"Begin!" Yamamoto Genryuusai slammed his cane down and the kido corp members started to chant, unveiling the seals around Soukyoku as Byakuya watched.
It was beautiful in a way. The way the flames rose and swirled around the large naginata like a storm till they took the shape of a flaming bird. An existence of pure destruction like nothing else that wouldn't leave even the smallest particle of the soul it executes. A symbol of Soul Society's absolute law against criminals.
Yet Byakuya found himself unable to appreciate the sight as this symbol was preparing to destroy his sister, the last link he had to Hisana.
His heart ached at the sight and he found his grip on his zanpakuto tightening. How he wished he could stop this and just take Rukia back to Kuchiki manor, then pretend that this damning time period they had experienced was nothing more than a bad dream.
But he couldn't.
His sister was found guilty by their laws and the law had deemed this punishment to be appropriate. The law demanded for this to happen. The law that he was bound by as the head of Kuchiki clan.
They were the clan that had been the keeper of the law longer than any other, if the leader of such clan did not obey the law then who would? To obey the law was his duty as the Kuchiki head to the whole Soul Society and it's denizens, to show that no one was above the law.
He already had defied the law twice in his life. First when he married his late wife Hisana and second when he had adopted her lost sister to the clan. Both of those acts were against the law and yet he had allowed his heart to override his duty.
He could not afford to do such a thing again, no matter how much he wanted to. His duty now, was to watch this execution proceed and see the result of defying the law.
"Above!" And yet destiny seemed to have different plans.
Sokyoku, the ultimate killing tool of Soul Society, was stopped before it could reach Rukia. Stopped by the boy who was the whole reason for this event that he had crushed once already.
That was not all either. Before Sokyoku could attempt another strike, new seals suddenly enveloped the flames and destroyed it. The source? A shield brought by Kyoraku and activated by Ukitake. A shield that had the sigil of Shihouin clan.
How far did this betrayal go?
Before long, Kyoraku and Ukitake ran away; followed by Captain Commander and three lieutenants who had remained behind were defeated by the human boy right after Abarai had arrived and took Rukia with him after the boy threw her at him.
Disgraceful. His own lieutenant, already disgraced by defeat at the hands of human boy and his own, had truly betrayed Soul Society in order to save Rukia. And three remaining lieutenants? His opinion on the second division lieutenant was low enough and the lieutenant of fourth division could be excused due to being a healing specialist but Sasakibe-dono of first division? The longest serving lieutenant being defeated like that was nothing but shameful.
"I can see you, Kuchiki Byakuya!" He would have to end this mistake with his own hands.
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"Come on!" Kenpachi yelled as he slashed at the giant armor once more, leaving a shallow gash on it's arm that was mirrored on the captain that had summoned it.
This was the best, it had been years since he actually got to fight against a bankai. He didn't count the one that the blind weirdo had used as it had been stupidly easy to defeat him. He just had to allow the bastard to stab him once and then he slashed him and the man was done, so fucking disappointing.
Admittedly the huge armor wasn't that much better since every wound was reflected back on the dog headed captain that had summoned it. Sure it had some damn good power and even Kenpachi would have to be wary of getting hit by it but it simply wasn't fast enough to hit him! At least it had good durability.
Still, he needed to deal with it soon. He had promised those five that he would help them deal with the other captains so that they could save their friend. Why wouldn't he? By agreeing to their request he would get to fight other captains and they had promised him a rematch against Ichigo, who was learning Bankai! He would get to fight strong people and then be rewarded by fighting someone who was also strong!
As Yachiru would say, it was a win-win and a no brainer!
Who knows, maybe if he fought enough strong people; then his zanpakuto might even start talking to him!
"Come at me!" He yelled once more as he prepared to launch himself at the armor before a spiritual pressure beyond any other he felt before was felt throughout the air. Yet it was also familiar, from a lesson in the past.
"So even the Old Man is on the move?!" He could feel his grin widen at the thought of finally crossing blades with the man who was recognized as the strongest Shinigami in history bar none.
That settled, he was going to end this fight here and...
"Genryuusai-dono!" Or at least that was the idea before the dog captain deactivated his own Bankai and started to run towards the source of the pressure.
At the absurd sight before him, Kenpachi could only blink. Then he blinked once more. And then he blinked twice more before a vein bulged in his forehead.
"The fuck?!"
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