I looked up to see the fireworks – stupid. Chiya took over my body, her desperation cutting through me, as she darted forward and kicked Kenpachi in the centre of his chest. The force behind it sent him flying through a building wall.

We took off running, her control slowly ebbing away so I felt my arms and legs again, felt the agonising pain splitting through my body. The Hollow bone didn't seem to be keeping up, blood pouring off of me. At this rate, all you'd have to do was follow the trail.

I didn't dare sheath Dorangoháto as I ran between buildings. Every soul reaper and his dead dog were conversing as a crack deafened my ears. I snuck another glance. Lightning crackled in the sky. An emulating sphere hung tethered by the membrane.

Could this be the others? But to do something like that, breaking through the membrane, would require a massive amount of spiritual power.

The ball broke through then cracked open like an egg, displaying the six blobs inside. A weary, relieved smile tugged at my lips. Then I tripped on a trashcan. A group of soul reaper saved my fall as I headbutted the first corner-turner in the gut. We sprawled together and I almost didn't have the energy to get up.

"Hey! You're bleeding!" one shouted. His face was milk white and he scrambled away from.

"What happened? Have the Ryoka attacked?" asked another, grabbing me by the good arm and hauling me up. He was strong for his stature.

I got a better look at them. They were fresh-faced recruits by my eyesight was too blurred to see for which squad.

I put Dorangoháto away then grasped the forearm on the short man holding me. "Yes. Your squad needs help. That sphere's releasing volatile spiritual energy. Hurry! Before someone else gets hurt!"

"Juniper, take her to the Unohana!" he said, passing me off to another girl. The other three ran off.

"I'm sorry," I groaned, faking a stumble. She caught me and that was when I sent the palm of my hand up under her chin. Light's out. Juniper dropped like a stone; I made sure to catch her and lay her gentle on the ground. They'd showed me unintentional kindness, the least I could do was not give her brain damage.

An arc of golden light sailed to the right and there was a flash of spiritual pressure. Chad! Then another three. One flew directly overhead. I ran after it.

Is that your friends? Chiya asked.

"Yes," I gasped. It hurt too much to do much else. The golden light disappeared behind the roofs and I gathered my energy to flash-step to the roof. Three alleys over a golden hue slowly dissipated.

I saw Orihime's hair first. "It's damn good to see you," I said through gritted teeth though the pain was a little less than before.

Uryu was cradling his nose and beneath the box of them, there was a charred triangle.

"Kera?! You're alri... You're bleeding!" Orihime rushed over, calling her Shun Shun Rikka to effect without hesitation. "Soten Kisshun." A warm, orange glow surrounded my left shoulder and chest. I winced as Hollow bone and her powers stitched me up.

"Thank you." I rotated my arm, twisted my trunk, pain-free once again.

"What happened?" Uryu questioned.

I waved a hand, looking around. "I found a Captain," I offered. "But there isn't much time to talk." Where they landed was deserted but it wouldn't be for long.

"It's great we landed in an unpopulated area," he noted.

"How lucky!" Orihime said and clapped her hands. She instantly grasped her right arm, which was bandaged from shoulder to elbow.

Uryu gasped. "Carefule, Orihime. I'm afraid you injured your arm in the fall." Then he pulled out a first aid kit. First the cloak then this. At least this time it was something productive and helpful. One would question how he was holding onto all these things. "I was able to administer first aid while you were unconscious with the bandages I had but unfortunately I didn't have any pain-killers on hand."

Orihime thanked him with an awkward laugh. Then followed the usual teenage 'boy blames self for girl's injury then girl settles his bleeding heart by saying he didn't need to blame himself'.

Blergh. At least Orihime put her own twist on it.

I left the teenage angst to check the alleyways. There didn't seem to be anybody around and that sent shivers down my spine. With all the ruckus earlier, the reprieve was eerie.

"We better get moving," I voiced to the others.

"Right. Where to?" Orihime asked.

"Best to stay away from the inner circle. Most likely the captains and lieutenants are staying close to their squads."

I led the way – since I had come from here before – with Uryu and Orihime not far behind. This would probably not be the best time to let them know that I got lost earlier.                                                                                           

~

I skidded to a stop just before the corner and threw an arm out. The other two crashed into me. I turned and put a finger to my lips to shush their questions then pressed myself against the wall. I peeked out.

"No sign of the Ryoka in this section," said a male souper. There were four of them in a huddle.

"Damn! Where did they go?" asked another.

"Looks like our arrival has caused quite a commotion," Uryu muttered. "It's going to be almost impossible to meet up with Ichigo and the others with so many guards out looking for us."

"We could fight but that would draw everyone here," I replied in a mere whisper. "They don't look to hard to beat." I faced Uryu. "Maybe instead of finding Ichigo and the others, you and Orihime should look for Rukia."

"What about you?"

"I'll be bait. I'll take some out then lead away the others."

"You sure?"

"No," I admitted. "But it's our best bet. What do you think, Orihime?" She'd most likely be opposed to the plan.

The space she'd been before was vacant.

"Wasn't she right there?" I questioned as quietly as possible.

"Orihime! Great, where did she disappear to?"

A soft voice called out our names. We looked to the end of the alley. "Uryu, Kera! Help!" It grew louder. "They're after me!"

Orihime barrelled into the alley, bounced off a wall, then richoted towards us. She ran with all the technique and speed of a 100m sprinter, faster than I'd ever seen Orihime run. I didn't know she could run much at all. In the alley behind her, another group of soul reapers - larger than the original group – gave chase.

"RUN!"

"What did you do, Orihime?" Uryu shouted.

"I'm sorry! I just went down the alleyway to look around then they spotted me!"

"Dammit!" I screamed then stopped.

"What are you doing?!"

"Keep running! I'll keep them busy!" My hand dropped to my waist. I grasped empty air.

Dorangoháto was missing.

I zoomed past the other two.

"I thought you were going to fight!"

"My sword is missing!" I screeched. Where had it gone? Had I dropped it? No, surely not. The sheath and belt were still on me. This was bad, very bad. Hand to hand combat would only last so long. My other option was Kido and for that, I needed more distance. And the others needed to clear very, very far away. "Run faster! If we have some distance, I can fight!"

But the distance never grew. My mind whirled faster and faster and I imagined it quite like flipping frantically through a book as I searched for a Kido that wouldn't obliterate us too. But every step and puffed breath jiggled the thoughts from mind. 

"Uryu, cover me!" We slid to a halt. Uryu readied himself, glowed hand out in front.

Orihime put her hands on her hairpins. "I'll stay and fight too!"

Sho wouldn't be enough! I need more than distance. I needed to throw them totally off balance without killing them. Byakurai, with my luck, would probably kill them. I'll kill us all if I use any explosive type Hado so scratch all them. Could I shock them with Tsuzuri Raiden if I put it through the group? Guess we'd find out.

"Guys, get ready to jump when I finish my incantation!" They both squawked but I turned all my focus on performing the Kido. "Hado number 11!" I put my hands together.

"There they are!" came a shout. I turned to look down an alley. Another group of them!

"We got you now!" We spun round. Another group were coming. "Die, intruders!"

"Now there are even more!" Orihime cried. "What do we do?"

I wouldn't be able to use Tsuzuri Raiden anymore, not with this many people.

"I have a strategy," announced Uryu before he took off down the one remaining alley. "Run!"

"But what about the soul reapers?" Orihime said.

We sprinted away and behind us, the soul reapers crashed together. I applauded Uryu silently. Even if it wasn't planned by him, running down the alley would cause the groups to run into each other and hopefully fight each other if they thought we were still there.

Lady Luck wasn't completely on our side today. The soul reapers not stupid enough to pummel or be pummelled by their comrades pursued us. I slowed down, putting myself behind the other two. We still couldn't fight them but now that they were all following a singular path, this would work.

I waited until Uryu's and Orihime's strides synced. "Hado number 11," I growled under my breath. The energy answered my call. Their right foot hit the ground heel first, then toe off. I swung my hands down, going for a handstand, and looked back the way we'd come. "Tsuzuri Raiden!"

There came a resounding crack as the lightning whammed into the ground and exploded out as tiny fingers. All the soul reapers behind us seized and careened forward, piling upon each other.

Handstand to a forward somersault then I got back to my feet and continued running. The others were none the wiser and didn't slow.

---------------------------------

A/N: Sorry, not sorry. I just had to put that gif there.

Also, rewatching this is making me laugh so hard at Yachiru sending Kenpachi into dead end's and then blaming him for it XD