The monster dashed at Murasaki by launching it's sharpened claws at him, but he was faster when he spread his dragon wings and ducked. Before the monster could do anything, Murasaki was already hovering above twenty feet in the air. Appearing above it, his mouth erupted in purple flames and sent a blazing fire breath on the monster's chest.
[ KA-BOOM!! ]
[ DOOF!! ]
Quartzites were smashed on the ground into pieces and huge amount of explosive dusts filled the air. The monster bled. Yet its wounds weren't as fatal and was able to heal faster. It immediately growled at the dragon before briskly launching towards him and gripped its claws, as both of them crashed at least five tree sized crystals. Still gripping on Murasaki, in an instant, Murasaki activated a booming fire and knocked it away.
Whilst both entities are continuing their monster brawl with biting and scratching, Ramune and Ichitarō stood behind one of the larger crystals, whilst peeping through. The little monster was right behind them before it took off. Ichitarō briskly grabbed it, preventing it from reaching out to its early death.
That's when he senses the monster's spirit energy surges within it and its body exploded with lightening. Its muscle tightened and dashed at Murasaki in speed. Resulting, its claws had successfully scratched the dragon and growled.
Unlike most entities who could manipulate their own natural elements from within since their birth, the monster's own natural elements were crystals, that can infuse lightning in both healing and attacks.
Ramune moved Ichitarō away, shielding him. That's when he felt something different from her dragon- like spirit energy, which began swirling around them and he realized what her plan was, even though she told him.
" Are you sure, getting your own dragon killed by a crystal monster is a good idea?" He asked.
" Not quite. Murasaki is capable of taking care of a Quartz wendigo, even if its the twice the size of him. That's because wild dragons, like him, are territorial." She explained.
Unsure why she said that to him, he had to trust her if he wants to survive and collect the last item. This might be the only way to get back home alive.
Suddenly, Ichitarō sensed the monster again, but this time the multicoloured crystals grew pale, except for the black crystal. The monster's vein appeared red as its teeth and claws sprouted. Ichitarō felt his entire body slowly squeezing him with no oxygen when its spirit energy charged in on Murasaki. Whilst Ramune tried her best to protect him.
The wendigo launched its claw to Murasaki, but he dodged it with ease and hovered above, blowing up flames into its face. The wendigo immediately sheild itself and furiously gripped his face, scratching him. As such, Murasaki growled in pain and flipped it over a tree. He activated a devastating purple fire, nearly knocking off its feet.
It briskly activated lightning, but Murasaki was already floating with his wings. He attacked the wendigo with a fire ball, yet it fast enough to dodge the attack. By then, it conjured some of the crystals, trapping Murasaki but left him with a scar on his abdomen.
He gave a booming screeched when the crystals were cutting his skin, while Ramune remained anxious. At the same time, she can't sit and watch Murasaki died under her care. She looked over Ichitarō and gave him a nod.
" Go." She simply said. Eventually, he left her with the little wendigo behind.
Rushing in to save Murasaki, the wendigo backslapped Ichitarō, pushing him back. Ichitarō landed on his feet before attempting to activate his first powers against it; furthermore, his spirit energy darkened across his body. That's when the little wendigo yelped for its parental attention.
Once it growled and felt its child's presence around it, the older wendigo transformed itself back to its normal self. By then, it bellowed softly and sniffed for the baby's scent. Ramune slowly approaches from the crystals, while carrying the little wendigo on her arms.
Staring at each other's eyes, Ramune placed the little wendigo down and eventually said, in addition to her kneeling down on two knees:
" Greetings, Great wendigo. My name is Ramune Kyōraku, Queen of all dragons. My maiden name was Kasumiōji, but later changed to Lóng, my father's surname. We're not here to hurt anyone. We just want the crystals, we'll be out of your way. I would like to apologise for trespassing your home and ambushed you. On behalf of my dragon, pledge for your forgiveness. "
By the time she placed her and right before she kowtow* to show respect, the wendigo stopped her with a small growl.
« You don't have to do that, princess. », it telepathically spoke, which sounded in between masculine and feminine.
Ramune looked at it, whereas Ichitarō stood stupefied with amazement on how she treated on other entities. Though, he remembered he'd to get Murasaki out of here. What frightened both of them the most was the silence. Wondering if the monster had any ideas on destroying them, but it didn't.
« You've lost your title, yet nearly every ruler from different spirit realm have kept it for so many years. Now your duty is to protect the boy. Isn't it? » the wendigo asked. In which Ramune replied with a slow nod.
The wendigo softly purred as its rage melts away. It looked at Ichitarō in curiosity, figuring out how to free the injured dragon. The little wendigo, surprisingly, hied towards him and barked. Ichitarō stopped immediately and grabbed the little wendigo, but it climbed all the way to his shoulder and was able to free Murasaki by using its first powers to lift some of the crystals without damaging his wounds.
By then, it went towards Ichitarō and he simply lifted it. Without a single word, moreover with its eyes shut, the spirit energy around the wendigo lightened all different kinds of quartz and crystals and it even repaired some of the broken ones back into its original form. Colors blossomed to life like flowers from spring. Soon, the crystals and quartz sharpened and solidified with sparkling lights.
Ramune raised herself and gaped with amazement at such a sight, for never before had she seen the patterns of multicolours reincarnated dull quartz. She looked at the wendigo, since its spirit energy radiated with layered like rings and spoke :
" Once again, thank you so much for accepting my apologies. My dragon mistaken you as a threat. However I thought you were _____."
The wendigo stopped her and explained:
« I was testing his strength, princess. The boy is not ready yet. He still has a lot to do if he wants to restore his clan. I haven't had a real fight for 20 000 years before Soul reapers were born. For as long as I can remember, I've fought different types of entities, including one of your own. Those were the rules, us wendigos have to follow, hence we do not interact even to my kind.
I watched and listen to those certain entities. They do not care if they want to kill me. All they wanted was the crystals for their plan to destroy their home and rule the spirit world without consequences of imbalance. This is why I have to protect my home.
I realize now, pride from your people can cause more harm than good. Surely, they had flourished and thrived, but their rules and mindset did not change at all.
Like humans; Merfolks, Hallows, Quincies, Ghouls, Yokai, Angels, Demons, Witches, Vampires, Fallen angels, Ghosts, your father's people and even Wolffolks change and adapt. Unfortunately, your maternal's people stood still, all because of rules they must follow. Change is the essence of nature and must be needed, yet the boy's existence isn't enough. I might be the first to admit, despite Phantom's absence and the fall of Spirit demons, it took two different entities from different timelines to finally realize their change might arrive soon. »
Ramune almost fathomed at what the wendigo had said to her. On the other hand, that's when she remembered the rumours of Ichigo saving Rukia from getting executed and reckoned how happy she was when someone mentioned him.
' I know Tù Nian haven't seen him for a while. Wait does that means, Tù Nian and that Shiba kid can do that?' Ramune wondered. She bowed before the wendigo, thanking it before taking Ichitarō's hand and leave. Murasaki then got up to his feet and followed her. But the wendigo stopped them.
« One more thing, princess. », it spoke. Ramune tilted her head and slided her hair with her fingertips. Then she and Ichitarō face the wendigo., « Though the boy's spirit energy is immature and it might take him all the way into his adulthood to master it, I can give him three of my crystals each. He'll give them to siblings, if he had. Make sure he's prepared. »
Emotionally ecstatic that he found the last artefact to go home, Ichitarō saw three crystals hovering towards them and landed on his hands. He wondered why the wendigo gave him three extra, instead of one, whereas he remembered his sisters when two out of the three crystals resembles their personality.
" Gee, thanks for the crystals. " He said and the wendigo nodded on Ichitarō. Afterwards, it took the little wendigo as they took off further to the cave and both vanished into thin air.
Murasaki sniffed the air and noticed the storm had passed. He grunted at Ramune who also saw the snow storm passed to the other side, which was safe. But it's still nighttime as if Winter's love for Midnight was longer.
~~~~~~~~~~
A gentle breeze dances around the snow. Both Ichitarō and Ramune came out of the tunnel along with Murasaki. They never seemed to have any shelter for tonight. Ichitarō noticed he hadn't have any goodnight rest before the yellow paper stuck on his forehead, but he's at peace now that he'd collected all of the artefacts. He placed the bag like cloth and put the crystals safe where it should be.
" So, kid. Feeling grateful I've saved your life?" Ramune asked.
Ichitarō looked at her and shyly answered:
" I...I don't know. Yes?"
" That's all I wanted to hear." She softly beamed.
Ichitarō was mortified when he realised she saved his life and at the same time wanted to find his sisters and get them back home, even in by hook or by crook.
As he was done packing, he couldn't be able to smile at Ramune because something bad might happen to her if he did. In contract for his gratitude to her with his emotionless expression, he picked up the artefacts and said:
" Thanks for saving me back there. The way you execute your plans, it actually worked. I think by tomorrow morning, I should leave. But I guess staying here with you won't hurt a bit." She cheerfully chuckled.
" You know you can't keep doing this alone. There are moments where you need help. I don't know what would happen next, but just to be sure everyone does care about you."
Ichitarō felt a glimmer of hope. Koro was right when he mentioned he'll have a new adventure someday. She then went towards Murasaki first before finding shelter again. But when he was about to give Ramune a hug or a small smile, a portal, suddenly, appeared in their tracks of the snowy mountain and Zen was present.
Neither of them sensed Zen was here, for how he hide it well. With no time to spare, he ambushed Ichitarō and grabbed the bag along with him. Therefore both disappeared into the portal. When Murasaki reckoned Ichitarō was gone, Ramune saw the portal diluted, she immediately hopped on Murasaki's and activated her spell to hold it further.
" Stupid, fucking Dark Lord. I'll get you this time." She murmured. Murasaki flew into the portal and no one was left behind.....
~~~~~~~~~
[ MEANWHILE ]
[ SOMEWHERE ON DOWNTOWN, KARAKURA ]
A sleet poured down in the city of Karakura town as winter had long arrived. Snowy urban landscapes remained on concrete footpath, followed by icy roads. Silence had resigned before a Chevy Impala, intervene all the way to the bar where the Xcutions are hanging out. When it parked nicely Keitarō who looked like in her late 30s, stepped out of the vehicle and slammed the door shut.
Once she stepped forward with her Inuit style tracksuit, which was similar to Tanjirō's clothing except dark red in colour, few droplets of icy rain covered her hoodie and shoulders. Then, she used her finger and a pale white light appeared on the tip of her finger.
{ HADŌ 1: SHŌ }
[ KLING ]
She whispered a chant and a doorknob had broken into pieces, pushing the door open to find someone. Inside the bar, Tanjirō was sitting in the chair while holding his stomach. He was waiting for his mother to fetch him after getting into `sticky situations` with the Xcutions which he became their hostage until he's ready to tell the truth.
Conversely, the wait was over when a doorknob cracked open and so does the door. Afraid they might come back or wondered if Ichigo had returned, Tanjirō stood up and had no option but to fend for himself. Only releasing his tension on who it was.
" Mom, it's about time you showed up. You got to believe me, Ginger's new friends attacked me and before that I_____." Tanjirō explained.
" I know, fire boy. I overheard Ichigo having a conversation with, what looks like, the leader. Come on, let's go home. I don't want your father experience another heartbreak and don't forget to stay indoors when travesty strikes. Otherwise, you're on your own. " She interrupted him.
" Yeah you're right." He reckoned and both of them left the building.
Outside of the bar, Keitarō soon stopped and stealthily checked if the coast was clear before walking away with her son, taking covers from the heavy sleet. She took his bag with her and intertwined her right hand through his hand like a mother does to her child.
Finally, both of them got inside. Keitarō started the car and accelerated without being seen. Little do they know, Tsukishima stood outside of buildings and saw the whole thing. Carrying an umbrella, he simply chuckled.
" The more, the merrier."; He murmured, then tilted his head and glimpsed on at least 5 to 6 gargoyles on top of the building, which was in the opposite. Before long he commanded them; " Let's find Ichigo Kurosaki and kill him, Shall we?"
With a cheerful, yet sinful screech on their voice, they transformed themselves into the false versions of the Xcutions before they descend the buildings dashed where they plan to trap Ichigo.
Meanwhile at the driveway, Keitarō began turning on the radio while Tanjirō had been gazing at sleet storm on buildings and illuminated lights. When she finally stopped at the red light, she looked at her son and called his name.
" Hey, Tanjirō. I don't know if Ichitarō had already reached to the Soul society, but whatever happened, just you know he's safe with his sisters." She said
" Wait, Mom. Rangiku and Yoshimura? What the hell were they've been up t_____?" Tanjirō wanted to ask, but a glowing light appeared in the midway of a cross road motorway.
Ignoring the green light on both sides, everybody stopped their transports in an unusual way and alighted down, while staring at this phenomenon. Some even took out their phones, cameras and video cameras and recorded everything as that little light revealed itself to a Japanese style gate.