BOOM!
BOOM!
Thunder rolled beneath the night.
Kuchiki Rukia stared in shock at the two figures before her.
Both humans erupted with staggering spiritual pressure, azure pillars lancing straight into the sky.
She could not see what was happening inside, nor tell if it had worked.
Dozens of Hollows charged from afar, eyes fixed greedily on the blue light.
ROAR!
Their howls shook the air.
Rukia's face changed. "Tachibana Yu, Kurosaki Ichigo, watch out. Those Hollows are heading straight for you."
The instant her words fell, the sword in her hand felt strangely light.
SWISH! SWISH!
Two shadows flashed past her.
BANG! BANG! BANG...
The oncoming Hollows exploded where they stood, bodies hacked to pieces that clattered down and dissolved into black reishi.
All of it took no more than three seconds.
"This is impossible..." Rukia whispered, staring at the two silhouettes.
"Yo, Rukia."
Clad in a black shihakushō, Tachibana Yu turned and grinned at her.
Kurosaki Ichigo, also in black, gaped at his clothes and the sword in his grip before blurting at Rukia, thrilled, "Soul Reaper, did I just turn into one of you?"
Rukia ignored the questions, eyes wide.
"Both of you... became Soul Reapers."
She glanced down at her own hands and at the white outfit now on her body.
"And my Soul Reaper power... has been taken."
"No." Rukia shook her head and looked at Ichigo. "Only he borrowed my power."
Then she looked at Yu.
"His power is entirely his own."
The shock only deepened. She had no idea what kind of monsters these two humans were.
"And... why are their zanpakutō so big?"
In Seireitei, the larger the blade, the greater the spiritual pressure. Size meant strength.
Both blades were enormous.
Ichigo's was nearly two meters, taller than he was.
Yu's, though... huh?
Rukia blinked, followed the length of his edge upward into the sky, and could not find the tip.
"Ichigo, you ever seen a sword eighty meters long?"
Yu gave the blade an easy shake, as if he could split the heavens with it.
Ichigo stared with open envy. "Forget eighty meters, I've never seen a ten meter sword. Why is yours that huge?"
"Eighty meters!"
Rukia's eyes went round as she stared at Yu's edge. "How can there be an eighty meter zanpakutō?"
As far as she knew, there had been millions of zanpakutō through history, and none this large. Even Captain Komamura of the 7th had never exceeded twenty meters.
"How strong is this guy's spiritual pressure?"
She gazed blankly at Yu's back.
"Ichigo, let's see who gets more."
He hefted the eighty meter blade and sighted the remaining Hollows with bright interest.
Ichigo had no reason to refuse.
The two of them turned the once-terrifying Hollows into prey, their swords rising and falling in relentless arcs.
SWISH!
Ichigo split a Hollow in one stroke. He glanced aside.
Yu swept his silver arc across the sky like a dragon.
BANG! BANG! BANG...
Seven Hollows that could not dodge detonated at once.
Ichigo's eyes bulged. "Yu, that's cheating. With a sword that big, how am I supposed to win?"
Yu laughed, swinging the massive blade. "Then take the ones on the ground. Mine isn't great for close quarters."
Under their full assault, more than three hundred Hollows were wiped out in moments.
They even had energy left to bicker afterward.
Yu crowed, "I got two hundred and thirteen."
Ichigo ground his teeth. "I only got ninety-three because most of them were in the air. Otherwise I might not have lost."
"Lost is lost, and tomorrow mor—"
Before Yu could finish, Ichigo pitched forward.
"Hey!"
Yu caught him and looked to Rukia. "Rukia, what's going on?"
Clinging to a utility pole, Rukia pushed herself upright. "It's nothing. It's his first time as a Soul Reaper. His body hasn't adapted. A night's sleep will fix it."
Her gaze slid to Yu, colored with something complicated.
"I have no idea how you adapted."
Because my spiritual pressure is that strong... Yu thought, then hauled Ichigo back into his room.
When he came out, he saw Yuzu and Karin nod off after Rukia misted them with an unknown spray.
Rukia waved the canister, worrying he would misunderstand. "Don't worry. It won't harm them. It only alters memory briefly. Otherwise they'll have nightmares."
Yu nodded. He did not object. Tonight was hardly pleasant.
"I'll be going..."
Rukia bit her lip and turned to leave, body heavy with wounds.
"Hold it."
Yu hurried over, looked at her helplessly, and scooped her up without asking.
"Don't be stubborn now. Just tell me where you're going."
Rukia flushed, struggled a few times, then gave up, mumbling, "Arrogant brat. How old do you think I am? This level of injury is nothing..."
"Sure, sure."
Yu humored her. "So where to?"
Rukia said awkwardly, "Urahara Shop."
...