Disclaimer: I'm sure you've all realized by now that I don't own Bleach. Do I have to keep saying it?
AN: Congratulations to MoonClaimed and SuperYuuki for being the 30th and 40th reviewers.
Appropriate music should be playing while you read this. Obviously, you should have "Number One" ready to go. I also recommend "Stand Up Be Strong", "Invasion", and "Power to Strive." All can be found on YouTube, along with all the other awesome OSTs that I'm forgetting about.
Now then, let's get ready to rumble!
AN 2: After trading some correspondence with Akatsuki Leader 13, I realized that I had made some big mistakes in this fight. Essentially, I had sent Batman up against Superman, but took away his Kryptonite and utility belt. Mayuri in canon would never have shown up against an opponent with so little preparation. So I've revised the fight and tried to give Mayuri the fight he deserves. Evil SOB or not, the guy's a Captain, and you don't get that title by collecting bottle caps.
Don't expect me to do this every time someone has a problem with the chapter. Akatsuki Leader 13 had some very valid concerns that I was making Ichigo into a God-Mode Sue, and that is something I want to avoid at all costs.
"Split the Sky! Zangetsu!"
Nemu's breath hitched as the massive reiatsu slammed down on her. She felt like she was drowning. The air had become thick and heavy, crushing her lungs. And the reiatsu was filled with killing intent. She could practically hear it.
I am going to kill you. I am going to eat you. And there is nothing you can do about it.
Trying to force her lungs to work, Nemu looked to her father. Cruel and abusive he may be, she could take comfort in his powerful presence. What she saw terrified her more than the oppressive reiatsu that surrounded her.
Mayuri's eyes were wide and Nemu could see sweat forming on his face. The hand that held Ashisogi Jizo was shaking. That even her father – a Captain – could be unnerved by the Arrancar's release…. Nemu suddenly felt that Mayuri had made a grave miscalculation. The feeling only grew when the roar of a Hollow filled the air.
-x-
Ichigo couldn't help it. His lips twisted into a vicious leer as he reveled into the return of his full strength. He shifted and flexed, confirming that all five limbs were present and functional. The Arrancar tightened his grip on his blade then threw his head back and roared.
-x-
Mayuri watched the cloud for any hint of movement as the howl echoed around him. This was beyond his wildest expectations. With the release of its Zanpakuto, the Arrancar had gone from weaker than a Lieutenant to as powerful as most of the Captains. It was mind-boggling. Mayuri trembled in excitement. Oh, the data he would get from this specimen!
A disturbance in the dust pulled him from his fantasies. A dark shape flew out of the cloud directly at him. Mayuri easily batted it aside with Ashisogi Jizo, revealing the arm he had cut off the Arrancar.
However, the arm served its purpose as a distraction. Something struck him hard in the head, cracking bone and throwing the Captain to the side. Before Mayuri could recover, another blow hit him, smashing him face first into the ground. The force of the impact actually caused Kurotsuchi to bounce back into the air, and this time he caught a glimpse of a white boot and black hakama just before it punted him into a wall.
Mayuri grunted in pain, opening his eyes to see a white and black blur bearing down on him. He dove aside, dodging the punch that shattered the wall, and retaliated with Ashisogi Jizo. The three pronged blade bit at the Arrancar's outstretched arm…and ricocheted off without scratching the red and white hide. Mayuri starred in shock for a moment then dropped his gaze when he felt something curl around his ankle.
The red and white tail yanked Mayuri off his feet and once again sent him flying like a bird. Sick and tired of getting kicked around, the Captain righted himself, pulling spirit particles into a platform beneath his feet. Standing on air, Kurotsuchi finally managed to get a good look at his future specimen's Resureccion.
In height and build, the Arrancar had changed little. He was still tall and lean. Mayuri's keen mind quickly catalogued what had changed. The first thing he noticed was the mask fragment, or lack thereof. The fragment was gone, but the red stripes that had decorated it remained, tattooed on the Arrancar's face. Mayuri noticed that two more stripes had appeared under the left eye and briefly wondered if there was any significance before continuing his examination. The Arrancar's hair had turned white in addition to growing out slightly.
The white shihakusho the Arrancar had worn was mostly gone. Mayuri noted that the hakama seemed to have simply changed color from white to black, and the sandals had become white boots. His torso was covered by a black, sleeveless shirt, which was in turn covered by a white, rib-like breastplate. Spikes jutted up and back from the shoulders. The arms were bare, giving a clear view of the vivid contrast between pale skin and the blood red tribal markings that had appeared. The biggest physical change was the red and white tail that waved lazily behind him. Judging by the impromptu flight that tail had sent Mayuri on, it was both prehensile and quite strong.
Mayuri turned his gaze to the sword clenched in the Arrancar's fist. That was interesting. According to his previous research, most Arrancar lost their blades upon performing Resureccion. This one not only kept it, it had changed from an odachi to an elongated cleaver with a black blade. He wondered if it had any abilities aside from simply being a weapon.
Mayuri started to clap. "What a fantastic Resureccion! I can't wait to vivisect you in this form!"
"Not happening," a voice said from behind him. Mayuri took an instant to register that the Arrancar on the ground looked somewhat hazy and indistinct then spun and brought Ashisogi Jizo up to block the massive cleaver heading for his neck. His Zanpakuto stopped the cleaver. It did nothing for the kick that thundered into his ribs.
-x-
Ichigo watched as the mad scientist crashed to the ground. Weak attacks like he had been using so far would not finish Kurotsuchi off, but it was very satisfying to keep knocking him around. It was excellent payback for Ichigo's earlier injuries.
While Kurotsuchi was down, Ichigo took stock of the situation. He was still stuck in the box, which seemed to be what was inhibiting his ability to make a Cero, but he could deal with that. He had other long range options. His insanely durable skin – the freak had called it "Hierro" – had blocked Kurotsuchi's Zanpakuto with ease, but Ichigo was certain the Captain would be able to sharpen his reiatsu and cut him. He still had that, but he would rather save it for later; no sense showing everything he could do against a single opponent.
On the ground, Kurotsuchi was getting to his feet. His condescending smirk was gone, replaced by a much more serious expression. Ichigo hefted his blade into a guard position. His free shots were over. The real fight started now.
Kurotsuchi's form blurred into Shunpo, but Ichigo followed him easily. Steel met steel with a grinding screech and a flurry of sparks. Ichigo opened his mouth to taunt the Captain, but the words died in his throat when he saw Kurotsuchi's free hand directly in front of his face. Reiatsu pulsed, air rippled, and Ichigo barely got his head out of the way of the blast. The distraction cost him though, and Kurotsuchi broke the blade lock and carved a bloody gash down Ichigo's front.
"Shit!" That had gone right through his breastplate and skin! Ichigo forced Kurotsuchi to back off with a strong swing then widened the gap by jumping back further. The Arrancar's hand went to his chest. The wound was healing, but far slower than it should be.
"Interesting." Ichigo looked at the clown-faced scientist. "That particular poison is designed to inhibit regeneration completely." The Captain cocked his head. "You also were not stopped by my Zanpakuto's usual poison. Normally it is highly resistant to being purged. Your healing ability is truly astounding." Mayuri raised his hand and pointed at Ichigo. "I can see I will need to use other methods to restrain you."
"Like I'm going to let you!" Ichigo vanished in a crackle of static, reappearing behind the Captain, blade raised high.
"Bakudo 61: Rikujokoro."
Ichigo's movement was arrested by the six rods of light that slammed into his midsection. Despite their placement, Ichigo found that he could not move any part of his body.
"That should hold you for a bit." Kurotsuchi reached into his kimono and pulled out a small disk. It looked a lot like the Hollow bait Ishida had used. He crushed it in his fist and tossed the powder at the immobile Ichigo.
The instant the powder touched him, Ichigo's stomach revolted. Whatever it was, it smelled horrible, made him nauseous, and made him want to be anywhere but there. Ichigo gagged, trying to resist the urge to hurl. "What…what did… you do?"
Kurotsuchi's smirk had returned in full force as he stepped toward the helpless Arrancar. "You are familiar with Hollow bait, I presume? Well what I just used was Hollow repellent." His smirk widened when Ichigo doubled over as best he could in the Bakudo and retched. "I believe the best comparison for the effects would be the getting sprayed by a skunk."
Ichigo's stomach was empty and he was reduced to dry heaving. This is bad. I should have taken his head from the start! Even if he managed to free himself, he would still be at a disadvantage thanks to that damn Hollow repellent.
"Now then, I think I'll remove your arms and legs for transport. Their growth should be hindered enough to get you to the Institute before they fully regenerate." Kurotsuchi positioned his blade above Ichigo's right arm. "I'll start with your sword arm!"
Like hell! Ichigo flared his reiatsu. In an instant, a wall of blades erupted from the ground around him, forcing Kurotsuchi to retreat or be skewered.
-x-
Mayuri took a moment to study this new development. All of the swords were a different shape. Some were long, some were short. Some were straight, some were crooked. He watched as six more blades shot up, piercing the Rikujokoro and breaking it. Mayuri quickly noticed that all the blades had one thing in common; they were all black weapons with a white blade and white cloth around the hilt, the opposite color of the weapon the Arrancar held in his hand. So the one with the black blade is his main weapon. The others are likely used for supplementary attacks. His suspicion was confirmed when the Arrancar knelt – or perhaps he had collapsed – and pressed his palm to the ground.
Mayuri jumped into the air to avoid the field of steel that shot up under his feet. From a bird's eye view, the Captain could see that the blades had appeared in a radius around the Arrancar – the Arrancar that was now smirking at him.
"Go!" On command the swords fired from the ground, all aimed at Mayuri.
Mayuri flash stepped out of the way of the storm of razor-edged objects. However, more blades grew and were fired from the earth. What an interesting power. Mayuri flickered across the sky, dodging the onslaught with ease. He spared a glance at the Arrancar to see him staggering to his feet and trying to shake off the effects of the Hollow repellent. Well, that won't do.
Mayuri stopped dodging and the next volley homed in on him.
-x-
Ichigo watched as Kurotsuchi was obscured by the blades. He struggled to stand, but a wave of vertigo nearly sent him back to the ground. It also broke his concentration and ended the hail of swords. Shit. What's in that stuff? This was worse than fighting Shinji's Shikai.
"Hado 73: Soren Sokatsui!"
A burst of blue flame blasted his last volley into scrap metal. A second fireball shot out of the cloud of shrapnel right at him. Ichigo tried to get out of the way, but he once again succumbed to vertigo. The fireball crashed into him, engulfing Ichigo and the surrounding area in flame.
-x-
Mayuri waited for the flames to burn down before landing. This Arrancar was going to be so much fun to experiment on. Captain class reiatsu, the most effective regenerative abilities he had ever seen, and the power to summon a seemingly infinite amount of weapons.
Mayuri stepped up to the toasted Arrancar. Mayuri kicked him onto his back. Those yellow on black eyes cracked open, and Mayuri could see that he had not given up. That was annoying. It was so much trouble when his specimens were not cooperative. He would have to fix that. "I believe I was going to cut off your arms and legs before you so rudely interrupted me, correct? Well, let's get on with that." Mayuri raised his Zanpakuto again. He stopped when the Arrancar started to laugh. "I am getting tired of these interruptions. What could be so funny? Have you gone mad?" The Arrancar didn't answer. Instead, he simply pointed at something above Mayuri.
Keeping the point of Ashisogi Jizo pressed against the Arrancar's throat, Mayuri turned to look. When he saw the multitude of swords piercing the top of the barrier and the cracks that had started to spread, he quickly turned back to his victim, only to find himself faced with the glow of a charging Cero. Mayuri didn't waste any time in casting a barrier kido.
"Bakudo 39: Enkosen!"
-x-
Several things happened at once. The barrier shattered completely, Kurotsuchi's Bakudo flared to life, and Ichigo fired his Cero. Cero and Bakudo canceled each other out, with explosive results. Ichigo grunted as his battered body was thrown by the force of the blast. He rolled to a painful stop. On the bright side, the explosion and earlier fireball seemed to have gotten rid of that Hollow repellent. On the other hand, his regeneration was still working slower than normal. It also seemed to be consuming more reiatsu than it should.
Ichigo stabbed his cleaver into the ground and levered himself up. Agonizingly slowly, the burns started to recede, replaced by healthy flesh. "Please tell me he's dead." Ichigo did not want this to go on any longer.
No such luck. Ichigo could see Kurotsuchi climbing to his feet some distance away. He took solace in the fact that the freak looked as battered as he felt. Groaning in pain, Ichigo forced his legs to move. Gotta put him down! Ichigo focused his reiatsu in his legs and right arm, speeding up his healing. As his legs mended, Ichigo broke into a run.
Kurotsuchi met his charge with his own Zanpakuto. Unfortunately for him, his wounds were not healing like Ichigo's were. Ichigo's strikes grew stronger while Kurotsuchi's strength was starting to wane.
-x-
Damn it! This can't be happening! Mayuri struggled to block the Arrancar's blows. He had received a large amount of damage from the explosion, in addition to landing badly. He needed to inject some of his regeneration formula, but the damn brat kept attacking. Then he missed a block.
Mayuri felt the massive cleaver slide into his torso, shredding several of his organs. He gasped and coughed up blood as the blade was removed. "You…you brat!" He coughed up more blood. "Forget being a *cough* live specimen!" This wound was too much for his current regeneration serum. He needed to finish this and return to his lab to heal. "I'll kill you and study your corpse!" It was a shame to have to kill him, but a dead scientist can't study anything. Mayuri performed Shunpo, reappearing several dozen meters away.
-x-
"Oh crap," Ichigo said as he realized what was about to happen.
"Bankai!"
"Holy…" Ichigo watched as Mayuri's Zanpakuto transformed in a massive hybrid of a baby and a caterpillar.
"Behold! Konjiki Ashisiogi Jizo!" Mayuri gestured at the grotesque Bankai, which was breathing out a purple mist. "The mist you see is a rather potent poison. Far more so than the ones I've used on you so far. It works through skin contact, so don't think holding your breath will save you!"
Ichigo flared his reiatsu, driving away the poisonous cloud for a moment. This was bad. The Arrancar did not want to test the limits of his regeneration by getting caught by that gas, especially with the current problems it was having. Okay, think. Bankai dispel if the wielder is incapacitated. But would that get rid of the gas? Ichigo went over his options.
Option 1: Run away. The problem was that if he left Kurotsuchi alone, the clown-faced freak would go after Yuzu and Karin next. He also didn't want to turn his back on that Bankai; there was no way to know what other tricks it had.
Option 2: Charge Kurotsuchi and take his head off, an act that Ichigo's 20/20 hindsight told him he really should have done from the start. Unfortunately, that plan would take him right into the thickest part of the poison cloud.
Option 3: Use that, and completely obliterate him.
Of course, the problem with option three was that if he did use it, there's no way anyone in Seireitei would miss it. He'd be up to his neck in Captains in minutes. Actually it was surprising that they hadn't shown up yet. Maybe that box had been blocking reiatsu sensing along with his Cero?
The gas started encroaching again, and Ichigo snapped out his musing. He needed to act now or he'd die. Option 3 it is. The Arrancar raised his blade and his reiatsu exploded. If anyone had been able to see Ichigo's eyes, they would have seen the normally yellow iris glowing blue.
-x-
Nemu stood as far away from the battle as she could. She knew that she should be near Mayuri, in case he ordered her to do something. For once however, her survival instincts – which she was rather surprised to find out she had – were telling her, "Stay the hell out of the way!"
Her choice was proven right when the Arrancar lifted his cleaver over his head. The reiatsu he had been releasing before was nothing compared to now. Kurosaki's reiatsu hit its peak and self-preservation took over. Nemu dove for cover as the Arrancar opened his mouth.
"Getsuga…!"
-x-
As Ichigo had guessed, the barrier had indeed been keeping the reiatsu generated by the battle contained. Without it, Ichigo's rising reiatsu could be clearly felt.
-x-
Ishida jerked as the oppressive reiatsu hit him.
"Kurosaki…"
-x-
Byakuya Kuchiki and Sajin Komamura turned toward the massive burst of Hollow reiatsu.
"You should have killed him, Captain Kuchiki. Because you stayed your blade, that human has become a monster among monsters."
"I will not make the same mistake again, I assure you."
-x-
"Shiro…"
"I feel it too, Momo. Don't worry. I'll make sure Aizen is avenged."
-x-
"Lady Yoruichi, you allied yourself with that thing?"
"I'm as shocked as you, Soifon. This is the first time I've felt Ichigo's released power."
-x-
"Wow, Kenny! I bet that guy will be fun to fight!"
"Damn straight! I can't wait to meet him!"
-x-
"Chad…"
"Yeah. Let's hurry."
-x-
"Captain Ukitake!"
Dear god. No wonder he wasn't worried.
-x-
Throughout the Seireitei, Shinigami stopped what they were doing and trembled as a wave of the strongest Hollow reiatsu they had ever felt rolled over them.
-x-
"…Tensho!"
Mayuri saw only a bright flash before unimaginable pain hit him. The light cleaved through his body and through Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo.
-x-
Ichigo walked forward. The gas was dissipating along with Kurotsuchi's Bankai. The Arrancar grinned at the sight that greeted him.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi lay in two pieces, split diagonally from left shoulder to right hip. He twitched weakly as Ichigo stood over him.
"You…think this…is over…brat? I'll fix myself up…and…come after you again." Mayuri lifted his sealed Zanpakuto and turned the blade toward his throat.
"No, you won't." Ichigo didn't know what Kurotsuchi was doing, but better safe than sorry. Casually, he kicked the Zanpakuto out of the dying Shinigami's hand. "You see, you threatened my sisters." Ichigo's face darkened. "I'm going to make an example of you, freak." He looked around and spotted Nemu peeking out from behind some rubble. "You pay attention! Tell your bosses, this is what happens to people that threaten my family!"
It should be noted that Ichigo wasn't really thinking clearly at this point. He had had nothing to eat today and his injuries and depleted reserves only made him hungrier. His instincts as a Hollow saw only a source of nourishment in front of him, a chance to satisfy his appetite. His instincts as an older brother saw a man who had threatened his family and would continue to do so if left alive. All these factors overrode Ichigo's rational thoughts. In his right mind, Ichigo would never have done what happened next.
Ichigo lifted his foot and stepped on Kurotsuchi's head. Then he started to press down. Mayuri screamed as his skull started to cave in. "Stop! Stop it!" Ichigo didn't stop. He just pressed harder. "Nemu! Nemu, you bitch! Stop him!" Nemu didn't move an inch.
"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked, a sadistic smile on his face. "I thought you wanted to study me? Well now you can…from the inside." Mayuri's eyes widened and he gave one last scream before his skull finally gave.
Ignoring the blood and brains covering his boot, Ichigo opened his mouth. Then he started to inhale. Kurotsuchi's body began to dissolve into spirit particles, which were sucked into the Arrancar's gaping maw. Nemu could only watch as Ichigo slurped up her deceased Captain like one might a bowl of ramen noodles.
Ichigo swallowed the last of Mayuri Kurotsuchi and let out a satisfied belch. In a flash, Ichigo was once again garbed in the white shihakusho of his sealed form, returning Zangetsu to the sheath on his back. With one last look at Nemu, he vanished in a crackle of static, leaving the shell-shocked Lieutenant alone.
-x-
Mayuri groaned and opened his eyes. He had a splitting headache. "Where am I?" None of the surrounding buildings looked familiar.
"Welcome to Ichigo's Inner World, Mayuri Kurotsuchi."
Mayuri looked up to see a bearded man, dressed in a red and white coat standing on a lamppost. "Who are you?" The man ignored the question, stepping off the lamp and dropping to the ground. "Answer me!" Mayuri made to draw Ashisogi Jizo, only to find it missing.
"You are a scientist, are you not? What is your hypothesis on who I am?" The man stepped closer.
Mayuri thought about it. If this was the Arrancar's Inner World, there was really only one explanation for the figure standing before him. "You're the brat's Zanpakuto." Mayuri's eyes widened. "Arrancar have a Zanpakuto spirit?"
"Indeed." The spirit stopped a meter away from Mayuri. "Like all Hollows, Arrancar must eat other spiritual beings to survive. And like Menos, they typically eat Hollows. I assume you know what goes on in the mind of a high level Menos Grande?"
Mayuri scoffed. "Of course. The Hollows that have been eaten constantly battle for control. If the one that is in control loses itself to the voices, it reverts to a Gillian and will never again gain sentience. It will become just another beast, driven only by hunger."
"Correct. However, Arrancar, do not have this problem. In addition to being a seal for their power, an Arrancar's Zanpakuto absorbs any spiritual beings that are eaten, silencing their voices forever, while adding their power to the Arrancar."
Mayuri started to back up, realizing what the spirit was leading to. "No! You cannot do this!" The spirit gestured, and a wall of blades burst from the ground, halting Mayuri's retreat. The spirit's coat flared and snapped forward like a striking snake. Mayuri was caught in its grasp and dragged toward the spirit, screaming and clawing at the coat as he tried to free himself.
"Good-bye, Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Your strength shall be of great help to Ichigo," the spirit said, his expression never changing as Mayuri lost the struggle and joined Ichigo's other meals inside Zangetsu.
What do you think? Is Ichigo's Resureccion badass enough? What did you think of the fight? Does Zangetsu's explanation of the purpose of an Arrancar's Zanpakuto make sense? How about Mayuri's ultimate fate?
Things are going to start going nuts from here on out. Buckle your seat belts, hang on tight, and kiss Canon good-bye, folks.
I apologize to the people who read the original Chapter 11 and liked how Ichigo curb-stomped Mayuri. But the more I looked at it, the less satisfied with it I was. This way, Ichigo actually had to work for his win. There's also a bit more explanation for why Ichigo went from trying to not eat any Shinigami to devouring Kurotsuchi. And you all get to see a power I was going to save for later. Before anyone asks, yes, it is a weaponized version of the Field of Blades thing Zangetsu did during Ichigo's Bankai training.