Chapter 7: Unexpected Complications
Aizen blinked. "What?"
Yuuto shook his head. "Maybe this will clear things up. I'll repeat myself."
Pointing his blade at Aizen, he repeated his statement. "Bankai. Jikan no Owari, Harumagedon. (Time's End, Armageddon)"
Seeing comprehension dawn in Aizen's eyes, he continued. "Eternal Chaos is my Shikai. Armageddon is my Bankai. The End of the World, you could say. It bestows upon me the powers of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Famine, Plague, War, and Death."
"Eternal Chaos and The End of the World are both parallel and polar opposites of one another. Both cause chaos, discord, and destruction. One wishes to continue it for eternity, while the other wishes to end it all in the blink of an eye. THAT is my Zanpakuto."
Aizen stood there, his face betraying his shock and awe. Then, he composed himself.
"I see. I think I understand now. You have an impressive power, I will not deny that. However, it is nothing compared to the power of the Hogyouku. BEHOLD!"
Purple reiatsu shot into the air, similar to Yuuto's previous tower of reiatsu. The transformation took hold, and with a wave of his hand, the purple reiatsu parted, revealing Aizen in his demonic-looking form.
"As I have previously said, your powers cannot hold a candle to my mastery of the Hogyouku! It is unacceptable that a lowly Shinigami such as yourself outclass me in power. Now I shall instill the proper despair into your very soul. Prepare yourself, Ishigawa Yuuto!"
With barely a sound, Aizen appeared before Yuuto, blade in motion as he attempted another gash across the man's chest. His blade was deflected, and he was forced back under the overwhelming pressure of Yuuto's swing.
"Seriously? I'd hoped you'd have realized that you are outclassed already, but I suppose you're the type that learns through trial and error." Shrugging, Yuuto vanished. Aizen widened his eyes before feeling cold steel carve its' way through his side. Whirling around, he blocked a second strike, then a third and a fourth. The captain began to drive his adversary back across the plateau, following Aizen's every move and exploiting every opening.
"So, your Bankai increases your speed, augments your strength, and does all of this while maintaining a small form. It is strikingly similar to Kurosaki Ichigo's Bankai, although much less impressive."
Yuuto nodded. "I noticed the similarities, and was duly impressed. Not many can compress the enormity of Bankai into such a small form. However, that is not the only power my Bankai possesses."
Aizen caught the hidden meaning, but could not decipher it. He began to analyze the situation, and was shocked when he could feel his strikes weakening of their own accord.
"What is this? What power are you utilizing to-" He paused. Looking to his side, he could see the high-speed regeneration already at work, knitting the flesh back together. But it was doing it at a much slower pace than before, which cause him to lose more blood than anticipated.
"I'm using two of my four abilities right now. The first is Famine. Upon my blade making contact with anything that requires a form of energy to function, my blade will sap a portion of that energy, and convert it to reiatsu that I can utilize. While the portion is small, with repeated strikes, I can slowly drain the reiatsu of my opponent."
"Secondly, Plague. My blade is coated in a weak neurotoxin that will dull your senses, weaken your movements, and disrupt your concentration. While it is not lethal, if you are exposed to a large amount, it will all but paralyze you with time."
Gritting his teeth, Aizen let the Hogyouku do its' job, filtering the toxin from his system and finishing closing the wound in his side. While it could do both, it would have to prioritize the toxin, thus making the time needed to close his wound longer than usual.
"I must say, that I am slightly impressed that you could combine those two powers so effectively. With most enemies, once they are wounded, the constant clashing of blades, combined with the slow work of the poison, would cause them to be considerably weakened, making a long, drawn out fight an incredible advantage to you."
"However, I am not like most enemies. I have once more transcended the limitations that are imposed upon normal individuals, and with my limitations gone, I am no longer bound by the insignificant rules of the Shinigami. I can, for example, cast Kido with little or no incantation, regardless of level!"
He pointed his clawed appendage at Yuuto. "Hado no Nananjuuichi: Soren Shakkaho. (Hado #71: Twin Red Flame Cannon)"
Two spiraling red orbs, each the size of a small marble, twirled around his finger before shooting straight at Yuuto. He grinned as the man broke his connection with his blade to dodge. The two balls collided with a nearby plateau, and it was promptly eradicated, the fire intense enough to turn the rock into molten slag.
Turning to regard Yuuto, Aizen clapped mockingly. "Indeed, that was impressive. To dodge a point-blank Level 70 Kido, you truly are more than a captain by name and rank alone. I dare say you are even stronger than what I once was as the Gobantai Taichou. However, I have several more feats for you to overcome, so I dare say you should prepare yourself, Shinigami."
It had taken some time, but as they arrived, the spectators could feel the overwhelming pressure coming from Aizen. Most of them could not get within a certain distance, and only the captains and lieutenants could manage to get close enough to have a decent view without being forced to their knees.
Only Ichigo could feel Yuuto's pressure, and it astounded him how high it truly was. It made his previous heights after training in the Dangai a mere 2,000 hours (1 standard hour) pale in comparison.
He had not realized he was trembling until a small hand firmly clasped his.
"Ichigo."
Turning, he regarded Rukia, worry ever present in her eyes. He squeezed her hand back, and managed a smile.
"Don't worry, Rukia. Yuuto's going to be fine."
"Yes, but are YOU fine?"
Her concern for his well-being touched him. "I'm...fine. I'm just...overwhelmed, that's all."
Rukia nodded. "I know. Aizen's spiritual pressure..."
Ichigo shook his head, getting her to blink in confusion. "No, not Aizen. I'm sure you can't feel it, but I can. Yuuto-san's spiritual pressure...even now, he's holding a portion of it back. I've never felt anything this strong. Aizen could very well die here."
Rukia's eyes widened. Spiritual pressure stronger than Aizen? Stronger than Ichigo? Now she knew why he trembled. It wasn't from fear.
It was from awe.
Sensing their approach, Yuuto scowled. Aizen sensed them, as well, and grinned wickedly.
"You know as well as I do that you have just been handicapped, Ishigawa Yuuto. For now, you can no longer attack me without fear that I may dodge. If I do dodge, your...comrades...will suffer a brutal end. So, if you will, just stand there and take it!"
Aizen leapt forward, his maniacal grin never leaving his face as he drew his blade across Yuuto's stomach, blood shooting out in an arc across his white, skin-like covering. A slash to his arm, then one to his leg. Blood began arcing in every direction as Aizen hacked away at Yuuto, the captain grunting as his life-giving fluid began to cover the rockface.
Murmurs went out throughout the crowd. Why wasn't he blocking? Why didn't he fight back?
Rukia clung to Ichigo, burying her face in his robes. "This is horrible." Ichigo could only nod in response.
Hinamori turned to Hitsugaya, tears in her eyes. "Shiro-chan, why isn't Yuuto-taichou fighting back?"
Hitsugaya cursed, something she rarely heard him do. "It's probably because we were stupid. We followed them, and pushed Yuuto into a corner. He's the only thing, aside from Kurosaki, that is between us and Aizen. If he attacks, and he misses, we're as good as dead.
Momo's eyes widened. Her captain knew this, and was purposefully letting Aizen hack at him like a deranged butcher. She, among others, cried out his name when Aizen took off Yuuto's left arm, the limb falling to the plateau below.
Staggering back, Yuuto spat out blood from his mouth as he clutched his arm, blood now soaking his captain's haori. He removed it and let it fall to the ground below, his black armor stained with his lifeblood.
"This can't continue. I can't take too many more hits. I need to find a way to keep him from attacking everyone, while at the same time freeing myself up to fight back."
Reluctantly, he turned around, knowing he'd be presenting his back to the enemy.
"Ichigo." He started. "Do me a favor." He felt the sharp tear of cold steel into his back, and he grit his teeth as Aizen began tearing up his back with his sword. "I can't protect everyone and fight back at the same time. I need you to-"
He stopped as a blade pierced his back, slamming out his stomach and causing him to vomit blood. Everyone's eyes widened as he gripped the blade, holding it in place as he finished his statement.
"I need...you to protect everyone. Can...can you do that?" he asked, blood leaking out of his mouth and down the front of his armor.
Ichigo nodded, Zangetsu in front of him a second later. "Bankai."
Black reiatsu tinged with red exploded out from him, and Ichigo was clad in Tensa Zangetsu's outfit, the chain wrapping around his arm and hanging from his shoulder.
"I'm ready, Yuuto-san." Ichigo declared. "Go for it."
Smiling, Yuuto's grip on the blade slackened, and he felt it ripped from his gut, causing him to spew more blood from his mouth. He could see the horrified faces of the Shinigami.
The worried looks of the captains, some with hands to their mouths in utter horror. If the Soutaichou was looking at him in such a way, he must really look like shit, he mused.
Noticing Hinamori next to Toshirou, he gave her a smile, even as blood slipped from his lips. "Don't worry, Momo-chan. I won't let him hurt you again. I promise."
Tears cascaded down her face, and Momo shook her head. "Don't worry about me! Worry about yourself, please! I...I don't want you to die, Yuuto-kun!"
Hitsugaya's eyes widened. He'd never heard Momo use -kun with anyone, even himself. Turning to the 5th Division Captain, he wondered just what kind of man could get Hinamori to like him THAT much in such a short period of time.
Yuuto nodded, and as Aizen brought his blood-soaked blade down again, he deflected it with his own. "Toshirou, if I don't make it-"
"DON'T SAY THAT, BAKA!" Toshirou yelled, surprising himself with his response.
Yuuto smiled. "If I don't make it, continue to take care of Momo-chan, okay?"
Reluctantly, he nodded. Grinning, Yuuto whipped around and carved a deep gash into Aizen's chest, blackish-crimson spraying outward from the wound.
"Damn you!" Aizen hissed. "Why won't you just die?!"
Yuuto gave him a look that could stop a speeding train instantly. "I can't die until I kill you first. It's nothing personal. I just don't like you."
Pointing his blade at Aizen, he began his counterattack.
"Bakudo no Rokujuuichi: Rikujokoro! (Bakudo #61: Six Light Rod Prison)" Aizen attempted to dodge, but found that the Bakudo struck true.
"Impossible! How could you-"
"Did you seriously think I could not see you or follow you with such slow movements as yours? Give me some credit." He continued with his assault. "Bakudo no Rokujuunii: Hyapporankan! (Bakudo #62: Hundred Rod Fence)"
Having been immobolized by the first Bakudo, Aizen could do nothing as the second one struck true, several rods slamming into his body and further immobilizing him.
Yuuto wasn't done. "Bakudo no Rokujuusan: Sajo Sabaku! (Bakudo #63: Locking Bondage Ropes)" Thick, yellow rope wrapped around Aizen, further restraining him.
"There, that should be enough." he sighed.
Aizen laughed. "Truly you don't think this enough to stop me, I hope. This may delay me a minute or so, at the most."
Yuuto nodded, sheathing his blade and putting his right hand on his left stump. "Yes, but it's enough time for me to restore my limb."
Aizen's eyes widened, understanding shone in his emotionless orbs. Then he began to struggle, knowing that his advantage over the man before him would be gone in a matter of seconds.
"Calling upon thy name, speaking softly, knocking surely, seeking an answer. The door opens, the call is answered, the response clear and precise. Knitting, mending, twisting and closing. Retrieve that which was taken. Restore that which was lost. Bakudo no Kyuujuuhachi: Unmei no Gyakuten! (Bakudo # 98: Reversal of Fate)"
As the bakudo began to work, Yuuto couldn't help but bite back a scream. The first part always hurt the most, as bone sprouted from his bloody stump of an arm, solidifying into a skeletal frame. Muscle came next and this hurt less than the bone, but still quite a lot. It wrapped itself around the bone, knitting and connecting to the various places it was designed to go. Finally, blood poured down the arm, but instead of falling off as gravity intended, it was caught in mid-air, and veins and arteries formed around it, encasing it and then tucking themselves in as skin and tissue began to grow over, forming a completely new appendage that looked identical to the previous one.
Groaning, he flexed it much as Aizen had done previously. Satisfied with his new limb, he turned towards Aizen.
Said man had already shattered Bakudo #61, broke Bakudo #62, and was in the process of tearing apart Bakudo #63, the rope barely holding on by a few strands of reishi. With a final grunt of effort, Aizen tore the final Bakudo apart, all three disintegrating back into nothing.
Sighing in spite of himself, Aizen looked at Yuuto. "So, you managed to regrow your arm. Not many know of Bakudo #98, and even fewer know how to properly cast it. I take it you've had some experience with it?"
Yuuto nodded. "You could say that. It's one of the supposed "Forbidden Kido", but it's only forbidden because it takes quite a lot of reiatsu to utilize. The pain of regrowing a lost limb alone would make it worthy of the Forbidden List, but it's the fatality rate of casters incorrectly using it which has caused it to be placed there."
Aizen nodded. "You may not be a true master of Kido, but the ones you utilize you know a great deal of. I, as a fellow kido user and Kido Master, give you the respect that you deserve in that regard. I will say that I am impressed, greatly so, but that does not mean that you will win, especially in a contest of Kido. You may be an expert, but I am a master."
Yuuto shook his head. "You are certainly full of pleasantries, aren't you?"
Aizen grinned. "Indeed, I am. However, I do not believe that in my current state, victory is a guaranteed thing. Therefore, I must take my leave. However, I will not leave without granting you and your...friends...a parting gift."
Grinning, Aizen pointed his hand at the crowd behind Yuuto. Ichigo immediately raised his blade, but Yuuto stepped in front of Aizen's hand.
"Ahh, ever the valiant one, I see. Very well. I dare to assume that I will not be getting to them without getting past you, so I will make this a personal gift."
In the blink of an eye, Aizen appeared before Yuuto, his hand pressed against the man's armor.
"Hiryugekizokushintenraiho."
Yuuto widened his eyes. "A level eighty Kido with only the name!" He had no time to put up Danku in a counter, and took the full brunt of the Kido, his flesh peeling and cracking as his armor all but disintegrated under the intense electrical blast. His silent scream of agony was visible to all, but he'd managed to throw up a Danku behind himself, shielding the crowd from the Level 88 Hado.
Grinning, Aizen snapped his fingers, and a Garganta tore itself open, sucking him into the black void and snapping shut before anyone could pursue him.
With Aizen gone, the Danku behind Yuuto shattered like glass, and the man fell to the plateau below, his form billowing smoke as he crashed to the earth.
Several figures were by his side in an instant, one of them Unohana Retsu. She didn't need her centuries of expert medical training to know he was in bad shape.
Yuuto was unconscious, having kept it long enough so he could maintain the barrier between his comrades and the destructive Kido. Once Aizen had left, he could let it go. When he did leave, so too did the last vestiges of his consciousness.
He was lucky. Most individuals that took a Level 80 Kido at point-blank range were nothing but a smear on the ground, afterwards. His saving grace was twofold:
He'd managed to brace himself a second before the attack hit, throwing up as much reiatsu as he possibly could before it hit him. This lessened his injuries somewhat, but not as much as it needed to.
Secondly, he'd been hit with a far weaker version of the spell. If it had been a full incantation, there would have been nothing left of him at all. Not only was it not a full incantation, but the classification and number were cut out, as well. This drastically reduced the power of the spell, making it only a 1/4th of the power it should have been.
Still, the fact that it was cast by a Kido Master, as well as the fact that it was a Greater Kido, led to some serious damage, regardless of whether the majority of the Kido was cut out or not.
He'd suffered 3rd degree burns over 70% of his body, the electricity turning his skin into brittle paper as the blast fried it and cooked his flesh. He had cut and stab wounds over 40% of his body, and several bruises adorning his features, as well.
The Hado had done some good, though, Unohana mused. It had cauterized all of his bleeding wounds. Normally, it would have only cauterized the external wounds, while the internal ones would have kept bleeding. However, since it was an electrical attack, the superheated energy arced across, around, and through his body, allowing any flowing wounds to coagulate.
Behind her, she could hear Hinamori's hysteric sobbing. She could already tell that the girl thought her former captain had killed her new captain in cold blood. And she was blaming herself for it.
As Unohana worked frantically to close wounds and stop any more from bleeding out, Ichigo cursed vehemently.
It was all their fault. Yuuto had not been able to fight at full strength because he'd been protecting them. "We never should have followed them." Ichigo thought, remembering his own fight with Aizen. He'd specifically removed himself and Aizen from the fight so as to not get his friends and family caught up in the crossfire. It allowed him to focus on the fight, and not on protecting.
"We screwed up bad." he said in a low voice. Rukia nodded, her eyes never leaving the prone figure before her.
"Yeah. We got involved when we shouldn't have, and Yuuto-san paid the price for our foolishness."
Ukitake was watching with a sad expression on his face. "Do you think he'll make it?"
Kyoraku pulled his hat down over his eyes. "I don't know, Ukitake. I know we fucked up big time, though. We were kids caught up in an adult fight. Judging by the power Aizen exhibited, he could have wiped any of us out had it not been for Kurosaki and Ishigawa-san."
Soifon was nearby, and heard all of what had been said. She bit her lip and curled her fists. She HATED being powerless, hated being useless. Overall, she hated being protected even more, because it implied that she wasn't strong enough to take care of herself.
The reality of the situation was not lost on her. She knew that she couldn't take on Aizen in a fight and win. She'd known that when she confronted him on Sokyouku Hill. However, she hadn't realized that she was THAT outclassed by the ex-captain. Had it not been for Yuuto...
Her eyes itched, and she rubbed them fiercely. No, she wasn't going to cry. He wasn't dead. Yet, she reminded herself. She could see Unohana remove the shattered remnants of his armor, and his torn body nearly made her vomit.
Blood, skin, shredded tissue, and bone were all visible, and it took all of Unohana's willpower to not shy away from the mortally injured man. Behind her, she could hear several individuals were not as strong, and retching noises could be heard around her. She quickly set about putting his shattered ribcage back together, careful not to touch any of his exposed organs.
Once they were healed and good as new, she set about making sure his innards were back in place. Most were, but a few had been moved by the blast. Yet another stroke of luck, none of his internal organs were badly damaged, so the one or two that were injured were quickly healed.
Next, she focused on his rapidly dwindling blood supply, molding reishi out of the air and flooding his system with it, allowing it to enter his blood stream, then converting it to the red blood cells he so desperately needed.
Then, she set about cleansing the wound, making sure any traces of taint were removed, and started closing the gaping hole in his chest and abdomen. Sweat poured profusely down her face, but she'd managed to knit the flesh together and succeeded in closing it. While Yuuto was not in danger of dying, he was nowhere near out of the woods, and would need constant monitoring for the next week or so.
But he was alive.
Sighing, Unohana nearly collapsed on her butt, having used nearly all of her strength to keep the man alive. Isane was by her side, and managed to catch the unsteady captain, helping her to sit down and rest.
Yamamoto appeared next to the group, and for the first time in centuries, no one stood at attention upon him entering a group or building. Had this been under different circumstances, he may have wondered what could possess them to do such a thing, but their savior had nearly died, so he would have no qualms about letting this one slide.
"Unohana-taichou, have you successfully managed to save Ishigawa-taichou?" he asked. His tone of voice did not come across as a command, merely a question regarding an injured individual.
Smiling, Unohana nodded, causing several shoulders to relax as tension was released. "Hai. He's not in danger of dying, but he is still in critical condition. One does not take a Level 88 Hado to the chest and walk away without a scratch, Soutaichou-dono."
Yamamoto nodded. "Very well. Kotetsu-fukataichou."
Isane leapt to her feet. "Hai?"
"Take as many squad members as you need, but see to it that Ishigawa-taichou is taken to the 4th Division's Red Wing, and placed under the best care possible."
Isane nodded, and her and several members of the 4th Division lifted Yuuto onto a portable stretcher, then took off for the Red Wing, which was only used for patients with life-threatening injuries.
Hinamori wanted to follow them. She really did. But she knew that in the aftermath of this terrific incident, the squads needed to be put back under control, and with her captain incapacitated, she was the temporary leader once again.
Yamamoto slammed his cane down onto the rubble, getting everyone's attention. "Former Gobantai Taichou Sosuke Aizen has once more escaped from Soul Society. His capture and execution is our top priority. Each squad will devote its' full resources to this cause, unless directed otherwise. Dismissed!"
Most of the Shinigami left with a chorus of, "Hai, Soutaichou-dono!", yet several stayed behind for multiple reasons.
Kyoraku and Ukitake stepped forward and regarded Yamamoto. "Sensei, I heard what you just said, but in reality, what can we really do about Aizen?"
"Ukitake has a point, Yama-jii. He's far more powerful than all of us, save Kurosaki and Ishigawa. I doubt even you could take him down."
Yamamoto regarded his two students with steady eyes. "We will do what we have always done. We will do what the Gotei Juusantai have stood for for over a thousand years. We will defend Soul Society and the Human World from the threat that Sosuke Aizen poses. If need be, we will lay down our lives for this cause."
Ukitake nodded, and for once, Kyoraku didn't talk back. He also merely nodded, and the two disappeared in a swish of Shunpo.
Unohana made it to her feet, and gave the Captain-Commander a smile. "I will be heading back to check up on Yuuto-san."
For once, the old man's visage showed concern. "Do not strain yourself, Unohana-taichou. If Yuuto-san takes a turn for the worst, we will need your expertise to keep him alive."
She nodded, and Shunpo removed her from the scene, as well.
Turning, Yamamoto regarded Soifon. "Do you have something to add, Soifon-taichou."
Blinking, she regarded Yamamoto. "I-uh...er, I mean yes, Soutaichou-dono. I wish to personally guard Yuu-Ishigawa-san as he recovers from his injuries."
THIS threw Yamamoto for a loop. Since when had Soifon taken an interest in the new captain? "May I inquire as to why?"
He could have imagined it, but he swore by his finely-kept beard that he saw the Niibantai-taichou blush. It was gone as quick as it had come, though, and he dismissed it as a trick of the light.
"My position as the leader of the Stealth Force shows that I am more than capable of detecting an assassination attempt, as well as having the rank of captain allowing me to better protect him should he come under attack."
"Your ability to protect was not under question, Soifon-taichou. Merely, I ask this in regards to the reason why we would need you to protect him in the first place?"
"Because...I feel he needs my assistance, sir."
Never one to argue with Soifon's feelings, as she had proven them correct time and time again, he nodded. "Very well. I will allow this on the condition that you also carry out your duties as the captain of the 2nd Division."
Soifon bowed, straightening only to nod. "Hai. If you will excuse me."
Before he could say anything, she was gone in a flash of Shunpo.
Yamamoto blinked, something he didn't do often. "That...was rather unusual. I suppose today will be full of surprises."
He regarded the remaining individuals: Hinamori Momo, Rukia Kuchiki, Kurosaki Ichigo, Hitsugaya Toshirou, and Abarai Renji.
"Abarai-fukataichou, you may head back to your Division. We will need you and Kuchiki-taichou to help coordinate an effective means of counterattack."
"Hai, Soutaichou-dono." Renji saluted him, before vanishing, as well.
"Kuchiki-fukataichou, the same goes for you. Report to your Division to assist Ukitake-taichou."
Rukia looked torn. "But..."
Ichigo put a hand on her head. "Don't worry. We've got it under control. Yuuto-san will be fine."
Sighing, she nodded, and left.
Turning to Hinamori, Yamamoto began. "Hinamori-fukataichou-"
"No."
Completely unprepared, Yamamoto opened his eyes. Toshirou thought he was going to have a heart attack when he heard Hinamori disobey the Captain-Commander. Even Ichigo was caught off-guard.
"Respectfully, Soutaichou-dono, I cannot abandon my captain to a hospital bed. I feel as though I would be best served by his side."
"This is not up for debate, Hinamori-fukataichou. You are needed in your Division-"
"I can manage my-Yuuto-san's Division from the hospital, just as Soifon-taichou can manage hers."
Once more cut off, Yamamoto didn't quite expect such resistance from the normally shy, quiet girl before him. What's more, he'd had his own words used against him, and she'd only disrespected him in the fact that she'd interrupted him twice.
"Hinamori-fukataichou..." he sighed. 'I'm too old for this.' "Can I count on you to be able to maintain your Division via the location of the hospital as promised?"
Her eyes lit up, and Yamamoto thought she was going to squeal like a schoolgirl for a second. "HAI, SOUTAICHOU-DONO!" She was gone as soon as the words left her mouth, and both Hitsugaya and Yamamoto could only stand there in stunned silence.
"This day just keeps getting stranger and stranger." Yamamoto mused.
"I can't believe Momo likes that guy! I'm happy for her, but this is so sudden!" contemplated Hitsugaya.
Both were snapped out of their thoughts by Ichigo. "Gramps, do you have anything else for us?"
Yamamoto cleared his throat. "Ahh, yes. Hitsugaya-taichou, you are to go with Kurosaki Ichigo to Ukitake-taichou's office. You two seem to get along well together, and both of you are rather intelligent. Kurosaki may be able to glean a thing or two from you both."
A tick developed on Ichigo's forehead, and he resisted the urge to shout. "Ossan, that's not funny."
Yamamoto surprised them by laughing, sporting a grin that put Mayuri to shame. "Really? Well, I thought it was hilarious."
Before they could question his sanity, he vanished in a nearly silent Shunpo.
Both of them turned to one another.
"What in the hell-" Ichigo began.
Toshirou put up a hand, stopping him. "Don't. That was the creepiest grin I've ever seen. Ever. I don't want to know what was behind that grin. Let's go." With that, he began walking away, forcing Ichigo to catch up.
Chapter 7 is done, and that's the first major fight in the story. Aizen is BACK (if you haven't noticed by the last chapter), and he's packing some serious firepower. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though, so there will be much more...surprises...to come.
-Sgt. Assassin
