A/N: This chapter has major spoilers through chapter 388. Sorry for multiple alerts. I'm still working out the technical kinks.
Disclaimer: I own nothing that is Bleach nor do I profit from my admiration.
Chapter 2: Recover
The status of the war was on hold and everyone had gone back to their respective corners to lick wounds and prepare for the next round. The damage left three captains, four lieutenants and one seated officer in Hueco Mundo, one captain dead, one vizard cleaved in two, two missing arms, and an exiled genius fighting for consciousness.
When Urahara ripped open the Garganta in Hueco Mundo to bring everyone back, Rukia had already been taken by Grimmjow and Yammy was beating Kenpachi into the ground with Byakuya in his uninjured fist. Yoruichi was able to safely bring Chad, Ishida, Orihime and Renji through the Garganta before Urahara was hit by Mayuri's bankai. Though Urahara had long ago made himself immune to most of Mayuri's poisons, the twelfth division captain had discovered Szayel's various toxins and effectively took out his former captain with glee.
Kenpachi had stopped moving and his formidable reiatsu dropped as Urahara fell. Yachiru had suddenly emerged, a ball of energy and fury launching her tiny body at Yammy. Before she could strike, Yoruichi appeared and grabbed the sobbing lieutenant out of the path of the Espada's cero.
Moving to Urahara, Yoruichi hefted his spasming body over one shoulder and looked back at the enraged Yammy, still pounding Byakuya and Kenpachi into the ground. Unable to see Isane anywhere and feeling Urahara's reiatsu fading rapidly, Yoruichi made the decision to leave the two captains. Moving through the mouth of the Garganta, Yoruichi gave one look over her shoulder and felt her heart break a little. Don't die lil' brat. You still owe me a game of tag.
Back in the real world, no one had been able to touch Aizen. In an effort to protect Ichigo, the captains and vizards had pledged to protect Ichigo as he was the only one that could effectively withstand Aizen's shikai. Unperturbed, Aizen had briefly engaged Ichigo in battle before he cut down Komamura and grabbed the injured Momo. Meanwhile, Gin had intervened in Kensei and Wonderweiss' fight despite Aizen's expressed annoyance and appeared by his side with a bloodied Wonderweiss under his arm.
Yamamoto tried to prevent their retreat with Ryujin Jakka but the Negacion opened and the remaining captains and lieutenants watched with a mixture of horror and anger as Momo screamed and struggled against the light.
Complete chaos erupted as the remaining captains tried to assess the damage. Ukitake was dead or dying, Hiyori was cut in two, Mashiro was down and out, Ishida had been stabbed by Zangetsu, Renji wasn't breathing, SoiFon and Hachi were missing limbs, Rangiku's internal organs were being regenerated by Kira, Urahara was unconscious, and Komamura was dead.
Two months later, though everyone knew they should be preparing for the next battle, they were just glad to have survived the last one. Kira was under watch as few believed he was truly free from Ichimaru's influence after being confronted for the first time since the betrayal. Rangiku was barely recovered from being gutted and Ukitake's near death and coma had scared everyone for weeks. Perhaps most surprising was that Kyouraku and subsequently Ise Nanao had never left his room in the Fourth Division until he woke up, starving and surprisingly cranky.
The Fourth Division had been busy with all of the injured and had been unable to restore either SoiFon or Hachi's arm. Unexpectedly, the vizard Hiyori had been brought back by Unohana and was recovering surprisingly well. When SoiFon had asked why Hiyori was able to be healed after being bifurcated, Unohana had simply stated that she could reverse the damage by Gin's zanpakuto Shinso but not Barragan's power of decay.
Hiyori on the other hand had nearly torn the Fourth Division apart when she realized that she had been brought back to Soul Society and that Shinji had not come with her. After terrorizing Hanataro for days, she was finally swept away to the 10th Division where a very irritated but surprisingly attentive Hitsugaya agreed to keep her under his watch. A recovered Matsumoto was thrilled to have her taichou's attention diverted and enjoyed playing the two off each other…much to the destruction of the tenth division.
Ikkaku had lost an eye in the battle and was irritable and moody. Yumichka had tried to comfort his lover but Ikkaku was brooding over his defeat at the pillar because of his pride. He knew that Iba had been right when he admonished him for letting pride stand in his way and he was ashamed that he had been the one to fail. When Yumichka finally got Ikkaku to open up, they both vowed to fully use their zanpakuto's full powers regardless of their status in the Eleventh Division. Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow.
Worse than the loss of Zaraki was the pale waif that walked around with blank eyes. It was easy to forget how young Yachiru really was and the sudden separation from Kenpachi had taken its toll on the former pint sized terror. It was not uncommon to see the little girl wandering aimlessly, softly calling out for Ken chan, dirty and hungry. Surprisingly, Hiyori took over caring for Yachiru after she recovered from her own injuries, making sure the younger girl washed and ate regularly. Yachiru never acknowledged Hiyori, and eventually she was left to wander on her own throughout the day, only to be retrieved and forcibly brought back to the tenth division at night to sleep with Hiyori.
After seeing the man he respected even more than his ex taichou, Hisagi had stayed in the real world immediately following the last fight with Aizen to spend time training with the vizards.
Once there, Rose, Lisa and Love had ignored him completely while Mashiro and Shinji had grated on his every last nerve regarding his tattoo, his hair, his scars, his demeanor, and anything else they could think of. However, Kensei was impressed with the shinigami's perseverance and decided to undo what he considered to be Tosen's bullshit fear of fighting philosophy. Needless to say, Hisagi and Kazeshini flourished under Kensei's more straightforward approach: all is fair when defeating the enemy and upholding the duty to protect.
Ichigo was also training with the vizards but with considerable less aggravation as they were still decidedly pissed off at all shinigami. After healing Uryu's wound from Zangetsu, Orihime had focused on helping Tessai and a handicapped Hachi revive Urahara with little success. Chad had recovered easily and was currently training with Uryu and Yoruichi when she wasn't by Urahara's side. Perhaps most surprising was the appearance of Kurosaki Isshin and Ishida Ryuuken at the shop to sit with Urahara, unbeknownst to their sons.
The leaders of all three worlds waited for the next move, unsure of what to do and hesitant to be the first to act.
Present
Renji was frustrated. Time and again, he kept getting the shit beat out of him despite being the only lieutenant to achieve bankai. He knew that he was still years away from being captain level, but for fuck's sake, it ought to count for something. Renji knew that he needed help training if he was going to be more effective, but finding someone left in the gaping holes of the Gotei 13 was challenging. Painfully he swallowed down the uncertainty of whether his own taichou was dead or alive.
Renji mentally checked down the list of potential mentors: Ikkaku was busy working on his own bankai…When the hell did he change his mind about that…Hitsugaya walked around with the equivalent of a hot poker up his ass, SoiFon was no better…as if he'd ask her…and Yamamoto…ha. With everyone else in Hueco Mundo or dead that basically left the two old timers, and though he knew that they had been trained by Yamamoto himself, he hadn't actually ever seen them use their shikai, much less their bankai. He had heard that they went at it with Soutaichou Yamamoto when they helped destroy the Sokyoku but again, Kyouraku seemed unable to do anything but sleep, drink and flirt, and Ukitake…well he could hardly breathe. Nonetheless, Hisagi trusted Ukitake and his senpai had never steered him wrong before.
Sighing, Renji made up his mind and headed off to the thirteenth division, hoping that Ukitake was sufficiently recovered and that Shunsui wasn't napping on his own roof.
Ukitake himself was training when the red haired fukutaichou walked through the division's gate. Hearing sounds from the center courtyard, Renji found most of the division and Ise Nanao watching as the white haired captain attacked the eighth division taichou. Renji thought for sure that Kyouraku would take care of the frail captain easily but found that the big man hesitated in too many places, allowing Ukitake to easily score hits.
"Shunsui! I'm in no mood for games. Either start helping me or go nap!"
"Ah, Juushiro, what an unusual show of temper today. You really must be frustrated, perhaps you are missing the lovely nurses from fourth division?" The big man winked at his friend.
"You're going to have to be more creative than that if you expect me to be irritated. " Ukitake lunged at Kyouraku's opening and succeeded in tapping the big man's straw hat.
"As if you could ever be moved to act in anger." Kyouraku laughed again and sheathed his zanpakuto. Both captains turned to look at Renji.
"Ah, Abarai Fukutaichou, what brings you here today?" Ukitake smiled warmly at the tattooed shinigami.
Suddenly nervous, Renji rubbed the back of his neck and fidgeted a bit before he blurted out, "I need to control my bankai. Yoruichi sama helped me achieve it by short cut but failed to teach me how Urahara san controlled his." He felt his face grow hot as blood rushed to his ears.
Any exhilaration he had felt for achieving bankai had soon been replaced with the anxiety of being unable to control it. Sure, he had learned Hihio Zabimaru and it had been effective, but it was painfully clear that it wasn't going to be enough anymore.
Kyouraku chuckled. Turning to Ukitake he winked, "Surely this will be good training, no? It's been awhile and you seem to be unsatisfied with me." The flamboyant captain pouted briefly before bursting into a full bellied laugh.
Ukitake uncharacteristically rolled his eyes at the big man and smiled at the nervous fukutaichou. Then without any warning, the two captains released their shikai and attacked a panicked Abarai Renji.
Flailing between the two captains and technically four zanpakuto, Renji narrowly dodged Kyouraku and was clipped by Ukitake.
"Oi! You trying to kill me? What the hell!" Renji was scrambling to stay away from Ukitake when Kyouraku appeared above him.
"Stay sharp Abarai san!" Renji barely blocked Shunsui's first blow and the second blow sent him across the courtyard, thudding off the wall and into the ground.
"Hado 33: Blue Fire Crash Down!" Ukitake's blast effectively sent Renji through the wall and and into one of the barracks. Shaking himself off, he shunpo'd back to the center courtyard.
Shit! These guys are worse than Eleventh Division!
"How the hell is this going to help my bankai?" Renji was trying to dodge Ukitake's kido blasts while avoiding Shunsui's shunpo.
"You wanted to learn to control your bankai. To summon it, you need to be able to call on it at will without any concentration or time for preparation. What better way to learn than in battle?"
At that moment, frail Ukitake Juushiro was a sick bastard that Renji wanted nothing more than to tear that falsely innocent smile off his face. Cursing Hisagi, he made a mental note to beat the hell out of him the next time he saw him. The last thing Renji remembered before waking up in the fourth division was hearing Kyouraku taichou's deep laugh and seeing Ukitake taichou rush him like a beautiful avenging angel.
Three more months had passed and there still was no move to go after Rukia and the others in Hueco Mundo. Renji had urged the other captains and even Soutaichou Yamamoto himself to send a rescue mission but he had been bluntly shut down. The soldier in him knew that it would be a suicide mission at this point and that the others may not even be alive. On the other hand, the man in Renji desperately needed to do something.
In addition, he was frustrated with his lack of progress. He could barely dodge Kyouraku and Ukitake's shikai attacks and he had only managed to hit either of them a few times. Most of the time they bantered back and forth as if they were drinking tea and sake. Renji was still unsure of their weaknesses; he could catch Kyouraku by sheer force but the big captain always seemed to anticipate his moves and would counter attack brutally. Ukitake on the other hand was so ruthless Renji thought he was fighting Zaraki…except that the slender captain never wasted any movement and most of the time appeared to be dancing gracefully rather than fighting.
Walking to the courtyard, he took off his shihakushou so that it wouldn't get shredded and was immediately assaulted by Katen Kyokotsu. Renji blocked efficiently and shunpo'd away to assess where Ukitake would be firing kido blasts from. Suddenly he felt Sogyo no Kotowari pressed down on both shoulders from behind.
Disgusted, Renji threw Zabimaru down and waited to get hit by Kyouraku. He debated for two seconds on throwing the equivalent of a tantrum but sighed instead.
"Abarai san, what was the point of that?" Ukitake sealed his zanpakuto and moved to stand in front of him.
Renji avoided the white haired captain's intense gaze, suddenly embarassed. "Ukitake-taichou, it's been four months already. I've only released my bankai a few times and I'm more battered now than when I was in Hueco Mundo. I think I use more kido against you than Kira-san and my shunpo is slower than ever. I know it takes a long time to master bankai, but we don't have that luxury!"
Sighing, Ukitake pressed his temples before carefully responding. "Abarai san, go fight Madarame san and report back."
Annoyed, Renji grumbled and kicked at a stone absently as he walked back toward the gates. Hearing a loud "Oof" from Kyouraku, Renji shunpo'd off in a panic, yelling a hasty apology over his shoulder.
Chuckling, Kyouraku rubbed his temple and turned to his old friend, "So impatient! To be that young and impetuous again!"
Ukitake smiled warmly and shook his head, "Shunsui, don't remind me of our age, you're still the sexiest man in Seireitei."
Laughing fully, Kyouraku pulled out a hidden sake bottle and headed for Ukitake's private quarters.
"Right back at ya, handsome."
"Oi! Ikkaku!" Renji sent Zabimaru flying toward his friend who was currently being assaulted by Hiyori while trying to finish his gourd of sake.
"Fuck you Renji! That was good sake!" Ikkaku jumped up as the gourd was knocked out of his hands. Hiyori gave him a swift kick in the head before grabbing the gourd and pouring the rest of the sake out.
"Baldy, I bet you another bottle that Matchstick kicks your ass" Hiyori smirked.
Visibly shaking with annoyance, Ikkaku unsheathed his zanpakuto and swung at Renji. The red-head dodged easily and swung Zabimaru around to clip Ikkaku in the back.
"Hey chibi, what do I get when I win?" Renji asked the blonde vizard, flashing his trademark cocky grin.
"Ch..ch..Chibi" Hiyori sputtered, a vein popping in her forehead. "I'll smack that smile off your face, dipshit!"
Hiyori launched herself past Ikkaku until Yumichka grabbed the back of her shihakushou and hauled her back to sit down next to him.
"My my, Hiyori chan, why can't you just act like a lady sometimes?" Yumichka sighed as he stuffed a dried persimmon into her mouth before she could verbally retaliate.
Laughing, Ikkaku grabbed the sake gourd and flung it behind him when he realized it was empty, narrowly missing Yumichka's head. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Ikkaku released Hozukimaru. Charging Renji again, he began attacking relentlessly, searching for an opening and staying close enough so Zabimaru's extension couldn't be used.
At first, Renji blocked and parried, giving up some ground to the madman in front of him, but after a minute, he found that he could predict Ikkaku's thrusts. Experimenting, Renji stopped using both hands to block his attacks and found he no longer was giving up any ground. Surprised, Renji decided to try and counter attack through Ikkaku's many openings. Easily blocking a jab meant for his stomach with a grace even Ukitake would be jealous of, he struck out with his left hand and grabbed Ikkaku's shihakushou and threw him on the ground.
Ikkaku spluttered in the swirling dust and jumped back a few steps.
"Fuck Renji, what the hell was that?" Ikkaku launched into another attack and Renji found the blows harder, but infinitely slower. Using shunpo, he appeared behind Ikkaku and nicked his arm with Zabimaru.
"Renji! You have been training hard! You no longer look like an angry bull fighting!" Yumichka sang out from behind them. "Ikkaku, you are going to be owing Hiyori chan that bottle of sake if you don't step it up!"
"Stop calling me that you overstuffed peacock!" Hiyori managed to yank on a fistful of Yumichka's hair before he calmly stood up and held her at arm's length by her wrists, her legs kicking uselessly in the air.
Growling, Ikkaku charged Renji again and the force of his attack actually sent Renji flying. Releasing Zabimaru past Ikkaku's right side, Renji landed on the ground and slid back a few feet before he shunpo'd to Ikkaku's left side and snapped Zabimaru to tighten around the 3rd seat. As soon as he landed, he shunpo'd hard to Ikkaku's right and effectively trapped his friend inside Zabimaru.
Shocked, Ikkaku and Yumichka stared at Renji. Feeling slightly bad for his friend, Renji pulled Zabimaru back and sheathed him.
"What the hell Renji, did you go and turn vizard? How the hell did you get so fast?"
"I'd kick his ass. He isn't half as good as a vizard yet." Hiyori shouted, still struggling against Yumichka. "You owe me a bottle, Baldy." Yumichka lowered her to the ground and easily dodged the flip flop aimed for his head. Spinning on her heel, Hiyori stomped off towards the tenth division.
Renji turned to Ikkaku with a raised eyebrow. "Does she even drink?"
"Nah, I think she gives it to Matsumoto to piss Hitsugaya taichou off. Speaking of which, come with us to the bar, Hisagi is back from the real world. Kira said he finally got that stick outta his ass with Kazeshini. Should be a good time to blow off some stress."
Ikkaku sheathed Hozukimaru and went to grab Yumichka who squealed at being touched by the sweaty and dusty shinigami.
Smiling, Renji watched a little jealously as Ikkaku pulled a protesting Yumichka into an iron grip and kissed him senseless. Turning away, his bemusement quickly turned to irritation as the two continued to make out and Yumichka's squeals turned more and more heated.
"Oi! Bar! Now!" Renji shouted as he shunpo'd off to the thirteenth division to report to Ukitake before heading out with his friends.
It'd be good to get drunk tonight.
