Author's note: Sorry for the long delay. A combination of school and serious depression has made writing difficult, so that's why it's been so long. Things are better now, so expect more updates soon.
Ichigo felt someone prodding him in his side. "Shut up old man, there's no school today…"
"While I know I'm older than you, I'm pretty sure you have the wrong guy Ichigo."
Ichigo flopped over to face whoever was speaking, seeing Hanataro tending his wounds. "Oh… Hanah Montana… hey."
Hanataro just groaned, putting the finishing touches on his healing Kido. "I don't know how long you can keep this up. Healing Kido is pretty strong, but there's a limit. If you try something like this again, I can't guarantee you won't just tear open all your wounds."
Ichigo rose from the ground with a groan. "Tell that to these assholes. Kenpachi was about ready to paint the courtyard with my face."
"Oh god." Hanataro shudders at the name. "I still can't believe you had any bones left after that. Kenpachi's a boogieman. Do you know how he got his job?" Hanataro locked eyes with Ichigo. "He killed the last guy leading squad 11. He's a nightmare!"
Ichigo just chuckled. "Well that's fine by me," he said, pointing his thumb at himself. "I'm what nightmares are made of."
Something about how calmly Ichigo said that filled Hanataro with dread. Standing near Ichigo, it was like holding a bomb in your hands. Whether it was used for good or evil, somebody was gonna get hurt.
And truth be told, once his friend was taken care of, Hanataro didn't know which side Ichigo would be on.
With the way things were going in the Soul Society, Hanataro wasn't sure which side he would be on.
Ganju sat in his cell, which he shared with the still unconscious Chad. True to their word, Hitsugaya had made sure Chad had gotten the medical attention he was promised. Ganju had been sitting in complete silence for some time, when someone showed up at his door. They seemed to have nearly as many bandages as him, but that didn't detract from her beauty. "Guessing this isn't a personal visit?"
"Rangiku Matsumoto, Squad 10 lieutenant. My captain is busy, so he sent me to question you." Despite her reputation, Rangiku was perfectly capable of acting like a professional when she needed too. "Now, first off, why are you here in the Seireitei?"
Ganju nodded. "I came here to help a falsely sentenced prisoner escape."
She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at this. "I don't suppose you'd care to elaborate?"
"Sorry," Ganju said, shaking his head, "but I doubt my friends would like it if I advertised their destination. All I can say is they don't deserve the shit they're being put through."
Rangiku scowled. "Might I remind you that the conditions you put forward involved your absolute cooperation?"
"And I made that choice," Ganju said patiently, "that I made that choice on my own behalf, to protect my allies." He held up his hands, rattling the shackles they were in. "As you might have noticed, I haven't resisted imprisonment, so you can't say I'm being that uncooperative." He smirked at the Soul Reaper. This wasn't the first time he had been taken in by the authorities, so he knew how to handle himself.
Realizing this was a dead end, Rangiku sighed as she went on to further questions. "Alright, next up, how did you breach our walls?"
Ganju chuckled at that. "Check my stuff. One of those got us over the wall, then it burst when we hit the barrier. After that, it was just a matter of landing. Of course, there was my friend who just used the front door."
Now that caught her attention. She had more questions lined up, but those could wait. "That was you guys! Who on earth was he!? Scratch that; what is he? I fought him, and I've never even heard of something like that!"
Ganju just shrugged. "Honestly? No idea. He looks kinda like a Soul Reaper, but your right, that doesn't fit." He motioned over to Chad. "Big guy here knows him, but I doubt he'll want to talk. Pretty sure those two go way back. But you're right; he's like nothing I've seen before either." Ganju felt a shiver run down his spine. "Even if we're fighting on the same side, that guy scares the shit out of me."
Uryu groaned in pain, and Orihime was doting over him in an instant. "Did the healing not take? Is the poison back? Do you need me to help you walk?"
He waved her off. "It's fine, just a bit sore. Let's keep moving, we're getting close."
"Actually, once you get there, the stairs are a pain. That's why I try to avoid it."
Orihime and Uryu nearly jumped out of their skin, the quincy quickly drawing his bow.
"Now, let's have none of that," Shunsui said, holding his arms up in surrender.
"Who are you?" Uryu shouted.
Shunsui chuckled. "Why, I'm here to capture you. Either that, or kill you."
Uryu rolled his eyes, much to Orihime's confusion. Still, he lowered his bow. "Right, who are you really."
The captain shot a knowing glance at Orihime. "Captain Shunsui Kyoraku, and I'm here to help."
"Considering you aren't here to capture or kill us, I kinda figured."
Orihime gave her a friend a concerned look. "Are you sure? I mean, he did kinda say he was here to do just that…"
"Well, yeah," Uryu admitted, "but it was so obvious he was lying."
"Give the mortal a second to catch up. Though it's a good sign you overcome that, even at your levels of skill. Though he is right, I'm not here to hurt you. Mostly, I need you to quiet down." He sighed. "I was in the middle of a nice nap when it looked like somebody dropped a star in the middle of the Soul Society. Now come on, I have Nanao making tea."
And so, against her better judgment, Orihime followed the odd captain.
"So. Many. FUCKING. STAIRS." Ichigo was damn near ready to fall over when he finally reached the top of the massive stairs. "I want it on record that whoever made this place should go straight to hell."
"Duly… noted..." Hanataro said, collapsing next to Ichigo.
"So," Ichigo said after catching his breath, "this bigass tower. Right on the other side of this bridge. Good to be here. Just these last few steps…"
Ichigo was half way across the bridge when someone spoke up. "I'm afraid I can't allow this. Whatever monster you've become, I must stop you."
Ichigo wheeled around, his frustration plain on his face. "Why if it isn't the sound hypocrisy. Then again, most of this place sounds like that. Hiya Renji!"
Renji stepped onto the bridge, hand on his sword. "What happens next, Ichigo? What do you think this is, a game of tag? Go home and call base? The Soul Society wants Rukia dead. Do you really expect the two of you to fight us for the rest of your life?" He sneared at Ichigo. "You couldn't possibly run far enough."
Ichigo's eyes, however, honed in on someone in the shadows, a bloodthirsty grin spreading across his face. "Those your words or his?" he asked, nodding towards the figure. "Where's that noble honor Byakuya? Too scared to fight me?"
Byakuya stepped from the shadows, his icy face betraying nothing. "It has been requested that in this particular area, I avoid fighting unless necessary."
"Riiight," Ichigo groaned, "more of your bullshit. You got a single thought in that head that isn't the party line?" Ichigo drew his sword. "C'mon Byakuya! FIGHT ME!"
"I'm your opponent!" Renji roared, already halfway to Ichigo, his sword free of its sheath. "Fight ME!"
Ichigo quickly moved to block. "Seriously, you sure about this? Cause I don't think you realize how little trouble this will be." Ichigo parried the blow, but a flurry followed it. Renji was being a bit more reckless this time, but the shear ferocity seemed to compensate for that.
"You really think this will work, don't you!" Renji kept slamming against Ichigo's defenses, trying to simply overpower him. "You honestly thought it would be that easy!" Out of nowhere, his foot shot out, barely catching the young Exalt in the shin. Still, it was enough to knock him off balance, and Renji managed to get a good hit in. "Why!? Why can't you just let this end!?"
Ichigo's hand shot up, grabbing Renji's sword by the blade. "Oh, I'm letting this end alright." Plumes of green flame gathered around him, though they were more muted than his earlier displays. "We just don't agree how. You think her death is the only ending. I'm gonna find another one." He ripped the blade from Renji's hands, blood trickling from his fingers. "Even if I have to kill everyone in this whole place," he snarled, tossing Zabimaru off the bridge. "Now then," he said, "do you want to be first on that list?"
Byakuya stepped forward. "Renji. Stand down."
Renji looked at Byakuya like he had just ordered him to jump off the bridge. "What!? We barely fought!"
"Unless your Zanpakuto has wings, I doubt this will end well for you."
"But-"
"This is a direct order, Renji. Now, stand down." Byakuya calmly drew his sword. "I believe this counts as absolutely necessary."
"Finally!" Ichigo shouted. "How long did you plan to let other people fight your battles? Let's get this over with! I already wiped out Kenpachi! How much harder can you be!?"
"Kenpachi is a boogieman, but he is far from the strongest here." He stepped towards Ichigo, still showing no emotion, save a hint of disdain. "Prepare to feel the might of the Kuchiki clan."
…
Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I love those, and I'm getting kind tired. Sorry this wasn't longer, but it's still not easy for me to write, just not impossible. Remember, reviews boost my motivation, which means more chapters sooner!
