Chapter One

The Zanpaku-to Strike Back

Last Time, On Dawn of Amaterasu….

"Jazz, have you had any luck with sensing Evathon'Dala?" He asked.

"No. There's no answer from the blade at all." Jasmine replied….

"YOU? What are you doing here, Muramasa? Why are you doing this once again?"

"You'll be fine. Now, let's go and get something to eat. You need comfort foo-" Tabitha was cut off by the sound of an enormous explosion that rocked the entire Squad One barracks.

"Captain!" Said a member of Squad One as they entered the room hurriedly. "Come quick! There's been an explosion at the Central Forty-Six building!"

Raymond got up quickly. "Everyone, let's go. Hurry!" Nodding, the rest of the group left the barracks to investigate the disturbance.

Now, On Tears of Muramasa….

Nick, Raymond, Tabitha, Jasmine, James, and the rest of the patrons of Soul Society all gathered at the building of the Central Forty-Six government, which was now destroyed in a large explosion. The dark smoke rose into the sky in a long thick pillar, leaving no explanation needed for as to the source.

"What's happened here?" Raymond shouted out at no one in particular.

"We're sorry, Head Captain, but we're not sure. One minute everything was calm, next minute Soul Society's gone to hell for no apparent reason." Said a random member of Squad One.

"Raymond, I have a bad feeling about this." Tabitha expressed, ready to bring out her Hollow Mask, which Nick still hadn't seen before.

"Yes, I have one as well." Raymond agreed.

"I'm feeling a slightly familiar Spiritual Pressure, but I can't tell who it is. Too vague." Nick stated, looking around for the source of the Spiritual Pressure.

"Soul Reapers of Soul Society," Came a new voice. "So good of you all to come out on this fine day." Nick's eyes widened as he saw Muramasa appear before the assembled group.

"Shit! Everyone, It's Muramasa!" He shouted out, everyone who knew about the old enemy gasping in shock.

"Muramasa! Go back to wherever you came from this time! We have no ill will towards you unless you make us." Tabitha tried reasoning.

Muramasa looked at Tabitha, his eyes widening slightly. "That hot temper, that voice… Little Lenora? Is that you?"

"Don't you play dumb with me! You've already met my son." She pointed to Nick, who awkwardly smiled and waved.

"Ah, yes, the young one with Soi Fon earlier. I dare not say I don't remember him. After all, I cannot speak with his Zanpaku-to. But, maybe I don't have to take it out of his sword." He pointed next to Nick.

Nick looked to see a man that looked like a humanoid fox with crimson fur, two large pointed ears and nine tails sprouting from his lower back. He jumped back. "Wait…. Kyubi? You look different."

"Yes, I know. This is my true form, Nick," Said Kyubi's manifestation as he approached Muramasa. "Muramasa, why do you continue this fight that even you know is unnecessary?"

"Ah, Kyubi. Long time no see. How long has it been? 300 years?"

"Yes, about that long. Now, what is your answer?"

"My answer is that this battle is no more meaningless than your yielding to your young Master. It means nothing, Kyubi. He is just a boy. To him, you are just a toy." Muramasa answered with a sneer and a chuckle.

"That's not true!" Nick shouted. "Kyubi is my partner, even if I can't see him during a fight. We work together to defeat our enemies. I'll defeat you right now, if that's what it takes." Nick got ready to release his Bankai when Kyubi's hand reached out in front of Nick, restraining him.

"No, Nick. Do not let anger control you. Remember what I taught you while you fought your Inner Hollow? Stay calm, and you'll never lose a fight."

"Hey, I didn't lose when I was mad at my dad and fought Tai."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you would win every fight while thinking like that. The Bounts do not count, and that Arrancar had no reason to steal your family. But, it all depends on how focused you are on your goals. Never forget that."

"I-i know, Kyubi. Sorry," Nick took a deep breath and than glared at Muramasa. "Where's Lora?"

"Lora? Ah, you must mean the Soul Reaper I had to capture in order to fully succeed with my plans. Don't worry, I assure you that she is safe… For the moment." He laughed again as Nick began struggling in the grip of both his mother and Captain Barrett.

"Nick, calm the fuck down!" Tabitha yelled at her son, instantly calming him down again.

Muramasa snapped his fingers, and in an instant, the manifestations of every Zanpaku-to in the Soul Society (available due to characters that aren't immune to the effects or whose haven't manifested yet) appeared next to their Soul Reaper partner, most of which making their way over to Muramasa. Nick could see one that resembled a woman in an elegant red dress, with thorny vines with black roses encircling her. That must be Tai's Zanpaku-to. She does seem to scream Black Rose. He thought.

Next to Tabitha, a figure with birdlike qualities appeared. Two wings extended from their back, and a slightly-curved beak protruded from their face, making their gender harder to figure out. That's gotta be Mom's Zanpaku-to, Falcon. What others can I distinguish? Nick looked around more.

Finally, his eyes fell on the figure of a woman, with skin that appeared scaly and had long flowing ice blue hair. She was dressed in a cerulean blue dress that only reached down to her knees, and in her hand was a long staff that seemed to be made of ice or glass. Nick's eyes widened in realization at who this Zanpaku-to belonged to. "Muramasa, you bastard! You're the one who stole Jasmine's Zanpaku-to spirit. You stole Evathon'dala!"

Muramasa simply nodded. "Of course it was me. I am the only Zanpaku-to with that certain ability. It was actually quite easy to accomplish it as well, what with her master unconscious and the sword broken in half. Circumstances like that always make it easier for me to get the job done."

"Fuck you. Not all of the Zanpaku-to will follow you so blindly. Some are smart enough to resist and ignore your influence. Zangetsu is, and so are Kyubi and Falcon!" Nick said, pointing to Zangetsu who had also appeared.

Ichigo looked next to him. "Hey, Zangetsu. How have you been?" Then, he looked to his other side and saw Shirosaki, his Inner Hollow's manifestation standing there. "AHHHH! What the fuck are you doing out?" He asked, shocked.

Nick couldn't help but chuckle at his distant cousin's reaction, but understood what he meant, since his hadn't manifested next to him as well.

"Well, King, I'm out because Muramasa decided to try to control me again. Why don't you just go Vasto Lorde and we'll kill him quickly. Get this whole mess over with?"

"No, not now. We don't know what will happen to the Zanpaku-to if they aren't released from Muramasa's mind control crap from their owners before Muramasa is killed. We can't take any chances."

"Fine. You know I hate to wait, though."

"Then get the fuck back in my head! You don't have to just sit there and do nothing."

Shrugging, the Hollow shimmered out of existence, probably retreating back into Ichigo's mind. Turning his attention back to Muramasa, Nick listened to what the enemy was now saying.

"Soul Reapers, the time of your reign of power is over. It is time for you to realize the power of your true masters: your own Zanpaku-to. The time of Soul Reapers is over. Now is the age of Zanpaku-to. I urge you to surrender to us freely so no one gets hurt."

"We are the members of the Thirteen Cou-" Raymond began.

"Fifteen, Raymond." Tabitha sighed.

"Right. Fifteen Court Guard Squads. We will not give in to the mere representation of a Zanpaku-to, let alone those of all our Zanpaku-to."

Muramasa's smirk faded to a grimace. "Then you leave me no choice, then," Turning to the rest of the Zanpaku-to manifestations, he continued. "My fellow Zanpaku-to, rise up against the oppression of the Soul Reapers who command you! Attack to kill, but only target your owner."

Most of the Zanpaku-to merely rushed along into battle, searching for their original owner while the other few took the time to be civilized and nod their agreement before entering the fray. Kyubi, who had stood strong next to Nick, spoke up. "Nick, there is no need for you to stay. I would advise falling back for a while. I must train you more if you are to defeat Muramasa without putting anyone you care about in danger."

Nick stayed where he was. "I'm sorry, Kyubi, but Jasmine's Zanpaku-to is here, as well as Jasmine. I'm not going to just disappear when my sister may need me. I promised to keep her out of life-endangering trouble, and I mean to keep my promise. We're staying, but if you can, please create some sort of barrier to keep us out of any stray battles. If she gets into a situation she can't get herself out of, I'll go retrieve her and bring her to the Hidden Squad Four Barracks out in the Rukon District. Best case scenario after that would be to watch her until any other, more experienced members of Squad Four can come and heal her. I have no experience with any Healing Kido."

Kyubi was hesitant, but complied. "Very well. I can create a small barrier that blocks our Spiritual Pressure from the outside. We'll be safe. I just hope you know what you're doing."

"So do I, Kyubi. So do I."

A/N: Finished this chapter for Easter! Yay! Happy Easter to you all, even though I don't have a clue as to whether anyone will be looking at this today, what with all the Easter dinner prep and whatever. But oh well. So the plot finally starts again, and Muramasa has Lora! What will Raymond do? How will Jasmine's battle with Evathon'dala play out? I don't know. Haven't gotten there yet. See you next time.

Next Time: Read the A/N, it'll tell you all you really need to know, or what you don't know yet. Whatever comes to your mind first.