This story takes place right at the end of chapter 313 in the manga, so Byakuya, Unohana, Kenpachi, Mayuri, Ichigo and all of those other good guys are in Hueco Mundo beating the crap outta the Arrancar and (remaining) Espada. It is AU, which is obvious, but it also will contain some pretty significant SPOILERS.
Also, for those of you who have read this previously, I would like to inform you that I have finally decided to cut Amagai out of this story. So now there are no more suck-ish, stupid, useless, worthless filler characters anymore. Yay~
If you didn't read my original version, Welcome, and I hope you'll enjoy this. If you have read this before, Welcome back, but I'd like to warn you ahead of time that there have been insane amounts of changes in this. It was full of suck before, and now there are just little bits of suck. Hey, I can't fix everything!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, or else this is what would happen at some point in the manga.
BLEACH: The Second Hogyoku
By Kouzumi93
Chapter One
~Orihime's Apartment~
~December 4th~
"Nee, Taicho, it's so cold outside!" Matsumoto Rangiku whined as she rubbed her arms desperately trying to catch the fleeting, almost non-existent feeling of warmth that could supposedly come from the friction of skin on skin.
Her young superior scoffed. "That's because it's winter, idiot. It's supposed to be cold." Hitsugaya Toushiro retorted, obviously annoyed at his fukutaicho, who was wearing a short-sleeved blouse that exposed most of her chest. As always.
"Yeah, but it's still so awfully cold, even after ten bottles of sake!" Matsumoto exclaimed, holding up an empty bottle of sake, as if her captain wouldn't believe that she had downed ten of them in the last two hours.
"Bakayaro, if you would wear warmer shirts that didn't let your entire chest hang out, I don't really think you'd have much to worry about." The small captain stood from his chair and started to leave the room, as he was sure that he lost countless brain cells every time he talked to her.
All of a sudden, a blast of powerful, familiar reiatsu made itself known to the two shinigami by completely flooding all of their senses. The two top officers of the tenth division exchanged shocked expressions while simultaneously saying the same one word that brought forth so many powerful, painful memories.
"AIZEN!"
Both of their voices echoed in the small apartment, neither dominant of the other, but both were heard on their own, as they both had different emotions that were heard in that one simple word. Hitsugaya's voice was laced with anger, hatred and pain, while Matsumoto's was filled with fear, confusion and surprise.
Aizen's appearance did not bode well for anyone involved.
~With Aizen~
"Hey, Aizen-sama, it seems as if the Soul Society has sent a welcoming committee to greet us!" Ichimaru Gin announced after scanning the entire town for any traces of reiatsu. He smirked and looked through squinted eyes at the man who he loyally, and perhaps blindly, followed to see what he thought of it.
Though he should have known that Aizen's expressions were hard to read.
Aizen closed his eyes as if in thought, then opened them and looked to Gin. "Hai, it would appear that they have. Lucky for me, they have just made this trip so much easier as they let the one last thing that I need slip through their borders and straight into my waiting hands."
Aizen looked to his first, third and tenth Espada, as well as his two companions turned partners-in-crime. As if he had just decided what to do, he spoke. "Starrk, Harribel, Yammi, Gin, Kaname." The addressed looked up expectantly. "Hold all of the others off whilst I complete the preparations necessary to gain our standing at the top of the world."
"Hai, Aizen-sama!" The Espada and fallen shinigami departed, going over their previously issued orders in their heads. Everyone knew who they could and who they couldn't attack, who was Aizen's prey and who was still a part of Aizen's future plans.
Aizen had watched his followers quickly take off, and he decided that it was now time for him to make his move. He stood alone with Orihime on the sky, their clothing blending in with the fluffy, milk white clouds that hung behind them, almost like innocent bystanders in a school fight.
They see what's happening, but are unable to do a thing about it.
"You are going to come with me, Orihime." He pulled on the teen girl's wrist and took off towards her apartment, where the tenth division captain and lieutenant were currently preparing themselves for the inevitable fight that would be coming.
Orihime could do nothing but obey Aizen's every order. Her friends were still in Las Noches, Aizen's direct territory, and he could easily have them all killed should she disobey any order. It was just as Ulquiorra had told her: she was the one holding the blade of the guillotine safely above the necks of her precious friends.
She just hoped her hand's wouldn't slip.
~Jyuuni Ban Tai~
~Spiritual Wave Measurement Lab~
Tsubokura Rin was on duty again. A year ago, he would have been bored out of his mind, as nothing would ever seem to happen but now, he was more or less glad to still be there. With all of the Arrancar sightings and the massive increase of hollows, thanks to the Substitute Shinigami's insane reiatsu leaking off of his body all the time, the job was so much more interesting.
...Except today...Rin sighed to himself.
Nothing significant had showed up since the substitute and his friends had gone to invade Hueco Mundo, against orders, of course, to save their other friend. Although this event had just been a week earlier.
Rin leaned all the way back in his chair, propped his feet up on the computer desk in front of him, left foot over his right, and put the cherry lollipop that had been in his right hand into his mouth, savouring the sweet, albeit artificial, flavouring. He wondered how it was that they were able to put such amazing taste into such a little tiny piece of candy.
Just then, the scanner that sat directly in front of him, right next to where he had propped up his feet, began to glow and beep, indicating that it had picked up the reiatsu of a hollow or an Arrancar.
Crimson flashes were reflected in his eyes as his forgotten lollipop dropped from his hand and collided with the ground, shattering into dozens of pieces.
"Is it Arrancar?!" Someone in the room called out.
"Yes, but there's something else! Four other figures are being picked up as well. A-Ah! I-It's Aizen!" Rin jumped upward from his chair, effectively knocking it backwards and to the floor.
"Nandatou?!"
"Gentei Kaijyo eh?" Hiyosu asked.
"We've got permission."
"Where are they?"
"They are right above the Karakura shopping centre--And now they're splitting up into three groups! It appears that they are heading right for each of the members of Hitsugaya's advanced group!"
There were hushed whispers all about the room.
"Someone go and inform Yamamoto-soutaicho about this new development immediately!"
"H-Hai!"
~Ichi Ban Tai~
~Yamamoto's Office~
Yamamoto stood in his office, gazing past the balcony to the Seireitei beyond it. Everyone was training hard, honing their skills in hopes of putting this war to an end as soon as physically possible. He wondered how long it had been since there had truly been peace in the Seireitei. Whenever it had been, it now seemed so far away, and somewhat out of their grasp for now.
Even as far back as the time when Urahara Kisuke had been a captain, the peace had not been quite so real. Aizen had shattered the peace that long ago, and it didn't seem as if it could be regained until Aizen, Ichimaru and Tousen had all been killed.
Right then, Yamamoto heard hurried footsteps in the hallway, then, right after they stopped, there was a rap on his door.
"Yes?"
"Yamamoto-soutaicho-dono, I bring you an urgent message from the Spiritual Waves Measurement Lab!"
"Enter!"
The door opened quickly and in stepped one of the standard messengers. He immediately kneeled down to the head captain and proceeded to relay the information to be passed through him. "Aizen Sousuke, Ichimaru Gin, Tousen Kaname and three Espada have been detected in Karakura Town. They seem to be targeting the members of Hitsugaya-taicho's advanced group."
Yamamoto turned around to finally face the young messenger, a plan having already formed itself in his mind. "Send orders to Ukitake-taicho and Kyouraku-taicho. They are to immediately head to Karakura Town to aide the others who are already there."
"Hai, Yamamoto-soutaicho-dono. Is there anything else?" The messenger asked timidly.
"No. Go post-haste."
"Hai." The messenger was gone in a flash, using shunpo to quickly inform the highly respected captains of eighth and thirteenth division of their terribly important duty.
Yamamoto prayed that the captains would make it in time.
~Jyuusan ban Tai~
~Ukitake's Office~
Ukitake and Kyouraku had been playing a game of chess against one another when the messenger arrived at the door.
"Excuse me, are Kyouraku-taicho and Ukitake-taicho present?" The same messenger who had just been office called through the shoji doors that cut him off from the two captains.
"Yes we are. Open the door." Ukitake ordered.
The young man opened the door and spoke quickly, knowing that there was no time to spare. "Aizen Sousuke, along with seven of his followers, have been spotted in Karakura Town. Yamamoto-soutaicho-dono has given the order that the both of you are to go to the human world and help those who are already there."
"Nani? Aizen has made an appearance already?" Ukitake exclaimed.
The unnamed man nodded. "Hai."
"But it's too soon!"
"Well, I guess that just means that we should get going now, Ukitake. Sounds like they're really going to need our help out there." Kyouraku stood from the now mildly warm mat on the floor.
"I suppose we should." Ukitake then agreed as he followed suit in standing. He turned back to the messenger who was still at the door. "Is the Senkaimon prepared for our departure?"
"Yes. It should be open by now."
"Arigatou. You may leave now."
"Hai." The messenger was gone as quickly as he had come.
"This is getting quite complicated, isn't it?" Kyouraku asked his old friend as they prepared themselves to leave the barracks.
"Yes, I believe it is. Let's get going."
~Orihime's Apartment~
As soon as Aizen's reiatsu registered in Hitsugaya and Matsumoto's minds, they popped a gikongan into their mouths and ditched their gigais. They ordered their false bodies to get as far away from the apartment as possible, as they could likely get caught up in the crossfire of the fights.
Both shinigami then leapt up upon the top of the building, not having any desire at all to bloody or destroy the inside of it, due to the fact that it wasn't theirs to destroy in the first place. Not to mention that they'd have to pay for any and all repairs.
It was right then that Ichimaru appeared, zanpakuto drawn and ready to strike. One would have expected him to lunge at Hitsugaya, but he changed course and went for Matsumoto instead. She had already drawn Haineko, and she managed to catch Ichimaru's attack with it. With all of the force behind the attack, both were launched into the side of a nearby building, effectively crashing through the walls.
Hitsugaya turned to where Matsumoto had just been, then traced a path with his eyes to a building that now had a rather large, gaping, smoking hole in the side of it. He just began to make a motion forward when a hand clamped itself down upon his shoulder.
He lunged himself out from under the person's grasp and saw the last person that he had wanted to see, although his presence in Karakura Town was already burned into his own brain.
"Hello, Hitsugaya-kun." Aizen's fake smile probably could have fooled anyone, except those who had known him and knew about his betrayal. That smile was that of a sadistic traitor who lived only to trick people and kill those that he pretended he cared about.
It makes me sick. Hitsugaya thought as the temperature dropped a few degrees.
~Kiego's Apartment Building~
Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika had been waiting. As soon as they had been assigned back to Karakura Town, they had just been itching for a chance to get to fight some strong hollows or some Arrancar, but this opportunity appealed even more to them. An Espada, possibly one of the strongest ones, was standing right in front of the two shinigami from the eleventh division.
There was a very young, blonde girl standing next to the Espada, likely his Fraccion. This made this particular battle even better for both Ikkaku and Yumichika, as they would both be able to have their own opponents to fight. Neither one of them would have to sit this one out this time.
Just as the Arrancar appeared to them, the two shinigami had silently agreed that Starrk was for Ikkaku, as the difference in power between Ikkaku and Yumichika was just as obvious as the one between the Espada and Fraccion. Of course, Ikkaku's unspoken dibs landed the black haired narcissist a spot against Lilynette, although he was rather disappointed with the line-up.
Ikkaku had decided that he would go with shikai right from the start, only planning to use his bankai if absolutely necessary, but all of the other shinigami also had to be completely preoccupied. He couldn't let the word get out to everyone in the Seireitei about that Bankai of his. He would end up being followed by fools, begging him to become a captain.
That just wouldn't do.
Yumichika had figured that since his opponent was a little girl, he would hardly have to fight at full strength, let alone release his zanpakuto. She couldn't really be all that strong, especially because she was only a Fraccion. Well, unless her strength was compressed into a more compact form, much like Yachiru's was.
And if this girl was anything like Yachiru, Yumichika figured that he might as well fight her like a normal enemy. Little kids were never to be underestimated, as they were usually the ones who contained the most power of all.
~Urahara Shouten~
Kira stared at the dark-skinned woman in front of him. The clothing that she wore was lacking fabric all around the bottom of her chest, as one could see quite a bit of her large breasts. Kira forced himself to focus on her face, not eager to let his eyes drift, as he drew Wabisuke from its sheath at his waist.
Harribel placed one finger through a hole in the hand guard of her zanpakuto as if she was going to draw it, but she then let her hand drop back to her side, as if deciding that she wasn't going to need it for this fight. Kira figured that she felt that he wasn't worth the effort.
And yeah, she was probably right.
I don't think that I'm going to stand much of a chance against her. Her insane reiatsu probably indicates that she's an Espada, and a powerful one at that. Kira thought to himself, slightly depressed at his own bad luck. But I guess it can't really hurt to try.
Kira prepared to release his zanpakuto. Well, it could but...
"Omote wo Agero, Wabisuke!" Wabisuke's power took over the katana, bending it into its executioner style blade.
Hisagi felt small in comparison to the Arrancar he was fighting. Yammi was much taller and bigger than he was, but Hisagi didn't really see that as much of a problem. Bigger wasn't always better, and the bigger they were, the harder they would fall.
Although the Arrancar was so big, he didn't seem to be very powerful, and his intelligence seemed low as well. He was either a regular Arrancar or a very low level Espada. The latter was much more likely, as Aizen himself had made an appearance, and he would probably have nothing but Espada to use as his own personal shields.
Even though he was finally getting a chance to fight an Arrancar, he was disappointed that he couldn't, or even help to fight Tousen, who Urahara was facing instead. If this Arrancar Yammi wasn't here, I would have a chance to fight Tousen-taicho. Maybe then I could bring him back to the Soul Society and open his eyes for him.
It was decided. Hisagi was going to kill Yammi in order to get that chance. Fighting all out was his only option, and failure was far from his mind. It was now or never.
"Kare, Kazeshini."
Urahara wasn't sure that fighting Tousen was such a good idea. He had a feeling that this invasion had similar intentions to the one used as a cover up for Inoue-san's kidnapping. Although if Aizen had come, this one would have much more dire consequences than before.
There was something else tugging at him, something that made him worry beyond all reason. What would Aizen need so bad that he would bring his very best along with him? Urahara could think of only one thing that would make Aizen do this on his own, rather than sending one of his henchmen to do for him.
That one item could spell the end for the Soul Society.
Tousen swung Suzumushi down at the musing Urahara, landing a shallow hit on his left shoulder. Blood seeped through Urahara's clothing, permanently dying the fabric with its crimson colour.
Urahara looked down at the fresh wound and his thoughts turned even darker than before. If they are already this strong, getting that item will make it damn near impossible to beat them in the true battle.
And boy was he right.
Translations:
Hogyoku - Breakdown Sphere; Gives the powers of a soul reaper to a hollow
Nee - Hey
Taicho - Captain
Fukutaicho - Lieutenant
Sake - Alcohol
Bakayaro - Idiot
Reiatsu - Spiritual Pressure
Shinigami - Soul Reaper
Hai - Yes [sir/ma'am]
Las Noches - Aizen's Palace
Jyuuni Ban Tai - Twelfth Division
Arrancar - A hollow with Shinigami powers
Hueco Mundo - The dimension where hollows live
Nandatou - What did you say
Gentei Kaijyo eh - Limit releaser status
Soutaicho - Head Captain
Ichi Ban Tai - First Division
Seireitei - The place where the Shinigami live
Shunpo - Flash Step
Jyuusan Ban Tai - Thirteenth Division
Nani - What
Senkaimon - World Gate
Arigatou - Thank You
Gikongan - False Soul
Gigai - False Body
Zanpakuto - A Shinigami or Arrancar's sword
Fraccion - An Arrancar that serves an Espada
Shikai - First release of a shinigami's zanpakuto
Bankai - Second/Final release of a shinigami's zanpakuto
Shouten - Store/Shop
Omote wo Agero - Raise your head [Wabisuke]
Kare - Reap [Kazeshini]
Was that enough of an attention getter for everyone? I tried my best in the revisions, and this ended up coming out much longer than my first version, so I hope that the length pleases everyone as well. Some chapters will be longer than this, that's a promise, but this is enough for a first chapter, I suppose.
I'm currently trying to fix up the fight scenes in the next two chapters, as well as cutting out Amagai's fight and switching it with Hisagi's fight, so I'm not sure I'm looking too forward to doing that. The main reason I tossed Hisagi in here was because I discovered that I seem to have a lack of him anywhere. Plus, he didn't seem to be doing anything, and as much as I wanted to put Soifon in, I don't like writing Oomaeda parts, so they were out as soon as they popped in.
Anyway, review, please!