Zangetsu raised his hand and ripped open a tear in the air, a garganta opening a pathway to Soul Society from the lifeless deserts of Hueco Mundo.
Muramasa stepped inside, while Zangetsu took a long and saddened look across the world he had called home with his partner, which now only reminded him of what he had lost.
Starrk finally arrived to where he had sensed the reiatsu only to catch a glimpse of someone as a garganta closed.
"Capitalize any moment of weakness, for the enemy would do no less" – OSA
Chapter 12: Exploit
Muramasa and Zangetsu returned to the cave, and the Zanpakuto looked expectantly at their leader for orders.
"My brothers, my sisters, it is time for Zanpakuto to rule over Soul Society. Let us go and destroy them all!" Muramasa said fiercely to his followers as he looked at each and every one of their faces.
"It's about time, I've been itching to get some Shinigami blood!" the red and black skinned Zanpakuto said maniacally.
"Yeah!" others yelled in agreement.
The Zanpakuto all began racing towards Soul Society, eager to kill their previous owners, while Muramasa and Zangetsu slowly trailed behind them.
"We will search for the Captain-Commander as they assault Soul Society and the Shinigami are distracted" Muramasa stated.
"Very well" Zangetsu replied as he followed Muramasa.
They traversed the area, the world becoming a blur as they sped across the land in search of a trace of the Captain-Commander's reiatsu.
They eventually found themselves at a moss-covered entrance to what appeared to be a secluded cave, just as the Zanpakuto began their assault on Soul Society.
* Soul Society *
"Intruders, I repeat, intruders have breached Soul Society's defenses, report to your divisions immediately and await instructions!"
The divisions became a hectic flurry of members and seated officers scrambling to their positions ready to receive their orders in a moment's notice.
"You, take four members with you to the West Quadrant, and you, take ten members with you to the South Quadrant!" Captain Ukitake ordered various officers of his squad.
A messenger suddenly appeared and kneeled before the Captain as he waited to be approached.
"Yes, what is it?" Captain Ukitake asked as he continued sending various officers and members of his division to assist different sections of Soul Society.
"I have a priority one message from the Central 46!" the messenger said urgently.
This caused Captain Ukitake to stop in his actions and do a double take on what he just heard. As far as the Captains knew, the Central 46 hadn't even begun the process of finding suitable candidates to fill the vacant positions, and yet here they were, already replaced and back in power; Captain Ukitake, needless to say, was thoroughly confused.
"When did the Central 46 fill the vacant seats?" he asked after regaining his wits.
"They filled the last position several hours ago and have orders that all Captains are to report to their chambers immediately!" the messenger replied.
"At a time like this, what are they thinking" Captain Ukitake said in disbelief.
After sending the last of his members to assist other squads in the assault from the Zanpakuto, Captain Ukitake quickly departed for the Central 46 chambers.
Throughout the rest of Soul Society, the Lieutenants began battling their Zanpakuto to get them back, while unseated officers did their best with the havoc being caused to the various structures and buildings they had just finished repairing.
* Elsewhere *
"I must say, you didn't seem to put a lot of thought into where you would hide yourself, Captain-Commander Yamamoto" Muramasa said with amusement.
The Captain-Commander simply remained seated, showing no visible reaction that he heard a single word said by Muramasa.
Muramasa walked around the barrier surrounding the Captain-Commander, his hand grazing it ever so slightly as he appeared to be inspecting it.
"If you would be so kind, Zangetsu" Muramasa said while gesturing to the barrier that surrounded the Captain-Commander.
Zangetsu glanced at Muramasa briefly before looking over at the barrier.
He slowly walked forward, and as he approached the barrier he gently placed his hand on it and closed his eyes, apparently deep in concentration.
Moments later he created distance between himself and the shield. Zangetsu materialized his sword, and gazed at the blade his partner had wielded prior to his death. A tinge of sadness flickered in his eyes before he steeled himself, reeled back the blade as an aura of resolve began emanating from his very core, and uttered two words in almost a whisper, "Getsuga Tenshō."
A black fang of destructive energy was launched at the barrier, and when it struck, a violent storm of reiatsu sprang forth until the barrier gave way to the awe-inspiring power and dissipated into nothingness.
The Captain-Commander looked up from where he was sitting, noticing his barrier had been destroyed, and saw the joyous glint in the eyes of Muramasa as he outstretched his hand and shot a purple wave of energy towards him.
Fire erupted everywhere, creating a hole leading directly to above the cave and Muramasa began laughing maniacally, "I no longer have any need for you Captain-Commander Yamamoto, nor do I have any need for you, Zangetsu!"
Zangetsu looked over at Muramasa as he had a wide and victorious grin across his face before Muramasa disappeared to above the ground, while Yamamoto's Zanpakuto, Ryūjin Jakka, encased them both in fire.
"We have all been deceived," the Captain-Commander stated as he stood up from where he was sitting.
"You are incorrect" Zangetsu replied as the Captain-Commander gave him a questioning glance.
"I knew he would deceive me since the very beginning, I simply chose the lesser of two evils, but his crimes against me will not go without…an execution" Zangetsu said before lightly snapping his fingers.
* In Karakura *
"I'm coming Kouga, we will be reunited again, and make all who have wronged us pay" Muramasa thought as he raced to his wielder's location.
"There's the island!" Muramasa said aloud, but just before landing he felt a sudden burning in his chest.
"W-what is this?" Muramasa exclaimed as he looked down at his body. A white light began to shine more and more brightly until he was finally engulfed by pillar of energy and completely obliterated.
* Elsewhere *
"I shall leave you to deal with your Zanpakuto, Captain-Commander Yamamoto" Zangetsu said before disappearing.
Yamamoto withdrew his sword and prepared himself to give Ryūjin Jakka a thorough lesson.
* Central 46 Chambers *
As Captain Ukitake approached the entrance to the Central 46 chambers, he heard a lot of commotion and chatter as he drew closer to the doorway. He reached out for the door handle and opened the door and walked inside.
As he walked inside and the door closed, the commotion and chatter abruptly stopped. Captain Ukitake thought nothing odd of this and continued his trek to the meeting hall.
"Looks like you made it pretty boy," someone said to the side of Captain Ukitake.
The white-haired Captain looked to his left side and saw his long time friend, "Kyoraku!" he exclaimed happily.
"It seems like we're the first ones here, I haven't seen anyone else since I got here besides you" Kyoraku said as he walked alongside Ukitake.
"I must admit, it's a bit strange that we're just now hearing about the Central 46 seats already being filled, and for them to call the Captains to their chambers during a time like this is all but peculiar" Ukitake mused.
"You know those higher-ups, they always think that they take precedence over everything else" Kyoraku said humorously.
"I suppose you're right" he agreed.
They both came upon the entrance to the meeting hall and walked inside, neither knowing what to expect from the Central 46.
* Soul Society *
As Zangetsu began heading back towards Soul Society, when he suddenly sensed a reiatsu signature that he hadn't felt in what seemed like a lifetime ago, and he quickly diverted his route.
A garganta had just closed as he arrived, and there, standing in her transcendent beauty, was the woman whom he, and his former wielder both loved with all their being.
Chapter 12: Exploit
Author's Notes:
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in a review or private message.
-OSA