Chapter 26: Little Slice of Nowhere

[madimpossibledreamer]

Fun fact: Urahat's artifacts might be more advanced; the tea is the same.

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Bleach (I Hope Tomorrow's a Better Day)
Chapter Summary: Shunsui and Ukitake arrive in Sunnydale.
Word Count: 630
Rating: Teen

        When they get close to their destination, it’s immediately apparent.  The closest Kisuke-kun was able to take them was a North American town called L.A., though he was able to point them to a place to rent a car.  It is also disconcerting that Kisuke-kun is actually paying attention to a prohibition about traveling there himself, which means that despite the stated lack of anyone officially watching the area (which might actually mean Aizen might not know about it) he either thinks he would get caught and experience more severe consequences than becoming an exile or he’s actually worried about the area.  Surprisingly, Shunsui knows how to drive, though to be fair he’s been to the Human World more recently.  Jyuushirou does his best to try to disguise his interested delight.  By the way his friend glances at him, smug look dancing in mischievous brown eyes, he’s not doing a very good job.
        The human world usually has some reishi, albeit not as much as Soul Society.  The area they’re approaching is in a desert geographically, but the absolute lack of spiritual power within the area mimics the dryness of the land almost perfectly.
        Ukitake coughs quietly, only to find Shunsui looking over at him in concern.  “I’m all right.  Kisuke-kun gave me artifacts and tea to supplement my reiatsu.  I wasn’t sure I’d need them; I suppose I shouldn’t have doubted the former captain of the twelfth division.”  Fortunately, that’s enough, for now, to convince Shunsui, which is good, because despite the lack of any other cars on the road, Ukitake is certainly nervous about Shunsui operating the thing without looking where he is steering it.
        “So, what about the edict we’re not supposed to be in this town?” he asks conversationally, to distract from what others might call a boring road if Ukitake wasn’t too busy paying amazed attention to the speed or possibly as a way to take Jyuushirou’s mind off his health, and he smiles slightly in return.
        “They don’t need to be told.  And in the case they do, we were merely following orders.”  Yamamoto-sama might glower a little, but he’s come to understand that the two of them can manage difficult quests, even if they can be a little…creative in their execution of such tasks.
        Shunsui laughs and shakes his head.  “Sometimes I forget how sneaky you can be.  Would you take pity on a poor man and teach me how you do it?”
        Ukitake laughs briefly.  “Impossible, my friend.  It would require you to behave most of the time—wait.”  He glances, eyes narrowed, at a turn Shunsui seems to have completely ignored.  “According to that sign, that was the turn.”
        Shunsui stops, eyes narrowing, as he glances back toward the turn.  His amused manner disappears entirely.  “Are they sure Mae-chan isn’t the cause here?”  His turn seems a little unsafe, but it’s not like voicing his objections would have any effect, and in any case he doesn’t actually know the rules for cars.
        “She hasn’t been alone with either of us in order to do so,” Juushirou points out quietly.  “If the artifact had extended her powers far enough to be able to alter thoughts in such a way, she would not still be in exile.”  She would have come back with an army like Aizen, he doesn’t say, knowing that they’ve been friends long enough he need not voice such things.
        “Still, it’s the perfect place to hide.  If the place’s natural ‘don’t notice me’ kidou is that strong, paired with her shikai…”  Shunsui sounds as unsettled as Ukitake feels.
        “Perhaps it’s good that we were sent after all,” Juushirou remarks, and his friend nods, taking comfort in that.  Two of the oldest Captains should be able to handle this task.