The Shinigami had finally defeated the Espada. Only Aizen, Ichimaru and Tousen were left. Ichimaru took a back seat from the fighting, preferring to watch as Tousen fell first. There had been an almost stalemate of sorts as Aizen and the Vizard each waited for the other to move, Aizen using it as a chance to rile them up as much as he could. It was then that Ichigo came through from Hueco Mundo with the rescue group, his tattered clothes being blown about by the wind.
Of course, the first thing he did was to attack Aizen, using Zangetsu at range – wanting to finish the battle as soon as he arrived. However, there was too much notice of his arrival and the attack only served to damage the buildings below.
Obviously, then the fight was on. Ichimaru simply stood and watched as the remaining shinigami able to fight all banded together against Aizen. Fighting side by side with the Vizard. Only Ichigo stood separate, biding his time, knowing that he had to finish the fight.
It was then that Ichimaru chose to strike. Ichigo was too focused on Aizen to notice Ichimaru's blade speeding towards him. It was lucky someone blocked Ichimaru and a group split off from Aizen to engage him. It took a while for them to bring him down, but eventually Aizen was the only one left. Many captains had already released their swords, most had been injured and some were no longer fighting. It seemed to Ichigo like hours had passed, waiting for Aizen to show an opening, and when he did…
"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo roared as the wave of black spirit energy swept towards Aizen, enveloping him and destroying buildings and rubble in it's wake.
The assembled group paused, hope on their faces, waiting for the dust cloud to settle.
As the dust began to retreat the first person they saw was a partially injured Aizen. Then their hearts fell even further. Aizen had drawn his sword, sneer apparent across his face. The rest of the shinigami were taken out one by one, falling to the buildings below in turn. Even Ichigo fell down, too injured and exhausted for even his hollow to take over, leaving a stumbling Captain Hitsugaya desparately attempting to fight.
Aizen sheathed his sword, as Captain Hitsugaya stumbled towards him. He knew he didn't need it. He quickly attacked with his bare hand, putting hardly any power into it as a barrier of flames appeared in front of it. A fire user, but not any of the shinigami here. They were all down, dying, or about to be killed by one of his followers. Who then was this?
