Hey everyone, sorry this is quite late but revising for exams and all...anyways, hope you enjoy! Thank you to reviewers fuzzibunniez, henriette, Illidan the Half Demon, symbion, Zangetsu50 and TheDarkSlayer! Please, everyone else who is reading, please review, thank you :D
Byakuya Kuchiki left the captain's meeting hall, striding down the flowery wooden walkway, the banners and flags of Soul Society rippling on their posts in the light wind as he made his way past them towards the sixth division barracks. Turning, he glanced up at the Repentance Cell, tilting his head ever so slightly at the enormous, gaping hole in the wall the explosions had caused.
'Rukia…' he whispered. Turning away, the graceful captain continued onwards to his division. It was quiet around. There wasn't a soul in sight. Sighing, the captain stood his ground, turning slightly, eyeing the trees in the background. Narrowing his eyes, he reached down for his zanpakuto.
'Show yourself.' he declared, silence following. Then, there was a rustle. Turning, Kuchiki watched as a cloaked figure stepped out from under a tree, his face hidden beneath his hood. 'Who are you?' asked the Shinigami, the figure reaching for his sleeve. In a flash, he had summoned a zanpakuto in his hand, fiery red reiatsu curling along the blade before forming it completely, the metal gleaming in the sunlight.
'You would draw your zanpakuto? You fool.' Byakuya said, stepping forwards towards the enemy. 'Are you a match for me now? Can you defeat me?' however, before he could move, the figure had appeared behind him, swinging outwards with his blade. Byakuya was gone, appearing atop the roof, the tiles clattering under feet.
'Too slow. You always were.' Byakuya whispered, but his eyes widened as the figure appeared above him, aiming his finger down at the captain, a bright red ball of light spinning round before unleashing downwards, exploding onto the rooftop, Byakuya pouncing away, bursting from the plume of dust.
'Kido…without the incantation? What are you…?' Byakuya began, skidding backwards across the sky, the figure rocketing towards him, his sword out in front, poised to stab and kill. Byakuya whipped his hand in front of him, a bright yellow beam of light shooting forth and pummelling the opponent, six bars of golden light locking him into place. Byakuya leapt forwards but the foe threw his zanpakuto at the man, Kuchiki dodging and appearing behind his enemy, lunging with his blade.
'You're done.' Byakuya said, closing his eyes. Suddenly however, the figure let out a horrific bellow and glowed a bright purple before shattering the Kido around him with his bare hands, his zanpakuto flying into his hand. He swung it round and connected with Byakuya's, appearing beside the man and grabbing his head with his hand. He slammed Byakuya into a tower wall, the dust rising around them. The dust cleared, the figure's hood hanging behind his neck, Byakuya staring into the eyes of the attacker.
'Don't think we don't know. Mayuri is dead, I suspect by your hand. Did you want us to think it was Ichigo?' Byakuya asked defiantly. The figure tightened his grip around Byakuya's skull, the man activating his zanpakuto suddenly, millions of pink blossoms exploding onto the scene, surrounding the two of them.
'Senbonzakura.' Byakuya stated, looking up slowly, his eyes glowing purple. 'I thought something was wrong. Is it Aizen? Are we under that spell? Never mind. You don't have to answer. I'll shatter your soul with my own spell.' the man said softly, dropping his zanpakuto, the blade sinking into the ground. At that moment, millions upon millions of pink shards hung in the air, Byakuya raising his arms, a torrent, a wave of pink engulfing the hooded figure. Instantly, there was an explosion of red and the figure leapt from the whirlpool of pink, cutting down a defenceless Byakuya in one fell strike. The man choked, the kenseikan on his head exploding, shattering around him.
'Impossible…' he coughed, looking up, the figure standing above him, Byakuya watching as the petals rained down next to him. The sky darkened, the petals glowing in the black and grey as rain began to pelt down, Byakuya hitting the wet grass, gritting his teeth as his head hit the floor, blood splattering underneath him. His face was beginning to get cold under the rain, the petals fluttering down around him still, fading slightly as they turned into cherry blossoms upon touching the floor. Looking up, Kuchiki could see only the pouring rain and the figure approaching him slowly. Byakuya slowly stood to his feet, reaching for his zanpakuto. Gone. Not a trace remained. His wet hair dropped down his face as his heart sunk.
'It's finished…' he thought to himself, looking up, panting heavily. 'What have you done to yourself? Is this…is this all for your fight with me? Are you happy? You defeated me, you broke me.' Byakuya cursed, staggering, stumbling, attempting to stay on his feet as blood ran down his torn chest, his kimono ripped open slightly. The figure stood, inches away from Byakuya. In a flash, he had plunged his sword into Byakuya's stomach, the sky thundering, lightning coursing through the clouds. The two remained silent, Byakuya's head hanging, his hair covering his eyes.
'I…I didn't kill Rukia. It…it wasn't my fault.' Byakuya muttered at last, blood and water dribbling down his face, his eyes heavy. With that, he fell to his knees in the water, the crystal clear puddle held a reflection of the Seireitei, and was now turning a cloudy red.
Uryu and Sado stood at the door to Urahara's shop, the rain hammering down on their backs. Ishida had in his hand the green bottle, the water no longer fizzing. Uryu knocked on the door a second time before Sado moved in front and rapped on the wood, a light flicking on at long last. Kisuke opened the door, yawning and scratching his head, his eyes filling with shock at the sight of the two of them.
'Oh? Back already…?' he began, but his eyes darted downwards, catching sight of the bottle. 'I gave Mayuri-san the instructions on how to make that specifically so that he could use the contents of the bag…this isn't good.' Looking up at the two of them, he stepped aside, gesturing for them to hurry on in. 'You'd better come in.' They walked into the shop and sat down, Uryu removing his small, soaking cape. Urahara made them two teas and placed them lightly down on the table before turning his head to them, a serious look on his face.
'You've returned with no Ichigo, nor with any Orihime. Instead, you've brought this. What happened?' Urahara asked.
'Mayuri Kurotsuchi is dead. As is his lieutenant.' Ishida declared, Urahara gasping.
'What? You're serious aren't you…?' Kisuke asked the boy who nodded stiffly, Urahara gazing into his teacup at the rippling surface. '…alright, anything else?' he said after a moments silence. Uryu nodded, looking at Sado.
'Ichigo's visions were getting increasingly worse. But then we figured out something. Well, Inoue-san did anyway. She noticed that, the bag didn't bring out Ichigo's visions, but her rejection powers did. Something came from Ichigo's chest…I don't know what. But we went to confront Ichimaru Gin and an explosion went off. Inoue was gone. That's why Kurosaki isn't here.' Uryu explained, holding out his hand, making gestures with it. Urahara nodded, his eyes shivering in the small light of a flickering candle near his face.
'Nothing else?' he asked, Uryu thinking deeply.
'Actually…' Sado piped up quickly, the two looking over at him. '…Ichigo started writing this strange message on his arm. That scientist captain only deciphered the word Hogyoku…' Sado remembered, Urahara's head snapping up sharply at the word. '…oh yeah and that Ichimaru guy mentioned Aizen's zanpakuto.' they fell silent, Uryu nodding at the recollection. Standing, Kisuke looked out of the window at the sky, remembering the final battle as if it were yesterday.
'So…you are still alive. Then I must do everything in my power to bring you down.' turning back to Uryu and Sado, Urahara nodded for them to stand and he turned back to the window. 'You guys…you need to return to Soul Society as soon as possible. Ichigo needs you there. Don't worry about searching for the bag…' Urahara said, reaching for his cane, unsheathing his zanpakuto, the blade sparkling in the light. '…I will do that myself. If Seireitei truly is indulged in Aizen's zanpakuto that much, then I have no choice but to go myself.'
'Urahara-san…' Uryu whispered.
'I don't know why they targeted Mayuri. But there has to be a reason. Perhaps it is the same reason as why they targeted Miss Rukia. Regardless…' he said, turning on the spot, perching his hat atop his blonde hair. '…you must return, now. We will go together through the same Senkaimon. However, I don't have time to look for Ichigo-san, do you understand?' Urahara ordered, a portal opening up behind them, distorting the room as Kisuke created the doorway, Uryu and Sado nodding.
'You want to split up?' Ishida grinned, the light twinkling on his glasses, the force of the churning vortex throwing Sado's hair about his face.
'Go in different directions? Sounds risky.' he said, but he couldn't hold back a small smirk. Urahara grinned at them, pulling his hat down over one eye.
'Well, when haven't you guys taken risks? If Aizen has Orihime, no doubt he will lead Ichigo into a trap. Then, we're all doomed. You must find him.' Urahara nodded at them, turning back to the Senkaimon, preparing to step in.
'What about you? Where are you going to go?' Uryu asked, Kisuke shrugging.
'To find some answers.' he replied, looking darkly back at the two of them. 'If what I think has happened has happened, then we have no time to lose. I knew something was wrong. I designed the Hogyoku so that it could never be physically destroyed, yet somehow, when Isshin-san gave his life, the orb shattered, along with Aizen's body. Now I know the truth about it's powers, I think I can figure it out.' Urahara explained, the portal beginning to envelope the three of them. 'I just need a bit of time…'
The portal closed in on them, Uryu, Sado and Kisuke preparing to rocket into Soul Society, the wind pushing their hair back, forcing them to take a stance. Uryu narrowed his eyes and stood firm, focusing on the vortex ahead.
'Kurosaki…don't do anything stupid. We're coming to help. Don't let Aizen catch you…Kurosaki. Just hold on…' Ishida thought to himself, clenching his fist. At the same time, Ichigo roared into action, speeding down a corridor, his sword in his hand, the towering Repentance Cell looming behind him in the sky, his brow furrowed as he barrelled towards Inoue.
'…just hold on, Kurosaki!'
