A/N: Hello!~
To respond to two reviewers (guests); no, there won't be a Wendigo in this fic. This is a RWBY/Bleach crossover and a Wendigo has no place, and technically can't even exist since its a different universe. To Von Dick - her eyes can still be, and are often referred to, icy blue (along with pale blue, opal, etc.)
Another suggestion, for those who listen while reading; Pyrrha's theme song is 'Diamond Eyes' by 'Shinedown'. That is all.
Onto the story~!
I DO NOT OWN RWBY OR BLEACH
Arc 2: Invasion Arc
Chapter 12: Elusive Shadows
Ruby couldn't believe it.
He was here.
He was here.
She had sensed him the moment he engaged Weiss, his familiar Reiatsu saturating the very air around him. However she could tell the difference, even from as far away as she was. It felt more compact, more controlled, more... powerful. Vastly more powerful, so much she briefly thought she was sensing a Captain, and not the teenage boy she had met a little over a month ago. When she felt not only Chad and Inoue, but Ishida also enter The Vale... she was equally stunned and scared. Stunned that they had grown so strong in such a short period of time - in just a week - and scared of what might become of them, especially when most of them entered a fight.
When she felt Weiss' Reiatsu drop, she was shocked that her friend was defeated. Weiss, while sometimes arrogant, was no pushover and her Shikai was incredibly deadly, especially when given enough time to use all its abilities. When May fell she was equally surprised, and when Yang was nearly defeated she was even more surprised. Chad may have lost the battle, but to damage Yang so severely was a feat not a lot of Lieutenants could attest to.
Her train of thought came to an end as the metal door to her room shook, before sliding open. She blinked at the sight of ten members of the Black Division, specifically the Detainment Squad. Standing at the front of the group was a familiar tall young woman with flaming red hair done up in a high ponytail, her alluring emerald eyes filled with reluctance. Her Shihakusho was joined by a red obi sash and a badge bearing the Division's emblem. Her Zanpakuto's bronze and crimson hilt was eye-catching, adorned with what looked like real emeralds along the handle. Pyrrha Nikos, the Lieutenant of the Red Division.
''Hello... Ruby.'' Pyrrha smiled, ''I'm here to take you to the Senzaikyū.''
''...I understand.'' Ruby returned the smile, even as two of the men cuffed her wrists.
Regardless of the outcome of the invasion, she was glad they tried.
It was a small comfort.
''Hm... how odd.''
Standing atop one of the taller buildings within the inner parts of The Vale stood a slender Shinigami, silver hair neatly brushed forward and eyes closed into slits. His narrow face was adorned with a curious look as he stared out to the ruined buildings a few blocks away where Yang's battle had concluded. His Shihakusho had more baggy sleeves than a normal one, with a white obi sash wrapped around his waist and a badge strapped onto his bicep, bearing the image of a white pigeon on it.
Gin Ichimaru, Lieutenant of the White Division.
''Yang-chan being nearly defeated, who could've guessed?'' The man commented, ''I guess I expected more...''
''Her opponent was strong.'' A voice bit out from behind him where Blake Belladonna was standing behind him, glaring a hole into his back.
Gin turned, faux surprise on his face. ''Oh, I didn't notice you there Blakey!''
She was not amused.
''Ma, why the scary face?'' The man smiled slyly, cocking his head to the side. He found a Zanpakuto at his neck a moment later. ''I didn't do anything bad, I promise~''
''Stay away from Yang.'' Blake iterated with a fierce glare, holding it for a few moments before slowly retracting her blade. ''If you harm her, Ichimaru, I will not hesitate to cut you down.''
''You'd do that to your fellow Lieutenant? How cruel~'' The man whined, even as the black-haired Faunus turned and began to walk away.
''I don't trust you, Ichimaru.'' She scowled, ''Whatever you're planning, I won't let it happen.''
The man smiled coyly as she prepared to use Shunpo, yet he couldn't help but take one final jab.
''Then you'd best spend your time with Yang-chan, before it's too late.''
There was a beat.
Then the resounding clang of steel echoed across the rooftops as their Zanpakuto clashed, her golden eyes filled with smouldering rage and his face alight with a mocking smile. Their deadlock ended a moment later, only for a rapid flurry of strikes to flicker between them, sending sparks flying from the speed which they struck.
Blake vanished in a burst of Shunpo, appearing behind the man and swinging towards his back... only for her blade to be blocked, twisting to the point it looked painful to block the attack, yet looked anything but in pain. Before she could react her blade was knocked aside, and she was unable to get out of the way before the short Wakizashi cut a line down her front, a thin river of blood running out.
''One point to me Blakey~'' Gin taunted with a sly smile, widening at her murderous glare. ''Ooh, so scary~''
She maintained her harsh glare for a few moments, before releasing an almost calming breath, pointing her Zanpakuto towards him in a one-handed grip. His eyebrows disappeared above his hairline as her Reiatsu flared. A dark, murky black aura surrounded her, an almost physical weight being added to the air.
''Hide, Kuroneko.'' Blake growled, her Zanpakuto glowing a midnight black colour before shifting, becoming a dual-wielding pair of Wakizashi. The hilts were pure black without any designs on it, just everlasting darkness from the pommel to the guard. If being a dual-wielder wasn't impressive enough, then the sheer amount of killing intent was.
Instantly the man was forced to dodge as an attack shot at him from behind, spikes comprised entirely of shadow shooting at him with a vengeance. He danced around them, playfully blocking one of her melee strikes before knocking her back with a wordless Shō.
''Shikai, is it?'' Gin inquired, lazily ducking under another slash and bending out of the way of another series of shadowy spikes. ''Guess it isn't fair if you just use it... Shoot to Kill, Shinsō.''
Her eyes widened and she narrowly avoided being impaled upon the suddenly extended blade, instead it cut a deep gash down her side. She hastily retreated, shadows rising in her wake to form a barrier... only for a silver blade to spear straight through them, cutting a thin gash down Blake's cheek in the process. Her panic swiftly transformed into frustration as she flickered away in Shunpo, attempting to attack him again only to narrowly avoid being impaled. The process repeated itself several times, each with Shinso getting a fraction closer to hitting her through the heart.
Oh, and every time she attempted to attack it didn't miss. It just resulted in her getting a progressively deeper gash.
She prepared to unleash a wave of shadowy spikes upon the grinning man, only for a sudden feeling of wrongness to suddenly cover the area, one she had gotten familiar with over the years. Joining the discomforting feeling was the thick, overbearing pressure of Reiatsu, halting both her and Gin's movements completely and suddenly. The sensation was not unlike having a thousand pounds stacked upon them. Both their gazes turned to the side towards an adjacent building where an individual stood, haori fluttering in the wind.
''That's quite enough, you two.'' Summer Rose smiled at them. The gesture would've looked angelic had it not been for the oppressive Reiatsu blanketing the area. ''I understand tensions are running high, and things have never been favourable between the two of you, but please keep your battles to the sparring fields. Had anyone been nearby you could've caused some real damage.''
''Apologies, Captain Rose. It will not happen again.'' Blake intoned with a bow, Gin giving a much more half-hearted one. The Captain didn't seemed to be bothered by his lack of proper formality.
''I trust it won't.'' The woman smiled with a tilt of the head. ''Don't you two have a Lieutenants meeting to get to?''
''My Captain made me exempt from it in light of the invasion.'' Blake said, Gin just giving a light shrug.
Summer hummed. ''Did he now? Rather odd, considering when I spoke to him a few minutes ago he had only just given permission to Amagai-san to take the reigns of the Division until you came back from the meeting.''
''I-I must've misheard. I'll be on my way then.''
With a flicker of Shunpo the black-haired Lieutenant vanished, leaving only Gin and Summer in the vicinity. The two stared at one another in silence, one bearing a coy smile and the other adorned with a gentle one.
''Belladonna-san is rather nosey, isn't she?'' Summer spoke up, breaking the silence.
Gin hummed, being the first to break the stare-off. ''Mm, she's so troublesome~''
The woman chuckled lightly, the sound melodic yet sending a shiver down his spine.
''Indeed. If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend, as do you, Gin-kun.''
''Hai... Rose-sama.''
''Ano... where was the entrance...?''
Orihime Inoue sighed to herself, awkwardly wandering along the streets of The Vale. Clad in the Shihakusho all other Shinigami wore she didn't stand out much and she managed to pass herself off as a new recruit who got lost, and was looking for the Orange Division. The problem with that was since all the Shinigami she met had something to do they only pointed her in the general direction, which of course got her lost pretty quickly. She wasn't skilled enough with Shunpo to fly across the rooftops and she didn't want to risk being spotted, since a newbie wouldn't be very good at Shunpo anyway.
The auburn-haired teen let out a despondent whine, turning a corner as she made her way down the seemingly endless streets. ''How am I supposed to find- eek!''
Her squeak of surprise came from her bumping into someone, nearly falling over had they not caught her. Her grey eyes looked up, taking in his tall and lean figure, a sakkat-style hat resting upon his head. Brown hair was kept short, a small trail forming a low ponytail behind him and held by two pins. His handsome face had a light stubble, with curious brown eyes staring down at her in amusement. The orange obi sash around his waist signified him as a member of the Orange Division, but it was his haori that caught her eye. A Captain. The other thing that caught her eye was the two Zanpakuto resting at his hips, indicating him as a dual-wielder... someone who only 'appeared' every few centuries.
''Well hello there, stranger-chan.'' The Captain smiled kindly. ''Are you alright?''
''H-Hai.'' Inoue blushed lightly, getting to her feet and bowing apologetically. Then it occurred to her who she was talking to. ''U-Um... are you Captain Kyoraku?''
''Mm, that's me.''
Fumbling for the note, she offered it to him. ''I-I was told to deliver this to you.''
The man took the letter with a thankful nod, giving another nod when she excused herself, discreetly putting as much distance between them as she could. She wasn't told what was on the letter or even the importance of it, but she wasn't keen on staying too close to a Captain-level Shinigami. She wasn't even that good in Zanjutsu - even her Zanpakuto reflected that, being a Kido-type and not reliant on her skill. She wasn't even supposed to be fighting anybody of high rank - Yoruichi told her she was to play a supportive role, healing and offering supportive fire to the others.
She was fine with that. Others might've been put-off by it, but she wasn't. She was a pacifist by nature and swinging a sword at someone was difficult enough, not even accounting for cutting someone down and watching the agony in their eyes. In her sparring matches the first time she cut Chad she dropped her sword, feeling sick to her stomach when she saw the admittedly small cut on his arm. It wasn't even that bad... but the sight of the blood and the knowledge she was the one to do it made her feel sickeningly guilty.
Inoue came to a stop, pausing as she noticed something.
''I'm lost again...''
''Well I'd be happy to guide you to the prison cells if you'd like.''
The auburn-haired girl jumped, spinning on her heel to face the Captain she had just left behind. He still wore a charming smile on his face, but his sakkat was pulled down to hide his eyes ominously as he spoke. ''I thank you for the letter, invader, but I'll still have to arrest you for invading. Will you come quietly?''
''Ano... can you let me go?'' Inoue smiled nervously, indiscreetly backing away. She wasn't on the level to fight a Lieutenant, much less a Captain...
''Afraid not.'' Kyoraku shrugged nonchalantly, sighing when she drew her sword. ''Yare yare... how troublesome.''
Swallowing her nerves, she shakily held her blade up, pointing skyward. ''I'm not a good fighter... but that doesn't mean I won't try my best!''
''Murmur to the heavens, whisper to the wind.'' She spoke clearly. ''Sing to the angels, scream to the demons. Unleash my will and reject what I overrule. Defy, Kōgen no Kashin!''
Her Zanpakuto glowed a calming orange colour, the katana moulding in shape and shifting into a pair of orange bracelets with no visible offensive abilities. The Captain did not take her lightly however, as he clearly felt something... odd about her Reiatsu. It rose significantly, which while surprising was not cause for concern, but it was the 'texture' of her Reiatsu that made him pause. It wasn't Shinigami, nor Hollow... nor Quincy. It was something unfamiliar to even him, one of the oldest current Captains.
'My, how interesting.' Kyoraku mused silently, watching the girl as she visibly prepared herself for the upcoming confrontation. It was clear she wasn't willing to fight, but knew she didn't have a choice. He pitied her; innocent souls shouldn't be tainted by bloodshed.
''Koten Zanshun!'' The teen abruptly declared, pointing towards him. In an instant her bracelets glowed before twin projectile shot out from them, forming into a single, pint-sized object that raced towards him with surprising speed. It was probably equal to a high-ranking officer using Shunpo.
Kyoraku tilted his head out of the way, allowing the oddly human-shaped projectile to fly past... and crash into a wall.
''Tsubaki!'' The young woman cried out in worry.
Much to the Captains disbelief, a muffled voice came from the figure half-lodged in the wall. ''Dammit woman! What have I told you about aiming for the head?!''
''...that it's easy to miss?''
''Yes!'' Came the muffled, if still heated response, causing Inoue to wince guiltily.
''Oi oi, Tsubaki-san, that's no way to talk to your wielder.'' Kyoraku admonished lightly.
Clearly, the small sprite didn't like being told off. ''Fuck you!''
''Tsubaki! Don't be mean!'' Inoue scolded the sprite, who pulled himself out of the wall and returned to his wielder grumpily. ''Apologise.''
All she got was a disgruntled scoff before the miniature man transformed into orange light, and returned to her bracelet. Inoue sagged, sighing mournfully at her clear lack of control, unable to even command her power properly. Tsubaki was temperamental, yes, but he had always pointed out his power was based upon the strength of her will - and clearly, she was lacking the willpower to fight the Captain before her. She couldn't disagree with that notion.
Kyoraku smiled at the teen, ignoring the depressed cloud hanging over her head. ''Well... how about we go to the prison cells now?''
''Hai...''
'Today has certainly been an interesting day.'
Summer Rose smiled to herself slightly, standing inside the Captains Hall, the 'legendary' place where Captain-rank Shinigami gathered to discuss concerns and give reports. It was much more hyped up than it actually was, and unlike some tales from gossiping new recruits it wasn't made from gold or anything frivolous like that. It was a simple wooden room with minimal accessories, with only a single throne-like chair at the end for the Captain Commander to sit. The two massive doors at the front of the room gave an imposing image to those on the outside, and were incidentally sound-proof and immensely durable. She'd know; she made them.
''Che, how boring...''
She smiled, silver eyes drifting to the side where her husband stood a few paces away in his own spot. He hadn't changed a bit since their daughter was imprisoned, though only she could tell what went on beneath his mask of sometimes-drunk indifference. One thing he didn't hide though was his disdain for these meetings.
''Hush, Captain Branwen.'' A lithe Captain spoke up, dark navy hair swaying as she shook her head. Her Shihakusho was, until some of the Captains, in prim-proper condition and without a single fault in sight. Her haori was much the same, perfectly without the slightest crease and the Divisions symbol, a raindrop, not having the blue stained in any way. A blue obi sash was tied around her small waist, holding her blue-hilted Zanpakuto that had golden jewels adorned on it, matching the plus-shaped gold ornament on her forehead, standing out against her dark skin.
Ciel Soleil, Captain of the Blue Division.
''I agree.'' Another Captain smirked faintly. ''Do maintain some professional standard, won't you?''
James Ironwood, the Captain of the Cyan Division. He was a tall and broad man, visible even through his immaculate Shihakusho. His black hair was slowly turning a shade of grey, his narrow blue eyes always serious. The cyan-coloured sash held his Zanpakuto which, unlike many, was designed more like a sabre than a katana. Most likely his heritage from the ancient land of Solitas coming through. He was always a stern but not dispassionate leader, and his words all but garnered attention with his confident posture and golden charisma. He wasn't above making light jabs at his colleagues either, as thus shown.
''Can it, tin man.'' Qrow snorted back.
The four of them didn't have to wait long until more Captains arrived, easily noticeable due to the boisterous laugh that echoed down the halls.
Peter Port, the Captain of the Purple Division, strolled towards the room with a jolly smile on his face, partially hidden by his grey moustache. His eyes were closed into slits, hiding their true colour, and his hair was combed to the side. The purple obi sash was wrapped around his wide waist and the white haori adorned the emblem of a smiling face in purple. He was quite the portly man, much more than his colleagues, but nobody amongst the Captains doubted his strength. He was one of the few Captains who survived the Civil War, after all, and like Summer attained a haunting title from the many battles he endured. The Song of the Shinigami.
Behind him was the Captain of the Green Division, Bartholomew Oobleck. He was a comparatively skinnier man with a lean build and narrow face, his Shihakusho kept rather messily and his haori slightly dishevelled, most commonly due to his incredibly frequent uses of Shunpo. His hair was green and brushed haphazardly backwards, with sapphire blue eyes that pierced the soul hidden behind a pair of round-framed glasses. As per usual he had a green sash and a haori, his Division's symbol being a green-coloured book.
The third Captain was a much more bulkier man, slightly shorter than his two companions yet nonetheless powerful. His short blonde hair and lilac eyes were easy on the eyes and his face often wore a friendly smile, leading him to be one of the more outgoing Captains. His haori, unlike the others, had the sleeves removed, which was fine given he was a Hakuda specialist like his daughter. His Zanpakuto wasn't sheathed at his waist either, in the yellow obi sash, but instead over his back by a second sash. A bright smile was on his face as he spoke with Peter, a half-laugh escaping him over a private joke of some sorts.
''Peter, Bart, Tai.'' Summer greeted in order, smiling at the trio. ''I was beginning to think you'd end up late.''
''I'm hurt you'd think that.'' Taiyang smiled lightly, ''I'm never late.''
''You generally are.'' Qrow bluntly pointed out, a grin tugging at his lips.
Taiyang pouted almost childishly. ''That's not true.''
''I assure you, it is. You're worse than Captain Kyoraku.'' A sharp female voice interjected.
''I have to agree. Your attendance is lacking slightly.'' Another softer woman agreed.
Taiyang just huffed as he took his place, pouting like a scolded child, much to the amusement of his colleagues.
Entering the room after the trio were two women. The leading one had light blonde hair done up in a proper bun, with a curl of it falling down the right side of her face. Her emerald eyes were piercing in their intensity, giving her a rather intimidating look most of the time. Her uniform was prim and proper, her haori gracefully following her movements as she walked, the emblem of the Silver Division clear on the back of it. Her Zanpakuto laid at her waist, held by a silver obi sash. Glynda Goodwitch, Captain of the Silver Division and head of the Research and Development department of The Vale.
A step behind her came Retsu Unohana, the Captain of the Brown Division, and the best healer in all of The Vale. Her dark hair was tied into a braid that fell down her front, ending at the brown obi sash she wore. Her blue eyes reflected the amusement her smile held as she entered the room, haori fluttering with her movements. A brown heart with stitches on it was present on her back, the sign of her Division. Despite having her Zanpakuto at her waist, she rarely ever drew it. That fact was emphasised by the knowledge that none of the Captains in the room had seen her draw her blade in over a century.
The last time she did, an Adjuchas Hollow was sliced down the middle in a single slash. Nobody questioned her skills after that.
''Has anyone seen Captain Aizen?'' Glynda spoke clearly, taking her place amongst the current Captains.
Many frowns met her question, Qrow being the first to speak up. ''Nah, haven't seen him ever since he sent that message... I can't sense him either...''
''Is it possible that he...?'' James didn't finish the question, but they all knew the implication.
A grim silence fell upon the assorted Captains. It was painful to think that one of their own, someone that many saw as a friend had fallen in battle, but to imagine a Captain falling? It was unimaginable; for someone to have grown strong enough to fight on even grounds and defeat a Captain... that posed an entirely new threat.
''...I'll have some people look for him.'' Qrow finally decided with a sigh, scratching his chin. ''Aizen was the Captain of the White Division, so it makes sense they'd target our communications before anything else.''
''Then why have they not brought harm to my Division?'' Unohana pointed out. ''Health and recovery stations are critical on any battlefield, and those injured so far - notably Weiss Schnee - are already in the process of recovery. They'll be back to normal in a few days.''
''Morality, maybe?'' Summer supplied. ''From what we know they're teenagers, and are likely not accustomed to killing. They likely aren't here to slaughter, but to complete their objective as soon as possible.''
''And their objective?'' A new voice asked critically, drawing all gazes to the doors.
Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the Pink Division, and head of the Kuchiki noble family. Much like Glynda his uniform was kept in a noticeably perfect condition, his haori neatly over it. Unlike others the symbol of his Division was not an object, but instead the kanji for 'duty', done in of course pink. His black hair was formal and held in place by the kenseikan, with a silver scarf wrapped around his neck, a family heirloom worth an immense sum of money. Slate grey eyes unflinchingly stared forwards, his narrow face as expressionless as it always was.
Behind him came Kyoraku, who sheepishly entered and took his place amongst his fellow Captains. This wasn't the first time he was the last one to arrive and nobody was surprised.
Summer was the one to answer his question. ''We are unaware, however it may pertain to my daughters imprisonment. That, I feel, is unlikely however due to them only appearing now opposed to when she was arrested. It is likely this is a diversion of some sorts, with something bigger going on behind the scenes.''
As always, her fellow Captains took her words seriously, shown by the considering looks on their faces. Out of all the Captains she was one of the most respected, and not just because of her strength. Though that played a large part of it.
''...is it possible, there are traitors in our ranks?'' Qrow spoke up seriously. ''Think about it. A group of an unknown amount of teenagers, all of whom never so much as blipped on our radar. All of a sudden they have the power to face against Third Seats, and have knowledge of Shunpo, Kido and a high skill with Zanpakuto, enough to know Shikai. That isn't something you can pick up out of nowhere.''
Byakuya frowned. ''It would be difficult to search through the entire Twelve Divisions in that case.''
''We may not need to.'' Ciel spoke up. ''From Captain Aizen's message it is clear they came from outside The Vale, and the amount of locations where a band of teenagers could hide is mostly limited to the outpost settlements. It would just be a task of narrowing down the Shinigami who visited those towns.''
An array of nods followed, seeing the logic in her statement. Any further conversation however was silenced as the Captain Commander made his appearance, walking down the hall towards them.
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the oldest Shinigami, past and present. That reflected in his appearance, with his balding head that bore an 'X' shaped scar, to his grey-white beard that was tied by a purple thread. The old man appearance was added to by his hunched posture, his haori thrown over his shoulders like a cloak opposed to wearing it like a robe. His eyes were closed into slits, hiding his ancient red eyes that rarely opened. In his hands was a wooden cane, hiding the true form of his Zanpakuto - the legendary Ryujin Jakka, otherwise known as the flowing blade-like flame.
Silently the ancient dragon walked passed his Captains to the front of the room, taking a seat on his chair before tapping his cane once.
''This Captains meeting is called to order. We have much to discuss.''
Ichigo grit his teeth as he tore through another crowd of Shinigami with frightening ease, before moving on like nothing happened.
Even with his growing control of his Reiatsu he wasn't able to hide it completely, thus it was easy for Shinigami of all ranks to find him and attempt to subdue him. Thankfully he hadn't needed to fight anyone of Third Seat or higher, and he wasn't certain he could win another fight without going all-out. He had used a good chunk of his energy fighting Weiss and his brief meditative rests he took only helped slightly restore his missing Reiryoku.
Passing down another nigh-identical street, the teen spent a few moments to check on his friends. Chad had been defeated but was still alive - weakened, but he hadn't moved from one spot in a while, meaning he was likely arrested. Inoue had likewise faced a similar fate, albeit she was close to full strength. Ishida however had dropped off the radar completely, which worried him more than he'd ever admit aloud. He had been weak after his fight with his unknown opponent... then suddenly he just vanished. He could only hope the Quincy teen was alive and well.
Ichigo came to a stop as he turned another street, blinking as he noticed the change immediately. The area was wide-open and had a few empty stalls lingering about, possibly a market or something, but it led up to a large mountain-like hill with a white stone tower on it. A large set of stairs led up to a series of plain buildings, but it was the group at the top of the stairs that grabbed his attention.
''Ruby!''
At the top of the stairs the aforementioned girl whirled around, despite being partially chained up. ''I-Ichigo?!''
He grinned at her, and a small, relief-filled smile blossomed across her face. Whether for him or because of him, he didn't know, but he didn't mind either way. He would save her; on that he swore.
One of the leading men in black turned to a crimson-haired young woman, speaking sternly. ''Do your duty, Lieutenant.''
''Hai.'' She frowned in response.
Seeing them begin to leave, Ichigo scowled. ''You're not getting away!''
He disappeared in a flicker of Shunpo, only to be forced to raise his blade halfway there to block the red-haired girls blade. He grimaced at the sight of her Lieutenants badge as he struggled to overpower her, eventually backing off and creating space between them. Her emerald eyes reflected a myriad of emotions he couldn't readily identify, but he didn't get a chance to figure them out before she launched herself at him.
A grunt escaped him as their blades clashed again, this time with him gaining a slight amount of ground as his blade glowed blue. ''Dammit, get out of my way!''
Her eyes widened before she was engulfed in a wordless crescent of Reiryoku, the precursor to his Getsuga Tenshō - though he could use said Shikai ability without releasing, it was just subsequently weaker. It was relatively weaker but nonetheless effective at damaging his opponents until now - that was a given considering he managed to cut Grand Fisher in half with a single, rage-filled blast of it. He felt a small amount of satisfaction as the smoke cleared to reveal the unnamed Lieutenant had mild scorch marks on her skin and clothes, but was otherwise unharmed.
''...you're strong.'' The red-head commented, a slight smile tugging at her lips. ''What is your name, invader?''
''Ichigo Kurosaki.'' He declared, ''You?''
''Pyrrha Nikos, Lieutenant of the Red Division.''
His eyes narrowed. ''So you're Ruby's superior then.''
''I am.'' Pyrrha conceded.
''Then why are you letting her be executed?'' Ichigo replied sharply, causing her to flinch.
''...I want to help, I truly do.'' Pyrrha replied, raising her blade once more. ''But I have my duty. My Captain can help on the political side of things, but I have no such weight. So I will do what is due of me as a Lieutenant, and pray she regains her freedom.''
He gave her a hard stare. ''So you'll stand in my way.''
It wasn't a question. ''Yes, I will.''
''I see... then I'll defeat you and save Ruby!'' He declared, ''Rend the Heavens Asunder, Zangetsu!''
An eruption of Reiatsu flooded the courtyard, causing Pyrrha to stumble back in shock from the sheer amount of power he radiated... and in the back of her mind, she realised that his power matched if not surpassed hers. It was a startling idea, and it both worried her... and got her blood pumping. When the smoke from his Shikai release cleared she stared in shock at the twin blades before her, an understandable reaction given there was only five dual-wielders in the Twelve Divisions, with an extra three if you counted fist-based Zanpakuto like Yang's.
The red-head stared at him for a moment, before smiling. ''Very well. I shall give it my all from the beginning... Absorb, Senshi!''
Her Zanpakuto glowed a mix of red and bronze, expanding in size before splitting into two, one rounding out and the other lengthening and becoming thinner. When the light died away it revealed she was, to his surprise, also a dual-wielder. In her right hand laid a xiphos-type sword, the blade a crimson colour with a bronze outline along the edges. In her left was a bronze-gold dipylon-styled shield, yet the rim was visibly sharp like a blade.
Silently Pyrrha raised her shield before her, xiphos held behind her ready to attack. Without a word the two launched towards one another, their clash kicking up a gust around them. Ichigo swung his khyber knife, slamming it into her shield but not making her budge in the slightest and forcing him to block her blade with his trench knife. He backed off to clear some space, only for the red-head to charge towards him shield-first.
A string of curses left him as he used Shunpo to make some distance, raising his larger blade and bringing it down in a vicious arc. ''Getsuga Tenshō!''
The heaven-piercing moon-fang screamed towards his opponent, erupting into a plume of blue-tinted dust as it exploded on impact. She hadn't even attempted to avoid that attack, which immediately put him on guard - after his battle with Weiss, he was more than a little cautious when it came to other peoples Shikai. Then again her release command was... absorb...!
It was only his honed instincts that saved him from being struck by a startling familiar wave of energy, albeit a red one. He covered the distance in a second, his khyber clashing against her shield and his trench knife blocking her xiphos.
''I get it now.'' Ichigo grinned, straining to push her back. ''Absorb. Your Zanpakuto absorbs attacks, I'm guessing.''
''Correct.'' Pyrrha smiled back. ''Senshi allows me to reinforce myself or release the stored energy back at my opponent, which makes me a good counter to you, wouldn't you say?''
He didn't reply as he batted her blade aside, lunging towards her... only for her to unexpectedly twist, pulling back and using her shield to redirect both his blades to the side. He had to Shunpo back to avoid getting slashed by her xiphos, but didn't have any time to recover as she chased him down, covering the distance in a heartbeat.
Ichigo grimaced, lunging forth with his trench knife towards her right hand-
''Seki!''
-only for a blue orb to appear, shattering the moment he struck it... and causing his arm to jerk backwards in reaction. He only barely managed to raise his larger blade in time to block her slash, but wasn't prepared for her to ram him with her shield. His mistake earned him a gash on his shoulder to hip, spewing crimson into the air as her xiphos cut a thin line down his front.
He stumbled back in surprise, scowling as he deflected another slash. 'Dammit! How the hell is she so strong?! She's far stronger than Ruby or Schnee-san... is the difference between Lieutenant and Third Seat this big?'
No response came, but instead a risky plan formed in his head. With a pained grin Ichigo vanished in a burst of Shunpo, reappearing a distance back and swinging down, releasing a full-power Getsuga straight towards her. Like before she didn't bother dodging and prepared to absorb the attack, holding her shield out in front of her.
Obscured by the Getsuga, the teen charged up a second Getsuga in his trench knife, before throwing it like a dart. With his hand free he held his open palm towards her. ''Sprinkle on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring! Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm! The sound of warring spears fill the empty castle! Hadō #61: Raikōhō!''
Ichigo was not good at Hado. That was a given.
But what he was good at, was destruction.
A full-powered Getsuga Tenshō, a secondary but still powerful Getsuga, and a full incantation Raikōhō? That could be considered overkill. That showed as all three struck at the same time, the surrounding area instantly becoming enveloped in a titanic eruption of blue and gold power that reached high into the sky, causing shockwaves strong enough to level the surrounding buildings. Even Ichigo was sent skidding backwards through the air due to the miniature hurricane-like winds that blew past, howling in his ears.
When the smoke cleared he got to witness the sight of a large crater spanning the length of the entire courtyard. The shorter half of Zangetsu laid near the centre of it, smoking at the tip. Pyrrha stood not far away, down on one knee and with her shield still held before her - said shield was now adorned with a litany of cracks, though from the explosion itself or from absorbing too much energy he didn't know. Her Reiatsu had also dropped, something of a small comfort if nothing else.
''Haha!'' His Hollow half laughed gleefully. ''Nice throw Kingy! Glad to see you're putting my lesson to use!''
'Kinda hard not to after you threw your bloody sword at me.' Ichigo rebutted dryly.
''Do try to not throw me next time, if you could.'' The Quincy-half of Zangetsu remarked, disapproval lacing his tone.
'I'll try.' He smirked, floating down towards the ground. The short trench knife flew into his hand with just a mental command, making his smirk widen. It felt badass; give him a break.
His attention was grabbed as Pyrrha slowly got to her feet, stumbling slightly but remaining on her feet. She had mild burns littering her form yet stood defiant, her shield cracked but her sword remaining whole. There was a strange fire in her eyes, one that he saw in his Hollows during their spars... battle-hungriness.
''Impressive. Overloading Senshi like that, leaving me unable to dodge. I shouldn't have gotten overconfident.'' She breathed, grinning lightly. ''It's been a while since anyone besides my Captain has pushed me this far.''
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. ''I'm guessing your one of the stronger Lieutenants then?''
''The strongest Lieutenant.'' She responded, the cracks in her shield slowly healing, much to his surprise. ''Let's continue.''
He didn't get a chance to respond before she was suddenly in front of him, moving with pure speed. He narrowly avoided being decapitated as he leaned back, only to take a shield bash straight to the chest, knocking the wind from him.
'Shit!' He cursed, a burst of Shunpo carrying him back a dozen feet... only to find the red-haired warrior in his face a heartbeat later. He deflected her sword swing and lashed out with his trench knife, succeeding in cutting her across the cheek yet not stopping her assault in the slightest. Like a berserker she attacked, her blade clashing against his own in a flurry of sparks, never stopping and never hesitating. Her shield blocked any attacks from the larger Zangetsu and absorbed any Getsuga he fired, never giving him enough time to fully charge them.
Then she began to use Shunpo.
If her supercharged-speed was hard to match, her Shunpo was damn near impossible. She wasn't even a blur as she spontaneously appeared around him, never present for more than half a second as she clashed with him or landed grazing hits. The only bonus was that she moved so fast she couldn't land severe hits without leaving herself open. As another gash appeared on his shoulder, he made a decision.
With a burst of Shunpo and Hirenkyaku, he briefly eclipsed her speed and ruthlessly capitalised on it. He appeared behind her, his khyber knife glowing blue with the power of a Getsuga Tenshō, before crimson was spilt as he cleaved smoothly down her back. The deep gash reached from her shoulder to hip, and a grim smile crossed his face when he saw her falter, stumbling forwards and falling to one knee, gasping in pain. A dozen feet in front of them a crack spread across the ground from the sheer pressure behind his Getsuga-enhanced swing.
Ichigo pointed his khyber knife at her, speaking lowly. ''Surrender.''
She didn't respond for several moments and he grimly prepared to react to an attack... only to be surprised when her Shikai returned to its sealed state, reforming into one blade.
''...I know when I'm outmatched.'' Pyrrha spoke up, as if sensing his surprise. ''I concede.''
He released a silent sigh of relief, but didn't dare reseal his Zanpakuto. Instead, he performed a trick that Old Man Zangetsu had taught him; concentrating for a moment, he gathered his Reiryoku around his blades... and was pleased when white bandages suddenly manifested, wrapping the two blades like a sheath. He hung the smaller blade on his hip and strapped the larger one over his shoulder.
Ichigo turned, prepared to Shunpo to the top of the large stairs, only for Pyrrha to speak.
''Promise me something, Kurosaki-san...'' She murmured, her voice soft yet strained.
He said nothing, but didn't leave.
''Save Ruby... do what I never could.'' Pyrrha said, before falling flat on her face, unconscious.
With a burst of Shunpo, Ichigo left with a scoff, one thought ringing in his mind.
'What else would I do?'
Translations:
Kuroneko = Black Cat.
Shinsō = God Spear.
Kōgen no Kashin = Flower God of High Plains.
Senshi = Warrior.
Seki = Repulse.
A/N: This chapter took a while.
Like, a long time. In the time it took to do this chapter I got like 3~ chapters done for another fic I'm preparing. Seriously, I couldn't write a fight scene to save my life for some reason. Probably because I spent a while trying to find something to write other than 'he blocked, she swung, he blocked and swung, she blocked, he swung' etc. Battle scenes are annoying to balance.
Some more Zanpakuto revealed though. Blake's was probably obvious, although I've purposefully kept the full power of it hidden for now. Inoue also only got a little sneak peek with her Zanpakuto too - Flower God of High Plains? I wonder how strong that'll become in later chapters, fufufu. She also got a long incantation like Kyoraku, since there's so few of those in Bleach.
Pyrrha's Zanpakuto is vaguely similar to Ukitake's, although the latter isn't in this fic for reasons later explained. She can absorb energy and fire it back, or empower herself with the stolen energy and become stronger. More of her abilities will be revealed at a later point, like with most characters.
All Captains have now been introduced, and not just mentioned. I'm sure some of you will have expected some like Taiyang or Ironwood, but I'm certain none of you expected Ciel. The Captains are also a lot closer than in Bleach, since their Divisions aren't so isolated and working with other Divisions is commonplace - people tend to work together when there's soulless monsters and soul-eating monsters at their doorstep.
Port's title though... how unusual.
Something funny going on with Summer and Gin. What could Blake have been nosey about? Could this be foreshadowing?! Only time will tell.
Anyway, till next time~
