Hey guys, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it and R&R.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.

Chapter 02: The Preparations of War

After the grand memorial where everyone from the Renegade attended, Jura, being the new king, had to visit each family and tell them what befell the loved ones that died in battle. Each time he came into a house the families would either cry or they would be filled with a great of amount of hatred, asking to be in the front lines. All Jura could do was shake his head mournfully. Being King wasn't all that great.

From what he heard from Leto about the fall of the warriors, Jura didn't plan to send in recruits who barely knew how to fight. When he had to visit Tyr's house, he was in for a big surprise.

Guarded by the three remaining Renegade Knights, Joan, Leto, and Theseus, he walked into the home. The tents were for the three hundred warriors but the houses were used for workers and civilians. The houses were simple huts, only one-story high. They were all made from the surrounding woods and had a thatch roof on top. When he looked inside, he was expecting an old woman who had been Tyr's mother or other relatives. But he found only a daughter. She had blond hair and brown eyes just like her father. She wore the regular brown kimono signifying a civilian. Her hair was in a pony-tail and her eyes were red from crying.

"Have you come to tell me about dad's death?" asked the girl, "If not please leave."

"Liege Jura, is this a wise thing? Telling Freyja about her father's death would leave her heartbroken." whispered Joan. "Besides I doubt Leto wants to recount the tale." She pointed at the rearguard. Leto, instead of wearing her usually unrevealing cloak, wore a revealing white kimono where the bottom was more like a dress. Her black hair dangled at her sides and her face looked down at the ground. Trails of tears marred her smooth face.

"It is my duty Joan, as much as I hate it. I must lead a good example like my brother and father." He looked at Freyja, "May we come in? We have some matters to discuss about your father."

Freyja nodded with a determined look and let them in to sit around the tea table. She quickly served some green tea and asked them before they could drink, "What happen to my father?"

Leto stood up; at least she had the energy to do that. "Hold your tongue girl. You are Tyr's daughter but you have no right to speak to his majesty without any respect whatsoever." Jura held up his hand and motioned for Leto to sit down. She did sit but with a frown on her face.

"Alright Freyja. Your father died, from our reports, of multiple wounds in the back. They were all mortal, but he still came back to base to report at the expense of his own life. He saved our only surviving member and fought like a hero that day."

Freyja started to cry, "Thank you my lord. At last I know how my father died. It was fitting for a warrior. If only I could avenge his death…I would like to help you but I don't have a zanpakuto."

Jura stood up and placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair. "My dear girl. How would you like to take up your father's sword? Fight for the Renegade like your father did for hundreds of years."

"You really mean it my lord?" She asked wide-eyed.

"Of course I do dear one. We would appreciate your help of course." He said and smiled gently.

Freyja looked up with her big brown eyes, bowed, and kissed Jura's palm. "My lord, as my father has served the Renegade kings, I will serve you. I give you my body, my blade, and my soul for your protection. Where my father left off I will take up the fight."

"That is exactly what I wanted to hear, Freyja." He motioned for Leto to give him the package. "By your father's sword I dub thee Freyja a Renegade Recruit. Do not fail me." With that he handed her the sword and kissed her cheeks. "Do not cry young one. You will have your revenge. By the way, the name of the sword is Fenris. Get in touch with him."

He then left through the door, leaving a stunned recruit of the floor. The bodyguards followed, not noticing Freyja slowly putting her hand against her cheek. A leader of charisma, determination, and of loyalty. If Jura did not embody those three beliefs, what was the point of following him?


Jura was still walking outside with his bodyguards. All around him renegades hailed and revered him. To them he was the man who knew everyone. He always cared for them. While his father cared for his subordinates, to him they were just that to his subordinates. His brother only trusted the warriors and not the civilians. But Jura knew all the villagers and warriors who he helped at one time. He had visited all of them at least once. They were all prepared to die for him and he knew it though it hurt him sometimes to admit it. But Jura wasn't going to let a little guilt get in the way of their revenge.

As he was walking down the paved road, there were screams in the air. His bodyguards quickly protected him from the upcoming horde of fans. Apparently also knowing every person in the village brought him a degree of fame among the ladies and besides who wouldn't want to be good friends with the King of the Renegades? Jura always smiled at them and always told them he had work to do. Then he would walk back to camp. Not this time though. There was no horde. It was an honest scream of help. They quick-step to where the screams origin was.

A twenty-five-year-old man faced off against a hollow that held a young child hostage. The man suffered some minor wounds but the hollow had a whole arm chopped off. The man was wearing a white kimono, indicating that he was on a vacation since anyone in town who wore kimonos are either the leaders or warriors seeing their families.

"Betray, Rheia" The man had black hair and blue eyes. His sword turned into two which were in shaped of dirks but was slightly hooked at the end. "Traitor, Rheia!" He yelled at the hollow and pointed a shining dirk at the hollow. "Put the girl down." He said. The hollow complied and the girl came running to man and hid behind his leg. "Now kill yourself hollow." The hollow then crushed its own mask and disappeared.

The onlookers were stunned by display. A zanpakuto that could control the enemies' movements. No small feat. Jura moved toward the man who noticed him and knelt to the floor.

Jura sighed. "Up Recruit Kronos. I was wondering how long you were going to hide your sword's true ability."

The man looked up. "You knew my lord?"

Jura slapped him on the head. "I said get up." This time the Kronos did get up. "Yes I knew for a while. Saying your sword's power was moving quicker; ridiculous. If you wanted to lie about your power make up a better one."

Kronos looked down at his feet, "Yes my lord."

The little girl looked up at Jura, "You aren't going to hurt daddy are you majesty?"

Theseus, in one of his most unusual brilliant moments, walked over and picked the girl up. "Of course our lord won't. Now instead of listening to boring adult talk let's go somewhere else to play."

"Yeah, let's go mister!" With that Theseus piggybacked the girl away from the scene. Leto and Joan guarded all entrances. No one would be able to get in or out without getting past Leto or Joan.

Kronos looked around, "What's going on my lord? Have I done something to offend you?"

Jura looked at him for a moment, "Nothing like that but I'll need to test your strength. In a battle."

Kronos shook his head, "My lord I can't fight you. There is no reason for me to."

Jura smiled, "There is a reason. I told Theseus to take the girl away because I didn't want her to see the test. You will have to fight me full on. No giving up until I lose or you lose. I will hold back but only to see how you do." Jura grinned evilly. "Besides I doubt you want anything to happen to her."

Kronos gasped in surprise. "My lord! Threatening a child is hardly honorable!"

"But when in war we must use everything we have! I rather sacrifice every good friend of mine to save the Renegade. We all know the cost of vengeance and that is why everyone is here today!"

"Please my lord, think about this. I'm part of the 3rd army team 5, squad 6. We're known to be the weakest of the fighters. There would be no chance to fight with you."

"You're right Kronos, it wouldn't matter if I fought with you, now that I think about it." Kronos sighed thinking he escaped. "So I'll have Joan fight you. Oh Joan my dear we've got a partner for you!"

Joan ran up to Jura, "Sir, I'm your weapon; do not call me your dear. It is unsuitable," Joan said completely monotone. It wasn't that she didn't consider Jura a family member it was just that well…ok she didn't consider Jura a family member happy?

"Hai, hai! I'll stop calling you dear if you defeat this guy without using your bankai." Joan's eyes lightened at the bet. She really hated being called dear because she only saw herself as a weapon: nothing more and nothing less. "If it is an order how can I not accept my lord?"

"Good, good. Leto set up a barrier that blocks sound and destruction if you would please darling." Leto blushed at such familiarity. It was unheard of for the leaders to be so familiar with any, especially their bodyguards. Leto sighed. Then again she should be use to it since she was the one who had basically been the mother for the two even if they didn't know it.

"Now, now Mr. Kronos. Joan will not go easy. So put your guard up. The match will start when I say begin, ok?" asked Jura.

"As order my liege," said Kronos as he drew his sword and he began to state, "If I ma…"

"BEGIN!" yelled Jura.

"..y my lord…SAY WHAT!" Joan charged at him with her sword without the slightest hesitation.

"Too slow Kronos. At this rate Joan will take you down without using her shikai."

Kronos was blocking all of Joan's attacks but he couldn't attack or he'd be sliced. "Only one thing to do," he thought. "Betray, Rheia!" he yelled.

"Oho this is getting interesting. Joan let him have it."

Joan nodded, "Fly, Valkyrie." She thrust her spear at Kronos's stomach. He sidestepped and crossed his blade to make her surrender. She looked solemnly at him. It kind of scared Kronos he eyes looked so dead. No love, no fear, only her duty is what seemed to get her going. "I believe you don't know what a Valkyrie does do you Kronos?" With that she stepped onto her spear and whizzed into the air.

Kronos gaped "How the hell am I suppose to get her now, liege?"

Jura smiled and shrugged, "Beats me; it is your fight remember? From my point of view you can't win unless you have power stashed away. No one outside can feel the reiatsu. So you don't have to hold back."

Kronos frowned, "My lord what will happen if I do release my full power?"

"Depends on the outcome, my friend. It depends on the outcome."

Kronos smiled, "Alright I like this my lord. Joan let us start the real game." He jumped from the ground and attacked her with his dirks. Joan floated away on her spear.

This continued for about five minutes until Jura noticed how fast Kronos was getting. "If this keeps up Joan would be force to release bankai or Kronos will kill her." He thought

Joan got off her spear and from the sky charged towards Kronos. Kronos came jumping back at her. "Mold, Prometheus" whispered Jura and changed it into a rope, wrapping it around Kronos. He pulled hard. Kronos, so in tuned with the battle, barely noticed it until he was pulled away from Joan. Joan hit the ground and created a huge crater.

"Well done Kronos. Well done indeed. Few opponents make Joan use her real strength." Jura exclaimed as he put away Prometheus. "What say you Joan? How did he do?" Joan didn't pay attention from the fact that she had created a huge crater or the fact that she was dusty head to toe. She just brushed the dust off absently.

Joan shrugged, "He was on the verge of releasing his limit. He will do. But why did you stop me from fighting him when it was almost time?"

Jura smiled, "If I didn't do it I would have lost one good man or I would have made you win the bet. Either way I lost."

"So you pulled him out of the fight because you didn't want to lose," stated Joan.

Jura scratched the back of his head, "Something like that. Anyway back to business. Kronos, we are looking for a new Renegade Knight. Tyr's daughter is not up for the challenge yet and you already fit the bill. So get on your knees and let start this."

Kronos stuttered, "N-noo-o my lord. I'm not worthy. I don't deserve to be a Renegade Knight. I'm not strong enough and I have an orphanage to feed! How can I be a Renegade Knight and look after them?"

Jura rubbed his temples, "Are you such a fool to think I would pick you because of strength? Do you think I only think about strength in the warrior like my brother did? I'm looking for people with many talents and you, my friend, easily fit the bill. Your zanpakuto is unique. I have never seen anything like it." He paused. "I'm sorry to do this but we're in need of a new knight and I'm sure I can find some helpers for the orphanage while you're away. Either way you are going to become one so just go along with it. When Tyr's girl grows up and can match her father and learn her own style she will replace you so no worries. Now as I said before KNEEL!"

Kronos unconsciously went down on both knees ready to receive the title. Kronos tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond. Jura took out his zanpakuto. "Wait," said Kronos, at least his mouth could still move, "why do you have two zanpakutos? Aren't all people only to be accepted by one?"

"My brother kind of relinquished his to me. So no matter what I do with it, it will always come back. Anyway, Kronos do you take your oath here and now in front of the order to serve, protect, and kill for your leader? Do you accept that your life may be forfeit just to save one man's life? Will you fight till the bitter end even though you will lose? Will you face death to protect the leader of the order?"

Kronos replied solemnly, "With all my soul my lord." His body may not have responded, but his words were all his own.

Jura smiled, "Then arise Kronos, the new Renegade Knight." He then takes out his sword and stamped Kronos on the palm. "This crest will be with you for the rest of your life. If you fail to follow your oath, this crest will cause utter misery and bad luck to befall you and torture you till your last breath." Jura smiled. "But there is a good side. Your strength will increase, you are a noble among the Renegade and can ask help from any person without a consequence and lastly you are able to be with me in the next life." The crest was a hammer hitting an anvil.

"Welcome Kronos, welcome to the Renegade Knights."


Hueco Mundo.

Sun-sun, Apache, and Mila-Rose were arguing again. Harribel watched them so that they didn't gut each other with their swords.

An Arrancar appeared in front of Harribel. "Harribel-sama, Lord Aizen is not pleased by your search."

"Tell Lord Aizen that I will find this sword for him. It is only a matter of time." The Arrancar nodded and headed back to report to Aizen.

Apache walked away from the other bickering two and toward Harribel then knelt. "Harribel-sama all we know is that the Renegade has it or it has disappeared."

"Then I want you, Sun-sun, and Mila-Rose to gather some hollows and look for the Renegade camp."

"Harribel-sama, no disrespect intended, but how do we find this base?"

"We will only have to search everywhere. Turn over every stone and look through every hiding place. They can't be that hard to find."

"Yes Harribel-sama." Apache rose and told the other two of the mission. Both were eager to go and kill some renegades.

"I wonder who their leader is now," said Harribel.


Back in the Renegade's camp.

Jura and his new bodyguard Kronos were visiting the daughter of Tyr. Theseus was teaching new recruits about the finer parts of war. Leto and her blacksmiths were forging new weapons or sharpening zanpakutos. Joan was working with the farmers and the crops.

"Sir," Kronos said, "If I may ask, what is important about this Frejya person? I know she is the daughter of the late Tyr but what makes her so special for you to visit her?"

"Her determination is inspiring. She is willing to do whatever it takes to take revenge upon her father's murderer."

"Yes my lord. Here we are." They walked up to the door. Kronos knocked on the door twice.

"Who is it?" questioned a muffled voice came from inside the door.

"Lord Jura has come for a visit with the Recruit Freyja. Open the door in his lord's name." Kronos replied.

"Now, now Kronos enough with formalities. I don't want the whole village to learn I'm here." Jura whispered as he looked around the area. Fortunately no one was around to hear them.

Freyja opened the door. She wore a white kimono with dark red linings. Instead of having her hair in a ponytail she had let it fall to her shoulders. Only the real warriors were allowed to wear full white kimonos. All recruits wore a different color lining depending on which field of battle they would go to.

The first field is regular fighting. These are the warriors who only rely on their zanpakutos and a small amount of kido. They make up most of the Renegades' forces. They are the all-around fighters with no apparent weakness but also no apparent strengths except for their numbers. The linings are dark red.

The second field is kido fighters. These warriors relied more on kido to kill their enemies than their zanpakutos. They are the second most abundant of the warriors and the most skillful of the warriors. They are also the intelligence-gathering units and medics. Their linings are grey.

The third field is those of mounted units. These warriors usually leads the charge on a special type of spiritual horse made by their own reiatsu and are also used on raids because of their high mobility. They are the third most abundant but usually are the most powerful at raw strength. The linings are blue.

The fourth field is those of special ops, aka the fanatics. They are usually frowned upon but also well respected because of their fanaticism to the Renegade. These warriors usually carry out the most dangerous of missions like assassinations or suicides. They are the least abundant but the cleverest. Their linings are a forest green.

Once they graduate from whichever field the recruit takes to then they report to the Recorder of Warriors who tells them which of the three armies they go to. All the armies are the same but they all reside in different areas of the camp.

"Hello my lord" Freyja said bowing low. "How may I be of service to you today?"

"Come, come my friends. We're all comrades. Don't speak to me like I'm some noble." Jura said and laughed, "But since we're here I like to know how your training is going along."

Freyja looked down to the wooden floor. "My lord your expectations for me may have been too high. Fenris won't answer me when I call upon him."

"My dear girl you have to prove yourself to the sword. The person grows into the sword, my little warrior. Give it another try, and this time I'll watch over you."

Freyja was excited by this news. "The lord will watch me. If I impress him maybe he'll consider me to be a top officer," she thought to herself. "Hai my lord; I'll give it another whirl," she stated.

She sat down on the floor and crossed her legs. "Breath in and out. The world around you is not here. Forget all emotions and pain," Jura quietly told her. He walked around her and took out Prometheus. He raised his sword and made a strike at her head. He stopped right before he hit her head. She didn't move an inch.

"Good, good. We may get somewhere." Jura smiled widely. "This is a secret between you and me. Kronos lock the door if you will." Kronos quickly locked the door and went outside.

"If someone close to you has died and their sword is retrieved, a person can have two zanpakutos. But if you get your own zanpakuto, then the replacement will disappear. If you have a high enough reiatsu though and can make both zanpakutos work together you can unlock their full potential and wield both of them, but if you aren't careful you could die."

Freyja listened intently to her superior's words and memorized them. After two hours of closing her eyes she opened them. What she saw wasn't her home but a snowy mountain with a huge black, gaping hole. Some strange power tugged her into the opening. She found her father's zanpakuto at her side and drew it. Turning her head cautiously, she walked in holding the sword out in front of her. After walking a short while she found that there were many icy passages to go into. The entrance had three passages: one on the left, one on the right, and one in the middle. She went into the middle. All around her was icicles and frost covered the ground. Her breath kept fogging the air around her.

"Hmm, it has been ages since you called on me Tyr," spoke a voice that echoed through the passageway. She looked around quickly and looked up. No one was there.

"Please Tyr, stop playing this foolish game. I know you're here so keep going." Freyja couldn't believe that her father's zanpakuto didn't even know that his partner was dead. "Tyr, move it before I get angry. I want to sleep in peace," the voice rumbled loud enough that the walls shook slightly.

Freyja hurried along the icy path until she came upon a huge opening. It was huge. The ceiling had icicles shaped like teeth and they reflected all images. The walls were all smooth and shining like a diamond. In the middle was an enormous icicle coming out from the ground. A metal chain was wrapped around it. "There you are Tyr." A wolf came into view. Its fur was all black and its forepaws had huge claws. "Wait a minute, you're not Tyr. Where is my partner?" the wolf growled and readied to lunge at her.

She positioned the katana in front of her. "I'm Tyr's daughter, Freyja. I have come to ask for a pact with you."

The wolf started to circle around the chamber. It had a collar on its neck but the chain was long enough so he could move about in the room freely. "So Tyr died eh? I didn't think he would without even calling me out. It's a shame. I haven't seen battle in a real long time."

"So do we have a deal or not? I'll fight with you but you have to serve me like you served my father."

"Serve you?" The wolf's eyes grew red. "Little girl I serve only those who defeat me in combat. If you can defeat me, I'll be your zanpakuto."

"Then fight me." She rushed at him using an overhead strike. The wolf jumped out of the way making her slash the ground. Surprisingly the floor wasn't as hard as Freyja expected and the sword easily cut through it causing a jagged line on the ice to appear. "My floor… You'll pay for that wench." The wolf jumped at her, opening his mouth. Freyja ran and slid under the wolf. While still sliding, she kicked him in the gut and slashed with her sword from under him. "What now Fenris?" The wolf hit the ceiling and fell down on the ground hard. Fenris got up and wobbled a little. "You got spunk kid, I like that." He bared his teeth at her as Freyja got back to her feet. "But that is all you got." Fenris lifted his muzzle and howled at the icicles. The noise was so loud that it started shaking the mountain. The icicles fell down all over the place. One of the icicles hit right in front of Freyja, digging in so far that the icicle's top seemed to be part of the floor. All around icicles fell upon her. One of them scrapped her leg and made her twist around. She was able to get her sword up in time to block another that would have skewered her gut.

Finally, all the icicles stopped dropping but she couldn't move because two icicles had snagged at her clothing.

"Hmm… You survived that. Impressive, but you seem to be wounded." Fenris slowly walked up to her and put his maw to her face. "I haven't eaten in awhile. You seem to have some flesh on you. You might make a decent meal." He opened his jaw readying to bit her head off. "Father forgive me." Freyja thought. She grabbed the icicle she caught when it scrapped her and shoved it into Fenris' head. Fenris' eyes widen and he fell over dead. Freyja got up and readied herself to go back out of the mountain. Her mission had failed because she killed the zanpakuto.

"Wait little girl." She turned back in horror and watched the wolf get back up. The icicle jammed in his head was still in there. "You passed the test. Hephaestus was right when he said you had potential. You win. I'll be your zanpakuto, that is until yours will finally awaken." He dropped to his feet. "Now leave me. I need my rest and so do you." All around her the mountain seemed to zoom by. She felt like she was going through a bamboo stick. She opened her eyes to see Jura watching her. The sword instead of being in her hands was clinging to her side. Freyja wobbled with exhaustion. Never try fighting a zanpakuto at home kids, it isn't worth it.

Jura smiled as he steadied her, "Good, good. You got Fenris to agree with you. I'm proud of you Freyja. Now get some rest. You have been sitting like that for hours." He started to walk out but Freyja grabbed his wrist.

"My lord, I never did properly thank you." She got to her knees and bowed her head. "My sincerest thanks, sire. And I vow that no matter where you go my lord, I'll be there as your sword. I'll shield you from any danger. Please lord I ask for your blessing so that I may fight beside you as one of your comrades." She looked up with hope in her brown eyes. She quickly dismissed it when she saw Jura's face. It was one of anguish and pain. Quickly she misinterpreted and fell to the floor, "I'm sorry lord. It wasn't my place to speak." She closed her eyes waiting for a lecture or beating but nothing came. A cool blade touched her head. "You have my blessing warrior. I just did not think you would want to give your life away so easily. But you have proved you are worthy. When you are older I expect great things from you." With that Jura walked away and sheathed his sword. Freyja was shocked. Lord Jura never unsheathed his sword unless he was serious. "Thank you my lord, thank you!" Kronos closed the door and left with his leader. Freyja sat there for a second. She felt a little different. It was like that she past a test and was chosen for something important.

Jura quickly marched back to his tent. Kronos followed him every step of the way. Jura's tent was quite ordinary. No one would have guessed that this was where their leader resided. It looked exactly like all the other tents. It was brown and had no apparent value.

"So the knight is in place." Jura stated. He brought out his chess pieces on the table. There were two white kings toppled on the side of the table. One white knight was also toppled. There were over twenty white pawns toppled to. On the board there stood a white king surrounded by four knights and three-hundred pawns. He took out a fifth knight and put it in front of the pawns. "The preparations are complete. Tell the men we go to battle." Kronos quickly bowed and ran out of the tent.

"So the game has been set. Now to see what it has in store for us." He surveyed the table and his eyes rested on a black king that was surrounded by nine knights. Also there were thirteen rooks hundreds of pawns and four bishops on the side of the board. He brought his sword out and cut the king in half. Black ooze came out from the king. Jura's eyes lit up. "So the old blood must be spilt for the future."

Whew! That was fun. Well I hoped you enjoyed the story. I would like to thank all of you for reading this. Have fun and watch out for the next update. Remember R&R!