Author's note: Urgh, I'm uneasy on how this chapter is. I'm horrible at writing fight scenes...eh, I guess it's practice for later down the line, where there's gonna be...more fights.

Chapter 12 – Battle Royale

"Emergency!" Tessai jumped down the ladder. He was panting heavily. "Captain, Vice-Captains, we need your assistance!"

"What's wrong, Tessai?" Yoruichi asked.

"…..Arrancar….have appeared…."

Soi drew her zanpakutou immediately. "One of you, contact Kuchiki and Kotetsu. NOW!"

Yachiru, Nemu, and Rangiku all jumped out of their gigais and followed the captain up.

"Damn it…." Yoruichi scowled. "What's Kisuke gonna do?"

Tessai sat down. He began to mutter incantations as his hands glowed.

"What are you…."

"This is something I developed a decade ago. The Gotei will need every ounce of strength they have for this battle!"

He slammed his hands into the dirt as his reiatsu rose.


Ichigo and Rukia were almost to the clinic. They had spent the time just walking slowly, talking about recent events. But now…a dark feeling had come to Ichigo's senses.

"Rukia….you feel that too…..right?"

Before she could answer, her soul phone was ringing loudly. She quickly answered it.

"Ruki-Ruki, it's time to fight! Make sure Ichi can fight too!"

"Oh no…." Kon whimpered. Ichigo removed his pill and shoved it into his mouth, ejecting his soul.

"Kon, you head back home now! This is gonna get ugly…." Ichigo transformed into his Bankai form. "Real ugly."

"Ichigo, we should split up! I feel the Arrancar scattered across the town!"

"Alright!"

Rukia jumped out of her gigai and headed north, while Ichigo headed south. Kon quickly picked up Rukia's gigai and ran off.


Isane hung up her phone. She looked nervously at Chad.

"You should go."

"….yes. I need to help the others."

Isane looked down.

Oh…..just in case I don't make it….

Chad's eyes widened as the healer quickly pressed her lips to his.


Tatsuki grumbled as she headed towards her own house.

"What a joke….how am I supposed to fight now? How can I get stronger….."

Then it was like a thunder storm had crashed down on her head. She started to gasp for breath.

"What…who….."

"Well well. It seems you are my first victim of the night."

Tatsuki looked up in horror.

Edorad Liones smiled evilly at her, his red hair flowing the wind. But before he could make a move, he was suddenly slammed into the sky by one very very angry Shinigami.

"What?!"

Yachiru smiled at the boxer.

"Spikey-chan, you'd better hide. Because this is gonna messy."

Tatsuki watched as the small vice-captain leaped into the air and reached the Arrancar, who had recovered from the blow.

"My…..you're quite the small one. You're my opponent?"

"You were gonna hurt Spikey-chan."

Edorad looked confused.

"The…..human? So what?"

Yachiru glared at the Arrancar.

"You shouldn't have done that. You really shouldn't have done that."

The Arrancar's eyes widened as the vice-captain appeared in front of him and punched him as hard as she could across the night sky.


Rukia jumped from rooftop to rooftop, scanning for anybody in danger. Suddenly a burst of energy fired at her and she smashed into a house.

"No fair….Shinigami aren't part of the game, but hey, I could use a warm up!"

Di Roy Linker grinned and zoomed down to continue the fight.


Soi was zooming towards the strongest reiatsu she felt. That must be the leader! I must kill him first!

But she barely dodged the incoming Cero.

"My, my….a Captain. That's quite troubling."

Soi turned to glare at the Arrancar who fired at her, Shawlong Kufang.

"Big mistake, Arrancar."

She felt another one appear behind her, but she wasn't concerned at all.

"We should kill her immediately, Shawlong. She'll ruin the game." Nakeem Grindina said.

"Kill me? How ridiculously arrogant are you Arrancar? Aizen is making an army of morons."

Nakeem growled, but Shawlong simply smiled.

"You're the one who thinks you can take the two of us on…..at once."

Soi removed her haori and threw it off the rooftop.

"I can."


Rangiku gulped as she looked around. Orihime's still out here! Where could she be?!

Suddenly, a burst of lightning struck her, slamming her into the ground.

"Ha! Bullseye!"

She opened her eyes weakly. To her shock, two figures with matching uniforms were hovering above her. Both of them were female.

"50 points if you get the Shinigami's head!" Candice Catnipp declared.

"Oh, that's no fun. You attacked her first, you cheater." Meninas McAllon pouted and shook her head.

"Whatever! I'm killing her first!"

Candice grinned evilly as she charged up and aimed at Rangiku.

No…..I need to-

Nemu had extended her hand out.

"Rangiku-san, I will assist you."

"Nemu! Get out the way! The…..lightning!"

Nemu didn't look up as the blast was crackling towards her breakneck speed.

"I see."

She flash-stepped away with Rangiku just before the blast hit.


Ichigo reached the lone figure in the sky. He was grinning as he looked around.

"Oh man, it's gonna be a bloodbath down there! There's Shinigami….and Quincy?! Oh man, this is my lucky break!"

"Hey!"

Grimmjow looked over at Ichigo.

"What's up, Shinigami? You want to fight me?"

Ichigo pointed his zanpakutou at Grimmjow.

"Get your mooks out of my town now."

Grimmjow laughed manically and appeared in front of him.

"Want to try that again…Strawberry? Ichigo Kurosaki, am I right?"

"Who…..the hell are you?"

"Grimmjow Jaegarjaeques, Sexta Espada. And I'm gonna break you."

His fist smashed into Ichigo's face.


Rukia panted as she stood herself up. Before she could react, Di Roy punched her into a telephone pole. She grunted as she fell down.

"You….bastard. A…sneak attack?!"

"Heh. Who says I have to play fair?"

"It'd be nice…."

Di Roy shifted his gaze. Isane had drew Itegumo.

"Isane-san…."

"Don't worry, Sado-kun is safe. I mean….I hope so."

"Two on one huh? Sounds good to me!"

Two Balas had fired off in different directions; one stuck Isane and knocked her into a car, but Rukia jumped and dodged the other one.

"So you're not completely terrible, eh Midget?!"

Rukia's reiatsu started to spike. Luckily, she didn't have a limiter on. And he had pushed one too many buttons.

"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"


Kon shivered as he ran down the street with Rukia's gigai.

"I'm gonna die…..there's so many scary guys out there….Ichigo, Nee-san….please beat them...!"

He soon noticed the blonde-haired Arrancar staring directly above him on the telephone wire.

"GYAAAAAHHH!"

"Hey, I found one! This will be a snap."

"Just like your spine."

Ilfordt Granz's eyes widened as Yoruichi appeared behind him. She grabbed his neck.

"Or maybe….I'll snap everything, hmmm?"

She punched the Arrancar and launched him far above.

"My…..savior….!" Kon sighed and fainted.


Edorard grunted as Yachiru punched him again. Now the two were high above the town, and he was starting to get very very angry.

"Vice-Captain, this is what you amount to? Hitting me? Are you scared to use your sword?"

"I don't need that, silly. You're too weak!"

That did it. Edorad charged up a cero. Clearly, I can't underestimate this girl. But to be toyed with a child? I'll show her….

He noticed Yachiru was gone.

"She…..fled? But why?"

"Man, you don't listen."

Yachiru smacked her sheathe across Edorad's face and threw him into a building.

"Oops! Oh well! Ken-chan always breaks stuff when he fights. And this is getting boring….hey, Red-chan, do you have any snacks?"

Yachiru's eyes widened as the building suddenly erupted in flames, but thankfully she didn't sense any souls inside. A powerful burst of reiatsu had zoomed into her face, but she didn't flinch.

Edorad arose from the rubble, now transformed into his ressurrecion form.

"Hey, you finally stopped holding back! That's good! But I really need to finish this already, so can we hurry it up?"

Edorad glared darkly at the Shinigami girl. Yachiru merely smiled.


Soi was having a similar problem. The two Arrancar had both decided to transform, forcing her to play defensively. She had to use her Shikai, but-

"Damn!" She dodged another cero only to have another blast her again. She smashed into the Karakura River.

"How disappointing. This Captain is so stuck up with pride, she won't even release."

"Her death then." Nakeem said.

"Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi!"

Soi zoomed out of the water and immediately struck Nakeem. A butterfly pattern had sprouted on his torso that she hit.

"What the hell?!"

"Fascinating….." Shawlong muttered.

She turned and aimed for the mantis Arrancar, but he gripped the stinger between his bone-like fingers, stopping the hit.

"I'm not stupid, Captain. You're planning something."

"How'd you guess?" She said sarcastically.

She smashed her foot into Shawlong's face and knocked him back, but she felt Nakeem smash into her back, sending her down towards the ground.

Damn it….the limiters….if they weren't on…..

She gasped as the buildings of the town began to be covered with a blue and pink like barrier.


One figure had arrived at the Urahara Shop. He started curiously at the sign.

"I see….this must be the place! And it seems that Urahara fellow is still inside….perfect!"

"The shop is closed for the day."

Askin Nakk Le Vaar looked down. A pigtailed girl in pajamas stared at him, her expression not changing.

"Hahaha….you'd better move, little girl. Or I'll kill you too."

Ururu grabbed his wrist as he moved towards the door. He cried out as she began to squeeze.

"The shop is closed for the day." She repeated, her eyes now blank. "Please leave."


Ichigo was expecting to smash into another building but he felt himself hit the exterior, and fall to the ground. Grimmjow hovered over him.

"What did you Shinigami do to the town? It's all colorful and shit. It's not fun if you can't blow stuff up!"

Ichigo growled and glared at him.

"Aww….is Strawberry gonna cry?"

Ichigo's blood was pumping with rage. He had enough of this. He wasn't going to lose again, to a third Arrancar. He began to charge his zanpakutou with energy.

"Oooh, a magic trick! Cute!" Grimmjow said mockingly.

But then, his eyes shot open. Ichigo's Hollow mask had formed again. He raised his zanpakutou and fired.

"TAKE THIS!"


"What are these girls?!" Rangiku panted. Her face was bruised, and now her robes were charred. Nemu had injures as well, but she didn't seem that out of it.

"They appear to be Quincy."

"But how can that be?! I thought the Gotei-"

"Killed us all….right?"

Rangiku gasped. Candice and Meninas had cornered them.

"Well you missed a couple! But don't worry. You'll be seeing more of us very soon!" Candice grinned.

"Who are you?!"

Meninas poked her partner's arm.

"Go on."

"Jesus, fine! Candice Catnipp, The Thunderbolt!"

"I'm Meninas McAllon, The Power. Pleased to meet you."

"Idiot! We're trying to kill them! Goddamn it, why were you sent instead of Liltotto?"

"Nemu, please tell me you have an idea!" Rangiku whispered as the two Quinces began to argue. "I could release, but the limiter is restricting my power! And I think her lightning will just dispel my ash!"

Nemu noticed the buildings around her. None of them had been damaged or distorted by the lightning. In fact….she detected multiple releases, both Shinigami and Arrancar. The town was not overloading with spiritual pressure.

"Kido….." Nemu whispered. "Someone cast a spell to protect this town. In theory…..the limiters should not be needed.

She quickly called the Seireitei.

"Request for limiter removal. Karakura Town has been shielded by an elaborate kido spell. It will be unharmed in the crosshairs."

A click, and Nemu felt the Shinigami power throughout the town rise dramatically. Rangiku grinned as she placed a hand on her blade's point.

"Hey! What's going on?!" Candice demanded.

"Heh heh….you girls made a wrong move, hurting this cute face. Growl, Haineko!"


Isane gasped as her power shot up. She clutched the hilt of her sword tightly.

"Run, Itegumo!"

Di Roy's eyes widened as another zanpakutou release rang out. He quickly dodged Rukia's incoming slash.

"Damn it! I guess I should play too!"

Isane pointed her zanpakutou at the Arrancar. "Hurricane!"

The Arrancar was smacked with a concentrated blast of air that quickly began to cool the air around him.

"The limiters have been removed!" Rukia smirked. "Vice-Captain, what do you say we….cool this guy down?"

Silence.

"Rukia-san, not even the Captain would smile at that." Isane shook her head.


Yuzu clutched her head and whimpered. It felt like a dozen tsunamis crashing down on her. But what was it? Could….she sense…? Karin quickly held her tight, also suffering from the same pain.

"Ichi-nii….Dad…win this battle already!"

Her eyes widened as she noticed a figure at the window.

"How interesting. Those two are definitely the children of….that man…."

"I'm right here."

Shaz Domino turned to face a very cross Isshin.

"What do you say we take this battle somewhere else, Quincy?"

Isshin wasted no time and smashed his head into the man, breaking his glasses.

"Gaaah…what the hell…do you know who I am?!"

Isshin grabbed Shaz and zoomed into the air. He threw the Quincy a few feet back.

"I know you were trying to go for my daughters. I can't think of a dumber way to die."

"Haaa….you fool…..I am Shaz Domino, The-"

The tip of Engetsu pierced his skull.


Yachiru smashed into the ground. Her robes were ripped, and now she had blood streaming down her face. But she wasn't worried. In fact, she was having a blast. Like her father, the vice-captain got incredibly excited in combat.

"Give….up. You're no match for my released form!" Edorad roared, the fire starting to erupt over his body again.

"Nah."

Yachiru stood up and giggled.

"C'mon, that's not your best, is it? Ken-chan would've fallen asleep by now!"

Edorad's eye twitched dangerously. He had enough of this nonsense. This vice-captain refused to take him seriously, and now she would die horribly for it. He pulled his fist back…..

And launched an intense wave of fire at the ground. He wasn't really thinking about the barriers that covered the town now, he just wanted the girl to die.

But alas….

"Man, you really are weak."

Edorad's eyes widened. He suddenly felt Yachiru's zanpakutou pierce through his torso, hitting major organs. He coughed up blood.

Then he felt two other weapons pierce through.

"Gaaa…what the…?!"

He turned and noticed two strange creatures standing next to Yachiru, mimicking her movement.

"Riot, Sanpo Kenju!"

The last thing Edorad registered was Yachiru's dark frown.

"I warned you…it was a mistake to hurt Spiky-chan."


Soi dodged Nakeem's cero and deflected his strike. She flipped back and dodged Shawlong's tail.

"What the hell?! How did she get so strong all of a sudden?!"

Nakeem gasped as the captain stabbed at the mark from before.

"Aizen really told you nothing, didn't he?"

Shawlong watched as Nakeem fell to the ground, with a heavy thud. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as he began to dissolve into nothingness with a red flash. Soi turned her glare to him. She licked the blood from her mouth away.

"…I see…..this is quite perilous…..I-"

Shawlong's eyes widened in horror as Soi stabbed him once.

"You have 10 seconds before you join him. Make them count."

His response was to growl and fire his strongest cero at the Captain. When the dust cleared, he didn't see her.

Damn it…..I have to flee…..Grimmjow-sama…..

"Too bad. I would've ran."

Shawlong looked around frantically. The captain suddenly appeared in front of him and stabbed his mark again.

"No…..!"

Shawlong fell downward, dissolving before he hit the ground in the same red flash.

"Death…..in two strikes."


Candice cursed as the ash cut her side again. She threw more lightning towards it, but Rangiku curved the trail around the blast.

"Ah ha! Not so tough now, are we?"

Rangiku adjusted her stance, but didn't see Meninas about to punch her. Thankfully, Nemu was quicker, and kicked her hard into the ground.

"Oww! That hurt, Shinigami-san!"

"Stop with the formality! KILL THEM!"

Candice launched a massive wave of lighting at Rangiku, and the ash was dissolved instantly at it closed in at her. Rangiku gasped and closed her eyes, only to have the hit never come. When she opened them, a barrier was in front her, with one figure having cast it.

"What?!"

Tessai crossed his arms and glared firmly at the Quincy.

"I suggest you leave this town immediately. If you know what's good for you…."

Meninas punched at him, but Tessai was able to catch the fist. He didn't even flinch. He did, however, squeeze and crush the bones in her hand.

"AAAAAHHHHH!"

"Meninas! Who the fuck are you, old man?!" Candice shouted, charging up all of the lightning she could muster.

"Me? I'm a simple assistant. But….I suppose if you want my real name…..?"

Tessai threw Meninas at Candice with the speed and force of Thor himself. The two crashed into each other and fell off the building they were dueling Rangiku and Nemu on.

"My name is Tessai Tsukabishi. Former Captain of the Kido Corps."


Di Roy was panicking now. Every time he tried to release, he would either get blasted by Isane's air or Rukia's snow. And the two were not letting him close the distance.

"Damn it…..can't you bitches fight for real?!"

"Bakudo #61! Rikujokoro!"

Isane pointed her finger, charging it with yellow energy.

Six structures of light smashed into Di Roy, holding him in place. Isane panted. Blood had stained her shihakusho.

"Time for you to stop moving around, Arrancar."

Rukia winced as she rotated her sword around, aiming it at the Arrancar. Her wounds were staring to ache. But she could stop him.

Di Roy watched in a mix of alarm and confusion as she began to stab pieces of the ground. Cold air had streamed up out of each spot she struck. A bell rang each time she did.

"Second Dance...Hakuren!"

The air launched forward at a single point, freezing Di Roy completely.

Isane pointed her own zanpakutou.

"Circular Spin!"

The air from her own zan zoomed around Di Roy's prison, lifting the block into the sky. His expression was frozen (literally) in horror.

"And now….Pressure Point!"

The air curved continuously into a ball until it was at a very small size. Then it struck the ice as if a man had stabbed his sword's tip at it with blinding force. The ice exploded into hundreds of shards, Di Roy no more.


Grimmjow growled as he blocked Ichigo's strike with his own zanpakutou. The substitute had caught him off caught with his sudden transformation, and Grimmjow couldn't keep up.

Ichigo snarled and knocked the Espada back.

"Tch…..I guess I have no choice!"

Grimmjow put his fingernails on his blade.

"Grind, Pan-"

A figure suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Ichigo's eyes widened, and then, his mask had cracked into pieces.

No…..!

"Tousen….what the hell do you want?!"

The blind ex-captain merely shook his head.

"Aizen-sama is furious, Grimmjow. You mobilized Arrancar and went to the Living World without his perimission. And now we've lost five of them."

Tousen snapped his fingers to summon the Garganta, but he snapped them again to erect a barrier to block Soi's incoming strike.

"Captain Fon. What a pleasure."

"Tousen….! You son of a bitch! You think this barrier can save you?! You think Aizen will protect you from the death you deserve?!"

He said nothing and merely pulled Grimmjow into the portal.

"Shinigami…..if I ever see you again….I'll rip your fucking head off. You and me? Only the beginning." He grinned as the Garganta closed. Ichigo lowered his sword and panted.

"Substitute. That was the leader of this pack, wasn't it?"

"Yeah….." Ichigo frowned. "Grimmjow, that was his name. Called himself the Sexta, or something like that."

"He's one of the Espada."

Yoruichi had appeared next to the two.

"Yoruichi-sama….what is that?"

"Ten Arrancar that serve Aizen, and they're the strongest. As the number goes down, the strength goes up."

"Yoruichi-san, how did-"

"Beat it out of that guy."

The two followed her pointer finger. On the ground, the dead body of Ilfordt Granz laid, his neck snapped with ease. Blood had pooled around his corpse.


Candice and Meninas both panted as they continued to flee, knowing they were outnumbered in this situation.

"D-Damn it…..these Shinigami are too strong…..!"

"Oh. Bambi-chan is not going to be happy with us for losing."

"Like she's the problem right now…..here, this spot should be good. I think we lost them."

Candice opened up the portal to leave, but not before the beaten body of Askk crashed into the ground.

"What….happened to you?" Meninas asked.

Askin whimpered. His body was battered and broken, and he couldn't even land a single hit on his foe.

"D-Devil girl…..she…..she's a monster….."

Asin shrieked as Ururu suddenly appeared, readying her fist again. Candice quickly fired a bolt of lightning and knocked her into a telephone pole.

"Let's go!"

"Mmm…..Shaz died. What a shame."

Meninas pulled Asin into the portal as it closed behind the trio.


"There we are, Inoue-san." Hachigen smiled as he held up her hair pins. "It took a while….but it's done."

Orihime had spent her time meeting all of the Vizards, and getting to know each one. Despite the initial hostility, they turned out to be very laid back group.

"Oh…..really?"

"Yes. You should be able to use all of your fairies again. Captain was right to send you here."

"He's not your captain anymore." Hiyori drawled. The Vizards were watching Game Center GX.

"I don't know how to thank you, Hachi-san!" Orihime smiled brightly.

"Please, it is no trouble." The large man said.

"By the way…" Lisa looked at Orihime. "Battle's over now. You can go home if you want."

"…battle?"

Hachigen looked uncomfortable. "I…..created a barrier around the warehouse to shield us. It seems Arrancar had appeared."

"Arrancar?!" Orihime hurried for the door.

"Hey! Tell Ichigo he can join us, but he has to come alone, alright?" Shinji called out.

"Wait!"

Orihime stopped at Mashiro's voice. The costumed Vizard skipped over to her and smiled.

"Hime-tan, you're our friend now! So you can come by whenever you want. And if you're in a jam….here you go!"

Orihime took the whistle from Mashiro's hands.

"Blow this!"

"Um…..t-thank you."

Kensei scowled as he watched Orihime leave.

"Mashiro, don't tell me you're going to bring back the Mashiro Express again."

"Yeeep! Silly Kensei, every superhero needs a calling!"

Mashiro had gotten very suspicious at the headband titled "Rookie" over the auburn-haired girl's head. She was gonna get to the bottom of this….

Hachigen lowered his gaze.

The fact of the matter was, the Vizards had turned Ichigo away merely because he had Rukia with him, a Gotei member. And because of that, the strawberry was forced to be outside and nearly get himself killed. He felt ashamed of himself.

"Hachi….where you going? Look, Chief Amano is playing the game! That's the best part!" Love said.

"I wish to head off to bed now. Please, if anybody needs anything, you know where to find me."

Captain…..thank you for protecting the town. ….I only wish I had your courage.


Kisuke passed a cup of tea to the last member of the room. Yoruichi thanked him and drank from the cup.

"Well, everyone. That was quite the adventure, wasn't it?"

Tessai frowned. He covered Ururu with a blanket as she snored softly. She was slightly banged up from the blast, but largely unharmed.

Rukia had gone with Ichigo to find Yuzu and Karin, and Isane went to check on Chad. Yachiru was no where to be found.

"You didn't do anything." Soi scowled.

"Didn't I?"

"No!"

"We have to report all of this to the Seireitei." Rangiku whispered. "Everything. The Arrancar, the Quincies….how could there still be some alive?"

She and Nemu had explained the two characters they found. Isshin found one as well.

"Tch…it's a long story." Isshin muttered.

"Tell us." Soi said, glaring at the ex-captain.

Isshin glanced at his former vice-captain. She was giving him a suspicious look, as if she was close to solving a mystery.

"Alright then. Ever heard of the Vandenreich?"

"…No." Nemu said.

"They're an empire of Quincies that Seireitei battled many many years ago. Many of them did die in the purge. But it seems there are new members…."

"Vandenreich…." Soi narrowed her eyes. Why did it sound familiar?

"Looks like he's still running around….." Isshin muttered.

"This is bad…." Yoruichi scowled. "Now we have Aizen AND Quincies to deal with?"

"…I wonder if Ishida-san knows…."

"I wonder if Aizen knows." Tessai scratched his chin. "This could be dangerous. What if they join forces?"

"He already joined up with Kurotsuchi. I think we hit our low point."

"Quincies would not join Aizen, if my captain did."

Everyone looked at Nemu in confusion.

"…everyone…he admitted something to Uryu Ishida during their fight. A very very troubling secret…."


Uryu panted as he dodged one last arrow. He was exhausted, and they had been training for hours now.

"Hmm….we may stop here. Tomorrow will be harsher."

But before Ryuken could leave, Uryu grabbed his arm.

"You…..how can you pretend like everything is fine? Did you not feel the Arrancar attack the town?!"

"I did. It doesn't matter to me."

Uryu pulled his father closer so that their faces were inches apart.

"What…..about the other Quincies? Are you going to tell me, with a straight face, that you didn't sense four Quincies attack?!"

"…I told you to not ask about that, Uryu."

"You…..!"

The teenager had enough of this. He was dedicating every second to getting revenge on Mayuri, to restore his powers and help out his friends. But his father could care less?

Uryu smashed his fist into Ryuken's face and knocked the man to the floor.

"You…..fool. Do you want to know a secret? Your father, my grandfather, was tortured to death. Are you listening? TORTURED. By a monster of a Shinigami that is still alive today, and is joined up with the man who summoned those Arrancar!"

Ryuken got to his feet. His glasses were broken now.

"But what does it matter to you, huh?! Just keep your shell of indifference and lack of empathy forever. You'll die alone. That's what you deserve."

Ryuken didn't say anything.

"You think I'm some pathetic fool who doesn't deserve to be taken seriously?! You think I lost my powers playing the fields of Soul Society, dancing with Rukia Kuchiki?! NO!"

Uryu grabbed the man again.

"I lost them trying to kill Soken Ishida's murderer!"

Ryuken stared at his son, who was seething with rage. He calmly released Uryu's grip.

"The next session will be tomorrow at 9 AM."

He slowly exited the room, not saying anything else.


"Welcome back, Grimmjow."

Grimmjow glared at Aizen, who leaned back and smiled in his throne. He seemed amused, but his eyes were anything but.

"Did you have fun in the Living World?"

"…"

"Well, this is unfortunate. But you did go to Karakura without my permission, and you took five Arrancar, your fraccion. I don't see them. Did they die?"

Grimmjow looked away and scowled.

"Answer the question, Grimmjow."

"Yeah."

"How did they die?"

"…they were killed by Shinigami."

"Ah yes, the Gotei 13. How troubling."

"Just get the punishment over with." He growled.

"Do not address Aizen-sama so rudely." Tousen said sharply.

"Relax, Kaname. Grimmjow, I have a special punishment for you."

The Espada's eyes widened to see Mayuri emerge from the shadows, grasping his hands together. He looked very excited.

"You can be Kurotsuchi's first test subject. He wants to try some compounds on an Arrancar."

"…yeah, okay, stop with the j-jokes." Grimmjow looked from the creepy captain to Aizen. "Just cut my arm off or something. Wouldn't that be easier?"

"No." Aizen smiled.

Tousen quickly incanted some kido to bind Grimmjow's wrists together.

"What?!"

"Just for precautions, Espada-san." Mayuri scolded. "It would do no good if you went berserk and wrecked one of Aizen-sama's labs. Don't worry, I promise it won't hurt-"

Grimmjow narrowed his eyes.

"-Me that is. Come along."

Tousen pushed the Espada in the direction of Mayuri, who turned and glared harsly at Aizen. Was a joyride really worth this?

"Oh, and Grimmjow? You're no longer the Sexta. I think I'll just move everybody up a rank. Zommari would be pleased to hear the news."

If Grimmjow wasn't restrained, he would've lunged for Aizen's throat right then and there, the differences in power nonwithstanding. He gets humiliated, his fraccion murdered, and now a lab rat for Mayuri Kurotsuchi? And Zommari Leroux, of all people, takes his rank?!

As Grimmjow walked with Mayuri, his mind only one thought. The next time he saw Ichigo Kurosaki, he would break every bone in his body.


Isane quickly phrased through the wall and looked around. Chad was unharmed, merely watching some TV.

"Sado-kun! Oh, you're okay….."

Chad turned to the vice-captain.

"Someone…shielded the town?"

"….yeah. I'm not sure who. We defeated the Arrancar, and everyone seems to be okay."

Chad looked down.

"I'm sorry…I couldn't help any of you."

"No, don't be. Your arm…."

"…I'm going to get stronger. I want to go to Urahara-san and start training."

Chad stood up and turned off the TV.

"Sado-kun…..I would be happy to help you, if you want?"

Isane gasped as the giant took her hand.

"You…..left without saying anything else."

The vice-captain's eyes widened as Chad kissed her, but she felt them flutter and close….


Tatsuki panted as she opened her eyes weakly.

"Gaah…..where am I?"

She looked around. She was still outside, and now the full moon had reached the top of the sky. Nothing seemed to be destroyed…..

"There you are!"

She looked up at a smiling Yachiru.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Spikey-chan!"

Tatsuki trembled when the girl hugged her.

"You…..you're hurt. You're bleeding…..what did that…..guy….do?"

"Hmm? Don't worry about him, he was too weak. As long as you're okay, that's all that matters!"

Honestly, Tatsuki's mind was spinning. More of these….Arrancar had arrived, and all of them attacked the town so easily. And this girl beat one of them?!

Her hands were shaking as she hugged the girl back.

"Spikey-chan….don't be scared. I'm here to protect you."

"I'm…..n-not scared. Where's Orihime?"

Yachiru blinked and scanned the town for reiatsu. Thankfully, she still felt the girl.

"Hime-chan's okay. Want me to get her?"

Tatsuki pulled back and stared at the girl.

"I…..don't get you, Yachiru. Why doesn't anything freak you out?"

"Huh? You're so silly, Spikey-chan. Nothing's scary if you just have fun! And when I'm with my friends, the SWA….I'm always having fun!"

Tatsuki hugged the girl again.

"Hey, I know! I'll walk you home, okay?"

"…..okay." She was too shaken to really protest.


Ichigo and Rukia phased through the walls of the clinic. Everything seemed to be fine.

"Yuzu, Karin! Where are yo-!"

Ichigo was tackled by Yuzu to the ground.

"Ichi-nii! It was so scary! Everything was shaking, and m-my head was hurt and….and…."

Yuzu started to cry.

"I'm…..glad you're back….."

Ichigo smiled softly and rubbed her hair.

"Yuzu…..I'll always come back. Got it?"

"Ichigo, she's actually touching your spiritual form. I thought you said she couldn't see spirits that well?"

"Guess she can now."

Karin came down the stairs and smiled at the two Shinigami in the room.

"So you kicked their asses. Thank goodness…."

"Karin, is everything okay? The Arrancar didn't harm you, right?" Rukia asked.

"Nah." She said. "You guys look pretty banged up."

"It's nothing." Ichigo muttered. Yuzu hugged her brother tighter.

"Well…I guess Goatface is with that Urahara guy?"

"What? Isshin told you about Kisuke Urahara?"

"Oh he told us a ton of stuff, Rukia-nee. You missed a lit, Ichi-nii. Like….a lot."

Ichigo didn't say anything. He continued to comfort Yuzu.

"Like he told us about our extended family! It was so cool!" The doorbell rang, and Karin went to answer it.

"Family?" Rukia frowned.

Orihime entered the room and looked around frantically.

"I-Ichigo-kun! Kuchiki-san! Are you two okay?! The Arrancar….they were….!"

Ichigo noticed the girl was out of breath. He stood up, still clutching Yuzu.

"Inoue…..what happened? Did they attack you too?"

"No, I….." The girl bit her lip. "I'm so sorry, Ichigo-kun. I wasn't here to help out….."

"Inoue."

Orihime gasped as the strawberry put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Don't blame yourself. As long as you're okay, it's fine."

"Ichigo-kun….." She blushed.

"Heh heh, Ichi-nii's got a girlfriend!" Karin teased, earning a glare from Ichigo. She sat down and cracked open a can of soda, and took a sip. "So, anyway….."

Ichigo, Rukia, and Orihime all looked at the older twin.

"Apparently Dad was the Captain of the 10th, or something. Did you know we have Mom's last name, not his?"

This earned confused looks from all three.

"Yeah. He's a Shiba. Know them, Ichi-nii?"

FIN

Ending notes: ...see?

I do like Rukia a ton, but I feel her power creep in the manga was a little...unrealistic. So I wanted to be a little reasonable and not just have her one-shot Di-Roy like she does in the manga. Also...Itegumo means "frozen cloud", so I figured eh why not, let's make it weather based. We never got to see Isane release after the SS arc...

For future kido naming, I will retain the Japanese name.

Aaaas for the Vanrenreich, again, "semi-AU", so we're gonna play with the history a bit. If you guessed correctly which four were gonna show up...I bow down you to you, oh mighty wizard. If not...well, Kubo made 26 of these darn guys! That's 2.5x the number of Espada and 2x the Gotei 13!

Next time - the SWA has a secret plan for the Kurosaki family.