A/N: Wow, two chaps in two days. I had time and the will to do it, and besides, I've been dieing to reveal some of this stuff so here it is.

Reviews:

Swift: will do/did.

Raven: Part of the reason I choose the "no bankai" thing was because I didn't know a lot of bankais. With that in mind I tried creating a villain they literally couldn't use that power against, and so Sozo Menboku was born. Anyway that all gets explained here a little on.


Chapter 11: Powers

The blade extended out longer, but more interestingly it widened, engulfing the cross guard in both directions. It also grew downward in the front, forming an extension of the blade in front of Sozo's hand. Once the tip had reached it's full length it flattened across the widened blade, become a straight blade perpendicular to the forward edge. Finished elongating, several wholes, in seemingly random positions appeared in the blade. Once there were 20 total, they stopped appearing.

Urahara sighed. "Awaken, Benihime." Benihime formed in Urahara's hand and he pointed it at Sozo. 'right, so lets see what this guy can do…' Sozo shunpo'd and swung his sword with both hands aiming for Urahara's neck. The swing was promptly blocked by the far faster Urahara. 'His reiatsu spiked as he moved, but it was only lieutenant level. Furthermore his speed indicates that his skill with shunpo is only at the average level. Is this a joke, can he really be their leader with such mediocre abilities? Is this some trap? Some effort to throw off my judgment?'

Kisuke pushed Sozo away and began a barrage of sword attacks, throwing Sozo into the defensive. It was a poor defensive as far as Urahara could see. 'It's too predictable, all of his movements are so slow. Can he really be this weak? Something is not right. He must be waiting for me to injure him. If I want to analyze his abilities, I'll have to indulge him for now. Besides, it's not like I can kill him without hurting him.' By stepping up the speed just enough Urahara was easily able to put a gash through Sozo's right shoulder. Then one to the left. Then a slice across the chest.

During the slice across the chest Urahara felt his blade meet with something else metal. Something he knew instinctively to be a third sword, albeit a much smaller one. Leaping away after having wounded his opponent, Urahara surveyed the information he had so far. As he added things together he indeed saw a sheathe within Sozo's shihakusho. He pointed his sword at Sozo. 'I'm curious, what can you really do Sozo Menboku? What could strike fear into an opponent as formidable as Yamamoto? If the only way to prompt a reaction is to attack all out, then I will.' "Sing, Benihime."

A crimson blast went flying out of the blade headed right for Sozo, but he didn't try to dodge. Instead as the blast approached he held his zanpakuto aloft and said "Take." The blast impacted with the sword and then dissipated. Urahara immediately picked up on a change in Sozo's zanpakuto, one of the twenty holes along it's length had become filled with a swirling red mote of energy. Sozo smiled and faced Urahara. He swung the sword and from it launched a crimson energy blast, identical in form, composition and strength to the one Kisuke had just unleashed.

'No, not just identical, it's the same blast, he absorbed it and redirected it.' Urahara shunpo'd away from the blast and observed his opponent again. 'It's impressive, but still not what I'm looking for. He's still hiding something. I'll reveal it, or kill him trying.' With another high speed shunpo Urahara moved in next to his opponent, and with two swift movements impaled him through the chest and gut.

With another shunpo Urahara was some distance away. "Now then. Wounded as you are now, I doubt you will be able to fight me as any kind of equal, unless you've been hiding something…"

Sozo laughed. "Why didn't you remove my head? You could have, with your speed. But you didn't. That is your weakness, Urahara, Curiosity. I noticed it the first time we met." He coughed up some blood. "Curiosity is your undoing. A wiser man would have heeded the advice of Shigekuni, and killed me instantly. That you didn't was your mistake." He reached into his shihakusho and drew out the concealed tanto. The cross guard was shaped like a flower, and the hilt weaving was green.

Urahara's instincts told him that something was about to happen, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He was suddenly filled with the dread, that he would soon be facing two opponents.


Ichigo stopped. Yoruichi was standing in his way. "Hold it Ichigo. I guess you know by now right?"

Ichigo scoffed. "Which part?"

She turned to face him. "Kisuke is fighting Sozo Menboku. And…I think he needs our help." That last part caught him. "I'm thankful that you came. But before you go, I have to pass along the warning I was given. Once we reach the store, you are forbidden from using bankai."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"It was the warning given to Kisuke by Yamamoto, who has apparently faced this foe before. He was told that if he used Bankai, victory could not be achieved. I want your help here Ichigo, but I need your word. No bankai."

Ichigo looked down. "Fine then." He then heard a noise behind him and spun, only to see his comrades running after him. "Inoue? Chad? I thought I told you to go to…"

"Did you really think we'd listen?" Chad's deep voice rang out. "We've followed you to far worse places, then Urahara-san's basement."

Ichigo nodded, then turned to Orihime. "Don't worry about me Kurosaki-san I won't try to fight I'll just heal anyone who gets injured that's all. Really I swear!"

Yoruichi jumped down. "We don't have time to be wasting like this. If they want to come then so be it. But the two of you can't use shunpo to get there so…Ichigo grab Chad, I'll take Orihime."

Orihime opened her eyes wide. "um, so that's how we're going? Ok…I guess."

"Don't worry about a thing, your much lighter then Ichigo, and I was able to carry him easily." She grabbed Orihime's arm and they vanished.

Orihime landed a bit dizzy, but quickly recognized the area nearby the Urahara shop. Shortly after that Ichigo and Chad appeared practically out of nowhere. And Ichigo drew his word. "They'll know that we're coming."

Without word Yoruichi leapt up to the top of one of the nearby houses and started running towards the shop. Ichigo, Chad and Orihime were right on her tail.

Their enemies were all outside the shop, seated in various places in the yard. Seijin off to the left. Kaku and Ayame on the deck. Suba on the roof with his legs dangling over. Mai right in the center with harp out and simple tune coming out of it. Kaku stood and walked forward. "We had a deal, Shihoin-san. If you try to enter this building, we will fight against you. Sozo's battle will be one on one."

Yoruichi tensed. "Then I guess, I'll just have to fight you." She shunpo'd right in front of Kaku and kicked forward. Her leg was caught by Suba with on hand. With the other he drew his zanpakuto and swung it at her. She dodged away only to be pursued very closely by her opponent. He followed her so closely in fact that at times there was barely an inch between them. He also wielded his sword in an odd fashion holding it close to his body, and spinning at high speeds while changing the angle of the blade, causing it to lash out from odd angles that were difficult to predict and quick to change. While leaping away from him and avoiding being sliced in half she realized that his blindness was not a weakness at all, but removed the one sense that would inhibit his fighting style.

He quickly moved in close again and attempted to cut her once more, only to be dodged and counterattacked. His spinning form moved so fast that her attacks were blocked by limbs that she could barely tell had moved, and then just as fast a fist slammed her to the side and sent her back a few feet, sliding through the dirt.

"Yoruichi!" Ichigo started to move forward but Mai appeared in front of him, her sword drawn and pointed at him. She shook her head. "That wouldn't be fair. If you want to fight to, it will be with me."

Ichigo smiled a bit. "Man, you guys sound just like those guys from squad 11. Alright fine! If you want a one on one fight that you've got one!" He drew Zangetsu and pointed it forward, then withdrew it. 'damn that's right. These guys are tough, how are we supposed to fight them without using bankai?'

"You there, Kurosaki. Just then, your reiatsu started to change, but you halted the process. You were going to unleash bankai but stopped yourself, didn't you?" Ichigo looked over the shoulder of the woman, staring into the eyes of Kaku. Kaku stood and put his hands behind his back. "You can clearly sense that we are captain level opponents, and I can clearly sense that your reiatsu is even a step above that. So, basically, most of the people here are capable of bankai. But as you just demonstrated, it would most unwise to use it. The same is true for us. So do not fear that we will overpower you. Suba, Mai, Seijin, Ayame, my orders are simple, these battle are only to protect Menboku-sama's concentration, as such, malicious intent shall not be allowed. You may fight them, but you will not kill your opponents, nor any other humans that may appear in the vicinity."

Ichigo tried to absorb the information they were being given, and the rules he had set up. Then Mai rushed forward and met her blade with Ichigo's. "You here that Kawaii-kun, I'm not allowed to kill you, too bad because like I said you are so cute." Ichigo was so confused that she was momentarily able to over power him and send away a few feet, before charging again and clashing swords with him.

Chad began to walk forward and to the left Seijin began to stand. Yoruichi and Suba had taken to battling on roof tops and in the air, so the yard was once again mostly empty. Seijin moved forward and stared into the eyes of the teenager. "I see. Then it is you whom I must fight." Chad let out a low rumbling hmm as response.

Orihime, the last person, simply stood, glancing back and forth between her comrades and their enemies. Suddenly her field of vision was filled by a person that was very close to her. "That means I have to fight you!" Ayame swung her sword down towards Orihime, who was paralyzed by fear. A clang and her continued consciousness told her something had saved her. Her mind told her it was Ichigo, but when she opened her eyes, she saw something very different.

Kaku had drawn his sword and defended Orihime. "Ayame, sit down. I can not allow the wife of my lord to be put in dangerous combat unless it was a last resort. I will take Inoue-san as my opponent."

She drew back her blade but was obviously disappointed. "But…!"

"Ayame, remember, I was put in charge. And order from me is no different then an order from Menboku-sama himself at this moment." She shook with rage for a moment before leaping away and taking her place on the deck of the store. Then Kaku turned back to Orihime. "You are effectively my enemy now, however, I am willing to make you a deal. If you do not attack me, or attempt to give aid to your allies, then I will not attack you, and I will explain to you the vision of Sozo Menboku."

She thought about it for a moment, and seeing no alternative nodded. At that moment she felt a massive reiatsu form deep underground. It's structure was odd, almost as if it were two people at once, but still coming from one body. Then it burst again, becoming as three people at once. She could tell then that it wasn't Urahara's reiatsu that exploded, but it was the other source, and now it was much larger then before, perhaps even larger then Urahara's.

The others noticed it as well. Mai even looked to her feet and said "Wow, that shopkeeper must have been pretty tough to drive Sozo that far."

Ichigo's sword clashed against hers once more. "What do you mean? What the hell was that?!"

She laughed and smiled. "I'll show you. Push the world away, Jubatsu!!" The sword she had been using suddenly shrank down to the size of a small dagger. More importantly her reiatsu shot up. Normally that would be expected when a Shinigami releases their zanpakuto, however it felt odd to Ichigo, he could swear something felt wrong about her reiatsu, and it was the same odd feeling he was getting from underground. She rushed forward with her tiny weapon as if to stab him, so Ichigo blocked with his sword held sideways.

With sickening momentum Ichigo was thrown backwards, his sword punched into his chest with horrendous force. He impacted on the wall of the nearby building and it shattered behind him. She started laughing and held the weapon in an overtly dainty manner.

Seijin simply stared into Chad's equally unmoving eyes through the entire explosion of reiatsu. "You are strong. I can tell." He raised his hands, gripped them together and slammed them down onto Chad. Chad blocked it with one hand, despite his feet sinking inches into the ground from the force. Chad then pushed the arms back up and moved forward to punch Seijin's gut. Seijin brought one hand back down and blocked the blow, despite being pushed back a bit. "Indeed, strong."


Sozo drew the tanto and looked at it. "Care for the progeny, Koutaigou." He slammed the tanto into the center of his chest, wincing as he did so.

Urahara felt his reiatsu skyrocket, and watched in equal surprise as his wounds began to seal themselves completely. Then he noticed that the hilt of the tanto had disappeared, but a metallic flower was now blooming from his chest. 'That…That is another zanpakuto…but that is impossible…'

Sozo smiled. "That was a good start, but I think you wanted to see more right?" With his left hand he drew katana from his side and held it forward. "Touch, Yomitomoi" This third zanpakuto shined blue and the blade became wider towards he tip, but it retained the over all shape of a katana. Along with the second sword Sozo's reiatsu leapt up again, bringing it even closer to Urahara's.

Urahara's mind strained to understand how such a thing was possible, and he only came to one solution ludicrous as it sounded. 'He must have some ability to take the zanpakuto of enemies who use bankai against him. And each one also enhances his reiatsu. I'll need to end this…' Urahara's train of thought was interrupted by the disappearance of his enemy. HE spun and raised Benihime to block the strike of Sutegoueru. 'Quick!' Locked in a battle with the one blade, Urahara was unable to block the attack from the blue zanpakuto, Yomitomoi, so he moved to the side and received instead a small gash on his arm.

Despite the relative mildness of the wound, Sozo immediately shouted "Victory!" after landing the blow. Unwilling to accept that, Urahara charged once again.


Her friends continued to fight, while she was being asked to sit down. A part of her told her what she was doing was wrong. But another part, perhaps her instincts told her that if she provoked this man, he could seriously injure her and her friends. So she sat down, ready to listen.

Kaku also sat, placing his sheathed zanpakuto in his lap. "First, in all likelihood, Sozo will not deal a killing blow to Urahara, and my order here on the surface stands, so none of you are in real danger. AS for soul society…they attacked first, and I intend to advise Sozo to go there regardless, and attempt to present his case before central 46, in the hopes of becoming their allies once more."

"Aizen has already killed central 46, Soul society is under the command of the head captain, Yamamoto."

"Shigekuni? Shigekuni Yamamoto?" Orihime nodded. Kaku sighed. "Amazing that he has lived so long. And if he is indeed in charge, our case will be much more difficult to make."

"Your case?"

Kaku nodded. "The obliteration and conquering of Hueco Mundo. That is our purpose. But there were those among the Shinigami that took our cause as evil. Most I imagine were simply afraid of the power that is wielded by Sozo Menboku."

"His power?"

Kaku nodded. "Any being who reveals its true power to Sutegoueru, is taken by it. There is no hope to resist it. There is no way to stop it. Friend, foe, any being that unleashes itself against Sozo Menboku and his sword is devoured and transformed into power wielded by Sozo Menboku himself. That is the power of his Bankai, Kaito Sutegoueru. He has acknowledged regret for some of the people that have been taken by it. But he refuses to let the blade die, it's power is too efficient for killing our true foes, the hollows and Arrancar. We who serve him respect his dream, or fear his strength, either way we are bound to his goals. A day when no soul is threatened by a shadowy monster with a white mask."

Orihime envisioned Ichigo's vaizard form for a split second as he finished his speech. Then she also remembered Nell, who had sacrificed herself for them. "Not all hollows, are so bad…"

Kaku's face did not move in the slightest, but she could see something in his eyes. Something akin to mixed understanding, and self loathing.


A/N: nifty, huh?