It was sunset on the outskirts of Karakura Town. The sun sank low to the horizon. It would have been a tranquil scene, but for the sudden commotion. A huge rent split the sky, shattering the calm, and four creatures stepped forth. They were humanoid, each with bleached white bone-like armor. They all wore white masks of varying shapes and had holes through their chests. The four Vasto Lordes, for that was what they were, all lunged together down toward the silent buildings. But no one would have noticed the fifth figure that had disappeared in a flash away in the other direction.
In a street several blocks away, everything was quiet. A light breeze wafted through, and that was when it happened. A door appeared in the air, and as it opened, an imposing figure stepped out amid a shifting red glow. The portal closed, and the silhouette attained features. It was a man wearing a black shihakusho and a flowery kimono over a white haori coat, with a katana and a wakizashi by his side. He wore a wide brimmed hat over dark brown hair tied in a ponytail. He raised his head and revealed a handsome face with one gray eye. His other eye, the right one, was covered with an eye patch. This man was Shunsui Kyoraku, captain-commander of the Gotei 13.
Kyoraku lunged forth and used shunpo to appear in the path of the Vasto Lordes as they approached. He drew his two swords and struck, the first Hollow meeting his blade with its long scythe-like claws. Kyoraku parried and stepped behind the creature, bringing the katana down on its neck, killing it instantly. Two of the others charged toward him, one raising armored fists and the other brandishing a large sword like appendage on its left arm. Kyoraku readied himself for the clash and held up his swords, which flashed white and transformed into two huge Chinese scimitars with large red tassels on the pommels.
"Katen Kyokotsu (Flowery Heaven, Bone of Madness)!"He swung both, yelling, "Bushogoma (Lazy Spinning Top)!" His attack unleashed a whirling burst of wind which bore down on the Vasto Lordes at incredible velocity. The one with the sword raised his arm and charged yellow energy at its tip.
"Cero (Zero Blast)!" he roared. A massive beam of energy rushed through Bushogoma towards Kyoraku. He merely slashed through it and it dispersed to both sides. The sword Hollow charged again, but then Kyoraku was above them.
"Takaoni (Mountain Demon)!" he said, and descended rapidly toward them, but it was not to be. Kyoraku gasped as he felt a powerful reiatsu approaching from even higher than him. Whovever it is, unfortunately for me, he wins, Kyoraku thought, and then the figure's blade pierced him. Everything went black.
Six Months Later...
In the R&D Center of Squad 12, the division's Third Seat, Akon, was reviewing the records of who had been out when the captain-commander had died. The body had been found lying in the road with evidence of death by Zanpakuto, and Akon had a theory.
"What if there is a traitor in our midst?" he mused. "Who was there who could have done it?" Akon saw several names on the list, including Zennosuke Kurumadani, but Akon trusted him. He couldn't kill a captain commander, Akon thought. But wait, there was more! On the list was the name of one Yoshima Okanade, who was Third Seat of Squad 2, and many did not think he was right for the job. An untrustworthy one indeed, Akon thought. Moving on, he analyzed the reiatsu samples found by the investigators, and among them was, lo and behold, that of Okanade! "Amazing" Akon exclaimed. "I must inform Ukitake-sotaichou at once! Akon ran off towards the barracks of Squad 1.
Sitting at the desk where his friend had once sat, Captain-Commander Jushiro Ukitake was crying.
"He should still be sitting here." Ukitake muttered. A kind and respected man, Ukitake had been made captain-commander soon after his best friend Kyoraku's body had been burned. He had green eyes and black eyebrows, and white hair which had become so after a terrible illness had bleached his hair white from its original black over three days. During the months since Kyoraku's death, Ukitake had often thought about how things could have gone differently, and now was one of these moments. "If only I had been there, he might have had a chance." Ukitake would tell himself. He had made it his top priority to support the Gotei 13 and also to bring Kyoraku justice. So when he heard loud voices arguing outside his office, Ukitake felt hopeful about what was being said.
"Let me in! I have important news for the captain!" one voice yelled.
The voice of Rinku Konsho, Ukitake's lieutenant, said back, "And I told you, no! Akon, you can't just barge in here yelling to high heaven about random stuff like that!"
"Let him in!" Ukitake commanded. "Uh, yes sir!" Konsho said, a little embarrassed. The doors opened and in walked Akon and Konsho, who was a muscular teenager in a standard shihakusho with a navy blue undershirt and sash. He had spiky light brown hair and deep sky blue eyes, and wore his lieutenant badge tied to his right upper arm with a length of navy blue ribbon. "Konsho-fukutaichou, you know I don't like to hear people arguing" Ukitake scolded.
"Yes sir, I apologize, sir" Konsho said quickly. "Now, Akon-san, tell the captain your news." Akon cleared his throat and explained himself.
When Ukitake heard what Akon had to say, he was elated and ordered "Set up a capturing force around the Senkaimon and order Okanade back to the Seireitei immediately!"