique hit it's target. The branches around her began to glow, before, like burnt plastic, they began to shrivel and recede with an almost maraca-like rattle. Lowering her hand, Yohko took in her surroundings, and saw Ichigo perched on the core of the plant. She began to run forth.
"Wait!"
At the barked command, Yohko skid to a halt. There was a rumble, a force from the earth below moving underneath the surface, collecting at the core. It exploded outwards in a flurry of dying branches. Yohko once again shielded herself from the shrapnel, and Ichigo was thrown from the thing, landing unceremoniously on his feet.
When the dust settled, Yohko starred forward, walking through the kicked up earth and puddles of sick, oozing plant fluids. She studied the gazebo and it's prisoner. Azusa was suspended from the ceiling crossbeam of the structure, hanging from her wrists which were locked in sick, thorny manacles. Yohko continued her stride, walking closer to the vicinity, Ichigo following grimly, a few inches behind.
Upon closer , the pair realized the gazebo seemed to be fashioned out of human flesh. It was sewn together with a barbwire lace, the entry seams seeping rank, red blood. Azusa herself was quite badly beaten, her garb a tattered and revealing mess, her flesh covered in nasty wounds which looked vicious, but were not life threatening.
"Yohko!"
"Azusa!"
"Hold it." An echo announced from behind the twisted gazebo, and from behind it stepped a small form. It was a girl, her school uniform was impeccable and her hair was 'big', styled and teased. A freckled face turned to them and smiled. "Another step Yohko,"
"...Chi..." Yohko gasped under her breath, eyes suddenly burning with warm tears, and knotting with a sick longing to lash out.
"and she dies."
Dusk had long since began to fall by the time the two teens found themselves running along the trail of blood and fabrics. It was decided no-contest who would go: Rukia would stay with the still weak Madoka, and Ichigo would accompany Yohko to rescue Azusa.
"And just who are we looking for?" The orange haired boy questioned, eyes down at the concrete, allowing himself to be led by the trail of red which was quickly fading from sight in the approaching darkness.
"Azusa, my sidekick. We have to find her, she's just a kid."
The sound of sand scraping along cement was clear as Ichigo skid to a halt. "You get kids involved in this?!" He asked, staring narrow eyed and incredulously at the hunter. Yohko however, didn't stop, brown eyes flicking between the horizon, and the trail that was malevolently left for her to follow.
"Don't stop!" She called over her shoulder, not bothering to look to see if Ichigo was following; she could hear his footfalls behind her. "And her getting training wasn't my idea! Her grandmother sent her. Our grandmother's are friends or...something. Anyway, it was her wish to train, and Grandma thought it was a good idea I guess. She's helpful." Yohko added in a more confident tone, feeling the sudden obligation to defend the girl. If Azusa was to be found safe and sound, Yohko had to believe the young hunter in training to handle herself. "She's good."
"All I know is," And like that, Ichigo was beside her, running at a pace even with her own. "that I'd never let Yuzu or Karin do the kind of things we do."
"Yuzu and Karin?" Yohko chanced a side glance towards Ichigo, mentally taking in the angles of his stern face.
"My sisters. Twins."
An expression which surpassed mere emotion darkened Ichigo's eyes. It was strong, almost mad. An urge to protect, the need to keep something dear safe. Yohko's own eyes softened in empathy.
"Then let's find these devils, so that they won't have to." Yohko concluded, sparing a well intentioned wink of her eye in Ichigo's direction, before springing up into the air and disappearing from his sight onto the roof of a house.
The sky was like pitch now, and in this extreme darkness, the two fighters only had the scent of the blood to follow- it was virtually invisible against the concrete, and the fabrics had long since blown away. Following the rooftops was a quicker means of travel, Ichigo understood that part, but he worried that the trail would be lost up here. Regardless, he watched the dark, blood coloured streak that was Yohko, hopscotch from one roof to the next, and followed suit.
"Won't we lose the trail this way?" Ichigo finally called out, voicing his concerns.
"Don't need it anymore. I can feel her. She's close."
Civilization such as buildings and roads gave way to nature; have long since been abandoned as a mode of transportation and the two squished and crunched their way through mulch and wet autumn grass. Trees stretched towards the sky, but as the pair moved deeper into the forest, vines began to creep and strangle the brush, leaving nothing but tangles of thorns and bramble.
"Yohko!" Ichigo summoned. "Over here!"
The girl headed to his side, and saw what caught his attention. On an especially wicked looking thorn was hooked and curtained a torn swathe of material similar to that of Yohko's costume.
"Azusa..." As her voice trailed off in concern, Yohko lifted her head and gazed over the mess of unnatural overgrowth. The distant backdrop which stood beyond the bramble and barbs seemed dark and oh so silent. Not a bug chirped, not a bat squeaked. Not even the wind had strength to whisper in the fighter's ears.
Silent.
Deathly silent.
The feeling of a kick in the gut punctured through Yohko Mano, and a boiling hot shiver crawled down Ichigo's spine as they took in the sound of the Hunter's name being tortuously screamed through the clouds.
Part B
"YOOOHHHKOO!!"
Azusa Kanzaki's little mousy voice tore through the night, it's echos mercilessly shredded by the unnatural thorny vines along the ground and up the trunks of the ancient, black trees. Yohko gripped her hold on the handle of her Soul Sword, body shooting forward as she swung down, slicing at the calloused thorns. The tangle that they grew in seemed nearly impregnable, but the devil hunter continued to hack at the barricade, taking the role of a frenzied lumberjack.
"AZUSA!"
As wood was chipped and splintered away, the nearly chitinous branches let flow a noxious gray liquid. It was thick and filmy with muted, oily colours languidly swirling about in it. Yohko coughed and felt some of this morning's won ton soup climb up into her throat. She coughed again, stumbling back as the putrid scent full invaded her nostrils.
"ASU--...!" Desperately, Yohko tried to call out again, but she couldn't resist the urge to crumpled to the ground in a fit of coughing. Knees gave way under her as she gathered her strength enough to stab into the branches, vainly aiming to cause just that much more progress.
A sure grip caught the dazed girl by her upper arms, Ichigo's one arm wrapping around Yohko's chest for support, while his other carried his blade, slashing in rage, continuing the progress Yohko began, and clearing a path through the mutated, poisoned barbs. Step by step, inch by inch, Ichigo forced his way through the defacto fortress, eyes narrowing as they focused on some unknown target in the distance.
Gradually, Yohko found herself more competent and slowly stepped in time with Ichigo, swinging her blade when she found herself able. When he was satisfied with Yohko's cognitive abilities and motor skills, the orange haired fighter finally released her.
"This is taking too long!" Ichigo finally admitted, ignoring the burn in his overworked shoulder.
"So, what else can we do?" Said the girl.
"I got an idea." He answered. "You keep working on this."
And like that, Ichigo launched himself into the air, leaping past a few treacherous yards of this Demon field. Carefully, he landed on one of the creeping branches covered in thorns, before immediately bouncing off again. He was nearing the heart of the creature- if it could be called that- and the thorns and branches were now growing more knotted, with serrated black thorns that stood up to three feet long.
Were Ichigo to look while midair, he could see what could only be described as a demented gazebo. One form hung from it's roof, ties keeping her off the ground.
The center! It was nothing more then a violent, helter skelter snarl of branches and thorns, woven so tight that it seemed nearly petrified.
For one final time, Ichigo jumped up, while lifting his zanpaktou, the blade of his soul, over his head with the strength of both his fists.
The teenager felt warm and weightless as he focused everything within himself, gaze steady on the rapidly approaching core of this plant. Then suddenly it all dropped out into a proverbial brick moving from his chest, channeled through his hands and out his blade as he swung down, unleashing the energy in a surge of kinetic force.
Yohko shielded her eyes as the technique hit it's target. The branches around her began to glow, before, like burnt plastic, they began to shrivel and recede with an almost maraca-like rattle. Lowering her hand, Yohko took in her surroundings, and saw Ichigo perched on the core of the plant. She began to run forth.
"Wait!"
At the barked command, Yohko skid to a halt. There was a rumble, a force from the earth below moving underneath the surface, collecting at the core. It exploded outwards in a flurry of dying branches. Yohko once again shielded herself from the shrapnel, and Ichigo was thrown from the thing, landing unceremoniously on his feet.
When the dust settled, Yohko starred forward, walking through the kicked up earth and puddles of sick, oozing plant fluids. She studied the gazebo and it's prisoner. Azusa was suspended from the ceiling crossbeam of the structure, hanging from her wrists which were locked in sick, thorny manacles. Yohko continued her stride, walking closer to the vicinity, Ichigo following grimly, a few inches behind.
Upon closer , the pair realized the gazebo seemed to be fashioned out of human flesh. It was sewn together with a barbwire lace, the entry seams seeping rank, red blood. Azusa herself was quite badly beaten, her garb a tattered and revealing mess, her flesh covered in nasty wounds which looked vicious, but were not life threatening.
"Yohko!"
"Azusa!"
"Hold it." An echo announced from behind the twisted gazebo, and from behind it stepped a small form. It was a girl, her school uniform was impeccable and her hair was 'big', styled and teased. A freckled face turned to them and smiled. "Another step Yohko,"
"...Chi..." Yohko gasped under her breath, eyes suddenly burning with warm tears, and knotting with a sick longing to lash out.
"and she dies."