Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. I am attempting to convince Lelouch to Geass Tite Kubo into transferring the rights to me.
AN: "Not Quite as Planned" was posted two and a half weeks ago. In that time it has gotten 8026 hits, 30 reviews, 61 favs, 68 alerts, and 2 C2s. You all rock.
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Ichigo was awakened by his growling stomach. The Arrancar cursed out loud. Last night he had consumed enough food to keep a dozen men full for a week. It was looking more and more like the only thing that could actually satisfy him was spiritual beings. Briefly he wondered if there were any death row inmates that actually deserved it. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Ichigo punched himself in the face. That was not a line of thought he wanted to continue.
Ichigo piled the bedding in a corner of the room then moved to the door. Hopefully Ukitake would be awake. He had to thank the Shinigami for his hospitality before he left. He paused when he heard voices through the thin walls.
-x-
"What do you mean Captain Aizen is dead?" Ukitake yelled.
The messenger shrank back from the angry Captain. Having someone of Ukitake's caliber mad at you could be extremely hazardous. "Captain Ichimaru brought his remains to the 4th Division early this morning. Exact cause of death has not been determined, but the body looks like it has been savaged by a Hollow."
Ukitake's eyes widened in shock. There was only one Hollow currently in the Seireitei that he was aware of, and Jushiro knew that he had been fast asleep last night. So either there was another Hollow loose in Soul Society (highly unlikely), or Aizen's death was connected to the conspiracy he was starting to see.
"I see. Inform Captain Unohana I'll be coming by to pay my respects later today."
"Yes, sir." The messenger vanished.
Ukitake turned to the closed door behind him. "You heard that, I assume?" The door slid open to reveal Ichigo. "You're going to have to be very careful today. The rest of the Captains will not take this laying down."
"Yeah. Thanks for the help." The Arrancar dropped down on the porch to put his sandals on.
"I wish I could do more."
"Don't worry about it." Ichigo stood up and strapped his Zanpakuto to his back. "We came here expecting to fight the Captains at some point. I went through hell to get strong enough to take you guys on."
Ukitake scowled at how casual the Arrancar was, as if fighting the strongest members of the Gotei 13 was something that didn't worry him at all. He opened his mouth to try and impress upon the Arrancar just how powerful Captain-class Shinigami were, but was interrupted by a buzzing from Ichigo's shihakusho.
"Kurosaki, is there something you would like to tell us? The Shinigami outside are going nuts," a teenage male voice came from the phone.
"I was framed?"
"So you didn't attack and eat one of the Captains?" This time it was a young woman's voice.
"Unless I've started sleep walking, no."
"Whether you actually did it or not won't matter." A third voice, one that sounded like an older man. "The rest of the Captains will be out for your blood. If you run into one, don't hesitate. Run or release your Zanpakuto as soon as you get the chance."
"I got it, Yoruichi." Well, at least the boy was smart enough to know he'd need to fight all out in order to wi…Wait a second.
"Yoruichi Shihoin?"
"Jushiro? Ichigo, what the hell have you been up to?"
"Um, kind of a long story, but the short version is the Captain and Third seats of the 13th Division are on our side now."
"…"
"Your luck absolutely astounds me, Kurosaki. Only you would run into the only Shinigami in the Seireitei that would help us."
"Inoue, Ikkaku says we should probably leave now while everything's chaotic."
"Right, Chad. Talk to you later, everyone!"
"…"
"I stand corrected."
"Jushiro, you need to come talk to Soifon. The rest of you be careful. Try not to get killed."
"Got it."
As Ichigo hung up, Ukitake shook his head. They certainly seemed to be an…interesting bunch. "You came here with Yoruichi Shihoin?"
"Yes. Why? Is he important?"
"Important? He? Mr. Kurosaki, Yoruichi Shihoin was the Captain of the 2nd Division one hundred years ago and the greatest master of Shunpo in Soul Society's history. She was known as "the Goddess of Flash."
"…Yoruichi's a woman?"
-4th Division Headquarters-
Retsu Unohana, Captain of the 4th Division, paused in her examination of Aizen's body. Unohana had seen wounds caused by Hollows thousands of times over her long life. While the wounds on Aizen's corpse certainly seemed in line with being attacked and killed by an Arrancar (deep slashes from a Zanpakuto and massive bites taken out of it), something was niggling at the back of her mind.
"Let me through! Let me see him!"
"Vice-Captain Hinamori, please! You can't go in while Captain Unohana is performing her examination."
Whatever it was she was missing, she would never figure it out with the distraught Lieutenant making all that noise. Unohana sighed and moved towards the door. She slid the door open to see Momo Hinamori and her own Lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu. Hinamori opened her mouth, but whatever she was going to say died in her throat when Unohana smiled at her.
"Vice Captain Hinamori, you are aware that this is a hospital, and that most of the people here are attempting to rest?" Hinamori nodded stiffly. "Then you will remember to keep your voice down from now on?" Hinamori nodded again and Unohana's smile shifted from terrifying to sad. "I am finished examining him for now. You can go in if you wish, so long as you do not disturb anything. I will warn you that it is a rather gruesome sight."
"Thank you, Captain Unohana."
-x-
Hinamori stepped past the woman into the examination room. Until she saw him herself, she would not believe that it was true. Steeling herself, Hinamori walked up to the examination table and looked at her Captain. It took all of her strength to not lose control at the sight.
There was very little of Aizen's body untouched. His torso was covered in deeps cuts and his right arm from the shoulder down was missing. His left arm was still there, but it looked like it had been stuck in a wood chipper. Both legs were horribly mangled, the skin and muscles ripped apart and the bones shattered beyond recognition. By far the worst, in Hinamori's opinion, was his face. Aizen's handsome face was simply not there. Instead, there was a bloody mess of torn flesh and crushed bones.
Hinamori didn't know how long she stood there staring at Aizen's corpse. It could have been only a few moments or a few hours.
"Momo?" Hinamori jumped when a hand settled on her shoulder. She turned around to see her childhood friend.
"Shiro?"
-x-
Hitsugaya didn't bother with his usual statement of, "It's Captain Hitsugaya!" Momo looked and sounded like her life was crashing down around her. She didn't even seem to notice the tears pouring down her cheeks. To see his normally vibrant friend like this was breaking the heart he normally hid behind his ice-cold demeanor. "Come on, Momo. Let's get you out of here."
"What? Bu-but, Shiro…!"
"No buts." He took Hinamori by the hand and dragged her out. She needed to be as far away from that room as possible. Toshiro nodded to Captain Unohana as they passed her. "You're going to stick with me today."
"But the 5th Division!"
"I'll send Matsumoto to oversee things. Right now, you need to be with friends more than anything." For now, he would keep an eye on Momo. Once he was sure she was going to be okay, he would be free to hunt down the monster that did this.
You're going to regret making her cry, you bastard!
-x-
"Hurry up with that equipment, you stupid girl! I want that Arrancar in a lab by the end of today!"
"Yes, sir."
-x-
"Which way, Yachiru?"
"That way, Kenny!"
And so, Kenpachi continued his search for the strongest of the ryoka.
-x-
Soifon rested her chin in her hands as she thought. Captain Ukitake had encountered the Arrancar and would be arriving soon to fill her in on the meeting. Hopefully the information he brought would help her come up with a plan. She was no closer to obtaining the proof she needed than she was last night. Even without Lady Yoruichi to tell her so, Soifon was certain she would have determined Aizen's death to be faked. Not only because she had testimony from a credible witness that the accused attacker had been sleeping soundly at the time, but also because a battle between a Captain-class Shinigami and an Arrancar strong enough to take him down would have been felt by all of the Seireitei. Really, why had no one else realized that?
Maybe if she brought that fact to the 12th Division's attention? All of them would see the apparent anomaly as a challenge to be solved and start pouring over the records from every sensor they had in Soul Society, looking for any hint of why the battle had not been noticed.
Soifon ran all the information she had on Aizen's "death" through her mind, which really wasn't much. The only witness was Captain Ichimaru. According to his testimony, he had come across the Arrancar eating Aizen alive and driven it off, but neglected to pursue in favor of trying to save Aizen's life. Gin had brought Aizen to the 4th Division, where he was declared dead.
According to Lady Yoruichi, Aizen was the mastermind of the current events. His "death" made it possible for him to move around freely. She needed to come up with something quickly.
Hurry up, Ukitake. I need a lead, and I need it now.
-x-
Ishida peeked over the edge of the building he was hiding on top of, keeping his reiatsu as low as possible. Using a Quincy technique to enhance his eyesight, Ishida could easily see Rukia more than a kilometer away, flanked by a pair of Captains. He recognized one as the other Shinigami from that night, Byakuya Kuchiki. The other was a massive man, wearing a bucket-like helmet over his head. He watched as Rukia was escorted to the large white tower at Seireitei's center. The Quincy mentally cursed when, instead of leaving, the two Captains took up guard positions outside the tower. Apparently these two had no intention of hunting ryoka. Thanks to Ishida's actions yesterday, the invaders' goal was known. All they had to do was wait for the invaders to come to them.
Ishida considered his options. Proud of his skills he may be, but he was not stupid. If he could get one of the Captains on terrain that favored him, like he had done to Abarai yesterday, Ishida was confident he could win. Against two Captains, he would be slaughtered. The best choice for now was to simply wait for the others. He and Kurosaki could deal with the Captains while Chad and Inoue retrieved Rukia. Mind made up, Ishida settled in to wait.
-x-
Rukia looked around the cell. The walls were completely featureless. The cot was just as simple. The only break in the monotony was the single window, with its view of the Sokyoku. It was designed to make the occupant focus on their impending execution and the tool that would be used to carry it out. Rukia had to admit it was effective.
"You will remain here until the day of your execution." Rukia turned to face her brother. "Stare out that window every day and repent your crimes," Byakuya said.
"I gave a boy the power to save his family. How is that a crime?" Rukia had no idea what had come over her. With Byakuya and Captain Komamura guarding the Senzaikyu, Ichigo and the others would never get close to rescuing her. However, she found herself growing more defiant.
It gave her a thrill to see her brother's eyes widen slightly. But his next words brought her crashing back down.
"You ask how? Then the ryoka from yesterday did not inform you. Ichigo Kurosaki has become a Hollow. Thanks to your actions, he has become a monster and needs to be destroyed." With those parting words, the head of the Kuchiki family turned and swept out of the tower.
Rukia did not notice him leave. She did not notice when the cell door closed, sealing her inside. Her mind had locked up, struggling to process what Byakuya had just said. A Hollow? But…Ishida said he was here! Did he lie? Is Brother lying? And then another thought struck her. I've killed him. Because of me, Ichigo will die. I've killed him. Just like I killed Kaien. Rukia's legs gave out and she fell to the floor, screaming in anguish.
-x-
Ichigo glanced around a corner. After leaving Ukitake, Ichigo had started making his way toward the center of the Seireitei. Avoiding the patrols had been easy. Too easy. In fact, there seemed to be far fewer patrols than yesterday. Ichigo had no idea how the Shinigami would respond to the death of one of their own, but decreasing the number of Shinigami looking for him definitely was not what he would do. Something was up.
The Arrancar's suspicions were confirmed when a wall of yellow light suddenly shot up in front of him. Spinning around confirmed that more walls were appearing. In seconds, a massive box of light had formed around Ichigo and the surrounding area.
"Crap." Ichigo immediately started charging a Cero. He needed to get out of here before whoever had set this trap showed up. That plan died as quickly as his Cero, which fizzled out the instant he tried to fire it. "What the hell?"
"Cero is the most basic of abilities among high level Hollows. I've long since developed a method of neutralizing them."
Ichigo looked over his shoulder to see the weirdest looking man he had ever seen in his life. Given Ichigo's father and Don Kanonji, that was saying something. The man's face was covered in makeup, making him look like a demented clown. Oh shit. He recognized this guy from the Vizards' descriptions. Mayuri Kurotsuchi: Captain of the 12th Division and head of the Shinigami Research Institute. He was also completely batshit insane according to Hiyori. A young woman stood next to him; his Lieutenant judging by the badge on her arm.
"I did not expect to catch you so eas-." Ichigo stopped listening, spinning and striking the glowing wall his Zanpakuto. The blade failed to penetrate and bounced off. "It is quite rude to not listen while someone else is talking." The Arrancar jumped back as Kurotsuchi appeared next to him.
"Spli-!" Ichigo's cry was cut off by the sudden removal of his right arm. The arm and Zangetsu went spinning away and Ichigo clutched at his bleeding shoulder.
"You won't be needing that. As much as I would like to study an Arrancar's release, now is not the time. I'll have plenty of time to do so under controlled circumstances later on."
He sure loves to hear himself talk! Ignoring his wound, Ichigo vanished in a burst of static, trying to reach his Zanpakuto. He got within a few meters before the Vice Captain tackled and pinned him. Shit!
"Oh! You can use Sonido! Excellent. None of my previous Arrancar specimens were capable of it." The insane Captain looked at the blood on his blade and Ichigo's severed arm. "Your Hierro doesn't seem that strong. Does it get stronger when you use Resureccion?"
"Sonido? Hierro?" Ichigo was thinking frantically, trying to figure out a way to get to Zangetsu. Maybe if he could get Kurotsuchi monologuing he'd have time to think of something.
Mayuri scowled. "You don't even know the names of your abilities? How annoying. How am I supposed to catalogue any new discoveries if I don't know their proper designation? Stupid boy. Sonido is the Arrancar equivalent of Shunpo. Hierro is an Arrancar's iron skin."
"I didn't know they had names," Ichigo grumbled, grappling with the woman holding him down. Damn, she's strong!
"What a worthless specimen. I am interested in how you went from a human to Arrancar in such a short amount of time. I am willing to give some concessions if you explain the process."
"You can take your concessions and shove 'em!" Ichigo got his left arm free and slugged the Lieutenant across the face, dislodging her grip. Ichigo made another dive for Zangetsu.
"Hmph. Rip. Ashisogi Jizo." Ichigo had no warning before the trident-like Zanpakuto slashed across his remaining arm and both legs. Ichigo crashed to the ground next to his Zanpakuto, but his limbs refused to move. "This is my power. Ashisogi Jizo severs the nerves that carry signals to and from the brain, paralyzing what ever it cuts. However…" He stabbed Ichigo's left leg and the Arrancar yelled in pain. "The pain receptors are unaffected." Kurotsuchi withdrew the blade. "I suppose I can figure out how you became an Arrancar during testing. I'll need to procure some more spiritually sensitive humans to test the process on. Hm." He cupped his chin in his hand. "Nemu, I believe the report on this boy said he had siblings?"
Ichigo's eyes snapped open. "Don't you dare…"
Nemu ignored him and answered her Captain. "Yes. Two younger sisters. Both spiritually sensitive."
"I'm warning you!"
"Excellent. A familial relation should help lower the number of variables. Once this one is secured in the lab, you will proceed to the Living World to acquire them."
"Yes, sir."
"Leave my family alone, you son of a bitch!" Ichigo grit his teeth, willing his body to move. He couldn't let this freak get Yuzu and Karin. Move, damn it! He cursed his earlier need for stealth. If he hadn't sealed away so much of his power, he would have been able to put up a much better fight.
"Hurry up and secure the specimen, Nemu. I want to get started."
"Like hell I'm going to let you!" Ichigo shunted every drop of his reiatsu to the stump of his right arm. The sudden influx of power jump-started his healing abilities and as Nemu knelt to pick him up, a new arm burst from Ichigo's shoulder. The Arrancar's regenerated arm snapped out, grabbing the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
"Nemu! Stop him, you stupid girl!" Kurotsuchi yelled.
Too late, asshole! No one threatens my family and lives!
"Split the Sky! Zangetsu!"
It's the moment you've all been waiting for! Zangetsu has been released and Ichigo is not likely to show any mercy.