Title: Aizen the Benevolent
What if the roles had been reversed? What if the benevolent Aizen had realised the plans of the evil Urahara and done everything to stop him. What if Ichigo had been Urahara's pawn his first arrived in Soul Society. What would the consequences have been if Aizen and Ichigo fought for Soul Society together?
Chapter 1. The Way Things are
Blood dripped, falling like raindrops scattering across the ground. Ichigo convulsed, bent double over his sword as he struggled to catch his breath. His knees were trembling, sweat had drenched his brow and the pain in his arms and shoulder were monstrous and blood cascaded down his skin. He turned his eyes up from the rocky ground, and saw Byakuya. The proud noble reduced to his knees bleeding heavily and lamenting his lost pride. Ichigo straightened up and took a deep breath of relief. He'd done it, rescued Rukia, achieved Bankai and defeated Byakuya. Now at last we can return home, me, Rukia and all my friends he realized with relief .
Clop Clop Clop, the sound came to Ichigo's ears from behind like the breathing of an eerie shadow. Clop Clop Clop, the sound continued, growing louder with each strike, like the footfalls of an approaching giant. Ichigo turned apprehensively, gripping his sword tighter, his robes waving with the motion. The footsteps belonged to a man. A man wearing wooden shoes. A man who grinned confidently and showed no intention of hiding himself despite his exile. Kisuke Urahara, ex-captain of Squad 12.
"Well well well Ichigo. Very impressive." He applauded with a raccoon-like smile, shadow from his hat falling over his eyes, cloaking them in darkness. "I must say your growth has been impressive, you've made the perfect distraction."
Ichigo who was still struggling for breath could only exhale the word: "Distraction?" Confused at Urahara's presence there and his frustratingly flippant attitude. But Urahara rather than answer the question responded with more of his flippant attitude.
"Yes Ichigo," he smirked in a way that he might compliment a student who just asked an insightful question. "A wonderful distraction that allowed me to cover up what I was doing. Allowing me to get what I wanted." Urahara was no longer looking at him but instead at the broken execution stand, still grinning frustratingly.
"What have you done?" Demanded Ichigo angrily, his rage at the mysterious Urahara building by the second. "What have you done to Soul Society?" Urahara's grin merely expanded further.
"Now Ichigo," he chastised "Don't tell me you've become so attached to this place already. You've only..."
"Cut the crap!" He roared at Urahara, "What have you done?!" Urahara's face fell as if disappointed at Ichigo was unwilling to play his game.
"What I've done Ichigo," began Urahara. His voice had fallen and become as sinister as the shadows over his eyes. "Is play you, right from the start."
The sun set a deep orange over Soul Society, dragging out shadows and tugging away the warmth of the day. The window let the dying light pass through, glinting off the glass. Out in the streets some lower Squad members were lighting lamps and beginning night-watch shifts.
"Renji, Renji." Came a distant voice, along with a tapping on his hand.
Renji Abarai, the newly promoted lieutenant of Squad 6 tore his attention from world outside and pulled himself back to reality.
Momo and Kira the lieutenants of Squads 5 and 3, were looking a him, their faces ripe with concern.
"Sorry what were you saying?" He asked as if he had merely missed what she said.
Kira and Momo exchanged a look and then turned back to him. Their worry etched into their faces.
"Renji," began Kira, "since you can back from the World of the Living, you've seemed really distracted and distant. Is... is something wrong?"
"Is it Rukia?" Interjected Momo meekly and quietly, worried about hurting Renji's feelings. Renji sighed disparagingly, and turned his eyes to the table. "It's not just that." He muttered, as if he didn't want them to hear. "It's not just that Rukia's gonna be executed, its also..." He broke off again as if embarrassed, but when he raised his head, Momo was giving him a look that said tell us or I'll introduce you to Tobiume.
"There was this kid," He admitted ashamedly, "a human kid kid who stole Rukia's powers. A total rookie too: couldn't even call his Zanpukuto's name. But he moped the floor with me, right in front of Rukia and Captain Kuchiki." He avoided their gaze again and looked back down from the table.
There was a small silence as Kira and Momo exchanged glances, but then Momo spoke up.
"So you're ashamed that you even though you just made lieutenant in order impress Rukia and beat Captain Kuchiki but you were beaten by a novice, so you think they think you're weak?"
Renji did not respond but they could tell she was right on the money.
Kira hesitated for a second before asking.
"Was this kid strong?"
Renji gave a sullen laugh,
"I'll say he was strong. His sword was as tall as his body! I'm amazed he could even lift it!"
"And you were only at a fifth of your strength right because of Gentei Reiin right?" It wasn't a real question and it went a long way to making Renji feel better.
"Yeeeeeeah." He mused "I guess the odds were stacked against me. There's no way Rukia or Captain Kuchiki would think I was weak." He was smiling at last and Kira and Momo could no have been more relieved.
Only half an hour later when moon had risen, and they were saying their cheerful goodbyes did Renji really open up. Kira was making his way back to his barracks to give some papers to Captain Ichimaru: a trustworthy captain with a very contagious smile, who had made Kira even more cheerful than he used to be.
Momo was about to leave as well when Renji told her what he hadn't been willing to share before.
"Momo," he began, scratching the back of his head self consciously, "your a girl right?"
Momo looked both shocked, betrayed and embarrassed and she only stammered an incoherent response nervously.
"What I mean," spluttered Renji trying got recover his composure "is you know about girls right?"
Momo nodded still looking embarrassed.
Renji tried to find the right words "in the fight," he explained, "Rukia was screaming at the guy to run away, but he wouldn't, she was trying to hold me back so he could run. But when he began to win she didn't react at all, she just let it happen." He'd started telling her but know he couldn't stop telling her. "I just know she cared about that guy, and know he's dead and she's gonna die and I'm the one who arrested her and it's all my fault." There were tears in his eyes as he looked down at Momo, he'd started telling her to receive advice but he realised that were nothing that could be said to him, it wasn't a question it was a confession of his guilt. They stood apart from each other in the dimming, deserted street with nothing to say at all.
When Momo returned to her barracks she found with a start that Captain Aizen was still working.
"Good evening Momo." A silky voice said as she past by the room. Momo gave a gasp and a jump of surprise. The door was slightly ajar and she could she Captain Aizen behind his desk and with some papers, smiling at her with her thick glasses glinting humorously.
"Captain Aizen!" Momo exclaimed in a hushed voice, "I'm sorry I had no idea you would still be up." She looked down not wanting to show that her cheeks were burning. But Captain Aizen just chuckled again and bid her goodnight.
As Momo left he turned back to his concealed pocket monitor. It seemed that Kisuke Urahara was getting ready to send Ichigo to Soul Society. Urahara was ready to begin much faster than Aizen was. Captain Aizen drew a deep breath a frowned thoughtfully. He knew, since he always knew, that he was going to face difficult times ahead of him.
It was a great and dull roar that huge blocks rained from the sky. They fell out of the blue with tremendous force, making a sound like an orchestra of thunder as they landed like dominoes in the perfect shape around the Seireitei. Dust flew high up in their wake, blotting out view of the walls completely. All eyes in Soul Society turned to see the sight of the Seireitei's walls coming down from high above.
One of the people who saw the falling walls was Captain of Squad 2 and Stealth Forces: Soi Fon. She saw the falling crescendo of descending walls and formed one of her frequent scowls. The falling walls could only mean one thing: Ryoka. She knew that Jidanbo was there to defeat any would-be intruders. But then again... She glared down at the map of her squad's patrol routes. Presently she thought to herself as she examined the map Omaeda's patrol should the nearest to the Gate. She groaned internally, I hope Omaeda is smart enough to realise that if they get past Jidanbo they may be strong enough to be dangerous to him... who am I kidding I should just call Squad 4 now.
The man currently in question was lieutenant of Squad 2 Omaeda Marenoshi, a tall, fat man, with hair that was losing a battle for possession of his scalp. He in standard squad gear but also many expensive golden accessories. As Soi Fon was thinking this he and his patrol were directly next to the gate and he was lying on his face. Omaeda rubbed his eyes trying to get the dust out. The rest of his patrol were either coughing and spluttering or gaping at a space where there had just a moment ago there had been clear sky and fresh air, when suddenly it had been replaced by towering wall, topped with watchtowers.
Omaeda picked himself up to his hands and knees, and scuttled back frightened. He stood for several moments gaping at the wall and its massive bulk. By the time he hand come to his senses and got his troops into order, the dust had settled and another patrol had come to inspect what had happened but they were keeping a wary distance from the wall. But as Omaeda was ready to begin given commands his authority was torn away from again, this time by an almighty eruption from the other side of the wall and some kind of chanting. So powerful was the sound that the ground trembled with each strike and dust into the air again. There was a brief pause whilst everyone's ears rang with the silence but a mere couple of seconds later another even greater explosion rocked the ground sending Soul Reapers to their knees.
There was another moment of silence as the soldiers expected yet another explosion to come crashing through. But nothing happened, instead a great lamenting howl that made their spines crawl rose up from behind the impenetrable wall. Omaeda recognised as the voice of Jidanbo. What ever they had done to Jidanbo it appeared to be causing him great agony.
The men were beginning to panic as the wail faded away and Omaeda felt his knees trembling. But to save face he turned to the wall and laughed, he needed to look brave in front of his men.
"So the invaders could beat the ape. He was weak anyway. They'll never be able to lift the wall and even if they did I'd take care of them even if there were a hundred! Hahaha!" He boasted, throwing back his head to laugh. But the sound died in his throat as the towering gate was slid upwards to open. The gargantuan Jidanbo was lifting up the gate completely of his own free will and allowing the Ryoka to enter.
Omaeda said that he'd take on an army if it came through the gate but he was faced him was quite different. A tall teenager, with spiky freakishly bright orange hair and dressed in Soul Reaper clothes stood at the front of the force; armed a gigantic sword wrapped in bandages on his back and a cocky grin on his face. Behind him was a man who seemed to be a giant standing nearly seven feet tall and armed with huge muscle power. Then a pretty school girl dressed in pink, she carried nothing but hairpins in her chestnut-orange hair. Then next to her a teenager with black hair hanging like curtains down his face dressed in white robes, glasses and a short cape. It was a real motley crew. But that wasn't the worst of it, as if to rub it they seemed to be following the lead of a small black house cat.
"Thanks Jidanbo." Said Orange-Haired Ryoka as they passed through the gate and it lowered behind them with a soft crash.
Omaeda felt compelled to speak, with shaky hands he drew his Zanpakuto. "Wh-who are you?" He demanded, in what he hoped was a threatening voice, and raised his spiritual pressure a faze the Ryoka, but also because he really hoped the Captain would come save him.
Orange-Hair Ryoka didn't flinch but grinned evilly and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Me?" He replied, "I'm Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki from Karakura town. And I'm here..." as he said this he drew his Zanpakuto, its bandages unravelling as if by magic to reveal the sword, a black and white, single-edged, six foot long sword with a curved khyber knife shape, its handle was wrapped it white leather and the plain black pommel was decorated with an arm length white ribbon.
The kid's own spiritual pressure emitted from it and Omaeda could tell that it dwarfed his own. It sent out blast of shaking air, it sent jarring waves right to his bones. Omaeda struggled against it and filled himself with anger, he hefted his sword and called out its name: "smash, Gegetsuburi" He roared as sword released into its Shikai state: a huge mace with terrifying spikes on the and of a long sturdy black chain. With a grunt he hurled the weapon at Ichigo with all his might. But the giant's arm shot out front, suddenly cloaked in what seemed to an arm length black and red glove caught the mace by its chain stopping it with ease and making the club swing helplessly like a pendulum.
Ichigo didn't flinch at all, he merely reached up to pat the giant on the shoulder. "Thanks Chad." Ichigo took a fighting pose in front of his friends. "All right tubby? Ready to dance?" taunted Ichigo, then he and his friends charged into the enemy.
Chad commenced the battle with the lieutenant and ended it with one move. He pulled heavily on the chain and huge Omaeda was still holding onto the other end was hurled off his feet and sent flying face first towards Chad the giant. Chad's left hand reached up and blocked the man's path with his palm. The fat man hung suspended for a moment almost gracefully, then Chad brought his right elbow down on the man's back. With a BOOM the stone paving under Omaeda broke like chalk under the impact and the huge lieutenant was buried half way into the ground.
Meanwhile Ichigo Kurosaki rushed Omaeda's patrol, the silk ribbon flapping in the wind. He upon them in an instant, slashing and cutting like a demon. He was very fast given the massive bulk of the weapon, and he made the five feet in front of him a no man land of flashing steel. But despite his great strength, terrible weapon and formidable speed, the squad member's wound were superficial. They were disarmed, scattered with spiritual pressure and hammered with the back and pommel of the sword. But hardly any blood was spilt.
The kid in white who was taking on the over patrol, and who had produced a huge, blue and white bow from nowhere and was now firing off arrow after arrow of blue reishi. But even he was aiming low, hitting Soul Reapers in their legs and arms and in places were they would merely be incapacitated. The Ryoka were having no trouble taking down of the Seireitei's soldiers, without even killing anyone. Even when two of the Soul Reapers made to cut Ichigo from the back, a golden barrier appeared in front of their swords, a barrier that didn't give an inch under their swords.
"Ichigo! Behind you!" Shouted the girl in pink determinedly. Ichigo span around quick as lighting. The barrier scattered returning to the girl's hairpins. Ichigo caught the two in the hook of his swords' back sending the two flying away. Ichigo paused from a moment, placing his sword on his shoulder almost casually and the enemy was afraid to attack him.
"Nice one Orihime." He called to her, looking deadly serious in a way which made her blush.
"You fool!" Pipped up a smoky, deep masculine voice. The cat at Orihime's feet was speaking no ordering them: "These ones made not be strong but stronger ones will come we must retreat!" The boy in white turned back appalled "But Yoruichi we can make it!"
"No Uryu!" Demanded Yoruichi, "If a Captain comes we are finished! We shall retreat and return with less notoriety... where's Ichigo?" Unfortunately before the cat had finished given it's commands, Ichigo was off.
"RUKIA!" He yelled as he speedily dashed past his many fallen enemies, "I'm coming!"
"That idiot!" Cursed Uryu, as he Chad ran ahead of him, hurtling after Ichigo, then Uryu ran on as well. Orihime ran after them with Yoruichi ahead of her. Orihime really didn't want to be left behind.
"Idiot." Muttered Yoruichi as she sprang after him on four legs. But she was grinning inside. The kid remained her of another teenager she had teased a hundred, years ago. One was also likely to fly off the handle. To bad it was him they were going to have to fight.
Ichigo realised two things as he took the lead of their dash through the Seireitei. Firstly he realised that the Seireitei was massive, it would be easy to pass unnoticed if they managed to escape the alert. Secondly he realised that the Seireitei was MASSIVE and he had no idea where to find Rukia. The Seireitei seemed to be constructed of many long empty outdoor corridors and alleyways.
He and his friends, could hear stampeding feet in the next alley over, as soon as they found a cross roads the mob would be upon them, this one probably about three times the size of the last group. Then they heard, coming from the other side. Another group in the next alley over. They found themselves completely outnumbered and to make matters worse there was a crossroads coming up.
Uryu suddenly realised that no matter how stronger they were than the Soul Reapers, if it came to a crowd brawl the rescuers would never win.
"Chad! Orihime!" Shouted Yoruichi, as loudly as a talking cat could ever shout, "defend our sides just like we practised. Ichigo, Uryu, let them go in front." Ichigo fell back but he doubt on his face.
How can Orihime and Chad possibly stop them? He thought with doubt as Orihime accelerated in front of him. But she had such a look of determination that Ichigo felt he could rely on her.
They reached the fateful crossroads, with the sound of thunderous footfalls all around them. Just as they passed the corner, Orihime and Chad skidded to a halt. Orihime put her fingers to her hair pins and Chad drew back his gloved right fist back for a punch. At the exact moment where black robed figures were right on top of them.
"Santen Kesshun, I reject!" Orihime ordered, golden light streaking out from her hairpins, flew through the air and formed a golden shield that covered the whole corridor from where the half the Soul Reapers were coming from. The results was immediate and obvious , their leading Soul Reapers crashed into the barrier and were instantly stopped dead. Those behind him collided with them, and a huge pile up was formed. On the other side Chad's methods were far more direct: he threw a mighty punch a huge blast hit the Soul Reapers like a cannon. It travelled throughout the ranks of the Soul Reapers, scattering them like bowling pins.
By the time the barrier had vanished and the Soul Reapers had regained their focus the Ryoka were gone. The two factions began blaming each other for their incompetence. The arguing was so fierce they missed what Yoruichi had seen: on the ground under the sandalled feet of the Soul Reapers, was a man hole.
Deep beneath them in the sewer the only half the Ryoka carried on. In the confusion Yoruichi had only been able to command two of them to escape to the sewer and the other two had clambered over the walls of the alley and escaped in the disarray. Beneath the surface Ichigo, Orihime and Yoruichi stalked towards the centre of Soul Society. They made it quite a distance before Yoruichi said she wanted to return to the surface to see where they were.
"But if you're seen?" Worried Orihime, biting her nails and looking down at the very bossy talking kitty.
"You need not worry about me being caught." Yoruichi assured her. "Even if people see me they will assume that I am a stray cat." Ichigo raised an eyebrow doubtfully.
"I don't know you look too tidy to be some stray." Then an evil smile grew on his face. The follow events transpired in this way:
Yoruichi: No Ichigo, stay away.
Yoruichi: N-no, put me down.
Yoruichi: Don't! Don't ruffle my fur! It takes ages to get clean! Nooooooooooo!
Ichigo: Ow!
Orihime: Yoruichi! That's mean! Apologise right now, bad kitty!
A now much more ruffled and angry looking Yoruichi glared at Ichigo who was nursing claw cuts on his thumb. He still looked pleased with himself. Orihime gave an exasperated sigh. It would be just short of a miracle if they managed to rescue anyone.
High, high up in a great white tower, one more set of eyes saw the magnificent falling walls. Eyes like violet flowers. But they were eyes filled with melancholy. There was no surge of curiosity or excitement. It didn't matter, she had excepted her fate and was prepared to for her inevitable execution. It was no better than she deserved. As her memories brought back waves of despair to crash on her beach of guilt. She thought back to the night. The night where her dear Kaien had died, where he had been possessed and when she had killed him. Then having been a mission in the World of the Living fate through her bait on the hook of fate in the form Kaien's red haired human Doppelgänger: Ichigo Kurosaki. The man who had taken up her role of Soul Reaper, gave her sanctuary in his home, gave her friends and adventures she thought she'd never have. But it had merely been fate reeling her in to punish her for her crimes. Sending her adopted brother to arrest her and kill Ichigo who had surely died protecting her. Tears fell down her face as she remembered her final words to the dying Ichigo: "Don't come after me." It was so not in Ichigo's nature to allow his friends to suffer. But even if he lived, with no strength and it would be impossible for Ichigo get to Soul Society or fight for her. And even if by the greatest of miracles he regained his powers, then history would merely repeat himself and he would merely be slaughtered by her brother, for real this time. She hated herself for what she'd done. She'd given Ichigo the strength he'd always wanted to protect the things he loved. But then she'd let him lose it. Then she'd trapped his heart between his desire to save her and her wishes. The tears fell to the ground as she sobbed. Truly someone has to end my vulgar life. Thought Rukia Kuchiki bitterly.