Here we are again, please review and feed the writer :)
Chapter Eight: Aizen's Input:
The Strawberry looked up again and stiffened as he saw the green haired woman, Nelliel, was looking down into the fiery pit at him; without meaning to, he gulped and hoped Aizen had sent them as friends and not as foes.
In a flash the green haired woman had disappeared, reappearing only a few feet above the flickering flames, she drew her zanpakto – a silver bladed katana with a bound lime green hilt – and swung the blade forcefully.
They were all knocked flying against the ground as the swing of her sword sent a ripple of dense reiatsu through the air. With no warning, all of the six Arrancar appeared and each scooped up a body before sonido-ing away again, escaping from the flames.
Grimmjow was less than pleased to find himself and Pantera in the sleeve concealed arms of Luppi, the effeminate Arrancar who had almost stolen his position as the Sexta Espada once upon a time.
He had hated Luppi from the very moment they had met: he was a pushy little bitch with all the characteristics of a leech, and he would drop his pants for anything in trousers. He was aware of the irony, considering Szayel used to act like that once upon a time, but Luppi took it to an all new level and he had the type of personality which just made you wanna punch him over and over and over again.
The blue haired former Sexta Espada growled at the effeminate man who was carrying him, his sapphire eyes narrowed to mere slits as he inwardly dared Luppi to say something; anything that would permit him a reason to slaughter him where they stood.
The Head Captain had reluctantly been grabbed my Mosqueda and had been sonido-ed out of the cave first.
Harribel and Tiburon had both been picked up by Dordoni Alessanadro, his large muscular arms keeping both women from falling back into the flames. Dordoni was a former Tres Espada which made the whole silent exchange rather uncomfortable, understandable considering it had been Harribel who had knocked him off his Espada pedestal in the first place. The Spanish speaking man seemed to be ignoring that particular memory at the current moment in time.
Yoruichi was safely in the grasp of the dark haired female who had arrived with Nelliel, Cirucci Sanderwicci; the woman seemed less than pleased at having been giving the task of carrying a Shinigami in the first place as she continually gave sneering looks at the purple haired were-cat.
Stark had been picked up by the sea green haired woman named Nelliel and Ichigo could see that the two were conversing quietly.
Last but not least, Ichigo was in the possession of Szayel's elder brother, Ilford. The man seemed surprisingly pleasant in comparison to his pink haired brother who despite being a lot mellower since he and Grimmjow had become an item was still very egotistical and creepy when he wanted to be. Ilford even offered the strawberry a warm smile as they sonido-ed across the sky, far away from the destroyed cavern.
About a mile and a half from the cave they came to a stop, and they were set down on a grass verge together. Ichigo shuffled across to his husband and smiled sheepishly at him, his eyes weary and tired from the entire ordeal.
The strawberry smiled and relaxed as he felt an arm go around his shoulders and he automatically gravitated towards the brunette male, sneaking both of his arms around him and holding him in a firm but tender embrace.
Ichigo tensed slightly when the sea green haired woman looked at the two of them but relaxed as she seemed pleased by their closeness, she smiled widely and walked over, dropping down in the grass on her knees in front of them both.
"My name is Nelliel Tu Odelschwank!" she announced cheerfully, "But my friends call me Nel!"
"H-Hi..." Ichigo stammered, slightly overwhelmed by her bountiful cheer, "My name is Kurosaki Ichigo."
"I know who you are silly." She grinned, "Aizen-sama sent us to help you!"
"W-What?" his eyes widened faintly, "He did?"
"Of course! When he learned that there was a Zanpakto Rebellion, he consulted his archives for word about any Shinigami from the past whom had the power to cause such a thing and he discovered Muramasa the Zanpakto." The buxom jade haired woman pressed the pad of her index finger against her chin in thought, "So he sent us to come and provide support. He figured that you could use a few extra hands to clear up the mess."
He raised an eyebrow in surprise, but was secretly pleased that the man had cared enough to offer his own support, "Well... Thank you for coming. Your timing couldn't have been better."
She rewarded him with a massive toothy smile, her teeth were pure white and almost blinded him; Ichigo couldn't help but smile in return and chuckled softly at the infectiousness of her grin.
"I didn't know that there were any Arrancar left who would follow Aizen's orders." Stark said after a moment.
"Well he resurrected Ilford and Luppi from frozen fragments of their masks; Cirucci, Mosqueda and Dordoni had the Hogyuku used on them for a second time to make them stronger and I was lost out in the sands. After he found me and made me stronger I took the position of the Primera Espada. Dordoni is the Secunda, Cirucci is Tres and Mosqueda is the Cuarto." She explained in a hyper gush of words.
Stark raised an eyebrow at the news that there was a new Primera and he was faced with her at this exact moment, "Congratulations." He said with a smile, "You must be very strong."
"I guess so... But I hate fighting, so I don't show it off very often." She shrugged in such a carefree way that it became impossible to even think that she could be as strong as Stark or Ichigo.
Grimmjow walked, or rather he stomped, over to where they were sat, "Yo, just wanna point out that Muramasa has gone to the World of the Living and is probably causing all sorts of shit there right now while you are sat here having such a lovely chat."
Ichigo swore and was on his feet in moments, "Shit you're right! We gotta go!"
"Hold up, shouldn't we go and warn the others first?" Stark asked.
"There isn't time... Stark, we don't even know what the hell he is after... He could be doing anything!"
Yoruichi flash-stepped over to them, "I'll go back to Seireitei and tell the other's what is going on. You go on ahead to Karakura Town." She said in a commanding voice which left no room for argument.
The strawberry nodded in agreement, looking at Nelliel, "Can you and your Espada stay here and try rounding up as many of the Zanpakto as you can? We might need back up at some point."
"Of course Ichigo!" she beamed back at him before turning on her heel and striding over to her companions and barking orders at them.
"Do you trust them?" Stark murmured in his husband's ear.
Ichigo looked back at him and shrugged, "As ridiculous as it is... I trust Aizen."
"Well I think you are an idiot for that reason but... I trust you." The brunette nodded, stealing a quick kiss before looking around as the Arrancar and Yoruichi disappeared along with Harribel and Tiburon, "Guess it's just us then."
Yamamoto lingered for a moment and turned to face Ichigo, "You made it possible for that Shinigami to be released from his prison. I expect you to sort it out, Kurosaki."
The strawberry winced slightly under his gaze but his expression was determined, "I will. I won't let anything bad happen. I promise."
"Hm... Let us hope you are not too late then." The old man grumbled before also disappearing.
Ichigo sighed heavily and ran a hand through his spikes of hair, "Grumpy old sod." He muttered.
Ichigo glanced at them, with Stark, Grimmjow, Pantera and himself they should be able to tackle a fair few enemies who were hurled their way. He sighed and turned, opening a Senkaimon with a cut o his sword, taking a breath before he lead them into the Precipice World.
Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, Muramasa walked through a cluster of trees with Senbonzakura, Zabimaru, Renji and Byakuya beside him. As they approached a clearing, the Kuchiki nobleman glanced around for any sign of their final destination, cunning grey eyes searching for any clues or hints.
He frowned faintly as they stopped at the edge of a large lake, seeing Muramasa's gaze fix upon the tree which was settled in the very middle of an island in the centre of the mass of water.
"We are here at last." The Zanpakto soul murmured, running a hand through his unkempt hair as his icy gaze cast around the area, almost as though he was expecting some form of resistance to fly out of the trees towards him.
Byakuya and Renji shared a glance before looking back at the blue eyed Zanpakto as he made a leap across the water and landed lithely at the other side.
The group of Shinigami and Zanpakto followed him across and watched silently as their leader strode across the grassy verge and stopped in front of the large oak tree which stood there.
Stretching out a hand, he unfurled his talon like fingers and summoned his sword form, unsheathing the silver blade and stabbing into the ground between his slightly parted feet.
"Koga... It is time to wake from your slumber." He called out.
Without warning, a blast of reiatsu emanated from his sword and shot towards the tree; as the two made contact the tree which he had targeted caught fire and began to burn with an ethereal purple flame. As the flames intensified and the tree collapsed under the heat, a black coffin was revealed, clad in thick chains and four spears which implanted the sarcophagus.
Muramasa drew his Zanpakto from the ground and staggered forwards, his eyes alive with disbelief at having found his master after so long of being apart.
No hesitation showed in his expression as he carved through the chains and dug his nails into the lid of the coffin, prising it open as quickly as he could. He jumped back as the lid creaked and fell to the ground and a gasp escaped him as his master was revealed to him. Though aged and not as young as he had once been, there was no mistaking the face of the once and future Kuchiki Koga.
Behind Muramasa, Byakuya visibly tensed at the sight of his own kinsman; recalling the words his Grandfather had once spoken to him, he knew his duty and his pride relied on this single moment. He would protect his pride no matter what the cost.
They looked around suddenly, skywards, as the sound of opening rice paper doors reached their ears, Byakuya's steely grey eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Ichigo, Grimmjow, Pantera and Stark burst out of the Senkaimon.
The spiky haired ginger looked down at the raven haired nobleman who had cut him down previously and his teeth clenched before his chocolate eyes found Koga's still form and realisation passed over him.
Dropping down out of the sky, touching down on the grass island, Ichigo looked across at the ground of people who surrounded the open coffin; the strawberry raised an eyebrow as Senbonzakura automatically flourished a sword made from petals and pointed it at him.
"Stark, you hand Renji; Grimmjow take on Zabimaru; Pantera you take Senbonzakura." The youngest Taichou Soul Society had ever had unsheathed his large Zanpakto and pointed it directly at Byakuya, "I'll take him on."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed slightly, "Do you wish to fall at my feet again, child? For that is all that awaits you if you continue to fight."
"I'll take my chances... But I don't think you will find me such easy prey this time around, Kuchiki Byakuya!" Ichigo rested his left hand on his right forearm and raised his reiatsu, "BANKAI!"
Byakuya's eyebrows raised in surprise but he too unsheathed his Zanpakto and held it vertically in front of his face, "Scatter, Senbonzakura."
Ichigo eye's narrowed and he drew his black katana back, "Everyone... NOW!"
With that single cry, the two sides met in a flurry of swords, fangs and claws.
A/N: Although this part of the story is near the end in the anime, I can assure you that there is no end in sight yet :) But there are going to be some twists which break away from the occurrences in the anime which could be exciting haha.
Please review!
