Chapter 4: The Awakening, the Fusion, the Betrayal, and the End of the Winter War
AN: Here is Chapter 4 everyone. Same stuff as always: Constructive/supportive reviews are appreciated and flamers can fuck off, eat shit, die, and burn in Hell for all I care. I apologize for not mentioning this earlier but Shirou has naturally blood-red hair with a black tint.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, any quoted media, or any other quoted media.
Technique/Zanpaktou speak/Hollow speak
Inner World Zanpaktou/wielder conversation/(when outside quote marks) Author Speech
At the training grounds used to help Ichigo get Bankai
Shirou groaned as he awoke to the sounds of clashing and shattering blades and saw Ichigo fighting an older man with sunglasses whom he believed to be Zangetsu as Yoruichi popped up next to Shirou and stated, "I don't know what you should train in as you have a Bankai already."
Shirou replied easily, "I'll figure something out, just make sure Ichigo doesn't get his ass killed." Yoruichi nodded easily in reply before Shirou dropped into a Jinzen position and fell into his inner world.
Shirou opened his eyes lazily and looked towards Mangetsu and stated, "Alright then, I want to meet my inner hollow and do something Ichigo will likely never do."
Mangetsu waved Zen-Taiyou over before releasing the inner hollow who was a black and white opposite of Shirou himself and, before the inner hollow attacked, Shirou questioned "Do you have a name? If not would the name Kurou Shirosaki work?"
The hollow, Kurou, nodded in agreement at the name before questioning, "So what the fuck are you going to do about me asshole?"
Shirou smirked and replied, grabbing Kurou's hand, "This."
Kurou raised an eyebrow and began to question what Shirou was talking about, but then noticed his body dissolving and the particles fusing to Shirou and promptly asked, "What the Fucking Hell?!"
Shirou smirked, his voice overlaying itself similar to a Hollow's, and replied, "Simple, I am accepting that you're a part of me and this 'fusion' of sorts is the result of that acknowledgment."
Mangetsu and Zen-Taiyou just stared as the black frayed ribbon brushed Shirou who blinked and grinned, having learned the name of his Arrancar-type Zanpaktou as well as the name of the one wielding it. Both Zanpaktou were thinking their wielder was insane as he questioned Kurou, "So what level Hollow are you?"
Kurou responded, extremely proud, "Vasto Lorde. As I'm fusing with you anyway, a bonus of your mask is that you can manifest any of the three Hollow Ranks and the mask will change accordingly. Although, once you access the Vasto Lorde form your Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde masking will cause a temporary full transformation and the Gillian mask will change. Your Vasto Lorde mask will first manifest as a draconic bone-white helmet with four horns."
Shirou blinked and stated, "Thank you Kurou, no, partner." Kurou smirked evilly and gave him further advice, "You have eight base Arrancar abilities: Cero, Bala, Hierro, Descorror, Sonido, Gran Rey Cero, Pesquisa, and High-Speed Regeneration. Kick some ass for me Partner." Shirou just nodded in reply before Kurou's head dissolved and Shirou winced at the power boost.
Shirou turned to Mangetsu and Zen-Taiyou and stated calmly, "Now I know what to work on for the next three days." Immediately after leaving his inner world Shirou turned towards Yoruichi, his right eye having turned completely black except for a blood-red slit pupil and a golden iris, and questioned, "Can this place hide Hollow Reiatsu from the Shinigami?" Yoruichi blinked at the questioned and nodded her head in the affirmative to which Shirou grinned evilly and swiped his hand across his face as he stated, "Gillian".
With a small explosion of golden-tinted-black energy a Hollow mask formed on his face and he headed off to start practicing with his Hollow powers commenting to Yoruichi in passing, "I took the route Ichigo will probably never take – I accepted my Inner-Hollow and fused with him."
Two days later
Shirou sighed in a multi-layered tone as he finally got the Pesquisa down after having learned and nearly mastered the basic Cero, Bala, Gran Rey Cero, and Sonido. He waved to Ichigo and Zangetsu, after destroying his mask, and stated "My inner-hollow, created by the Shattered Shaft, woke up when I used Bankai and two days ago I accepted and fused with him. I need your help with two of my abilities as the others I've mastered their basic forms."
Ichigo and Zangetsu nodded, Ichigo grabbing another sword and idly swinging it at Zangetsu as he asked, "So what are these two abilities?" Shirou smirked and stated, "Three is more accurate and they are, staying sane in Adjuchas masking, Hierro, and High-Speed Regeneration – guess how you're going to help me learn and train them."
Ichigo stated, "Attacking you." To which Shirou replied cheekily, "Yup!" before swiping his hand across his face in a ripping motion, idly stating "Adjuchas", which formed a skull-like helmet with two horns with red and black tribal markings which grew across his skin which paled slightly.
Shirou stumbled slightly before commenting, "Alright now come at me with the intent to kill."
Ichigo and Zangetsu gave each other a look before charging Shirou.
The next day
Zangetsu, Ichigo, and Shirou all panted with Ichigo and Zangetsu being littered with cuts while Shirou had no cuts but his skin was a more bone-white color. Shirou stated, still with his Adjuchas-level mask active, "I do believe that was a success you two. Both in Ichigo learning Bankai and me getting my Hierro and High-Speed Regeneration to insane levels." The other two nodded in agreement as Shirou shattered his mask and both Ichigo and Shirou, Zangetsu retreating to Ichigo's inner world, headed towards Yoruichi who asked, "You two ready to go save Rukia?"
Both boys nodded in the agreement before they all dashed off.
At the Sokyoku stand minutes later
Ichigo and Shirou charged together towards the stand, knocking aside several Shinigami, as Shirou questioned, "So if I take the Sokyoku itself can you take care of the stand and Rukia?" Ichigo nodded simply so they both landed on the top of the Sokyoku stand, shocking Rukia, as Ichigo traveled there via Shunpo while Shirou traveled via Sonido. Ichigo gathered his spiritual pressure and stabbed the stand while Shirou pointed two fingers, each with a small cut, towards the Sokyoku and started to gather Reiatsu for a Gran Rey Cero and, shortly before Ichigo caught Rukia and chucked her like a football (American one) into Renji's gut, Shirou fired it, and it completely engulfed and destroyed Kikouou.
Almost all of the Captain's felt their eyes widen in shock while Yamamoto was simply surprised at this young man with no Hollow mask using a Cero. Shirou turned to Ichigo and stated, "I'll take whoever you and our allies don't Ichigo." Ichigo nodded easily as Shirou sat down and waited to find out who he was fighting in order to aid Ichigo and he dashed straight at Aizen, Gin, and Tousen who he saw coming up.
Gin blocked Mangetsu while Tousen blocked Zen-Taiyou and Aizen stared at the boy with the right eye of a Hollow. As he leaped back from the three of them Shirou released Mangetsu and Gin released Shinso as he attacked Shirou with Tousen's aid but Shirou managed to hold both of them off. Just before the three others dashed off to help Aizen get the Hogyoku, Shirou was just about to engage Bankai and access his Adjuchas-level mask.
Post-Ryoka Invasion
Shirou was relaxing with his brother and their friends before several Squad Eleven members walked up and commented to Shirou, "You're needed at a Captain's meeting Captain Shirou Kenpachi Kurosaki." Shirou blinked, processed this statement, and questioned "Why are you talking to me about that and why'd you call me Captain?!"
The Eleventh Squad members nervously looked at each other and replied, "By defeating Captain Zaraki Kenpachi in front of two other Captains and over 200 members of the Eleventh Squad you gained the titled, 'Kenpachi' and 'Captain of Squad Eleven'.
Shirou sighed and waved his friends down before following the members to the Captain's meeting hall, idly shrugging on the Haori his, apparent, Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame handed him. He blew the doors open without any type of struggle or preparation and walked in too his position in the room just before Head-Captain Yamamoto called the meeting to order.
Yamamoto spoke up, "The first order of business is the Ryoka's and two of their member's display of Hollow abilities and masks as well as one of the two being appointed Captain of Squad Eleven." Shirou cleared his throat and spoke up, "Ya mean my brother and I Head Captain? It's obvious in me as I fused with my Inner Hollow thus my Hollow right eye and all the abilities of a Hollow."
Yamamoto just nodded in annoyance as Shirou smirked at him evilly and stated, "I'll stand by Soul Society's side as long as they don't assault my friends, family, and/or loved ones."
Yamamoto just nodded again before moving onto the second order of business as Shirou just let Mangetsu handle it and passed out to get some much-needed sleep.
Time-Skip: Hueco Mundo Assault
Shirou Garganta'd straight into Kisuke's massive room under his shop before Kisuke could open his Garganta and stated, "I can provide transport everyone to Hueco Mundo Kisuke." Shirou then turned and appraised who was going after Orihime: in the group (outside of himself) was his brother Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu.
Shirou turned and opened a Garganta with his Descorror technique straight to Hueco Mundo and everyone going hopped in. When they got into the entrance room of the Garganta points Aizen had set up there were two Arrancar waiting who Chad and Uryu took before they all ran out of the crumbling room and emerged into the sands of Hueco Mundo upon which Chad commented simply and quietly, "That's a whole lot of white."
As they were staring at the desert a sand monster, who introduced himself as Runuganga the Guardian of the White Sands, and after everyone tried to stop him Rukia and Renji showed up with Rukia freezing and then shattering him.
Later after much excitement and happenings
Shirou sighed as he ran alongside Ichigo and Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck through the halls of Los Noches before they arrived in a massive room with several pillars; Shirou was observing the architecture with an awed gaze as he walked while Ichigo kept running alongside Nel until an Arrancar with black silky hair and a partial helmet stepped into view and antagonized Ichigo. Shirou stepped up and stopped Ichigo saying, "Go Ichigo, I'll take care of this guy."
Shirou then paused and asked the Arrancar, "You are Ulquiorra Cifer aren't you?" Ulquiorra blinked lightly and nodded in reply causing Shirou to grin and comment, "I fused with my inner hollow and in the process learned something about who wielded my Hollow Zanpaktou as I had earlier learned that an Arrancar here wielded it. What I learned was the name of the Zanpaktou and its wielder which was you Ulquiorra Cifer, wielder of Murcielago."
Ulquiorra blinked again in surprise and considered what Shirou had said before coming to his own conclusion which he stated as being, "I believe that means you have to kill me in order to draw and wield Murcielago?"
Shirou nodded in response and questioned, "Before we get to the fighting, did you know there are ten stages to Resureccion?" Ulquiorra replied, "No I didn't. I personally believed it ended at the Segunda Etapa."
Shirou nodded and released Bunshoku before attacking Ulquiorra physically while also sending attacks of Lightning at him. Ulquiorra was scoffing mentally at Shirou's attacks before Shirou cleaved through Ulquiorra's Hierro in a strike making Ulquiorra narrow his eyes and draw Murcielago and begin to fight semi-earnestly. Shirou, seeing this, spoke "Ban-Kai!" when the explosion of energy cleared he was holding Twin dual-bladed chain-scythes (scythe's connected to the wielder by chains and are able to be thrown like a lance) with both holding the same colorations and traits of Bunshoku but two major differences were that the poles seemed to be formed from crystal and the blades from pure energy.
Ulquiorra's eyes widened visibly in shock at this change and Shirou's action of stabbing one into the ground; Ulquiorra noticed the chain disconnecting from Shirou before stabbing into the ground and instinctively dodged several blade-tipped chains (AN: Think Kushina's Chakra Chains from Naruto except black in color) which burst from the floor and nearly impaled him.
Shirou was clashing with Ulquiorra using he single scythe while the other scythe providing 'fire support' in the form of Air needles/ripping waves and Lightning beams/bolts/waves as well as blade-tipped chains. Ulquiorra had finally had enough and blew out the side of the pillar with a cero before heading upwards to get outside the dome around Los Noches so he could release Murcielago. Behind him Shirou's second scythe reconnected to him and flew to his hand as he followed Ulquiorra upwards and watched Ulquiorra release Murcielago with a monotone statement of, "Isolate, Murcielago" before entering Segunda Etapa shortly afterwards.
Shirou's last thought before he was blown through several pillars like a ball was, 'This…may not have been a good idea.'
Shirou barely blocked Ulquiorra's next attack and Shirou quickly donned his Vasto Lorde level Hollow mask with an explosion of power which faded to reveal him with pitch-black skin, white, red, and blue tribal markings all across his body, a four-horned dragon-like black helmet with red, white, two sets of wings (upper being black with red designs and the lower golden with blue designs) and blue tribal markings. His eyes both changed to having golden pupil and sclera, black irises, two slits intersecting in the center of the pupil with one being red and the other blue.
Shirou's power had skyrocketed past Ulquiorra and they again began to clash this time as equals as Ulquiorra couldn't cut through Shirou's skin or mask while Shirou was unable to leave a lasting wound in Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra finally used his Lanza Del Relampago to attack Shirou who defied everything Ulquiorra knew, and grabbed the point of the lance before crushing it and cleaving through Ulquiorra, beheading him.
Ulquiorra dispersed into particles which ,instead of dispersing, fused with Shirou increasing his Reiryoku even further, manifesting Murcielago both in Shirou's Soul-scape and on his waist, and 'evolving' him to a Gran Rey Vasto Lorde which was a step below an evolution.
Shirou sighed as he felt Ichigo's Reiryoku spike, signifying that he had donned his mask which was a basic Gillian-level due to suppressing his inner hollow instead of accepting and fusing with it, and dashed off using Sonido heading towards Ichigo.
With Ichigo, Grimmjow having been back-stabbed by Nnoitra
Ichigo was panting watching Nnoitra kick around Nel, who had gone back to her child form after chucking Nnoitra around like a ragdoll, while Orihime was being held by Tesra and Ichigo barely felt Shirou incoming which made him smirk. Nnoitra noticed the smirk and questioned it to which Ichigo replied cheerfully, "My brother is incoming you poor bastard."
Shirou arrived, still in Bankai and masked, in an explosion of sand before asking Ichigo, "So is this bastard the one who did this too you Ichi?" Ichigo replied, "Except for the air restriction, Nel did that with a hug in her adult form, yeah. Also – Quit Calling Me Ichi!"
Shirou just smirked before turning to Nnoitra and shooting one of his scythes at him which Nnoitra barely blocked and was promptly thrown away by. Nnoitra was, of course, pissed off by Shirou's ease in throwing him around and released Santa Teresa before charging Shirou again who heard mentally from Murcielago, 'Please draw me in your next fight, my release phrase as I'm sure you know is Isolate.' Shirou responded in the affirmative before cleaving Nnoitra's four arms from him in a single swing with his scythes, impaled him in place with his chains, and then beheaded him.
Ichigo, standing shakily while leaning on Tensa Zangetsu, thanked Shirou who waved him off and asked Orihime to heal Ichigo. Orihime finished and was about to help restore Shirou when Coyote Starrk, Espada Primera, took her away while complaining about this type of work.
Shirou turned to Ichigo and spoke up, "Let's head for home, Aizen is likely already there and has sealed off Seireitei's transportation system."
Ichigo nodded in return and Shirou opened a Garganta before both dashed into it and came out in time to see several Soul Reapers downed fighting Aizen's top three Arrancar.
Ichigo sneak-attacked Aizen from behind and failed followed by Shirou putting all of his hollow Reiryoku into a scything attack and also failed in killing Aizen as his mask shattered afterwards but his right arm and both eyes stayed hollowfied.
Shirou was cussing up a storm at their failure as the Captains distracted Aizen to give Ichigo another chance to hit him while Shirou contacted his Zanpaktou, 'Guys any solutions for this predicament?' Kaikishoku replied, 'Aizen is close to finishing his fusion with the Hogyoku and if he gets it taken it will completely finish fusing while presenting an evolution which would be triggered by anger.'
Shirou blinked at the detailed answer and questioned, 'How do you know this Kaikishoku?' Said Zanpaktou merely smirked and replied, 'I'm not telling. Also, because you achieved one of our Bankai before entering the World of Souls, our knowledge of the next release was unlocked – I'd suggest using Mangetsu's final stage to aid Ichigo.' Shirou nodded in the affirmative and resealed his Zanpaktou before unsealing Mangetsu and entering Bankai immediately afterwards.
Shirou sighed in focus, as Aizen fought of Isshin, Urahara, and Kisuke while Ichigo fought Gin, before asking Gesshoku 'How do I enter this final stage?' Gesshoku replied, 'As you technically haven't earned it yet I can push you into it. The first time I do this it will act similar to the Final Getsuga Tenshou of Tensa Zangetsu and Engetsu, your father's Zanpaktou; the FGT destroys your ability to use Zanpaktou and destroys your reserves of Reiryoku while my forcing will only seal them away. If your brother uses it then he will be able to restore his abilities to what they were before using FGT in about two years or so.'
Shirou grunted in acknowledgement before replying, 'Alright then Gesshoku – force me into the final stage on my mark which will happen when I next say Go.' Gesshoku replied in the affirmative just as Ichigo was taken into the Dangai by Isshin and Shirou jumped into a Garganta to head to the true Karakura Town.
Shirou arrived in between Aizen and his friends before turning to Aizen, noting Gin unconscious and nearly dead nearby, and stating, "You're not getting any close to my friends Aizen."
Aizen smirked and replied, "What are you going to do about it boy?" Shirou saw the portal between Soul Society and the Dangai opening nearby and replied, "Stall."
Ichigo then shot out of the portal with Isshin over his should and set him down before grabbing Aizen by the face and shooting off with Shirou following him.
Shirou watched in awe at Ichigo's progression in power and staggered under the power he exerted when he entered his ultimate state. Shirou blanched when Ichigo used Mugetsu and said, 'Go' mentally, before using the distraction Ichigo caused to step into view just before his power engulfed him and erupted into a pillar of energy shocking Urahara, Ichigo, Isshin, who had just woken, and Aizen (AN: Note the specialized Kido used by Urahara hasn't kicked in because Aizen is still far too powerful.)
The pillar cleared as Shirou stated "Muresu Yoru" (AN: Moonless Night) to reveal Shirou, his hair colored blue with golden streaks, clad in a silver energy armor with golden designs, a cloak of blue with red designs, a crown of blue-tinted black energy, and in his right hand a black-tinted blue broadsword made from energy.
Ichigo blanched as he couldn't feel Shirou's spiritual pressure despite still being in the Final Getsuga Tenshou far beyond what Aizen could detect or feel.
Shirou spoke in a voice which echoed like a Hollows yet seemed light and transparent while also imposing and demanding attention, "I was hoping to not have to use this release as in 1 hour all my spiritual powers will be completely sealed away until they grow enough to shatter the seal."
Shirou then blurred as he slammed into Aizen before causing thousands of cauterized slashes and tears to manifest on Aizen before Shirou released Muresu Yoru's ultimate attack, "Sono Subete no Eien no Sorakara Tsuki wo issou Heisoku no Yari" (AN: Translates to That Spear of Obliteration Which Wiped the Moon from the Sky for All of Eternity) which had the power to do what its name said and Shirou focused it all into obliterating the Hogyoku and Aizen.
The energy cleared as Shirou's powers faded and revealed an almost dead Aizen with the Hogyoku gone from him, as noted by his ramblings about losing his power. Shirou was kneeling as he panted with his Shinigami Zanpaktou gone and his body still having an Hollowfied arm and eyes while Murcielago was still at his waist but was quickly fading.
Later after Urahara's Kido took effect
Shirou and Ichigo sat side-by-side in their physical bodies, Shirou's arm and eyes being hollowfied, talking about the consequences of how they made a final strike against Aizen and Ichigo was jealous of Shirou being able to access that power again without his own level of consequence. Later after their goodbyes to their Spiritual friends and telling them that their powers would eventually return the two of them left for the Kurosaki clinic to rest from the Winter War.
AN: I stopped the Ichigo going Berserk bit because honestly I didn't approve of Kishimoto doing that to the poor bastard. I felt that Shirou should go through Ichigo's problem but different in nature.
