Wincing as a pain shot through her heel, Rukia still managed to backflip onto the roof. "Captain!"
"Rukia, watch yourself." Juushiro shunpoed to another roof. A portion of his haori was covered in green liquid and the boy was clinging to his shoulder; however, both seemed unhurt . "If it really were shadow, it shouldn't have been able to do that with a Splitting Void between us. Shadows don't go underground."
Rukia looked down at the mumbling, collecting mass. "It's not following us either."
"It's a water-based creature," Juushiro deducted. "That would explain how it could disappear into the shadows and seem to be darkness, also hide a child in its form. I'm guessing that it has to have enough energy to reach as high as it did before."
"If that's the case, I can freeze-"
"Not unless we have it all in one place. It may have regenerating powers." He set the boy down on the roof. "Stay here," he cautioned, setting a hand on his head. He draped his haori over the kid.
"Will he be safe here?"
"For the moment, yes," Juushiro answered, drawing a circle around the child. "Bakudo No. 11: Hikrai no Enjin." ** A dome of light formed around him. Juushiro stood up.
"I'll distract the hollow. Act with Sode no Shiraiyuki when I call you."
"Yes sir," Rukia responded. She hesitated. "How's your cough?"
Juushiro started then chuckled. "Don't worry. I won't leave you alone as I did last time you were cornered by a hollow." He smiled. "Trust me, alright."
"Okay. Be careful."
Juushiro nodded and leapt down.
....
"... extending thyself to please your gods..."
"You can't run forever!"
"Hado No. 68: Byakurai Bako!" ***
It put up a fight even when confronted by a stern captain, but when a barrier failed for the same reason the first one had, Captain Ukitake had already finished the spell for the net of electricity. As the hollow cried out, Rukia performed the dance of Hakuren with her zanpakuto, ending it.
However, as the ice fell apart, Captain Ukitake caught a portion of the snow in a Kido-sealed vial.
"Captain, what is that for?"
"It's nothing to worry about, Rukia," Juushiro replied. When he tried to speak further he fell over, hacking dryly. As Rukia leaned over him, he finished, quietly, "I want to see if Kurotsuchi can find any anomalies."
"What for?"
Juushiro stood back up, holding a hand to his chest. "It could be nothing, Rukia. I am only taking precautions. Stay here while I get the boy. Your heel must be hurting about now."
"But you- I'm fine," she muttered as he shunpoed onto the roof without her.
Kiyone and Sentaro found her there soon after, called over by the Captain, who landed with the child. Rukia bore with the pain of Kiyone binding her twisted ankle with the child hanging over her, crying and laughing at the same time. She smiled yet couldn't shake off the feeling that her captain was worried about something beyond the tricky hollow.
-----
Created Moves translation:
* Sora no Meijin = Sky's Master
** Hikari no Enjin = Circle of Light
*** Byakurai Bako = Pale Lightning Box
Sorry, guys, I've been feeling sick and unable to finish this piece. That's why it's this late, and it's long, again. Once the Dungeon Master part of me gave it a mouth, this creation had too much fun playing with Rukia.
