Unity

The sudden and unexpected death of Ichigo made the entire Gotei 13 rush back to the Captain's hall being met by Nelliel, Harribel who arrived 2 minutes before the Gotei 13 did, Grimmjow who was just finished being healed by Orihime, and of course Orihime

"What the fuck happened? Where is Ichigo?" Grimmjow asked, but recieved no answer.

"Hey! answer me you shitheads."

"Ichigo has been killed." Rukia answered instantly sending shock through Nel, Harribel, Grimmjow and especially Orihime

"What the fuck? who killed him so easily?" Grimmjow asked.

"Kurosaki-Kun?" Orihime muttered beginning to tear up

"Komus said the man that killed Ichigo was an Arma, what is that?" Kensei asked.

"Were you not listening? that Arma is basically an Espada but rather than being a hollow that's gained shinigami powers, it's instead a shinigami who has obtained hollow powers." Mayuri answered.

"I realised something on the way back, Head Captain, he was in his human form wasn't he?" Hiro questioned.

"Yes as far as I know."

"Then that means he isn't entirely dead, well he is dead but now he's a soul...He's one of us." Hiro concluded.

"Explain you're thinking." Mayuri ordered.

"Well think of it as a gigai, if someone's gigai is destroyed then their soul will be forced out. In Ichigo's case his human body was his gigai, and it was just destroyed, resulting in his soul being forced out. Where Ichigo is now I don't know, but believe me he isn't dead." Hiro stated.

"Perhaps if we're lucky, the backup I called in should hopefully find him, but until then I will send out a few of Captain Sui Feng's stealth operatives to look for Ichigo. Without further ado, let's get this Captain's meeting started." Shunsui said.

Elsewhere

Shock was the first thing Ichigo felt when his eyes jolted open, he instantly shot his whole upper body up beginning to feel at where he was chopped in half. A droplet of water fell onto Ichigo's head making him look up to see a dark cave covered in the odd torch outstretching farther than he could see. Uneven boulders, small rocks, big rocks, didn't really matter this cave had it all, there had been old tattered clothes laying everywhere, honestly it was kind of filthy. After thoroughly looking around Ichigo found three black silhouettes standing away from him

"Who is it?" Ichigo asked.

"You're finally awake." a familiar voice noticed, causing Ichigo to turn around only to see a very familiar face.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Ichigo asked.

Back to the Captain's Hall

"Captain Kurotsuchi, do you have any idea where their base of operations is?" Shunsui questioned.

"I'm glad you asked. From the evidence I gathered I believe they're in Hell." Mayuri answered.

"What evidence do you have to believe they're in Hell?" Sui Feng asked.

"Well first off, the corpse of a prisoner of Hell, was found at the first battleground us Shinigami fought the intruders at. Second we have no reports from Harribel's fraccion that there might be a base in Hueco Mundo. Lastly the Soul Society has had no sights of a base here in the Soul Society. Although if any of you have evidence against my claims then I believe you should step forward." Mayuri replied.

"No objections? good. Now what I would advise you to do, Head Captain, is to send a few Captains down to hell, see if they can't uncover our little mystery."

"Fine, just give me a couple of minutes to come up with a plan."

While the Captain's stood Idlely waiting for Shunsui to conclude his planning Hiro leaned over to the Mayuri who stood beside him

"I know what you did 110 years ago." Hiro stated shocking Mayuri.

"You!" Mayuri raised his voice averting attention to him and Hiro.

"Shhh, we're just going to have a nice chat. Nothing wrong with that is there? Mayuri Kuchiki." Hiro said surprising Mayuri even more.

"How do you know of my origins, I've spent years making sure nobody knows my past." Mayuri whispered.

"Do you remember why you were imprisoned in the maggots nest?" Hiro asked.

"Yes, it's because I was experimenting on residents of the Rukongai." Mayuri answered.

"Well my mother was one of your experiments." Hiro revealed.

"Did you become captain to reveal my true name or my past?" Mayuri questioned.

"Nope. I'm just telling you I don't trust you. You're just a scam." Hiro replied.

"Your nothing but a liar who hurts people for his inventions, that's why I hate you."Hiro continued.

"Okay I've figured out who I'll be sending down to Hell." Shunsui blurted, while all the Captains gathered around.

"Bummer, our conversation is over." Hiro said.

"The Captains I'll be dispatching to Hell are as follows."

"Squad 2 Captain, Sui Feng."

"Squad 6 Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki."

"Squad 7 Captain, Tetsuzaemon Iba

"Squad 8 Captain, Lisa Yadomaru."

"Squad 12 Captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

"And Finally, Squad 13 Captain, Hiro Miyoshi. All of you are to report to the Squad 12 barracks and wait for deployment into Hell, in the meantime, the highest ranking officer left in any of the Squads I named, will be assigned as the temporary supervisor. With that said you're all dismissed, return to your quarters and set up defences in case of another attack." Shunsui said.

"Oh and I'll be sending Harribel and Grimmjow to join you in Hell." Shunsui added.

"What are we going to do if we get injured in Hell?" Hiro asked.

"I forgot most Captains don't know much about Hell well either way you're all in for quite a surprise when you get to hell." Shunsui replied.

"No more questions? Good, now head over to Squad 12 now!" Shunsui ordered.

The Captains that were selected left the room hastily, while the other Captains still stood in the hall. "What are we supposed to do?" Shinji asked.

"Do exactly as I said. go wait at your barracks for further commands. I'll likely be in touch with you all shortly." Shunsui answered gesturing them to leave.

Once the remaining Captains left, only Shunsui remained. 'Well I should probably go send everybody off.' Shunsui concluded leaving the Captain's Hall like everybody else.

A few moments later at the Research and Development Lab (Squad 12 barracks)

"What the hell is that thing?" Hiro whispered to Byakuya who stood beside him.

"That thing is Hiyosu, a department head for Research and Development, and don't chat to me so casually."

"Sorry it's just my family has a good history with the Kuchiki's, I thought it would be normal." Hiro stated.

"Well it isn't, Up until 100 years ago your family had a great relationship with us but ever since you're father was exiled the Kuchiki family has had little to no interaction with the Miyoshi family."

"Fine, fine I get it, you grump." Hiro said soon noticing Shunsui enter.

"Okay everybody, I hope you're ready because you have one misson. To find Komus and The Damned Trinity's base and destroy it."

"We're ready Head Captain." Akon said.

"Are you going with Mayuri?" Shunsui questioned.

"Yes, Captain said to bring a few researchers and study Hell in order to get a better understanding of it."

"Fine, just try not to get killed."

"Yes Sir." Akon said walking away.

"Let's get this show on the road." Hiro said.

The Captains, Harribel and Grimmjow walked through a huge set of doors to a room as large as the Captain's Hall, with 8 small red portals laying dormant throughout the room

"What's this?" Tetsuzaemon questioned.

"These are the portal's to hell." Shunsui answered.

"Everybody I want you to give it your best in Hell, and say hi to the Head Captain there."

"What? there's a Head Captain in Hell?!" Everybody asked.

"Maybe there is, Maybe there isn't, guess you'll just have to find out." Shunsui teased walking out of the room

Everybody lined up to their own portal eagerly waiting to meet the so called Head Captain of Hell.

'Guess it's time to go ask him for help in this battle.' Shunsui thought as the Captains walked through the portals.

Over to Ichigo

"Dad, Yoruichi, Urahara, why are you here?" Ichigo asked.

"We got called by Shunsui to come help, apparently there is a god trying to destroy the Soul Society." Isshin said giving air quotes around the word god.

"He isn't lying dad! the guy who created the world is trying to destroy it, alongside the people that made the very techniques everybody fights with." Ichigo said getting up into his dad's face.

"Okay, Okay, jeez didn't think it was that serious." Isshin said.

"By the way why did we find you in the middle of nowhere?" Yoruichi asked.

"As far as I remember, I'm pretty sure I got killed." Ichigo answered.

"What?!" Isshin, Yoruichi, and Urahara, asked shockingly in unision.

"I was fighting this guy he was called Arma #1. I struck him with a Getsuga, and while he was down I figured I would use my Bankai, but I was interrupted by him impaling me, and I'm pretty sure he sliced me in half."

"What is an Arma?" Kisuke asked.

"That god, said it was basically an Espada, but instead it of it being an arrancar, it's a visored, a shinigami who has obtained hollow powers. He also said he's made an entire army of visoreds." Ichigo answered.

"Ah man this is worse than I thought." Kisuke sighed.

"Yeah, I'm glad your not really dead, Ichigo, I mean you are dead but now you're a soul like me." Isshin noted pointing to himself while flashing a shit-eating grin at Ichigo.

"We should probably get going soon." Yoruichi interupted.

"Before we go. Can I ask one question?" Ichigo questioned.

"Sure." Kisuke replied.

"Will I be able to return to the human world?"

There was a slight pause before Kisuke began to speak. "Honestly Ichigo, I have no clue." Kisuke admitted.

Isshin, Yoruichi, Kisuke, and Ichigo soon began to embark on their way back to the Seiretei in order to confirm to everybody that Ichigo isn't dead. While on their way through a forest filled with nothing but pine trees, 3 men and 1 girl wearing white shihakushos with a distinctive brand on each person's neck appeared in front of them.

One of the men who appeared in front of them was an abnormally tall man with brown hair running down to his shoulders while also covering his eyes, yet still showing his extremely rough face. "Well, well, well. what do we have here?" he asked

"Who're you?" Isshin asked moving his hand slowly to his Zanpakuto.

"We're Visoreds. But if we're talking specifics, I am Visored #111. Hisashi Rokuro."

"So that mean you were once Armas?" Ichigo asked.

"What?!, no. are numbers reach into the thousands. The word Arma is given to the top 10 strongest Visoreds, while any number given to a Visored is a ranking of strength. For example, Hisashi is the #111 strongest Visored in Komus's army." The second man to begin talking was an astoundingly short and chubby bald man, with beady eyes, and a hoarse voice.

'So there ranking system isn't like Aizen's arrancar system. I guess that could be valuable information.' Ichigo thought.

"Oh and by the way I'm the 213th strongest Visored. Jirou Yamauchi." the stubby man explained.

The remaining two Visoreds stepped up. The first one was a girl with short black hair with a tint of purple, green eyes, set along with a muscular body. She was Visored #134. Yoshi Yamashita.

The last person to step up was a guy of average height with white hair, blue eyes and a slim frame. He was Visored #165. Okuma Kimura.

"I've got the short guy." Isshin stated.

"I got the girl." Yoruichi said.

"I'll take the tall one." Ichigo joined in.

"I guess that leaves you with the white haired guy. Kisuke." Isshin said.

"It would appear that way."

At the same time everybody began to charge their opponent to different spots, so they wouldn't interrupt each other.

Isshin's fight

Isshin charged his oppoent Jirou Yamauchi who was the #213 Visored believing he would be relatively easy, but what he didn't excpect was to be blocked when he swung his sword at Jirou.

"I might not be very high on the ranking system but Visoreds don't tend to be easy to defeat until you reach the 300s." Jirou explained.

"Can you please shut up?! Your hoarse voice is beginning to piss me off." Isshin said.

"Fine then let us make this fight more entertaining. Shall we?" Jirou asked adjusting his grip on his katana as well as shifting his feet.

Jirou began to sprint at Isshin swinging at the latter's torso, but missed as Isshin dodged preparing to strike, but was unable to because Jirou had already went back to his previous spot.

"Your a Visored, correct?"

"Yes. I already explained that to you."

"Then you must have a hollow mask, and at least a Shikai correct?" Isshin asked.

"Yes but your just an old bum, I need not show you my true strength." Jirou replied.

*Chuckle* *Chuckle*

"You shouldn't have called me that." Isshin said.

"What are you going to do old ma-?" Jirou suddenly stopped speaking

"That is what I'm going to do." Isshin said slicing Jirou clean in half.

"Now all I have to do is wait for them to finish." Isshin said to himself.

Kisuke's fight

"Draw your sword!" Okuma demanded.

"I don't believe you're ready for me to use my Zanpakuto." Kisuke said.

"Hado #31." Kisuke directing his palm at Okuma. "Shakkaho." Kisuke finished firing a beam of high temperature flames at Okuma who blocked it with his sword.

"Interesting who would've thought someone with the strength of a 16th seat, could block that attack."

"Are you mocking me?!" Okuma asked.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not but just for your information I put little to no effort in that attack." Kisuke answered drawing his Zanpakuto.

"Finally you draw your sword."

"I'll only use it if you show me your hollow mask."

"Fine." Okuma said bringing his hand to his face creating a white ball of energy which lept onto his face creating a purely milk white mask with holes that only showed Okuma's eyes.

"Nake, Benihime!" Kisuke called firing a crimson red slash of energy at Okuma who raised his left hand firing a white ball of condensed energy negating Kisuke's attack.

"Hmm? That was unexcpected. Would you care explaining that attack?."

"Bola. It is essentially the same as an arrancar's bala, but this attack is a Visored exclusive." Okuma answered

"Now that I answered your question do you feel like fighting seriously?" Okuma quesioned getting into stance.

Kisuke looked into Okuma's eyes and suddenly vanished. "Are you capable of fighting me seriously?" Kisuke asked appearing beside Okuma who jumped back.

"How did you move so fast?" Okuma asked

"I wasn't a Stealth Force Unit Commander for nothing." Kisuke answered.

Okuma while staring into Kisuke's eyes began trembling and somewhere in his head he began to ask. 'Am I going to die?'

"Damn I really didn't want to use it but fuck it." Okuma said bringing his sword to his chest.

"Ring 'em out, Nunoji!" Okuma yelled sending a wave of water at Kisuke who who split into down the middle with a Naka. Okuna charged Kisuke at an intense speed believing he had nothing to lose, when suddenly he dropped his blade and locked his arms behind his back.

"Bakudo #1, Sai." Kisuke said.

Kisuke stretched out his right arm, aiming at Okuma. "Hiryu Gekizoku Shakkaho!" Kisuke yelled charging a large red beam. "Hope you like the Kido I made." Kisuke said firing the beam striking Okuma turning him to nothing but ash.

"I guess overkill was unnecessary but, it got the job done.

Yoruichi's fight.

Yoruichi used shunpo and quickly appeared behined Yoshi, directing a kick at her head, but instead Yoruichi's leg was caught being whirled away by Yoshi but landing unscratched.

"Why don't you draw your sword?" Yoruichi asked.

"I only fight with my fists." Yoshi replied.

"Hey. We share something in common." Yoruichi said.

"So it would seem." Yoshi said calmly.

"Here I come." Yoruichi said flashing behind Yoshi, at an inhuman speed, only to be met with her fists. Once again Yoruichi believed she would be able to trick Yoshi by flashing behind her once again slamming her fist into what she believed was Yoshi's back only to find out it was the palm of her right hand. Yoruichi flashed to a reasonable distance and began to talk.

"You have great reflexs." She complimented.

"Well what do expect, a person of my size has to find a way to fight fast people like you."

"I guess so."

"I don't have time for this. I need to finish this." Yoshi said extending her arms.

"What are you doing?"

"Bola Bombardment!" Yoshi yelled beginning to fire a insane amount of bola's at Yoruichi like a machine gun but it proved no challenge to Yoruichi as she flash stepped through the bola's up to Yoshi.

"Hado #1. Sho." Yoruichi pointed her index finger at Yoshi's stomach firing a wave of energy winding the latter.

"Hado #60. Kuroken." Yoruichi said summoning a black dagger made of nothing but energy thrusting the blade into Yoshi's stomach with her spare hand she bunched both her index and middle finger and traced a cross on Yoshi's chest then placing her fingers on the blade.

"What did you do?" Yoshi asked.

"Once I let go of this sword your insides will be burned." Yoruichi replied.

"How?!" Yoshi asked worried.

"Simple. The sword I summoned is often used by Hakuda users as a last resort. When I lodged it into your stomach I stopped your movement giving me enough time to trace the power of Shakkaho through the blade. once I utter the incantation it's over for you." Yoruichi answered.

"Damn you."

"So those are your last words. Fine. Hado #31 Shakkaho." Yoruichi called flashing a good 15 feet away igniting the cross marked on Yoshi's chest. Yoshi collapsed to the ground dead as soon as Yoruichi used Shakkaho.

"Hope everybody is finished fighting." Yoruichi said to herself.

Ichigo's fight

Ichigo had been playing defence for majority of his and Hisashi's Rokuro's fight, and even then Hisashi showed way more exaustion than Ichigo did.

"Tired?" Ichigo asked.

"Fuck you." Hisashi answered.

"It seems everybody else is done fighting. I guess I should start playing on the offensive." Ichigo stated flashing towards Hisashi, jabbing his shorted sword towards Hisashi's face.

"Shit!" Hisashi yelled swinging his katana up towards his face barely able block the sword as it ran by his face creating a relatively shallow gash in his left cheek. Hisashi launched a punch at Ichigo's side believing to have landed a punch.

"You're going to have to try a lot harder than that." Ichigo said having moved his longer sword under his left arm blocking Hisashi's punch with the blunt side of the blade. Hisashi broke his sword free from Ichigo's shorter blade attempting to stab Ichigo through the neck only for Ichigo to duck beneath shooting his sword into Hisashi's stomach.

When Ichigo removed the blade, Hisashi staggered backward. "How the hell are you overpowering me so easily?" he asked.

"You're just not that powerful." Ichigo answered.

"Maybe using your full power would help." Ichigo suggested.

"Fuck off I don't need advice from you!" Hisashi screamed charging at Ichigo at a much slower pace preparing swing his blade at Ichigo who easily dodged it. Ichigo took his longer blade and lunged it into Hisashi's stomach.

"Please stop fighting."

"Piss off." Hisashi said trying to lift his blade up once more.

Ichigo winced. "Rest in peace. Getsuga Tenshou." Ichigo swung his blade outward creating a deep puncture in Hisashi's stomach. Ichigo without looking at his victim walked away to go meet up with everybody else, leaving Hisashi who soon died to blood loss, alone.

Ichigo began to jog once he realised he ventured out a lot further than he believed, finally finding his three accomplices waiting patiently around an open area covered in pine needles and the odd pine cone.

"What took so long?" Isshin asked.

"I waited for you guys to finish so I didn't have to wait." Ichigo responded.

"I also didn't realise how for out I was." Ichigo continued.

"Well whatever it was, I'm glad to see your not hurt." Isshin stated.

"Did you really believe I would get hurt by that small fry?" Ichigo questioned.

"I didn't know what to think. For yet another time the Soul Society is getting attacked by an army we know nothing about." Isshin said.

"Guys we don't have time for chit-chat, we need to hurry over to the Seiretei, we're still in the 20th district of the West Rukongai." Kisuke interrupted.

"Fine fine, I get it, we still have a lot more to go through." Isshin said pushing off the tree he was leaning on. "Let's go!" Isshin cheered beginning to walk.

Ichigo and co. walked through the woods for what felt like an hour but in reality was only 15 minutes, until they stumbled upon the city of the 20th district.

"What the hell?" Isshin asked.

"How is it already in shambles?" Yoruichi asked.

"This Ichigo is why I was worried, in only a few hours look at how many people were slaughtered." Isshin stated.

"It's nothing to worry about." Ichigo said turning everyones attention to him.

"How is this nothing to worry about?" Isshin asked.

"I talked with Head Captain Kyoraku and he told me he evacuated as many people from the Soul Society to the Royal Guard's cities as he could." Ichigo answered.

"Does anybody else see what I'm seeing." Yoruichi asked.

"What do you see?" Kisuke asked.

"That." Yoruichi said pointing at the one undamaged house.

"Who. is. that?" Isshin asked.

Who is the sole survivor? What is Mayuri's past? How will the Captains react to hell? Find out next time in Unity Chapter 5