Hope you were able to catch up during the break. Well now I'm going to have some filler to keep things slow and cool after the last chapter don't worry it won't be too boring to read.

Of Swords and Bows Act 12: Nine Days of Peace

Death is like the cold it will come with time and overwhelm one's body. The corpse of a person will grow cold and grey as the organs and tissue will freeze. Hypothermia is the result as the heart continues to stop beating slowly. The temperature of the body will drop and eventually become as chilly as ice. Rukia felt like she was now like ice uncaring and feeling in her duties as a Sternritter. The next stage of the invasion was coming and each knight was preparing. They knew they would not have a break like this for a while and soon hell would break in the realm of souls. Everyone wondered how this would end despite hoping they would win this war. No one knew the outcome afterwards only focused on the battles coming.

Bump...Bump...Bump...

The heart Rukia thought was cold still beat a slow hypnotic beat in her chest. She wondered if this was her soul reacting to something. Each day the memories flickered inside her mind and she did not know why. Sometimes she would take her diary and write things she did not know about. Entries about a realm of shinagami, humans, and the hollow were made. Names like Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, Uryuu, Renji, and Byakuya were included. She tried to ignore this focusing on her duties, but it was clear these thoughts would not go away. None of Gremmy's visions would help make this problem go away for the Quincy.

"Damn it who are these people..." Rukia muttered now slashing at the names trying to get it out of her mind. She spoke none of this to the other Sternritter not wanting to taint her reputation but she was told by Yhwach to not let it bother her for now. With "The Visionary" eventually these pains would go away once more like before, and yet nothing changed for Rukia Kuchiki in fact this only became worse.

Bump...Bump...Bump...

"Rukia it's me we have to speak." The calm tone of Uryuu Ishida was heard as she looked into his eyes. Rukia knew speaking ill with the heir of the Quincy was foolish but this man was someone she did not want to see right now. With a glare she clearly let him know her feelings.

"Young master I don't know why you continue to seek me but I wish to be alone for the moment." She said with as much respect as possible.

"Damn it Rukia you sound just like them! I don't know what they did but you must snap out of it." He said now taking hold of her arms trying to reason with the brainwashed girl.

"Let me go young master I don't know what you speak of!" Rukia hissed trying not to attack Uryuu in fear of punishment but the former ally of Ichigo would not back down locking her in place.

"I can see your diary you've been writing about everyone so you must know something!" He said pointing at the now damaged diary with several black marks over the pages in her current entry. Rukia clearly was more upset about this being known.

"I don't know they tell me the visions would go away, but they won't who are these people no who are you Uryuu Ishida?" Rukia said with a weak tone.

"I'm your friend along with Ichigo and the others not some pawn of this empire. They want mindless destruction and they dishonor the legacy of the Quincy. I will make sure they suffer after I take you home-"

"No I'm a Quincy I don't wish to be one of those soul reapers. They killed our kind and now wish to finish all of us including you. This is a battle of survival and we shall win young master." This girl seemed like a cruel parody of the once prideful female of the Kuchiki Clan. Uryuu could not believe these words had come out of her mouth.

"What are you saying these monsters want the destruction of the Seireitei they can't go on with this madness. You are a soul reaper and brother of Byakuya Kuchiki now let's go before they find us."

"No! Stop it leave now young master!" Rukia yelled slapping Uryuu causing his glasses to fall off shattering into pieces. He could not believe Rukia was so entranced by whatever they did to her. She lost her will to defy these orders even while she had remembered a part of her previous self. These corrupt Quincy had to be stopped but for now he could do nothing. Anything else would draw attention, and he was not trying to make life harder for both of them.

Bump...Bump...Bump...

"You have to remember Rukia no matter what they do you must regain what is lost to the darkness..." Uryuu spoke before leaving the room once more. Rukia had been left confused and upset now. She looked at her diary and began to write more about these images and memories. Feeling a strange beat she crossed out more of these words leaving the diary torn and worn from the pen. Feeling pain in her arm she was now poking it wondered if stabbing the throbbing area would ease the pain. Before she could land the first blow a loud cry was heard.

"What the fuck is wrong with you Rukia!" Yellow hair revealed the image of Liltotto and the other girls. Rukia gasped closing the book and had to gather herself together now. She wanted to focus on what her friends had wanted right now.

"Forgive me I was thinking about something and I was lost in a different world." Her answer was not completely trusted but they did not have the time to learn more about this.

"His majesty is calling a meeting before the next attack all Quincy must attend." Meninas said looking bored.

"So we had to come and pick you up before meeting with Bambi." Candice said also uninterested now.

"Come on Rukia-chan we can't be late for the meeting!" Giselle said with a cheerful jump. Giving the girls a nod Rukia rose to her feet going with the female knights as a different feeling entered her body.

BUMP...

-XXX-

In the final holy war any source of power was used by either side. The Quincy took the forces of the shinagami and hollow for their ranks, and the Soul Society accepted the help of former enemies and traitors. One of those enemies being Xcution in the form of Kugo, Tsukishima, and Giriko. They were currently training with Ganju Shiba in order to become much stronger after their final fights as humans. Their Fullbring was not enough to defeat the might of the shinagami facing them in combat. Despite not respecting the shinagami they were aware the threat Wandenreich holds. The complete destruction of all existence was something they could not allow no matter what previous concerns.

"To think days ago I was enjoying a drink at the bar now I'm reduced to fight like one of the shinagami." Kugo spoke tired from the current round of training as the Shiba's methods were anything but easy.

"Very true Moe would have been passed out by now, but then again he would love something like this." Tsukishima chuckled remembered his time with the student he considered his friend.

"Do you mind not speaking about the past when we should be concerned with the present..." Giriko tried to warn the others but they all felt the small spheres hit them directly in the face exploding afterwards.

"Come on guys I thought you were gonna kick some Quincy ass get in the game already!" The Senpen Banka continued to impact the former humans as he was stuck training each of these guys until they were ready to fight. The process was quite difficult and it seemed they were not going to be ready for the dangers to come which was not good. Ganju needed to get these guys focused and decided to prey on their weaknesses.

"Huh to think Ichigo was able to pass my training while you guys suck ass. Then again he was able to beat you Kugo so I'm not surprised he's become stronger than you ever thought."

"What the hell are you talking about of course he's stronger than me!" Even while feeling some resentment towards the substitute he was able to admit this.

"I mean you really fucking suck this kid managed to take down your operation with just a few of his friends. Giriko you didn't even last 5 minutes against Kenpachi, and Tsukishima you got punked by Byakuya talk about a humble asskicking!" He said trying to rile them up with his words.

"How dare you!" Ganju smirked as they came at him with renewed confidence continuing their training. Kugo was able to fend himself better in sword combat, Tsukishima relied less on his talents as a Fullbring using speed to his advantage, and Giriko had indeed become stronger than before but they still had quite a lot to learn.

"Well at least you didn't fail like before but you're still stuck in the mud!" Seppa had turned the rock under their feet into sand trapped the three leaving them unable to move. While he was laughing a sudden impact went to his head as he turned to see the leader of the Shiba clan herself.

"What the hell are you laughing about I thought you were supposed to train them not show off like an asshole!" Kukaku spoke with a growl clearly upset.

"Nii-san I was just getting them in the fight nothing more!" A fist came directly into his face as she was not going to take that for an answer.

"Don't you start that crap I expect these men to kill some fucking Quincy soon or else you're gonna get it brother!" Her hand grabbing his outfit as she let him know time was running out. Despite his crying he knew they had to get serious or else they would not be much use in battle. This war would determine the fate of all realms and they had to be ready for it as would everyone else.

-XXX-

Ichigo was unable to survive the training with Ōetsu Nimaiya while Renji had passed. Despite his goofy looks and actions his skills were something to be feared. In trying to make Ichigo understand the true nature of the zanpakuto he had revealed they were more than just a tool for combat. Ichigo knew Zangetsu was something more than just a spirit inside his blade, but after facing off Yhwach he felt like there was something that connected them both. The darkness was something Ichigo was used to considered what's been happening lately. He was unable to find the light no matter where he went to now. Even with the failure of the next challenge his greatest failure was with Rukia Kuchiki. His strength was now being questioned as was his mental state of mind.

Now the black angel had fallen from heaven returning to the world below.

Ichigo had went to visit some of his friends enjoying speaking with them once more, but he was unable to find Uryuu, Chad, and Orihime. When he needed his friends the most now they were somewhere else leaving him even more alone in the void.

Lost

Ichigo was already wanting to protect what matters to him. His friends, family, and comrades meant so much to him and the idea of failing them was unacceptable, but this was hiding a greater fear in his soul. Now with his shield cracked and nearly breaking he was unable to protect himself. All the battles he faced his defeat was now coming off the field of combat. He wondered if he should have even taken his powers back if it would lead to this. He was not taking the betrayal and death well, and now with no one around he crumbled under the pressure.

Confused

He felt alien as he no longer able to control himself or his power and like after the battle with Aizen he was not special anymore. His pride wounded and his spirit broken he was now soul searching wondered if this was a war even worth fighting knowing she would be there in the enemy line. To fight someone that used to be an ally would be hard to swallow and something Ichigo did not want to do right now. He never regrets accepting the offer to protect his family and friends, but he wanted to avoid the consequences of his decision now more than ever.

Alone

Eventually he wondered near the location of his current job in the human world the Unagiya Shop. He wondered if he should speak with her about all of this but knew it might be so much to let out he decided to go away. Yet it seemed she had noticed him and quickly ran after him before he went too far.

"Ichigo what the hell are you doing around this time of night on your own. Your dad was worried and asked if I had seen you." Suddenly her words about his father brought a small smile to his face. Of course his father was still there with his sisters too. They were around no matter what and it seemed like a good idea to visit them. With a grateful nod he ran off but was quickly grabbed her now squished by her chest.

"Oh no you don't I'm not letting you off without a good meal and shower you need it badly!" Ikumi replied smelling the foul stench of a workout plus she knew there was someone troubling him.

While under the hot water Ichigo was able to take a moment to relive himself of the stress his mind was under. It seemed like all the troubles of life were now swimming away into a drain like water. Once he cleaned up he decided to apologize about his absence only getting a headbutt in return. She just wanted the kid to do his job nothing more and yet she grew to care about him more than like a business associate. She asked him to let out what's been troubling him but Ichigo refused to budge. Despite her belief she was like a sister to him now Ichigo only got angry as they were yelling at each other.

"Damn it you're not my sister you can't possibly understand the idea of betrayal..." Realizing he said too much Ichigo just turned around not seeing the concerned look on her face.

"Ichigo what aren't you telling me I'm not a little girl that's too young for this stuff." She only wanted to help him right now.

"Someone you care about more than anything leaves without even saying goodbye..." He said trying to hide as much as possible when suddenly she wraps her arms around him in a comforting embrace.

"That's my husband for ya the promise to love until death only to find someone else in the end not even a farewell for his son yeah I know what that feeling is." Suddenly Ichigo realized his problems was someone people were used to even with Ikumi being a human he was not the first to feel this way. He began to realized perhaps he's not alone in this fight. Before anything else was said a huge sound was heard as Ikumi went to look finding nothing. Ichigo knew she could not see spirits and decided to head back to his father forgetting his own badge in the shop.

Truth

Later Ichigo found his father telling him about the events that happened even though he already knew he had failed to understand his zanpakuto. During the conversation the actions about Rukia were brought up as the Shiba Clan member just smiled at Ichigo. "So you must really like this girl if you think about her this much I knew you would grow up some day." Despite the humor Ichigo took this very seriously not even cracking a smile.

"Look Ichigo you think this only concerns you but you're wrong. This is not just your fight everyone wants to know why she did this, but for now you have to find yourself if you want to do anything about it. You know what I said before about revealing the truth well it's about time. You are going to need to sit down about this one Ichigo. You're not a shinagami, but you're not human either because your mother was..."

-XXX-

"Attention all Quincy present your crosses for his majesty at once!"

Each Sternritter was in the giant hall holding out their cross in honor of Yhwach. The father of their empire walked on the stage to give a speech about the current war and the next attack.

"As you know there is an old tale of the Quincy called the Kaiser Gesang. The sealed king of Quincy, and his heart which began beating after nine centuries. Soon he regained his intelligence and reason nine decades later, and his strength which returned nine years later who would finally conquer the world nine days later. In only nine days that limerick will become reality as we lay waste to everything this world has to offer. The hollow now just a stone to stand only and the shinagami who failed to end our line will learn of their mistake in time. In each of you carries the power of myself and the honor of being a knight. Now I ask of you my children to deliver the final blow to everything this world holds dear! We of the Wandenreich shall destroy all things with a holy light of the Quincy!"

Soon loud cheers were heard from this speech as Uryuu could only watch helpless to stop this manic's ambition while Rukia knew this is where she belonged. She would bring about the end of the shinagami and be rid of these terrible memories once and for all. The war was going to continue and only more blood would be shed on all sides of the battles.

Sorry this took a while was having a hard time determining the remain parts of this story but now we should be okay.