Scene X: Enter the Hero

Ichigo finally made it to Karakura Town. It didn't look as though Aizen had even been there. But, as he walked on and Isshin, so exausted from hold back the current, dragged his feet, they noticed some structural damage to the buildings. Isshin suddenly grabbed his son's arm. "You go take care of Aizen over there and I'll manage the injured here." Always playing the doctor. But, that was his job as it was his personality.

"Don't worry, dad. I'll be fine." With that Ichigo was off. He came across Aizen and Gin, along with Captains Kyouraku and Ukitake, and an unconscious Matsumoto. At first, he wanted to finish what he'd started with Gin, but saw that Gin wasn't doing to well. Down on one knee and barely breathing. It was almost as if the reiatsu was too much for him. But, Ichigo, he was used to powerful opponents, by now.

As he looked over to Aizen, he saw him sheathing his zanpakutou. He looked just as he remembered. The smoothed back hair, except longer than when they'd first met, and purple and white eyes he'd acquired after imbedding that purple thing into him. The Hougyoku he thought Mister Sandal-Hat called it. Another shinigami, or at least Ichigo thought he was a shinigami, lay on the floor in a pool of blood. As he got a better look at the shinigami on the floor, it reminded him of Aizen. They looked so similar, though since he was so badly mutilated, he couldn't really tell. "What's the meaning of this, Aizen?"

"What? This, Ichigo?" Sousuke said so placidly, almost as if it didn't even effect him. Although, it probably didn't; he didn't seem to be the kind of person with a conscience. "I just defeated my older brother, that's all. He wasn't even worth my time." Then, he added, "Neither are you."

At that moment, Ichigo found himself having flashstepped right behind Aizen, acquiring his hollow's mask at the same time. Aizen's eyes widened a little. Then, they relaxed. Almost as if he'd expected it. "Cero Oscuras." The black cero hit Aizen square in the back. The resulting explosion sent them both in opposite directions. But, as Ichigo noticed a faint silhouette come from within the smoke, his flashstep responded without him thinking about it. He hadn't even realized that this entire time he'd never once returned to his shikai form. Of course, fighting Aizen in such a form would be suicide. Again, Ichigo found himself once more at Aizen's back. "Cero Oscuras." Once more the black cero hit him squarely.

Or, it appeared to have. "I wouldn't fall for that twice, Ryoka-bozu." Aizen's ever calm, ever confident voice mocked him from behind. "Cero Oscuras."

Ichigo somehow anticipated that. What with Aizen's look and all. He'd even had his father set up some kidou to protect him from that very trick. How much of his tricks would work was beyond him. Ichigo took the split-second moment that the cero hit the kyoumon to stab through his haori and charge a Getsuga Tenshou. "Getsuga Tenshou." He calmly fired the reiatsu at Aizen, hoping it would catch him off guard enough for him to use his resurrecíon. Instinctively, he made some distance between the two of them, knowing at any moment, Aizen could have used Kyouka Suigetsu on him. "Resurrecíon, guide and survive, Instinto." As the smoke cleared, Ichigo could see the shocked faces of those who'd come to interfere with Aizen's plans and ended up just watching. Gin's widened eyes and smirk. Almost as if he half-expected it. Kyouraku's peeping through one hand, as if he didn't want to see it. Ukitake just hid his face. As the smoke cleared more, Aizen came into view.

That smirk. Those condescending eyes. Unscathed from the Getsuga Tenshou, but the rubble behind him told Ichigo that he dodged it. It was upon closer inspection that Ichigo noticed the healing of a scratch on his face. He had just barely dodged it. "Interesting, Ichigo. You remind me of one of those Norse warriors, laden with fur around the neck, long hair to show your pride, and a face only a devil could love. But, what's with the hole in your chest?"

Ichigo didn't bother responding with words. No, it was better not to be distracted by them. Instead, he flashstepped once more behind Aizen, knowing Aizen would turn to face him. But, it was a matter of whose attack was faster. "Getsuga Kin Tenshou." Ichigo charged the reiatsu for a Getsuga Tenshou, but instead of releasing it, he just kept it restrained to the blade itself. As their blades clashed, he could see Aizen's begin to crack. He pushed harder. "Cero Oscuras."

At the moment Ichigo released a cero, Aizen backed away. He dodged it carefully, only to be grazed by it, burned along his arm and face. Well, will you look at that? I chipped Aizen's blade. And, here he had the resolve to come here and try to destroy this place. But, could it have something to do with the fight with the other shinigami? I mean, his reiatsu doesn't seem to be quite as high as when my father opened up that Senkai gate. Aizen looked Ichigo up and down. "I guess that resurrecíon of yours isn't for show after all."

Again, Ichigo didn't bother answering. It wasn't worth it. Too many people were hurt by this demon of a shinigami. Ichigo wasn't going to give him the time of day. And, anytime like now was the best time to try out his new Getsuga Tenshou. "Garganta Getsuga Tenshou." Ichigo fired off a Getsuga Tenshou. When it looked as though it would hit Aizen and he put up his zanpakutou to block it, a Garganta opened up and swallowed the wave of reiatsu. Now, all that needed to be done was keep him busy.

"What the fuck was that, Ichigo?" Aizen looked so flustered. Something Ichigo wasn't used to. "It didn't do shit!" Although that wasn't exactly true. But, Ichigo wasn't going to tell him that.

"Cero Oscuras Metralleta" The black cero version of Stark's Cero Metralleta. Fast and dangerous.

Aizen kept himself busy dodging them until, "Gran Rey Cero." A giant purple cero formed at his lips and fired off in Ichigo's direction. "See if you can block that, ryoka-bozu."

Ichigo didn't even bother moving. He could tell by the amount of reiatsu in the cero that it wasn't all that strong. After all, Aizen seemed weaker than before. Not only that, but Ichigo felt as if he came closer to being able to sense reiatsu more so than he had been able to in the past. The lack of reiatsu probably meant it was a product of the Kyouka Suigetsu and if he destroyed the actual cero it would vanish. Ichigo flashstepped a hundred feet to the right where the reiatsu was the strongest. Closing his eyes and bracing himself, he acted on instinct. "Cero Oscuras." Ichigo's black cero cut through the air. A loud explosion followed, causing the cero Aizen shot to evaporate and revealing the actual location of the true Gran Rey Cero.

"How did you?" The shock was evident in Aizen's voice. He's in for a real surprise when that Garganta Getsuga Tenshou comes 'round. Though, it's taking an awful long time.

"How did I, what? Figure out how your Kyouka Suigetsu works?" Ichigo asked, almost as if he couldn't believe that Aizen was truly asking such a question. "It's simple. Your reiatsu fluctuates as it's being used. But, I really have no time to be talking about this. I have to defeat you and avenge all those hurt by you."

"You already have." Aizen said as he sheathed his zanpakutou. In that moment, a Garganta opened up above him. From within Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshou rocketed out, slicing Aizen perfectly down the middle, crashing into the crater from one of Aizen's previous attacks. The smile on his face as he returned to nothing more than spirit particles was something that made Ichigo wonder. Did he really do all this for me to kill him? Was all this just for that? Or, was that a sarcastic smile because he never accomplished what he intended to.

Captain Kyouraku and Ukitake flashstepped to the bloody remains of the shinigami on the ground. Ichigo couldn't look. Someone else suffered because he couldn't make it in time. He hated that. But, as they tended to him, Ichigo heard the man say, "Is Sousuke-chan dead?"

"Well, yes." Ukitake coughed.

"Good, then I can rest in peace." The shinigami smiled, slowly. As he did, his body returned to spirit particles.

"Rest well, Ryugetsu Aizen-bozu." Kyouraku said, sounding very hurt.

Suddenly, Ichigo felt extremely heavy. His eyes closed and his heart raced. In an instant, he plummeted to the ground. He could hear Kyouraku and Ukitake call out to him. Then, nothing. The voice of Zangetsu was all he heard. You did well, Ichigo. For now, rest. You have used up way too much reiatsu. There will come a time when the world needs you again. But, until then rest. Everyone is safe because of you.

It was faint, but he heard Ukitake's voice. "Should we tell him, Kyouraku."

"There's no need. Aizen can't do anything anymore. There's no need to worry. He will make a fine captain one day, if not the captain-commander." With these words, Ichigo's heart was at peace. There was no need for him to wonder what Kyouraku and Ukitake were talking about. It no longer mattered. He just wished that when he woke up his friends and family were safe and around. And, if he could, he wanted to remain a shinigami to protect everyone.

a/n:

Getsuga Kin Tenshou: Heavenly Restrained Lunar Fang

Cero Oscuras Metralleta: Obscure Cero Machinegun