Chapter 18: Aizen Sosuke: Part 1
"Captain Hitsugaya!"
The shout resounded from behind Rangiku Matsumoto, and promptly, she paused in her duty of moving towards the Head Captain to stare back.
She couldn't see too far back anymore, but that didn't matter when all she had to do was look at the Western sky of the Soul Society. Sheets and sheets of ice covered the air in a dome-like defence, yet she could see countless holes littering the entire mass.
Her lips pursed together. She knew of only one person with the ability and spiritual reserves to generate a substantial amount of ice in a short period of time, and that was her Captain, Toshiro Hitsugaya.
Cracks were soon emerging, and moments later, the entire sheet of ice shattered into pieces, hailing down towards the ground with stones of ice the size of houses. Falling atop tiled roofs and buildings alike, it was clear from just the sound she could hear, that the damage was exceedingly detrimental. However, she didn't really care about that. Building and structures could be replaced, but not the Shinigami who were crushed beneath.
There was a reason why weaker Shinigami are forced to retreat during a battle between Captain-Class Shinigami, and that was because of the danger of being drawn in. It was even more so in regards to Toshiro whose Zanpakuto effected the weather itself without reserve for enemy or ally.
This was the case of the falling debris in the air. Within seconds though, it all stopped, upturned dust creating clouds of dirt in the air that made it even more difficult to see.
Captain.
She bit her lip as she thought of what may have had happened to reduce Toshiro's defenses into nothing. Moreover, was the captain alright?
These thoughts plagued her mind, but she resolved herself to move on. After all, her power was lacking in regards to facing off against the torrent of hollows that began storming in from the breached West. Defense would lay in the hands of the Captains.
She could only hope that the other Captains arrived on time to support her own.
What she could do now though, was complete what was asked of her.
Closing her eyes, she turned away from the Western horizon behind her, and opened her eyes in the direction of the center of the Soul Society. She needed to get a move on.
Tapping lightly against the ground, her orange hair dragged behind her as her body accelerated forward.
When Toshiro had first asked her to report to the Head Captain, the situation did not appear as out of control as it was now. Meaning that not only would she go just to report, but she decided to ask for reinforcements as well.
Only, that she didn't expect to run into someone else on the way.
"Is there anything of the matter Lieutenant?" Aizen spoke.
He had appeared in front of Rangiku just as she turned the corner of the nearest building towards Squad One's barracks.
"I have information to convey to the Head Captain," Rangiku quickly responded after giving a curt nod.
Aizen stood silent for a moment before giving a reassuring smile. "No need lieutenant," he spoke before gazing towards the sky at the increasing number of hollows. "I'm sure that whatever you'd report now, its significance would no longer be relevant. Therefore, it is better to use your strength as a Lieutenant to better defend the Seiretei."
Aizen's words caused Rangiku to hesitate. After all, Aizen's words were reasonable. The information she had to report was of a dire breach, yet this report was already evident from the number of hollows appearing within the West. In which case, the Head Captain may have already sent reinforcements without her needing to ask. Wasn't that why Aizen was here?
In a way, the information would just be outdated and irrelevant.
However,
"I understand Captain, but there's another matter that can not be assessed so easily by assumption," Rangiku said.
Aizen raised a brow.
"It's true that the Head Captain and many others may already know that the West has been breached, and may also have already sent reinforcements, but I need to inform them of how the breach occurred. Otherwise, we may not be able to mount an appropriate defence."
"O." A sharp light entered Aizen's eyes, his curiosity having been piqued. "And that would be?"
Rangiku furrowed her brows as she considered speaking her mind.
It was just a speculation, but perhaps it was worth reporting. She had been there to witness the oddity of that red spear as it pierced through the barrier generated by the sekkiseki rock surrounding the Seireitei. Perhaps it was the cause of the breach if even Captain Soifon would risk blowing her cover just to wordlessly alert Captain Toshiro of the danger.
Still, was Captain Aizen trustworthy enough to share this information with?
Out of all the Captains, Aizen was without a doubt the most well liked by others in the Seireitei. In that case, didn't his reputation alone prove his worth?
She came to a decision and began to narrate what she and Captain Toshiro had seen first hand.
The expression on Aizen's face seemed to shift from one of calm, to something harder to describe; peculiar would be the closest thing to it.
Seeing that her piece was done, Rangiku bowed and walked past Aizen and moved towards Squad One's barracks directly ahead.
Aizen pushed up his glasses, and suddenly stopped Rangiku before she could go any further.
Rangiku raised a brow, and was growing increasingly impatient due to the severity of the situation. "Is there anything more you need Captain?" She asked curtly.
"About that, if you're insistent on going, then I would like to trouble you with a few other important matters," Aizen said before quickly conveying his intentions.
As Rangiku listened, she couldn't help but be surprised with Captain Aizen's forethought. His reputation within the Seireitei was well deserved as it would seem.
Rangiku didn't bother with pleasantries anymore after Aizen finished speaking. Instead, as a resounding impact echoed in the distance, she just nodded her head before turning to leave.
But at the same time, the sound of heavy footsteps entered her ears.
What appeared in front of her was a squad of brutes, savages, and warmongers, but she couldn't be anymore thrilled if just a little apprehensive as Aizen gave a short nod before assimilating with them.
It was Squad Eleven, lead by the strongest Shinigami to earn the title of Kenpachi who stood at the front.
He was a man of tall build, his toned muscles visible from the groove created from his loose haori and kosode. In his hands was a jagged blade with a leather grip fashioned with a criss-cross pattern that led down to the pommel and up the rounded hilt. Bells were tied to his pointed black hair which resembled a starfish; each tinkling with every step the man took forward.
On his face was a scar that ran vertically down his left eye, and his other eye was covered by a black eye-patch. Yet, what was the most disturbing about the man was not the little pink haired child hanging off his shoulder, but the savage smile and murderous aura the man exuded.
His name was Zaraki Kenpachi.
Captain of Squad Eleven.
Toshiro pulled the red spear from out of his arm with a pained grunt before watching it fade away into small particles of Spirit Energy.
Soon after, he stared in shock along with the rest of his returning squad at the collapsing form of the ice barrier he had created prior. Numerous buildings were crushed from its debris, and even some Shinigami were caught beneath and killed, leaving a bitter feeling in his chest.
What was worse, was that not only did the barrier of ice he created break, but so too did the natural barrier emitted outwards from the Sekkiseki stone which was restoring itself at an abysmal rate.
The situation was not something one would call dire at first, rather, it had still been manageable up until the point all the hollows began charging in.
"Where are the other Captains?!" Tohiro called to his seated officers, ripping of a piece of his haori and tying it to his arm to staunch the bleeding.
One his seated officers moved forward to report. "Sir, the other Captains have already been informed and are on their way. It's just that due to the distribution of placements, they can't all get here at once and will take time."
Toshiro cursed inwardly before raising his sword up. "Then we must make that time," he spoke as his eyes assessed the situation. "Gather the rest of the squad and prevent the hollows from dispersing into the Seireitei. It would be a catastrophe other wise as the amount of damage they can do is immeasurable."
Even more so when the weakest is an Adjuchas.
Toshiro couldn't help but click his tongue after the initial assessment. "GO!" He yelled, his tone expressing his urgency.
With that said, those of squad Ten and the nearby Shinigami who had heard Toshiro's instructions began undertaking them.
Releasing a sigh, Toshiro looked up at the enemy who had been silently floating up in the air, his face paling.
Vasto Lordes.
One.
Two.
Three…
The number of them was just too horrifying. There must have been at least seven of them, maybe even more hidden within the crowd of Adjuchas.
One moment he blinked, and in the next, over half of the Vasto Lordes were gone.
Toshiro's eyes widened. "Be careful!" He yelled.
The Vasto Lordes scattered in all directions, destroying anything in their way with their sheer strength alone. Only one had remained behind.
Despite his warnings, his squad members could not possibly prepare themselves to defend against the attack of a Vasto Lorde.
Screams echoed out at the Western wall, a cero ripping through a formation set up by the seated officers, and another being disrupted with a single swing.
"Shit," Toshiro cursed, taking action against the groups of Adjuchas that quickly followed the backs of the dispersing Vasto Lordes.
"Hyorinmaru!" He called, swinging his sword with his left arm and forming arcs of ice that accelerated forward. Under the ice's effect, nearly a quarter of the Adjuchas that entered the Seireitei were encased in ice.
The lone Vasto Lordes narrowed his eyes upon seeing this before raising a hand. And from it appeared the red spear.
Toshiro's eyes immediately dilated as the wound on his arm began to act up. It was this very spear that allowed the hollows the ability to bypass the Seireitei's defences.
In Toshiro's eyes, the Vasto Lorde in front of him became the priority target. If that Vasto Lorde went down, then so to did the hollows ability to bypass the Seireitei's defences. Even more so when any other defence they could come up with would be created by spiritual energy much like the ice that he had used to cover the sky. And in that case,
The ice encasing the Adjuchas shattered upon contact with the red spear.
It would all be futile.
There was no longer anytime to assess the opponent's abilities. He had to act now.
"Bankai: Daiguren Hyōrinmaru,"
Bankai was a Zanpakuto's second and final released form, granting their wielder an immense increase in strength and versatility. Normally, one would need an extensive amount of practice and hardship to unlock this second stage, thus making it a crowning achievement. This was evident as only Captains have currently unlocked their Bankai in the Seireitei. In Toshiro's case, his allowed him significantly elevated control over ice.
From the pommel of Hyorinmaru, ice began to crawl up Toshiro's arm until it created wings of ice around his back, and then promptly covered his arms and legs before forming a tail. A dragon's head made out of ice acted as Hyorinmaru's hilt.
Layers of frost covered Toshiro's entire body, three flowers of ice forming around him each with four purple petals shaped like diamonds.
"You," Toshiro spoke, pointing his sword forward. "Who are you?"
It wasn't quite apparent, but he had noticed something in the hollows behaviour.
Because it was the sole Vasto Lorde in front of him that the rest differed to. If he could somehow defeat him, then perhaps the rest would be far easier to deal with. It was already too late to stop the hollows from dispersing into the Seireitei, therefore, Toshiro had to think of other methods.
The hollow before him was pale all over, and appeared human. Its arms and legs covered with hollow bone armour possessing tribal markings that ran up and down. From its narrowed auburn eyes, Toshiro could tell that this Vasto Lorde was far different from a regular hollow.
"My name is of no concern, but you can just call me Shirou," the Vasto Lorde spoke. "I only have a single question for you, and I urge you to answer truthfully."
Shirou's eyes shone with a calm light, the spear in his hand fading away as the spiritual energy around him became chaotic.
"Where is she?" Shirou asked. "The one you took in the Human World."
Toshiro's scalp began to tingle, his hairs standing on end as his mind thought of Mayuri Kurotsuchi and blanked. Knowing Mayuri as well as he did, even if he were to agree to return the hollow without the orders of the Head-Captain, there was no guarantee of the hollow's survival under Mayuri's examinations.
Even then, it was impossible to tell Shirou where Silent was due to Squad Twelve's barracks being near the Central Forty-six. Similarly, multiple technological buildings were also located there; the monitoring devices for the Human World for example. Knowing the nature of hollows, it was not in the Soul Society's best interests to allow hollows entry.
"I can't answer that," Toshiro spoke grimly. "Just know that it is impossible for you to have your way within the Soul Society."
Just as Hueco Mundo was the home ground of hollows, The Soul Society was the home ground of Shinigami. There was a reason why no unit of Shinigmai ever returned from Hueco Mundo, and there was a reason why no group of Hollows invading the Soul Society ever returned either.
The advantage of the Home Field and number.
Shirou didn't speak, instead, he just looked on at the hollows that came with him scattering across the Seireitei in search of Silent. He wasn't a fool, and he knew that by doing so the risks only increased by spreading their numbers thin. Therefore, the faster he could deal with the Shinigami in front of him, the faster he could aid the others and Silent.
"Then step aside," Shirou spoke. "I don't hold any grudges with the Shinigami, but I won't allow you all to take a comrade."
Toshiro tensed, blood flowing out of his injured arm which he then promptly froze. He didn't move from his spot, making it clear to Shirou of where he stood. He would not allow Shirou to do as he wished in the Soul Society.
Multiple bangs echoed out in the distance, and both Toshiro and Shirou glanced at the directions.
Everywhere, the fighting had exploded.
When Shirou had first sent Starrk, Harribel, Ulquiorra, and the rest to search within the Seireitei, he was sure that they would be apprehended by Shinigami eventually, but he didn't expect for it to be this soon. The only upside was that only four of them had been stopped while the others continued to spread out within the Seireitei.
Harribel stood in front of Kaname Tousen, and not too far away from her was Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila-Rose who stood before Sajin Komamara.
Toshiro let out a sigh of relief. There was no way he could have had handled the situation by himself, and knowing the Head-Commander, reinforcements may already be on their way.
"Give it up hollow," Toshiro spoke coldly. "You can't win."
"The thing is," Shirou spoke slowly. "I can't do that. And if you would block my way, then I'm afraid I have no choice. Trace, On."
Toshiro's brows furrowed in contemplation about the phrase Shirou spoke, but disregarded it in favour of increasing his guard. This hollow wasn't normal in any way, and looking at it now, his way of thinking bordered only on the conservative.
Before, Toshiro had already speculated that Shirou had the ability to create an odd type of red spear, but the evidence spoke otherwise.
"Kanshou and Bakuya," Shirou spoke, introducing the weapons that appeared in his hands.
For a second, Toshiro didn't know what to think. A hollow possessing a named blade reminiscent of a Zanpakuto? If he hadn't seen it, he would never have had believed it. Yet, it was clear through Toshiro's eyes that the weapon in Shirou's hands was not an authentic Zanpakuto.
The energy and feel was different.
After all, a Zanpakuto was an extension of a Shinigami's soul. Still, it was unheard of for a hollow to possess something so similar. Toshiro's suspicions only rose before he decided that it was best to observe the situation carefully.
The battle began like a storm.
Hyorinmaru, the Lord of the frosted skies roared as multiple sleek dragons of ice accelerated forward.
This was an extensive ability of Hyorinmaru. Each slash had the capability of unleashing the head of an ice dragon forward. Even the claws of ice on Toshiro's arms and legs were capable of extending outwards to attack.
Shirou narrowed his eyes and immediately engaged, tossing Kanshou forward in an arc while two-handing Bakuya.
He had fought against Baraggan.
He had fought against the speed and destructive power of Grimmjow.
"Speed, lacking," Shirou dove into one of Toshiro's slashes, and rammed his elbow forward.
Toshiro dry heaved, but immediately reacted as he saw Bakuya's edge gleam in sight.
Toshiro kicked forward, using a slab of ice to strike against one of Shirou's elbows, before promptly disarming Bakuya with an extended spike of ice.
Shirou backed to make distance.
Utilizing this chance, Toshiro struck out, ice forming at the tip of his blade and extending forward to close the distance.
Mouth twitching in disbelief, Toshiro's attack was stopped by a single uninjured hand.
"Power," Shirou crushed the blade of ice in his grip. "Weak."
Toshiro's forehead creased, but he refused to believe his capabilities were so low. He was a Captain. Even if he was facing a Vasto Lorde, the disparity shouldn't be this large.
The ability and strength this hollow displayed was shocking.
Yet with renewed determination, Toshiro initiated the attack, neglecting the thrown Kanshou that was spinning in the air.
Shirou didn't speak a word as Toshiro attacked. Another copy of Kanshou appeared in his hand to replace the first one as he parried with his sword style.
The disparity in sword play soon became quite evident.
Still, Toshiro was sure that he had disarmed Shirou numerous times, yet in every instance, a new sword took the displaced sword's place. It was only after several of such encounters that Toshiro realized that something was wrong. He had disarmed so many, yet he had not heard a single clang of steel impacting against the ground. Similarly, Shirou did not look at all like he was concerned.
Toshiro's hairs stood on ends when moments later, a buzzing sound appeared near his ears.
Swerving his head to the left, his eyes dilated upon seeing a strand of his silver hair missing from a rotating Kanshou.
And there wasn't just one.
Every single copy of Kanshou and Bakuya he had disarmed were spinning around him like a vortex, and in front of him stood an impassive looking Shirou.
"If you won't help me, then all that's left is to make sure you can't harm anyone else," Shirou said, tossing Kanshou and Bakuya directly at Toshiro.
Sweat collected on Toshiro's brows before he cursed as the blades all homed in on him, following the trajectory of the thrown blades.
"Sit upon the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!" Toshiro yelled, encasing himself within a dome of ice as resounding explosion sent him rocketing across the ground.
Bruises covered his body, the arm that had once already been stabbed by the red spear beginning to swell despite its frozen condition. Numeorus other parts of his body were bleeding, but Toshiro promptly froze them in place. His expression was grim at this point.
Toshiro could feel that his reserves were sitting just over three-quarters, but Shirou did not appear too winded yet despite the small cuts Toshiro was able to land. It was almost laughable really when the high-speed regeneration characteristic of hollows began to act up. Under its effect, Shirou did not appear as if he had just gone through a battle.
Damn it.
Toshiro cursed, placing himself back onto his feet.
Suddenly, the ground shook as a man heavily descended from the sky, cratering the ground with hairline cracks.
It was clearly a Captain-class Shinigami from the haori and spiritual pressure emitted.
"Kenpachi Zaraki," the man introduced grinning at Shirou. "Are you strong?" He then asked.
Evidently, Shirou didn't have to answer as Zaraki came to his own conclusions after looking at the state Toshiro and the surroundings were in.
"Oh Kenny, you found a good one today!" The little girl sitting on top of Zaraki's shoulder exclaimed.
Her name was Yachiro Kusajishi. She had short pink hair that stopped just past her neck to sit around her shoulders, and she wore the same black hakama's that all Shinigami wore. Her face was round, still possessing some of the baby fat known from children of her age. Similarly, her eyes were just as round, staring curiously at Shirou with a hint of playfulness which should not have been present towards one's enemies. In a way, Shirou was reminded of Lilynette, but he quickly got rid of the image in order to concentrate on the next individual who landed beside Zaraki.
"Ikkaku Madarame third seat," the new comer spoke, his eyes glancing around him for an enemy yet growing increasingly frustrated when all he saw was Shirou. "Well, shit. Only the Captain gets to have a good fight."
Ikkaku Madarame was a lean built man with muscles clearly evident behind his black Shinigami garb. He was bald, and had narrow eyes streaked with a dash of red eye-shadow that curved up. His smile though, as he had first arrived, was only beaten by the grin on Zaraki's face.
And with the arrival of this wild and fierce looking Captain holding his jagged sword out with a single hand,
The rest of Squad Eleven had soon arrived.
Looking at the increased number of opponents before him, Shirou could only sigh in relief that the other hollows that had come with him had already scattered within the Seireitei. In which case, they would not have to deal with this large of a force that only Starrk, and perhaps Harribel and the other Vasto Lordes may have a chance of surviving. Individually, a Vasto Lordes was plenty strong to crush a Shinigami, but against large numbers of difficult opponents, it would be hard to determine the winner.
With the scattering of the hollows across the Seireitei, numerous sounds of destruction began to resound as they initiated the search for Silent.
Not only did the hollows searching for Silent do it with vigour, but they also obtained a sense of pride from it. Here they were, hollows indirectly attacking the Soul Society as they pleased while searching nonstop for a companion. It made their blood boil with excitement just thinking that all this was because of the leadership of their King.
While the hollows reveled in their elation, it was only because they had not yet met danger due to Shirou diverting the attention onto himself as planned.
The larger of a mess he made, the more likely he would attract stronger Shinigami to ease the burden on the weaker hollows that followed him, however temporary it was.
Zaraki Kenpachi was one such strong Shinigami.
Yet something else took Shirou's attention aside from the killing intent in Zaraki's eyes.
It was a killing intent for greater than what Zaraki could ever emit at the moment as it was accompanied by an ear-splitting wail of anger.
Shirou couldn't help but stare openly at the fierce expression of the man which hovered above Zaraki's blade.
Nothing could describe it other than 'demon.' It was a beast, with unruly black hair that draped down from over its red bare-chested body. Horns sprouted from its head, bending at odd angles before suddenly spiking up
Its name was Nozorashi.
Almost instinctually, Nozorashi's hollow eyes zeroed in on him, it expression becoming increasingly disturbing.
Seemingly hovering just over Zaraki's blade, Nozorashi immediately appeared before him, stopping its face mere inches away from Shirou's.
"Use me," the voice that came from out of Nozorashi's mouth was like the sound of grating metal. "Call upon my name, and show this world who I really am."
Something stirred from within him, his eyes furrowing as a phrase took root in his mind. Unlimited Blade Works. The world of the lonely hill, and the swords that surrounded it.
On that hill, a jagged sword had formed.
Nozorashi fell silent, its gaze penetrating as a faint golden light exuded from it. It then nodded its head.
"Beaten and worn, chipped yet not defeated, a soul born from blood shed and will,"
A choking sound echoed out within the area, Toshiro and many others not even realizing it was their own.
"Call my name!"
A blade identical to the one in Zaraki's hand appeared in Shirou's, and began transforming under the astonished gazes of everyone present.
"Drink: Nozorashi." The once jagged blade became an axe-like war cleaver with a cloth-wrapped handle and a tassel attached to the top.
Through Shirou's eyes, it was the very picture of a monster of weapon, giving him an almost familiar feeling towards another weapon in his arsenal.
Yet in others eyes, it meant something far different.
Z-Zanpakuto!
Toshiro's expression was beyond just simply disturbed, it was horrified. If before the weapons he had seen Shirou create were enough to cause him confusion, then now, they made him feel something far more. After all, the question still remained of how Shirou was able to create those weapons. It couldn't just be a natural ability where Shirou could make either a spear or a sword, it might be something far more frightening. His mouth dried as his mind created a single conjecture.
Creation through grasping.
Toshiro had seen how Shirou stared at the Zanpakuto Zaraki wielded, and had also seen how moments later an identical copy was created in Shirou's hands. To be promoted into a Captain at such a young age, Toshiro had been very perceptive since young which accounted for his reputation as a genius. It wasn't difficult for him to link together Shirou's actions with the creation of that blade. Even more so when he took into account the root of the origin of what Shirou had spoken prior. 'Trace On.' Trace, that word alone was enough evidence to speculate.
Therefore, Toshiro's heart began to race as he stared at Hyorinmaru, and then began to recount just how long Shirou had to examine it in the fight before paling. C-Could it be possible that Shirou was able to create any Zanpakuto he's ever seen?
Almost as a reflex, Toshiro felt the urge to sheath his blade and hide it away from sight, but he realized it would be useless at this point. Instead, it was better to warn everyone else.
"Don't let him see your Zanpakuto, he can use it against you!" Toshiro yelled gravely, sharing his conjecture of which he was now almost certain of after he noticed the surprised expression on Shirou's face.
Toshiro's words had a devastating effect, as almost all the Shinigami present faltered, staring nervously at Shirou as if he was some monster and not just a hollow. Many even sheathed their swords, unable to stop themselves after realizing that they may just be empowering Shirou. Others were just unwilling to see their Zanpakuto in the hands of another.
A tenuous silence permeated throughout the area which was echoed by the clatter of panicked movements.
And in the silence, only one was there to break it.
Zaraki Kenpachi stepped forward with an expression that wasn't quite as intimidating as usual. Instead, there was something far more peculiar about it. An expression of incomprehension.
In the end, Zaraki could only mutter a single question after staring at the trembling sword in his hand, and then staring at the transformed one in Shirou's.
"What did he say?"
Was the question asked, giving the Shinigami another surprise.
It should have been impossible for Zaraki to not have heard what Shirou had said. After all, everyone had witnessed for the first time the Zanpakuto of the Captain of Squad Eleven. The only Shinigami to have become a Captain without unlocking either forms of his Zanpakuto.
Zaraki wasn't a fool, so he had heard all the words Shirou had spoken before hand. Yet at the most crucial moment, his ears had become deaf upon hearing the name of his Zanpakuto. Thus, out of curiosity, he had asked those around.
Yet none could answer with a straight face. Even then, whenever the rest spoke, he could hear nothing of the sword's name.
Only Shirou knew why though.
In Nozorashi's eyes, Zaraki was not yet worthy. It was a similar case to how Senbonzakura refused to be utilized.
"My blade is one that embodies strength. Under its swing, none shall survive."
Nozorashi swung out in Shirou's arm.
No one in the Soul Society had ever seen Zaraki Kenpachi's Zanpakuto before, and as such, none could prepare themselves for just how devastating it was. Escpecially when Shirou was using it with Nozorashi's full consent.
It was like a slab of meat was put through a meat grinder, the area in front of Shirou collapsed with just the strength of his swing alone.
Building lay ruined, dredges of dirt and debris still flying in the air and falling like meteors towards other sectors of the Seireitei.
Zaraki's eyes widened witnessing the strength of his own Zanpakuto. Even more so when he was heavily knocked back by a simple graze. For the first time, he wondered what it would have been like if he knew his comrade's name.
Toshiro Hitsugaya was not as lucky as Zaraki, his expression frozen in shock as his lower body separated from his torso.
Screams echoed out in the ensuing chaos, more so from Squad Ten who looked at Toshiro in a daze.
Shirou closed his eyes, a bitter feeling in his chest. But he had had no choice but to retaliate after the Soul Society had taken one of his own.
Nozorashi cried out for blood, and Shirou complied.
Under the weight of his onslaught, no Shinigami was able to endure it.
One Shinigami lost an arm, another a leg after attempting to divert Nozorashi's trajectory but failing.
It was like a slaughter house. Wherever Shirou went, numerous Shinigami began fell.
Shirou resolved himself. No matter how many he killed today, this was a result of the Soul Society forcing his hand.
Narrowing his eyes, Shirou placed both hands on the hilt of Nozorashi's blade and swung it at his front just as Zaraki aimed a slash at him.
Sparks fell, and Zaraki gritted his teeth from the pressure of exerting himself. Yet the blood thirsty and battle hungry look on his face was not the one Shirou was expecting.
Numerous allies had died, yet Zaraki didn't even bat an eye and continued fighting.
That was when Shirou noticed it, the layer of frost building at the tip of Nozorashi's blade and tassel.
"Do not assume that you can defeat me so easily," Toshiro's voice appeared from behind Shirou's back, along with a dangerous cold. Yet it was clear from the tone that Toshiro was exhausted with whatever skill he'd used. "For the sake of the Soul Society, you above all hollows here, must die."
Shirou clicked his tongue before exerting his strength and swinging Nozorashi in a circle, forcing both Zaraki and Toshiro back.
He wasn't in the Soul Society because he wanted to be.
He didn't come with any intention of invading.
All that he wanted was to save one of the ones he called 'friend.'
At that moment, an explosion of spiritual energy forcibly traversed through the area, causing Shirou to raise his arm to protect his eyes from the strong winds generated from such a result.
His eyes narrowed.
Such a strong energy should have had originated from an even stronger Shinigami. Good, this way the safety of the others searching would only increase if only temporarily. In that case, it was best to defeat everyone here to nullify the danger, and then aid the rest.
Still, surely the other two Captains must have been affected or have taken notice of a new addition to the fight?
Yet contrary to what he thought, the other two Captains in front of him, Toshiro and Zaraki, did not seem effected in the least as they released their own spiritual energy.
He tensed in preparation for battle.
Because he believed at that point that the fight was only beginning.
Little did he know what would soon befall his eyes.
"…"
Shirou couldn't understand what was happening.
One moment, the two Captains in front of him were just about ready to continue their assault on him, and in the next, they began swinging their swords randomly. At times they struck down buildings, and at other times they parried against each other's blades. All the while Zaraki was grinning savagely while bleeding out, and Toshiro appeared to be talking down to his opponent, ready to deal the final blow despite looking so haggard.
The same was happening to every other Shinigami in the area, all seemingly unable to determine what it was they were actually fighting.
Slowly, he lowered his weapon to the dissatisfaction of Nozorashi who began raging within his soul. The whole purpose of why Nozorashi had allowed itself to be used was to abate its fury caused by the injustice Zaraki had subject it to.
Attack! Attack damn it!
Nozorashi raged.
"Shut up fool, you're hurting my head," Kyoka's voice was clipped, having grown increasingly irritated with the new addition. Even worse…
"Well I agree with that fool, hurry up and attack!" Gae Bolg said.
Was the addition of an idiot.
With all the arguments occurring within his head, Shirou momentarily found it hard to concentrate on anything. Even worse, he was the only one who could hear the argument.
Yet, eventually, he collected himself and began to assess the situation.
The Shinigami were acting too weirdly, and what was even more confusing was that some of the hollows still close enough to see his battle didn't appear to notice anything wrong.
It was as if out of everyone present, only he was being effected by this peculiar phenomenon.
"Now that's more like it, bring it ON!"
The sudden voice caused him to tense and raise his guard, only to stare blankly at the scene in front of him.
Ikkaku Madarame, the lieutenant who had introduced himself after Zaraki Kenpachi, was yelling at a wall.
"I swear. In here, and out there, I'm surrounded by brutes with brains the size of peas," Kyoka couldn't help but sigh.
No one consoled her. In fact, Gae bolg and Nozorashi only grunted before glaring.
Nozorashi then clicked his tongue before pulling away its spiritual energy, making the Zanpakuto in Shirou's hands slowly fade away.
"If you will not attack, then it is useless for me to be here," Nozorashi spoke before falling completely silent.
Shirou did not rebut.
Walking slowly, his eyes soon landed on the only Shinigami that did not appear to be affected by the current situation at all, rather, the man was disturbingly calm.
From within his soul, Kyoka suddenly began to become vigorous as the man appeared within her gaze. After all, the one who appeared in front of Shirou was the man she admired and respected the most.
It was Aizen Sosuke.
Chapter 19: Soul Society, Part 1
It was a little hard to believe at first, but eventually something clicked inside Shirou's head.
The oddities.
And an understanding of the true ability of Kyoka Suigetsu. It can alter an opponent's mind somehow through an illusion? Judging from what he had seen prior, there was a likelihood to this deduction, but he couldn't be sure as Kyoka herself had yet to reveal anything besides the components of her make. Her ability as a Zanpakuto was still obscured, and yet looking at how Aizen utilized it, a question came to mind.
Why then had Aizen not used it on him?
There were many questions running through his head, but not one of them left his mouth. Instead, he spoke out Aizen's name.
"Aizen," Shirou greeted with a tilt of his head.
Rather than answering immediately, Aizen minutely creased his brows, his once approachable demeanor shifting into a frigid cold as the expression on his face became neutral.
Throughout the entire confrontation between Shirou and the Captains, Aizen had been watching silently. Shrewdly he had drawn closer and closer, his fascination and curiosity growing from within him. Yet along with it, grew an increasing weariness that he could only scoff at.
Aizen cleared his throat, having come to a startling conclusion that bordered way past the notions of unimaginable, and could potentially explain the lack of effect from his blade.
Aizen drew Kyoka Suigetsu from its sheath, brandishing it in front of him in full display to Shirou. "Kyoka Suigetsu, it's a fine blade with quite a remarkable ability, but I suppose you already know that, don't you?"
It was an intuitive method of verifying Aizen's assumptions and conjectures based on the reaction of the other party. In which case, it was the lack of that solidified any thoughts Aizen had on what he had seen.
A Zanpakuto.
Rumours originating from Hueco Mundo told of a vast area covered in blades, and looked down upon by a hollow atop a lonely hill. Eyes that could see for an eternity, and power to rival or surpass that of even the strongest of hollows, the rumours were not baseless.
A grand display it was; observing from a distance as group after group of attacking hollows were shot down from seemingly out of nowhere.
It was a place and spectacle Aizen had seen himself.
And it was glorious.
The tension he had felt was like none other as the heat of the explosions had once pressed against his face, causing perspiration. In its wake was the remnants of a twisted sword, steaming with wisps of lingering spiritual energy.
Then and now, everything was coming together back to a single origin.
A Zanpakuto
All the swords Aizen had ever seen in that land full of steel, were they all Zanpakuto?
A burst of bemusement began to well from within Aizen, a rare expression of intrigue forming over his face. It had been a long time since anything had been able to garner his attention, and this ability Shirou seemed to possess very nearly urged him to act without care for consequence in the pursuit of curiosity. After all, his very objective might have preliminarily already been achieved in Shirou.
To break the boundary which separated a Hollow from a Shinigami.
The fact that Shirou was able to use a Zanpakuto, no; more than that, create them through his own power signified that the King of Hollows may already be at such a stage, knocking on the boundary itself. Yet that final push was still missing, and for that, Aizen would need the Hogyoku.
An item that can break the boundary separating Hollows and Shinigami itself. And that was Aizen's current sole objective in the Seireitei.
Gingerly, Aizen lowered Kyoka Suigetsu to his side as he stared at Shirou. The power Shirou had exhibited had more or less been deduced by him, but only a single question remained.
Prerequisites.
What allowed Shirou to utilize this ability?
The answer became fairly clear after thinking back to how Shirou had simply stared at Captain Zaraki's Zanpakuto. In that case…
Aizen's eyes glanced momentarily at his own sword, his partner before staring back at Shirou. This could be far more troublesome than he had first thought. Like an ignorant fool, Aizen had brandished his blade on his first meeting with Shirou. Perhaps at that time, a copy of Kyoka Suigetsu had already been created by Shirou, preventing Shirou from falling under Kyoka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis?
A conjecture worth noting, but all the same, Aizen would not regret what has already past. Simply adjusting was what a man like himself would do. In which case, he had high hopes for Shirou, especially after assuming just what kind of ability Shirou had and the benefits it could potentially bring.
At any rate, it was time to set everything in motion, no matter how many variables and changes sprung up in the plan like weeds.
"If you did not come to fight, then why are you here?" Shirou asked, growing impatient as the battles around him were intensifying due to the reinforcements sent by the Seireitei.
Aizen took note of this, and decided that it would be best to pursue prompt responses.
"It's all a matter of interest for now," Aizen sheathed his sword before adjusting his glasses. He then clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. "Speaking of interests, look there."
Aizen was motioning towards a building located in the distance.
The architecture was much the same as the numerous other facilities located within the Seireitei's walls, yet this building was far wider and more accommodating by comparision. The structure of most of the building consisted of plain white walls with brown tinted tiles as the roofing. Further behind the building, was a dome shaped arrangement of smooth and pale stone.
"That is the twelfth Division's Barracks. Also known as the Research and Development center. Your friend is held in there," Aizen admitted.
There was something peculiar about Aizen's expression at that moment, and it was enough to give Shirou pause.
"And why would you help me?" Shirou finally began to raise his guard. Something just wasn't quite right with Aizen, but at least the man had not done anything outside his bottom line.
In fact, everything Aizen had advised before were true, or held significance. The time Aizen had warned him of Kisuke Urahara, and the time Aizen put in the effort to aid him when Silent was in the Human world, both of them showed that he was at least willing to work with him.
A light entered Aizen's eyes hidden beneath the glare of his glasses. After all, what Shirou didn't know was that Aizen himself was indirectly an instigator of the events in the Human World. Although Kisuke's actions and lack of information couldn't have had helped Aizen more.
Aizen unclasped his hands from behind his back. "We all have interests, and that includes me," Aizen began, clear, crisp, and confident. "Only when two people have differing objectives can partnerships be truly struck. To that regard, I hope that you would remember a little favour on my behalf in the future? In exchange, I am willing to help shoulder your weight by protecting as many of your comrades as I can. Seeing the effects of my Zanpakuto, it could prove quite useful."
Shirou stared hard at Aizen, watching the man for any signs of deception before turning his gaze in the direction of the building Aizen had specified. He and the rest were in enemy territory, and the intel Aizen had just provided may prove pivotal to decreasing the amount of time spent within the Seireitei under danger.
Aizen had his thanks.
But Aizen had also garnered his suspicions, having an idea of Kyoka's abilities and remembering how Nel and the rest had reacted on his first encounter with Aizen. How he should have reacted, but did not.
"It's a simple water type Zanpakuto, however with my spiritual pressure, it becomes a dangerous weapon."
Had he actually been threatened from the very beginning?
He had no proof, but he did have Aizen's actions in aiding him. Proving that at least the man may not be as harmful as he imagined.
Yet could it all have been a lie?
His expression grew grim. It was a possibility that somewhere within the recesses of his mind, he knew he had experienced before.
Translucent Gears once again began turning.
A mind left undisturbed beginning to awaken.
He didn't want to think of the possibility for now.
In the end, it was Kyoka who earnestly made the decision for him.
"Sitting upon a serene lake, the moon drifting behind the clouds surrounded by a blanket of stars… He, the flower floating in the center of it all, is alone, basking in the radiance of that which is tranquil beyond compare. A mirror of oneself; an image revealed in the water. The moon flower awaits. Two faces, neither knowing much of the other, a reflection that can never be understood so easily."
Kyoka paused. Perhaps of anyone present, only she could claim to know Aizen the best as his Zanpakuto. "Although he may come off as a little off putting, the man I know who called upon me for the first time, was a man worth trusting. Aizen, he isn't bad."
Hearing the sincerity in Kyoka's voice, Shirou couldn't help but question himself. In any case, he nodded his head as an answer to Aizen's. "As long as you don't take things too far," he said.
With that, Shirou made off for the building Aizen had specified, leaving behind a mystified Aizen.
After all, Aizen had seen the growing suspicion in Shirou's eyes, and was prepared to persuade the Vasto Lorde to his cause. Yet it had somehow all just worked out.
Somewhat bewildered, but not muddle headed, Aizen began to fill out his end of the bargain, his attention turning towards Harribel, Apacci, Mila-Rose, and Sung-Sun before moving on to the rest of the hollows in the Seireitei. It would be too much of an effort to protect them all, so he would act only should the situation call for it.
With that in mind, Aizen took one last moment to consider what made Shirou concede to his request so easily before leaving, unable to come up with an answer.
Strapped beside Aizen's waist, Kyoka Suigetsu remained motionless within its scabbard, tranquil as a mirror.
Somewhere within a forested region of spirit trees outside the Seireitei's walls, a hole tore within space itself, revealing a darkness one could barely see through even with the brightest of lights.
And from within it,
Was a black cat, followed by the sound of screams drawing closer and echoing endlessly in the void.
"Well, that wasn't so bad," the cat spoke licking its paw.
This cat was Yoruichi, the black cat Kisuke Urahara normally kept by his side. Its body was slender, its paws maintained, and its claws retracted to avoid damaging them, and currently, it watched silently as a group of people fell in a pile in front of it.
"Karin, are you alright?" Ichigo asked first, he was sitting near the top of the pile and above him held in his arms was Karin.
"Y-Yeah," Karin said before snorting and shoving Ichigo away from her. Ever since Ichigo had tried to push her away from all the danger, she had grown increasingly irritated at him. It only grew worse when she had realized that Ichigo had moved to protect her again while they were running away from the Kototsu, a sweeper of sorts that prevented individuals from remaining within the Dangai, the passage to the human world.
"Karin…" Ichigo trailed off, his lip twitching as Karin forced herself out of his hold, leaving him completely speechless with her behaviour.
After healing up, Ichigo had to admit that Kisuke was quite 'innovative' in his methods of bringing back Ichigo's Shinigami powers, but he was still furious with the man. Not only for what Kisuke had put him through, but for what he had done to allow Karin to come along, putting her in danger. Karin had yet to show anything close to an ability that would let her survive an encounter with an enemy aside from her control of spiritual energy which even surprised Ishida, but that was irrelevant. What mattered was that she had come along because of Kisuke's insistence, saying that she'd be better off sticking close to a strong source of uncontrolled and free spiritual energy to better develop before actual learning of a skill.
It was complete bullshit, just where could Kisuke find such a source?
Did Kisuke think he was a fool? Kisuke was obviously siding with Yoruichi who decided it would be best to begin training Karin.
The injuries he had sustained prior still stung, but he continued to disregard them as he gave Yoruichi the stink eye.
"Can you move already, Kurosaki," Ishida hissed with a flustered tone from beneath Ichigo and Chad. This was simply because of the positioning. As they had all fallen into a pile, Ishida was currently pressed right up against Orihime who was struggling to get out herself.
For those who had followed Ichigo despite knowing the danger, Ichigo was truly grateful. Aside from his views regarding Karin's participation, he was accepting of everyone else as they at least had skills to defend themselves with.
Chad was one of Ichigo's closest friend, the two sticking to each other's backs despite any situation. They had gone through a multitude of street fights as a result.
Chad was a tall man of Hispanic looking decent that normally wore a collared pink shirt and a pair of dark coloured jeans leading to a pair of worn sneakers. He had long curly brown bangs that shadowed his left eye.
Other than Chad, there was Ishida and Orihime Inoue.
The both of them had come to Ichigo's aid after knowing of the circumstance.
Orihime was a slim woman with a large bust line and small stature. Her orange hair was styled in a way that it fell just behind her ears, clipped up by a blue hair clip designed like flower petals. Her face was rounded, her cheek bones just barely visible from the complexion of her face.
Currently, she was at the bottom of the body pile with her legs pinned making it difficult for her to crawl out. Embarrassed as she was, she had become even more so after visualizing what would happen should Ichigo see her in such a state.
Immediately, she had somehow crawled out from beneath Ishida and stood with a relieved sigh beside Karin and Yoruichi.
Startled upon hearing Ishida's yell, Ichigo finally moved himself off of the pile and allowed both Chad and Ishida back up on their feet.
Ishida scowled while straightening his crumpled attire. A white battle suit he said was a Quincy's battle standard. It had long flowing cloth on the front and back ends, and a had a blue pattern design running up across the cuffs of his sleeve and chest.
Noticing that his current attire had been torn in various places, Ishida grumbled as he pulled out another one under the gazes of everyone present.
Karin like Ichigo had a brow twitch, but neither said anything after catching each other in the act. Scowling before both turning away from each other.
"That's enough from you two," Yoruichi spoke, gathering everyone's attention as she walked atop a tree stump. "Based on the geography, something must have had interfered with the co-ordinates Kisuke should have programmed into the gate between worlds. We all should have appeared near an area of the Soul Society known as the Rukongai, yet were far from it."
Looking up into the sky, Yoruichi frowned as she detected disturbances in the air. However, instead of contemplating on the matter, she decided to focus on the matter at hand.
"Ichigo," she spoke first, making sure that she had Ichigo's full attention by throwing a rock on his head.
"Calm down for now you idiot," was what she said, noticing the scowl on Ichigo's face. "What we're facing here is unlike anything you have ever faced. Those hollows you've fought with in the human world, I'm afraid they would be worth even less than a candle to the monsters lurking about within the Soul Society. Any one of them could take you all out just by exerting a little spiritual pressure. Like a child blowing out a flame. You all are ants in comparison. Even more so given the state the Soul Society appears to be in," Yoruichi said.
Ichigo grunted. "They're not that difficult to deal with. It was just those Captains you mentioned."
Thinking about Mayuri, Ichigo's knuckles whitened from how tightly he was gripping his fists. Karin was much the same, her personality near identical to Ichigo's. Neither of the two could forget what happened that night, and the anger and helplessness only grew the more they dwelled on it. This was especially the case for Ichigo as it was this memory alone that accelerated his training to better himself as quickly as possible.
Thud.
Another rock hit Ichigo square on the forehead, a quiet exclamation coming from his lips that was echoed by Karin at a location near him.
"Focus you fools. This isn't the time to get in over your heads. And I'm sure you wouldn't want to drag in those around you into unexpected trouble," Yoruichi spoke, her words causing an effect on the siblings, mainly Ichigo who looked around at his friends.
Chad, Orihime, and Ishida didn't have to say anything, but it was clear from their expressions that they wouldn't hesitate to follow him aside from some grumbling on Ishida's part. In any case, Yoruichi was right that he didn't wish to endanger them.
This line of thinking was mirrored by Karin who looked guiltily at Chad whom she had fought alongside with before. Thinking about it, it was also the time she had seen her mother again for the first time in years. And it had shocked her enough to cause her to forget to help treat Chad's injuries in an attempt to catch up to the fading back of the mother she loved.
Karin never did catch up to her, and once again, it was that very mother who shielded her and Ichigo from harm.
Her body trembled for a moment, but like Ichigo, her gaze turned towards Yoruichi's without wavering in the slightest.
Yoruichi nodded her head.
"Good eyes," Yoruichi spoke, sitting up on her hind legs and using her tail to help keep balance. "Now if there's one thing you all should remember, it's to avoid battle as much as possible. None of you are at the level required currently to combat anyone of seated Lieutenant or higher aside from Ichigo and Ishida. And even then, the odds might not be in their favour. Luckily, I excel in this kind of operation. Stealth is a must, and you would all do well to remember what I have taught you in the time Kisuke was nursing your injuries. It could very well be the difference between living and dying."
Ichigo and the rest nodded.
"Then what are we supposed to do now?" Karin asked. "If we can't move around as we want, then how are we going to save everyone?"
"Uhm, I think Karin has a point," Orihime spoke timidly, huddling in on herself as everyone's attention fell on her.
Noticing Orihime's discomfort, Ichigo coughed into his hand and brought the attention away, allowing Orihime to deflate in relief. She then gave Ichigo a thankful smile.
"Then do you wish to die?" Yoruichi's question cut straight through Karin's protest, but Yoruichi didn't seem to put in much consideration at the moment. "We have two objectives. One is to locate and secure Rukia Kuchiki, and the other is to secure Masaki Kurosaki away from the Twelfth Division's Barracks, where she is most likely to be contained. It is likely that the two are separated as I doubt the Head Commander would detain Rukia in the Twelfth Division. Thus, if we are to decide on priorities, I'm afraid that that aspect falls upon you all, and I will help to the best of my abilities."
Guilt began to well up from within Yoruichi as she knew better than anyone that her current priority lay in the acquisition of Rukia Kuchiki for the item stored within her. Masaki was her friend, but the consequences of the Hogyoku falling into Aizen's hands was just too dire.
With that in mind, Yoruichi continued speaking as she moved away from the stump she was talking from and moved atop a tree to settle on a tree branch.
"Remembering these objectives, we will begin heading West in-"
The words died in Yoruichi's mouth as her gaze fell upon a structure in the distance now visible due to her change in position.
The walls of the Seireitei stood erected, flashes of light originating from within and accompanied by bursts of spiritual energy.
The hollows had moved faster than what she and Kisuke had predicted.
Her ears twitched at that moment, her slit like iris's dilating from the scene she saw not too far away from her. Sparks flashed, a familiar figure she was well acquainted with sailing through the air and snapping the trees the figure impacted with in half before disappearing.
The expression on Yoruichi's face grew grim, and for a long moment, she just sat there idle. It was long enough to cause some unrest within Ichigo and the others, Karin even uncrossing her arms and voicing some concern.
Eventually, Yoruichi finally reacted, turning her attention back onto the Ichigo and the group.
"You all go on ahead towards that direction past these woods until you see a peculiar house. Trust me, you'll know when you see it. With how the Seireitei is now, it's already impossible for us to sneak in as originally intended as the Seireitei's walls have already come down. Because of this, you'll all need some assistance if you want to get past the barrier," Yoruichi clicked her tongue at that point.
A glaring question in her mind.
How had the hollows breached the barrier generated by the properties of Sekkiseki rock?
It was a question with no answer. Yet regardless, she had no luxury of contemplating.
"Hurry, and go now, just mention my name to a woman named Kukaku," Yoruichi said before pushing herself onto her paws and jumping onto Ichigo's shoulder. She then whispered something quickly before running away into the trees and rapidly fading away from sight.
Left behind, Ichigo and the others stood dumbly for a moment, before Ichigo just shook his head and began moving in the direction Yoruichi specified. The others soon followed behind him.
Walking, Ichigo carried the weight of his sword on one shoulder and walked silently while picking up his pace. The sword on his shoulder was no longer that broken sword left with only a hilt, but a massive cleaver like weapon that resembled a butcher's knife wrapped in long white cloth. The method of training Kisuke had admistered onto him to get him to such a point so fast were effective, yet because of the time constraint, he was far from fully healed.
This was why the pain from his injuries from the night Masaki was taken away still lingered despite the tablets of medicational pills Kisuke had given him to swallow every hour. He had been reckless and had eaten them all at once, leading to his current half-healed state. Yet that didn't matter at the moment. So long as he could get back up on his feet and rescue those he held dear, then he didn't care what price he would have to pay.
His only regret, was not being able to persuade Karin away from all the danger.
Her training was far less vigorous than his, but he was sure that he had seen Kisuke slip a couple soul tablets into her hands. It was the kind similar to what Rukia would swallow as she exited her gigai.
His mouth naturally began forming into a thin line as he began to brood, yet brooding would not change what had already happened.
Before long, the group reached the house Yoruichi had mentioned. Peculiar was an understatement. The very pillars used to hold up the banner displaying 'Kukaku Shiba' were styled into large arms and hands. The building itself was fairly normal aside from the large and narrow circular spire located near the back.
What was even more peculiar was the way the two guards at the front entrance seemed to pause upon seeing Ichigo's face, and then startle after seeing Karin's.
In any case, Ichigo paid this no mind and brazenly spoke what Yoruichi had told to them.
"Is Kukaku here? We were sent here by Yoruichi. She said you could help us."
The sound of splintering wood resounded in the forest, lacerations present on the trees and torn branches found within the bramble.
A woman looked up at the sky from the debris she found herself in. She was bruised, and tired, one or two cuts on her body sending out a dull pain that let her know that she was still alive.
Good.
Soifon spat blood out of her mouth before bringing up a hand to wipe off the remnants clinging to her lip. Parts of her clothes were in tatters, the Haori of the leader of Squad Two having long since been discarded in favour of the form fitting black attire she wore.
In front of her stood the Vasto Lorde.
Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck.
She was proving more of a handful than what Soifon had anticipated.
Over Nel's body were numerous butterfly like marks that spanned across a narrow region on her body. The calling card of Soifon's Zanpakuto.
Suzumebachi.
The Death in Two steps.
Once Suzumebachi stabs a target with the stinger like blade connected to Soifon's finger, a butterfly like stamp would appear spreading from the center of the wound known as a hornet's crest. If struck by a second attack at the same location, the victim would inevitably die no matter how powerful they were.
Two strikes till death.
It was a very lethal ability for a Zanpakuto's Shikai state. Yet,
"Are you done, Shinigami?" Nel questioned, leaning her war lance against one of her shoulders.
It was just landing that second blow that was taking its toll on Soifon.
"Shut up," Soifon spoke, getting back up onto her feet. The sound of a chain's rattling resounded with her movements, the metal connector holding together Suzumebachi's stinger and vambrace tinkling.
Nel's expression grew cold. She had been fighting with Soifon for the past hour and by now she had some sort of idea of Soifon's intentions regarding the butterfly like marks that had sprung up on her body. Soifon wished to strike upon those marks a second time.
Nel didn't know the relevance of Suzumebachi's Two Strikes till death, but she was experienced enough to know to prevent her enemy from getting their way. It was a difference of lifestyle after all.
The life of a hollow when compared to a Shinigami was far more treacherous. It was only now that Nel had lived alongside Shirou's lands that she understood that an exception to that rule had been created. A benevolent ruler.
A Benevolent Hollow.
And she'd be damned if she were to let him die.
What he was doing here in the Soul Society.
His cause.
It resonated with her in a way that she had never felt before in Hueco Mundo. The notion of All for One. Knowing that if she were put in danger, Shirou would lead everyone for her sake.
That kind of ruler was one she was willing to follow.
And it was this kind of thinking that lead many of the hollows that lived alongside Shirou to follow under him. Not only because Shirou had aided in their evolution without the need to consume other souls and thus create an imbalance in identity, but because he was unique. The only King of his kind.
"Then don't think I will show mercy any longer," Nel said, once again positioning her lance in front of her.
Soifon clicked her tongue before fading in a burst of Flash Step.
Nel tucked her arms in, increasing her guard as her eyes shifted from left to right, taking in the minute movements in the wind and the displacement of dirt on the ground.
Admittedly, Soifon was faster than Nel.
Nel took a breath, and in that moment, she acted.
Wind whipping across her face, the sudden change in Nel's posture allowed her to dodge Soifon's incoming strike.
Fingers twirling the lance in her hand, Nel struck down, attempting to bat Soifon away.
Like an agile viper, Soifon quickly maneuvered away from the area Nel had just attacked.
Sparks flew as Suzumebachi grated against Nel's lance.
Even if Soifon had the advantage in speed, Nel was accommodating her lack of there of by shortening her movements and reducing the length of her attacks to increase the speed.
Pulling her arm in closer, Nel punched out with a fist at where she predicted Soifon to be, her efforts rewarded with sickening crunch. Unexpectedly though, a butterfly mark bloomed on her arm.
Nel's expression shifted into annoyance.
It wasn't as if any of her injuries hurt, but the more times Soifon landed a blow on her, the more targets Soifon had to aim at, making it more difficult to block everything.
Nel needed a way to prevent herself from getting injured any longer, her spiritual energy burst out from her in waves. That, or end things in an instant.
Soifon paused in her attacks, drifting along the ground as her speed decreased to a zero. A large bruise was forming on her arm, a fracture most probably from when she hastily blocked Nel's attack. At least it was bad as the previous strike that had caught her off guard and sent her flying across the forest. She could still feel the sting of splinters and bruises on her back.
Silently watching the spiritual energy coalesce around Nel, the apprehension Soifon already felt only increased. Still, with the number of targets she had already left on Nel's body, all it would take was a second strike.
She could do this.
Testing her injured arm if it was still usable, Soifon once again resumed her attack, utilizing extra caution due to the surge in spiritual energy Nel was emitting.
Suddenly, Nel struck a line across the ground. One slash in each direction.
"If you step across this line, you forfeit your life," Nel said. "I can't waste anymore time here."
Soifon scoffed in the middle of her Flash Step.
Her speed only increasing.
Slowly, as if only spectator watching a fight, Nel drew back her arm and pointed her lance forward.
A centaur stood posed, arms at the ready, and expression as if hunting prey.
The line that separated death from life could not be anymore distinct.
And within less than a second, Soifon had already crossed that line.
"Lanza Empujadora," the words left Nel's mouth, the spiralling tides of spiritual energy emitting off of her coalescing into her weapon.
The lance's tip approaching Soifon, she immediately began to evade, yet.
"Who said that this lance was solid?" Nel's voice was monotone, her expression revealing the killing intent hidden within the hollow chamber of the lance. "Cero."
Boom!
It was an explosion that rocked across the entirety of the area, the shockwave alone uprooting the trees and affecting the far away settlements of the Rukongai.
The Thrusting Lance. Lanza Empujadora, an attack utilizing the explosiveness of a Vasto Lorde's cero.
Torrents of spiritual energy continued to flow from out of the exit points within Nel's lance, propelling it forward at unimaginable speeds and increasing its penetrative power a thousand-fold.
Soifon pursed her lips, her eyes darting back and forth in less than a spilt second for anything she could use as leverage to somehow get out of the way. Yet she knew that with the spear's current momentum and her own, she would be hard pressed to slow down let alone alter her trajectory. Finding nothing, her hands feebly went up in a position to block the incoming strike, placing Suzumebachi's vambrace where the point of the spear would hit.
The odds of her survival now were truly too low, and she knew it as the head of the Soul Society's Stealth Force.
For a moment, she closed her eyes remembering a past memory.
In the end, what was it that she had achieved in the absence of the previous leader of the Stealth Force?
Strict protocols.
And harsh decisions.
It was all she could remember of the training subject to her in her childhood. That and the warmth she found under the previous Stealth Force leader's guidance.
A leader and an operative must always remain firm no matter the situation.
A teaching she had learned early on that she still remembered to this day.
Resolved, Soifon opened her eyes. The Head of the Soul Society's Stealth Force would not perish with her eyes closed like a child.
"Cut it out with that look in your eyes," a voice resounded in the heat of the moment, a leg changing the trajectory of Nel's lance. "You're not dying today."
The air pressure generated from Nel's thrust sent Soifon flying back, her arms shielding her head from the flying shrapnel, but she didn't pay much attention to that as a figure landed gracefully in front of her, glaring at Nel who glared back.
Purple hair swaying in the wind, and bangs parted at the center, the figure wore an orange shirt with a black undervest beneath that led to form fitting black pants. The figure, no, the woman before Soifon was entirely different from what Soifon remembered. But regardless,
She was a teacher Soifon had not seen in years, and had resented all the same.
Yet in this moment.
That whom Soifon hated for leaving her, once again stood before Soifon in her defence.
A woman from one of the most prominent families in the Soul Society.
The Shihoin.
And the previous leader of the Stealth Force.
Yoruichi Shihoin.
"Been a while hasn't it, Soifon."
Neither Ichigo nor Karin could understand what it was about their faces that garnered such a reaction from the guards standing just in front of the building Yoruichi had asked them all to go to.
If the way they stared at Ichigo wasn't enough, they looked at Karin as if they were looking at a distant memory.
"Hey, are you two alright?" Karin asked, kicking one of them out their daze.
The two guards wore red hats with a gold trim and white tassel on top and a light blue scarf tied at the front by a red fastener with gold highlights. One of them wore a yellow top while the other wore a white top.
The one Karin kicked was the one in yellow.
"E-Even the personality appears the same," the guard in yellow muttered. "W-What's your name and why have you come to the Shiba household?"
"My name's Karin, and we were sent here by a cat named Yoruichi," Karin explained.
"Yoruichi?" The guard in white said before nodding. "Then I would have you all enter for a moment while I call upon Ms. Kukaku."
Karin nodded gratefully, unaware that the two guards were still looking at her and whispering between each other as they left. After all, Karin had a stunning resemblance to what Kukaku Shiba had once looked like as a child.
The guards themselves were named Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko, the teachers who taught Kukaku Shiba all that she knew about fireworks from a young age. It was impossible for them not to recognize someone with a resemblance so uncanny to their own pupil.
Leading to the question, were they related somehow?
This was a matter that they would not tread lightly on.
After settling down Karin, Ichigo, and the rest within a guest room, the two then informed Kukaku of Ichigo's and the rest's visit. Moments later, Karin and the rest were promptly summoned to the reception room.
Inside sat a woman siting on a pillow with her legs sprawled to the side as she leaned over one knee.
This was Kukaku Shiba, the head of the Shiba clan, one of the four prominent clans of the Soul Society. She was a youthful looking woman with long messy black hair that parted down in half at the small of her back. She wore a white skirt and a provocative red robe that exposed her ample bosom.
In her hand was a smoking pipe which she accidently dropped upon seeing Ichgio and then Karin's features. It was like seeing a mirror of a time long since past when Kukaku had once stood beside her older brother.
She shook her head, but it was clear from the started choking noise next to her that her brother Ganju had yet to recover from the surprise.
Ganju was Kukaku's younger brother. He was a tall muscular man with chin-length black hair and a partially missing left eyebrow. On his person he wore a vest, a scarf, a bandanna, and a pair of goggles. Currently those goggles had dropped on the floor much like Kukaku's smoking pipe.
"Welcome," Kukaku said, composing herself. "I hear that you were sent here by Yoruichi?"
"Yes," Ishida responded, taking a seat while the rest followed his example.
It was only Ichigo who had yet to take a seat, his expression restless as he only wished to find away into the Seireitei sooner. Karin was similar to him, but she could at least hold herself back. Ichigo though was different. He had already lost his mother once. Now that she had appeared before him again and was taken away all the same, his current agitation and impatience could not be described.
"Look," Ichigo said. "We don't have the time to just talk like this."
Kukaku raised a brow, raising a hand to stop Ganju from speaking up.
"Then what do you suggest I do?" Kukaku asked.
"We need your help to enter past the Seireitei's walls," Ishida intervened before Ichigo could say anything detrimental.
"Hmm, with the way things are in the Soul Society right now, I suppose you don't know," Kukaku said off handily.
"What's going on?" Orihime asked.
"Well, for one, an army of hollows have begun to lay siege onto the Seireitei," Ganju explained. "Because of this, its been completely hectic no matter where you go in the Soul Society. Even the people in the Rukongai refuse to step out from their homes."
Saying that, Ganju walked towards a window within the house's walls and opened it. "Look to the sky, you'll understand," he said.
Everyone's attention turned towards where Ganju indicated.
In the sky was a horde of Hollows entering through the Seireitei's walls. The number and strength of the hollows was such that everyone present could feel the disturbing taint of their spiritual energy despite the distance.
It was now apparent to Ichigo and the rest just why it was Yoruichi continued to warn them to stay low and avoid battle. Fighting enemies of this kind of level would mean death for certain.
"Helping you all now would mean having to find a way through the walls, or past that crowd of hollows. In either case, the trouble it would bring would be more than just a simple headache," Kukaku reasoned, picking up the smoke pipe she had dropped.
She then began to make herself comfortable.
"Then you won't help?" Ichigo asked.
He knew that Kukaku had no obligation to help him, but if she was the only way in, then she had to help somehow.
"Isn't there any way?" Ichigo asked.
"Afraid not," Kukaku said, lighting her pipe while holding it in her mouth before taking a swig. "At least if you don't have any ideas on how to avoid that group of hollows, or at least something enticing enough to risk the trouble of confronting the Seireitei, it's a no go." Kukaku emptied the ashes in her pipe with a pat on a metal ash trey, and then leaned back on her arms.
"Looking at your faces, it's clear to me that you can't fulfill either of those two options. Although I'm sad to say that I'm going to have to turn down a favour from Yoruichi, but this sort of request at this time is too complicated," Kukaku finished with a grimace.
Ichigo clenched his fists, his brows creased.
"If Kukaku will not co-operate with you, then tell her this, but do remember that it could act as a double-edged sword."
The words Yoruichi whispered into Ichigo' ears came to mind at that moment. He didn't know the relevance in the sentence, but he did know he was getting frustrated that Kukaku was being so difficult to convince. So, with a twitch of his lips, he yelled what Yoruichi had whispered to him.
"Kaien Shiba is being detained within the Seireitei!"
It was like a bomb had gone off inside the room.
The calm expression on Kukaku's face slowly shifted. Her mouth had sealed itself closed, and her eyes had become shadowed by her hair. If one were to look even more closely, it was clear to see that she was trembling, her fingers digging into her own skin.
"W-What did you just say?" The voice was oddly quiet, like the last threads of a string holding a weight that could not be maintained.
"Kaien Shiba is being detained within the Seireitei!" Ichigo repeated heatedly, unheeding of the growing tension in the air, and the way the eyes hidden behind Kukaku's hair became murderous.
"You Fucking Bastard!"
Uhgk!
Ichigo was sent flying across the room, and even before he could even compose himself, Kukaku was already in front of him, holding him up by the collar of his clothing.
"How dare you say such things," Kukaku was seething, her chest rapidly moving up and down along with her erratic breaths.
Ganju was madly trying to placate her, but nothing he said could calm her down. That, and he himself was far from calm.
Pissed that he had suddenly been attacked, Ichigo scowled, tasting the coppery taste of blood in his mouth. He quickly yelled back the response Yoruichi had told him knowing that it would anger Kukaku more. "Kaien Shiba is being detained within the Seireitei, and if you don't help us he'll be executed!" He added.
Based on how the Soul Society reacted when they retrieved Rukia, then they may have retrieved Kaien for a similar reason. Ichigo didn't know who Kaien was, but he was basing his information from what Kisuke had deduced back in the Human World.
Staring at the expression on Ichigo's familiar face Kukaku froze, releasing Ichigo as she just stood there. "My brother has been dead for years," she said through clenched teeth. Her doubt was clear for all to hear.
She closed her eyes, and then opened them again after a moment before pushing Ichigo away.
"OUT! GET OUT!" She yelled.
"Fine, we don't need your help anyway!" Ichigo responded, walking out of the reception room and into the guest room where Kukaku had already agreed for them to stay.
Karin, Ishida, Orihime, and Chad soon followed, Karin glancing conflictedly at Kukaku before she left.
Only Ganju remained in the room with Kukaku in an awkward silence.
"Sister, I-"
"Stop, Ganju, don't say it," Kukaku pursed her lips. "I-It's too hard to believe."
"But, they didn't seem as if they were lying. And don't forget, that they said that they were sent here by Yoruichi," Ganju insisted.
Kukaku's back straightened at Ganju's point, her mouth going dry as she swallowed.
"Do you remember back when we were children, Ganju? The times when big brother would often play with us and keep us company under the watch of Miyako," Kukaku began. "Do you still remember the words big brother said back them. 'I will protect you all and the family,' and he did just that."
Kukaku closed her eyes, a memory filtering through her mind.
"He had found out something he shouldn't have back then. I knew it from the way he refused to acknowledge me when I asked. I was quite an observant girl. Yet he kept the knowledge only to himself. Protecting the family, protecting us even after losing Miyako and then his life in the following days. If there's a chance that he's still alive now based on Yoruichi's information, then it's our turn to protect him. But if this is a lie, there will be hell to pay. No one dares sully big brother's name and get away with it."
"Sister, then…" Ganju trailed off, lost in thought.
Kukaku though was no longer as muddle headed, having calmed down without the infuriating company of Ichigo and the rest.
"Call Jidanbo, the canon will take too long," she spoke.