Forget trying to move or breath, Ichigo could hardly think. No matter what, he just couldn't process the fact that Aizen was there, standing in the Kuchiki family's tea house. Whichever way he looked at it, it wasn't right. How could it be? Aizen was supposed to be locked away somewhere he could never see the light of day, or cause trouble for the Soul Society.
And yet there he stood, dressed in fine robes fit for the most esteemed and wealthy of nobles, looking much as he had before betraying the Seireitei.
Clearly, Ichigo had finally lost it. He'd snapped, and his mind had turned against him, using the ghost of his old nemesis to haunt him. But then… why was everyone else focused on Aizen, too?
Alright, so Ichigo hadn't lost his marbles. Not yet, at least.
Another possibility, even more unlikely than the last, occurred to him. Could this be Aizen's long lost twin brother? Noble families were, more often than not, possessed of a much greater spiritual power than commoners. Not to mention they had several ins with the Gotei 13. The Shihouins were previously the leaders of the Stealth Force, and Byakuya was the captain of Squad Six. Soifon was a minor noble, as was Omaeda, her lieutenant. Would it be so odd for Aizen to be related to a noble family? It might begin to explain his god complex.
One freezing, self-satisfied smirk was all it took to cure Ichigo of that ridiculous notion. No one had ever managed to make him feel so small and insignificant, save one man.
This was, beyond a shadow of doubt, Sosuke Aizen.
Almost instinctively, Ichigo raised a hand and drew Zangetsu from his back. The wrapping on the blade fell away as he put the sword between himself and one of the greatest enemies the Seireitei had ever known.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Rukia asked, looking positively alarmed.
Turning to her, Ichigo replied incredulously, "You're telling me you don't see Aizen standing right there?!"
She didn't answer. She didn't move. Rukia just glowered at him, holding unusually still. Surveying the rest of the tea house, Ichigo noticed that everyone, not just Rukia, had stopped moving. Some were halted mid-motion, frozen as they had diligently been carrying out their work. If it hadn't been for the crackling of fires and the steaming of the numerous tea kettles, Ichigo might have thought the entire world frozen in time.
"It's good to see you again, Ichigo," Aizen greeted him lightly.
The substitute soul reaper's neck cricked as he snapped his attention back to the man in the doorway.
"So then, it really is you," Ichigo decided.
The traitor's smile never faltered. With his spectacles on, he looked almost benevolent, but the cruel, reserved intelligence behind his eyes ruined the disguise. They spoke of plots and schemes so intricate and deeply woven that it would likely made Ichigo's head spin.
"Of course it's me. Though, these days everyone refers to me as Lord Kamisaigaiku. Shall I explain why? I can practically hear the gears turning in your head."
"No need to explain," Ichigo growled, his jaw clenching, "I think I'll just throw you back in prison and be done with you. You can't fight without your zanpakuto."
"It would be in your best interests to reconsider that course of action."
Aizen's friendly smile twitched, and for a moment, there was a twinge of annoyance in his eyes. Had Ichigo struck a nerve with his zanpakuto comment? He bit back an angry retort, frowning as he wondered why Aizen would advise him against conflict. Surely he was here for revenge against the man who'd ruined his ascent to godhood?
Then it struck Ichigo like a ton of bricks.
"If I try to attack, you'll unfreeze everyone," he guessed.
The former captain of the Fifth Division clapped slowly, the sound loud and jarring upon Ichigo's ears.
"Very perceptive of you," Aizen said, "I knew you'd figure it out. Everyone here sees me as a noble. If you attack me, you'll be punished quite severely. I thought we could have a private chat, for old time's sake. It would be a waste if, after all the trouble I've gone to, you didn't fully grasp the hopelessness of your situation."
Zangetsu rattled as Ichigo's hands shook, thought whether it was from fear or rage, he couldn't tell. He readjusted his grip as he tried to think of how he could free everyone from the hypnosis, but it was no good. All he could do was talk, so the ball was most definitely in Aizen's court.
"First and foremost, your initial assumption that I am defenseless could not be further from the truth. When the Hogyoku absorbed my Kyoka Suigetsu, it was presumed destroyed by the Seireitei. After the loss of the Hogyoku's power, my zanpakuto slowly began to return to me. I managed to summon its power after being freed from the chair during Yhwach's invasion, but I was unable to control the illusions it manifested. It's taken the better part of a year, but now it has begun reforming, and even though the blade is incomplete, I have regained control of my shikai."
From within the sleeve of his robe, Aizen produced the hilt of his sword. Without hesitation, Ichigo clamped his eyes shut tightly, only to wince when he heard Aizen's humorless laughter in his ears.
"There's no need for that," the imposter chuckled, "I have no intentions of putting you under my hypnosis. That would be detrimental to my plans."
Something in Aizen's voice made Ichigo believe him. The shinigami obviously had plans in motion to destroy Ichigo. It would be pointless for him to place him under hypnosis. He cracked an eye open, but could barely make out Aizen's silhouette, let alone his sword. He opened his eyes all the way, to find that the hilt of the sword was completely reformed. Attached to the hilt, however, w3ere barely three inches of blade.
"Do not be fooled by its appearance," the former captain warned, "the Kyoka Suigetsu does not need the entire blade to use its shikai. It's how I became the leader of the Kamisaigaiku clan. Is it all becoming clearer to you now?"
Even in shikai, the power of the Kyoka Suigetsu was terrifying. With it, Aizen could create illusions of impeccable quality to any who looked upon the blade. This is what made Ichigo indispensable to the Soul Society. Having never been exposed to the illusory powers of Aizen's sword, he was the ace up the sleeve of the Seireitei. Only he could fight Aizen on equal footing. It was nothing short of gut wrenching for Ichigo to realize that the very thing that had made him Aizen's greatest threat now left him powerless to act.
"There it is," the traitorous captain muttered, "I can see it dawning on your face. I've spent the better part of two years locked away under Division One waiting to see that expression of utter defeat. You cannot attack me, or do anything to stop this wedding without suffering the consequences of attacking a noble. I have you right where I want you… and it's all thanks to my lovely bride-to-be."
"You're lying!" Ichigo said, rage making his voice quake, "Rukia would never help you!"
"Oh, but she already has. She lured you here, didn't she? Perhaps you haven't been made aware of the situation, but I will tell you what everyone else ignored or failed to mention about becoming a substitute soul reaper. You and Rukia share a very special connection, as you have ever since she bequeathed her powers to you. A piece of her soul resides within you, and vice versa. You can feel it, can't you, Ichigo? That helpless yearning to be near her? That overwhelming desire to protect her, even at the expense of your own life? That is the piece of her soul that has melded with yours. It longs to return to her, but it cannot. It is a connection that has defied what little study has been devoted to it. It is known by many terms in as many cultures, but I believe most people refer to the phenomenon as 'soulmates.' In your blind assumption that I was defeated, and in the peace that followed Yhwach's demise, you were left to your own devices for the first time in years. I knew that you would fall in love with Rukia when peace had been reestablished. I knew that the two of you would be pulled together by the strings of fate, so I used that connection to formulate a plan, just in case I somehow lost to you. Now, however, there is nothing you can do. As long as I have Rukia, you cannot act against me without her being at risk… and the piece of her soul within you will not allow any harm to come to her."
Panic gripped Ichigo, rendering him unable to speak. Aizen had somehow managed to summarize his feelings for Rukia in a few short sentences. He would sacrifice himself for her without hesitation… but could what Aizen said about their souls be true? Ichigo supposed that it would make sense. And it would most definitely explain why he had been thinking of Rukia ever since his return to the world of the living. In fact, Rukia had been the first and only woman he'd ever really loved to such a degree.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," muttered Ichigo, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
'No matter what, I have to protect Rukia!'
"Ahahaha. Come now, there's no need to be coy, Ichigo. It isn't like she can hear us. Try as you might, you cannot change the fact that your souls are intertwined in a very… intimate manner."
Ichigo wanted to say something, anything, to rebuke Aizen, but he couldn't. His breathing became rapid and uneven as the reality of his predicament closed in around him. He'd arrogantly thought that Aizen was beaten. He'd foolishly assumed that his loved ones wouldn't be targeted. And now it was too late. He'd been thoroughly outmaneuvered. With Rukia's life on the line, he couldn't do a damn thing to stop Aizen. Even if she wasn't being used as a hostage, it would still appear to everyone that Ichigo had gone mad and attacked a noble.
The small blade of the Kyoka Suigetsu might as well have been pressed against Rukia's throat. There was nothing left to do, save comply with Aizen's wishes.
"Fine then," Ichigo snarled, barely loud enough for the former captain to hear. "You win… what do you want?"
The disguised criminal frowned, tilting his head in askance. "What do you mean?"
"YOU WIN, ALRIGHT? SO WHAT DO YOU WANT?! WHAT DO I HAVE TO GIVE YOU TO ENSURE RUKIA'S SAFETY, HUH?! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"
He knew yelling wouldn't help, but Ichigo couldn't keep his voice down. Every few seconds, he side glanced at Rukia, as if making sure she was still there. The way she scowled at him made him feel as though she wouldn't approve of his bowing down to Aizen's demands, but he didn't care. Her safety was his top priority.
And all the while, Aizen's smile never wavered. His eyes shone with a hunger that seemed to feed on Ichigo's anguish.
"I want you to suffer," he replied simply. "I want you to understand that the only reason you managed to defeat me was sheer luck. You are alone now, with no Urahara to seal me away, and no way to oppose me. I want you to remember how it took every ounce of your power to halt my evolution with the Hogyoku. Compared to me, you are nothing. I will make an example of you, and remove you as an obstacle. Then I will use the resources of the Kamisaigaiku Family to renew my ascent to godhood. Once the Seireitei is under my control, the Soul King's Palace will be next."
The way Aizen spoke so calmly and matter-of-factly unnerved the substitute shinigami. In his mind's eye, he could practically see it happening. With Aizen's new position at the head of a noble family, subduing the Soul Society would be a cakewalk. And with the clan's resources at his disposal, entering the Soul King's Palace would be a non-issue. He probably wouldn't even need an Oken, as the Kamisaigaikus had originally lived in the Soul King's Palace to begin with.
Crushing weight bore down on the substitute soul reaper as he realized the complexity and futility of his plight. Aizen was right: he had been a fool to assume he'd won. Against a master manipulator, he was probably little more than a thorn in his side, or an amusing distraction. All hope was lost, and there was nothing he could do, apart from accepting his defeat and hoping Rukia would be spared.
Even if the Seireitei crumbled to dust, and Aizen became the Soul King… even if Ichigo were to suffer an eternity in Hell for daring to thwart Aizen's initial rise to power, he couldn't let Rukia die. In his heart of hearts, he knew that this was the truth.
And as the walls seemed to press in on him from all sides, he found himself slipping away….
Before he knew it, he was gone, trapped in a suffocating darkness. It was so pitch black that he could not see his hands in front of his face. Had Aizen done this to him? Was this the power of the Kyoka Suigetsu?!
A sliver of light appeared in the darkness, and Ichigo approached it, only to stop short when he saw the frighteningly familiar face waiting for him in that light.
"Hey there, Ichigo. Seeing as your stuck between a rock and a hard place, I thought I'd step in," drawled an icy, familiar tone.
It was his hollow. All too late, Ichigo realized where he must be standing. He was inside the locked room, in the deepest recesses of his mind. The hollow had taken control, and Ichigo was now the one being imprisoned.
"NO!" he screamed. "He'll kill Rukia! You have to let me out of here!"
"Sorry, Ichigo, that's not how this works. I'm sure you'll get out of here eventually. By the time you do, I bet you'll be as pale as I am! AHAHAAAA!"
"NOOO!"
The doors slammed shut on Ichigo, who beat them furiously as the hollow dusted off his hands. He watched the doors rattle on their hinges, making sure they would hold long enough for him to have a little fun before he inserted himself into the empty shell that was Ichigo's body.
"Let's get this party started," he hissed wickedly.
"RRAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHH!"
The warbling screech of the hollow shook the teahouse, rattling kettles and shattering fine china. Aizen stared at the hollow, expressionless in the face of terror.
"So then, you've abandoned humanity to try and save her… or did I simply push you too far?"
There was no reply. The mask that quickly spread over Ichigo's face was bleached white, like a skull, with narrow eye slits and large maroon stripes that went from the forehead to the jaw. To say it appeared feral was an understatement. He threw his head back and bellowed another sonorous cry. Stowing his zanpakuto hilt back into the sleeve of his robes, Aizen undid the hypnosis that had frozen everyone in temporary stasis. All at once, the collective attentions of everyone present turned to the hollow in their midst, who very quickly took notice of all the innocent bystanders.
"AAAAAAAH!" screamed a servant, who threw several precious tea cups over her head and ran for her life.
Pandemonium broke through the calm with the shattering of priceless china. The servants all shrieked and hollered as they made for the exits. Kenichi and Kenzou drew their zanpakuto and closed in on Ichigo, slowly working their way through the stampeding servants. Rukia took a step back and reached for her sword as well, but her hand closed around thin air. She immediately cursed herself. Ever since she'd returned to the Kuchiki estate, she hadn't carried her zanpakuto, as noblewomen were rarely expected to fight, much less carry around swords.
Taking full advantage of Ichigo's power, the hollow within him activated his bankai. Spirit energy as black as night enveloped him before becoming solid, forming his sleek, high collared black robe with its frayed edges. He wore his boots and gauntlets with their crimson X-shaped guards. His undershirt and obi were a dark, bloodly red, as was the hamon of the Tensa Zangetsu, with its jagged spine. Golden irises shined from within the shadows of the mask as he drew back his arm.
"Engulf and dominate, Sen'neki Sakeme!" Kenzou cried, slashing his zanpakuto through the air as a tidal wave rushed forth.
"Hurl your thunderbolts, Tenjin Ikari!" grumbled Kenichi.
The smell of ozone and the crack of thunder rumbled through the Kuchiki Estate as the big, burly man levelled his sparking nodachi at the hollow.
The frothing tidal wave was charged with lightning, which would no doubt incapacitate anyone the water touched. Rukia froze, unable to move as Ichigo's horrifically monstrous reiatsu pressed upon her. It was like she was standing in a world of darkness, and as much as she wanted to move, she was frozen to the floorboards.
"GRAAAAAGH!"
With a single slash of its blade, the hollow cut clear through the tidal wave, sending an arc of black energy at the two elite guards in the process. They dodged the attack, and it cut through the tea house wall, flying out into the garden before smashing against the side of the mansion.
Kazue, the third and youngest member of the guards, elbowed his way past the fleeing estate staff as he made his way into the teahouse, only to find Kenzou and Kenichi both recovering from the last attack, and that damned substitute soul reaper wearing a hollow mask as he held Rukia hostage. Lord Kamisaigaiku had not moved, and was staring quite intently at the hollow, almost as if he were intrigued.
"My lord, please stand back, I can handle this!" Kazue called, unsheathing his zanpakuto as he prepared to recite the mantra that would awaken his sword's shikai.
"No, that's fine. I will entertain our guest. He seems quite focused upon me," Hideyoshi said, unfazed by the hollow's tremendous power.
So it was: the substitute soul reaper kept its eyes and blade trained on Lord Kamisaigaiku. He stepped to the side, shielding Rukia from the loving, comforting gaze of her betrothed.
'This fiend had some nerve!' Kazue thought savagely.
The nobleman drew back the right sleeve of his robe, revealing a large silver bracer. The instant it was uncovered, the hollow shrank away from it, hissing and growling.
Rukia tried to get around Ichigo, but it was no use. He thrust out an arm and kept her behind him. Why had he suddenly turned into a hollow? What could have caused this? And why the hell was he keeping Rukia away from Kamisaigaiku?!
'Does he somehow think that taking me away from here will change my mind?' wondered Rukia.
The silver bracer on Hideyoshi's arm flared. The light it emitted was like looking at the sun through a thick layer of storm clouds: silvery, translucent, and blinding. The light struck Ichigo, and his robes steamed and sizzled. He let loose another cry, like that of a wounded animal, before lunging forward.
Before he could land a blow on Aizen, the bracer glowed ever more brightly, and a transparent rectangular shield of light stopped the blow. The hollow pushed against the shield with all his might, but Kamisaigaiku planted his feet and remained firm.
"GrrrAAAAGH!"
The hollow roared, and pitch black reishi fired skyway, blasting a hole in the ceiling of the tea house. Aizen was forced back, inch by inch, until he was finally overcome and thrown from the room, crashing through the wall as if it were nothing. He recovered quickly enough to land on his feet, skidding a little on the snow covered lawn. The hollow dove out after him, his robes billowing as he screeched for blood.
"Lady Rukia, are you alright?!" Kenzou asked, brushing the dust from his shihakusho as he inspected Rukia for injuries.
She didn't answer. Wrenching her arm from his grip, she raced to the doorway, only to gasp when she saw the ruins of the garden. Ichigo and Lord Kamisaigaiku had only been fighting for a minute or so, but the destruction was already overwhelming. The snow had melted from the force of two incredibly powerful reiatsu's clashing, leaving the lush emerald lawns charred and black. Flower beds were destroyed as Ichigo's attacks ricocheted off of the Ward of the Spirit King, a Sacred Treasure of the Kamisaigaiku Family. Storm clouds gathered overhead, swirling as if they might form a cyclone. Thunderclaps mingled with the sound of explosive spiritual energies being released. With each swing of the Tensa Zangetsu, unseen shockwaves of pure force cracked the pillars lining the gardens and damaged walls of the mansion. The Ward of the Spirit King seemed to hold its own, even in the face of Ichigo's awesome power. Hideyoshi did not look even slightly perturbed by the danger he faced. He smiled confidently, deflecting each blow as expertly as a shield wielder could hope to.
Rukia gripped the doorway, driving her fingernails into the bamboo so hard that one of them broke and began bleeding profusely. Despair tightened its cold vice on her heart as she stared at Hideyoshi, her betrothed, and Ichigo, the man she cared for more than anyone, do battle in what had once been a tranquil, serene garden.
"Damn you, Ichigo. Why would you…" Her question died in her throat. She already knew the answer. He had hollowfied because of her. To think that her attempt to save the Kuchiki family from bankruptcy would have such a negative reaction hurt her more than words could describe, but never in her most horrifying night terrors would she imagine Ichigo going berserk because he loved her. Could this even be called love? Rukia didn't know, but looking out over the dead flowers of the garden made her feel as though it were quite fitting.
'I guess he isn't as mature as I had thought.' Rukia realized, her breaking more with each passing moment. Blood dripped from her hand, slowly sliding down the bamboo as fear took its toll on her.
In all of the Soul Society, few people could boast a reiryoku as immense as Ichigo's. Fewer still could claim to have such raw destructive power at their disposal. His was skill born of necessity. With each enemy he fought, he learned and grew, gradually overcoming each of them. His lack of formal training and instinctual fighting style made him a difficult combatant to face. Even so, Rukia was scared for him.
Lord Hideyoshi Kamisaigaiku was on par with Ichigo in terms of raw power… or at least, that's how it seemed to her. After spending all of his time in the Spirit King's Palace, his spirit energy was astronomically high. Unlike Ichigo, however, Lord Kamisaigaiku was not hindered in his ability to control his reiatsu. Whereas Ichigo's power was reflected on the mangled state of the Kuchiki mansion, Lord Kamisaigaiku had done very little damage to his surroundings. His skill was not only natural, one could almost say it was god given. His family had been at the disposal of the Spirit King for generations, passing down only the greatest techniques. While Rukia had never actually seen Lord Hideyoshi fight up until that moment, she had heard stories from his subordinates about his greatest triumphs. From what they had said, he was the greatest combatant of the Kamisaigaiku clan, and the most powerful of any of their nobles. Compared to Ichigo's brutal ferocity, he was as serene and calm as an ocean. It was only a matter of time before he took advantage of an opening and killed Ichigo.
"Stop," Rukia begged, much too quietly for anyone to hear. "Please, Ichigo. Stop this. You can't beat him."
Meanwhile, the hollow grew angrier with each passing moment. The light of the Ward on Aizen's wrist seemed to burn at it like fire. It felt like its skin was peeling off from the heat, and it was difficult to strike at Aizen while the hollow was blinded.
"I am the Ghost of the Spirit King," Aizen told the hollow, "I act in the shadows to root out threats to his majesty… and when I find subversion, I illuminate the darkness with purifying light!"
The shield flared brightly, stunning the hollow. Aizen was immediately upon him, the shield pulled back and ready to deliver a powerful bash. The hollow could only stagger, blinking the bright spots from his vision as Aizen drove the shield into his chest and threw him skyward. Pieces of broken hollow mask trailed off after his limp body, but Aizen was not done. He raised a hand, pointing at Ichigo, and incanted, "Sacred Hado One Hundred and Seven, Kamisen Hakka."
A thin line of light shot towards Ichigo like a laser beam, but the heat and light it gave off was so intense that everyone had to look away. Rukia could smell burning hair and wildfires as she ducked behind the wall of the tea house. She'd never even heard of a Hado greater than Ninety Nine, and now she saw why. Its power was overwhelming. Then she realized that all of that power was focused upon Ichigo.
Her jaw dropped, and she flung herself from the tea house, only to be caught around the waist by Kenichi, who held her back. An explosion rent the air, and a ball of fire like a miniature sun engulfed Ichigo. Rukia screamed, calling out for him as she fought Kenichi, but no one could hear her over the sound of roaring fire. Her vision was filled with dark spots that wouldn't go away. The skin on her face grew stiff and tight. If she hadn't known any better, it might have been the spirit of Genryusai Yamamoto reincarnated.
Then the blinding light that had engulfed the substitute soul reaper slowly began to darken, becoming black, as if being corrupted. It exploded once more, but this time it vanished, revealing Ichigo. Half of his mask was gone. His shihakusho was in tatters, but the hatred and power emanating from him was still so powerful that Rukia felt terrified all over again. She'd never seen him look so murderous before. Not even when fighting for his life.
"Im…pos…tor." The hollow groaned, as if unfamiliar with the working of a human voice box.
Only Aizen seemed to hear Ichigo. He looked up at the hollowfied soul reaper with disdain.
"The beast speaks," he noted dryly.
The hollow took a few deep breaths, having been deprived of air while trapped inside the inferno.
"IMPOSTOOOOOOR!" the hollow roared, aiming the Tensa Zangetsu at Aizen.
Black spirit energy swirled around the blade of the sword, and the flame-like design on the hamon came to life as he gathered every last bit of energy he had. Aizen kicked off from the ground and rose to meet him in aerial combat.
"Well, Nanao, it looks like we got here just in time."
Rukia turned, only to find herself facing the Head Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Shunsui Kyoraku, and his lieutenant, Nanao. The commander looked much as he always had, with a woman's kimono draped over his haori and shihakusho, and his hair done in a loose ponytail, held in place by two ornate hairpins. His eyepatch seemed to lend a seriousness to his persona that he hadn't possessed before, turning him from a lax captain into a taciturn Captain-Commander. His attitude, however, remained completely unchanged.
While he was supposed to be an honored guest of the wedding, Rukia was not sure he had even been invited to the tea ceremony.
"It would seem so, head captain." Nanao answered dutifully.
She pushed her glasses further up her nose, eyeing Ichigo as he battered against the Ward on Aizen's wrist.
Kyoraku went to the doorway, tilting up the brim of his hat. He gave a low whistle before turning back to his lieutenant.
"What do you think, Nanao? What's our strategy?"
"If you are looking to capture him alive, I think you'll need to use your bankai. First or second stage."
Kyoraku winced, as if he'd been stung by a bee. It wouldn't be the first time they had mistaken the flower patterns on his kimono for the real thing.
"Geez, second stage? Really? I'm not sure if you think I'm weak, or Ichigo is just that strong! I don't wanna accidentally kill him, you know."
Nanao came to stand by her captain, frowning up at the substitute soul reaper.
"You can sense his reiatsu just as well as I can. You know how powerful he is, otherwise you would've sent someone else to deal with him. In order to capture him in one go, you'll actually need to put in a little effort, sir."
The Captain-Commander heaved a sigh, pouting at his subordinate.
"I get the feeling that you're embarrassed by me. Is it because I started referring to you as my niece in public?"
"Sir, Kurosaki is attacking a nobleman. Now is not the time for family matters."
"So cold…" Shunsui noted, a wry smile playing across his lips as he drew his swords.
"Nanao, please make sure everyone is out of the vicinity. I think I have the perfect play for this occasion, but I don't want anyone getting hurt."
Nanao took a knee, throwing an arm across her chest. "Yes, Captain-Commander!"
She departed with a flicker, using her flash step as she combed the surrounding cloisters and halls for anyone who might be caught in the radius of Kyoraku's bankai. It only took a few moments before she returned.
"The hallways are cleared, sir. The only people left are you, me, Kurosaki, Lord Hideyoshi, his retainers, and his betrothed."
Rukia felt a lump form in her throat as Nanao glanced at her. Something in the lieutenant's gaze seemed unnervingly cold and calculating, as if she knew the true reason behind Ichigo's loss of his senses, and subsequent hollowfication. The way she had referred to Rukia as 'his betrothed' felt not only dehumanizing, but unfair. Was she still upset that Rukia had left the Shinigami Women's Association?!
"That was quick," Kyoraku noted, still watching the battle that was going on in the sky, which had grown immeasurably dark. "Your shunpo is improving rapidly. At this rate, you'll be faster than me, soon. I'd expect no less from my little Nanao."
"Sir…" Nanao said.
"Yeah?"
"Please shut up."
"You're blushing," Shunsui grinned impishly. He did not wait for a response. Leaping from the deck of the tea house, Kyoraku kicked off from the air and rose to meet Ichigo and Hideyoshi in battle.
"No one leave the teahouse," Nanao commanded, her face still tinged with red, "I'm erecting a barrier that will protect us from the brunt of the Captain-Commander's bankai. If you leave, I cannot guarantee your safety."
A strange buzz filled the air, and a dome of glowing translucent energy slowly encapsulated the teahouse. Strange runes ran along the margins of the barrier, though no one could understand what they read.
"But Lord Kamisaigaiku is still out there!" Kazue said, marching up to Nanao and frowning down at her.
The red returned to her face as Nanao took notice of the young blonde man's features. He was devilishly handsome, and lean like a runner, but it was clear he took very good care of himself, physically. His overlong hair gave him the look of a rebel, but his emerald eyes burned with such passion that Nanao felt something stir within her, something she had thought long dead and buried.
She shook herself mentally and returned his venomous glare with twice the effectiveness. Kazue took a step back.
"The Captain-Commander's bankai is not something to take lightly," she promised. "Using it with us nearby goes against every fiber of his being, but in this instance he has little choice if he is going to save Lord Kamisaigaiku and capture the substitute soul reaper."
"He should just kill that bastard!" Kazue snapped. "The man has been nothing but a nuisance! First he scorns the good graces of the man who invited him here, and then attacks him out of pure jealousy!"
Kazue heard angry footsteps behind him. He whipped about, expecting an enemy, only to be struck hard across the face by Rukia. He stumbled and hit the floor, looking flabbergasted. His lip was bleeding, and one of his teeth had been knocked out. Rukia's hand shook, still clenched in a fist. Her knuckles had been dislocated, judging from her inability to open her hand, but she didn't care. The pain in her heart far surpassed any physical pain she had experienced.
"Shut the hell up!" she said shrilly, her eyes wide and misty.
All at once, Nanao understood something of the situation Rukia was in. Arranged political marriages were not uncommon, but from Rukia's reaction to Kazue's words, it was clear to Nanao that she still had feelings for Ichigo. The lieutenant stepped forward, ignoring the pained expression on Rukia's face. Putting an arm around the petite woman's shoulders, Nanao led her over to a tea mat and poured her a cup. Rukia shook her head at the proffered mug, only to give in to Nanao's piercing scowl, which was effective enough to get Shunsui Kyoraku off his ass. She took the cup and drank deeply, shuddering as Nanao looked to the doorway.
'It's better she doesn't see this,' Nanao thought sadly. 'The head captain's bankai isn't something that anyone should have to witness used on a loved one.'
Author's Notes:
Here's a piece of advice, when writing, don't do it when you're ridiculously tired, cause then all ideas are good ideas, and proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation don't even exist anymore.
After that last cliffhanger of a chapter, I wanted to get this out as fast as possible. I suppose a little over a week isn't too bad of a wait, though.
Unfortunately, I had a little trouble editing this one, as I am pretty tired, and something about that last paragraph just irks me... but whatever, I'll fix it some other time, when I have the capacity and willpower to do so.
And dumbass me forgot to write down the translations for the Kenichi and Kenzou's zanpakuto. Kenichi's is a lightning type, and Kenzou's is a water type. Also MORE HOLLOW ICHIGO, FUCK YEAH, OH SHIT, AND HEAD CAPTAIN KYORAKU TOO! No joke, the Captain Commander is probably one of my favorite characters. For real, he's just so chill, I love it. Like, he doesn't give a damn, he's fine so long as he's sippin sake and soaking up the sun. In any case, I suppose I should include a couple refreshers in Japanese for those of you who don't know the terms. Let's see...
haori- captain's coat
shihakusho- soul reaper uniform
Kamisaigaiku- loosely translated means god/disaster/ward (which ties in with the whole Ward of the Spirit King/Ghost of the Spirit King thing)
hamon- the folds in the steel of the sword, usually wave-like in design
tsuba- guard
shunpo- flash step
Kamisen Hakka- its a spell I made up. I'm assuming Aizen learned it when assuming the identity of Hideyoshi Kamisaigaiku. Literally means 'divine immolation'
If there's any I missed or incorrectly translated.. take it up with Human Resources.
But yeah, most of this fic was Aizen monologueing. In case you couldn't tell, my favorite part of the story is when the villain lays out his evil plans. It's so much fun to write.
*Music!*
Impostor-Red (because... y'know what, I'm not gonna explain this one)
Devilish-Chase Atlantic (not sure why, but it reminds me of Ichigo's hollow)
Shadow and Soul-Red (honestly, if a band could make music for Bleach, it would be either Red or Breaking Benjamin)
Fly Down-Stephen (something a little more chill)
I'm gonna crash. Thanks for reading.