Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach, nor am I affiliated with it's creator, Tite Kubo. However, my OC's and the new plot-line are in fact my own creation. Don't use Kai without my permission please, or give me some credit. You wouldn't like it if I stole your OC's, would you?
Pairings: Minor OrihimexOC but mainly IchiRuki throughout. Ichigo and Rukia were made for each other, I think.
Brief: After the Winter War comes to a conclusion, Ichigo and the gang are in for some all new shocks to come!
Warnings: Romance (if you hate the odd spout of fluff, I urge you not to continue), strong language and potential gore.
Note: In this Fanfic, Kai has taught Ichigo the ways of the Neo-Vizard, just to clarify that!
Additional: The next couple of chapter are gonna be pretty heavy on violence and possibly gore (I never know what my venomous mind will churn out next). If you are not a fan of these, I recommend skipping this chapter. Also, I'm introducing some new items into the storyline, so these chapters could be beneficial to read. Oh dear, I'm giving mixed signals again... Sorry about that.
Extra Additional: I give my condolences to the victims/friends and families of the victims caught in the Japanese Earthquake yesterday. It was the fifth most powerful in history and I feel very sorry for everyone there who has been affected. I really hope things can be resolved quickly so that they can get on with their lives how they should be. For this reason, I'm dedicating this chapter to those brave people, as even in the face of disaster and on the brink of destruction, hope can still come through, just as I think this chapter, in it's own little way, shows.
Bleach After the Winter War
Chapter 13: The Chaos Spreads, Seireitei Falling into the Void?
"I can sense there is much destruction in Seireitei." Urahara said in a grave tone. Everyone exchanged looks of distress and worry.
"Are we too late?" Ichigo asked anxiously as the light at the end of the tunnel bore down on them..
"We'll see in just a moment." Isshin replied as they sprinted through the gateway.
Everyone stopped dead in their tracks as they saw the wreckage. The once blue skies had been scorched red as if the bloodshed had poisoned the sky, buildings and entire streets burnt, the crumbled remains of the Senkai Gate had long since been left but bodies and blood littered the smoky gate and the surrounding area. The sounds of fighting and the screams of pain as the whole of Seireitei fought the colossal beast relentlessly, but it did nothing.
"Oh my God." Orihime cried, raising her hands to her mouth. "What happened here?"
A roar echoed over the whole of Seireitei and they all looked to the Department of Research and Development as a huge jet of dark fire tore through the air and roasted the roof, joining the other various fires that had sparked up in the compound. An explosion tore the building apart as one of Captain Kurotsuchi's experiments was destroyed in the attack and detonated. The building wobbled dangerously before collapsing to the ground as the weight forced the structural supports to fail. Rukia let out a sharp gasp.
"Head Captain Ukitake..." she whispered, knowing the Head Captain had been inside earlier.
"He isn't in there." came a stoic voice behind them. Everyone turned to see Byakuya there, his right arm bleeding profusely and various other wounds were etched over his body. Ichigo knew any normal person would have bled to death long ago with such injuries.
"Brother," Rukia said in shock. "What happened here?"
"Nothing we do does anything to this creature. I have used everything I can to destroy this menace, but it is an impossible feat. If we cannot think of something, Seireitei will be torn apart."
"What about Soifon's Banaki?" Ichigo questioned. Byakuya shook his head.
"She has tried twice and neither have caused any effect. Even her Shikai cannot cope with the regenerative abilities the Hogyoku has."
"And what about Kai?" Orihime piped up, her anxious tone making the answer all the worse.
"...I'm not sure you would like to hear it." Byakuya replied hesitantly.
"Please, brother," Rukia pleaded. "It's important to Orihime that she knows."
"...Very well." The 6th Squad Captain turned to Orihime, his emotionless eyes baring a shard of sympathy. "He must mean a lot to you if you are this determined to know." Orihime nodded without hesitation, her cheeks tinged pink slightly. "He attacked the Hogyoku for a while and it sustained a mild amount of damage-"
"Wait, he damaged it?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes, his Chaos Wave managed to cause some temporary damage which lasted significantly longer than our attacks have. However, his attack did not do enough and he was thrown away from the battle. Look around you all; this is the extent of his power."
"What the hell are you talking about, Byakuya?"
"Kai Friel, Captain of Vizard Squad, has transformed into some kind of creature, and turned against us, attacking Renji and many other Soul Reapers."
"It can't be." Orihime said softly, unable to believe the news.
"I'm afraid it is true." Byakuya pointed towards the right of the Hogyoku, where flashes of red and a winged silhouette were. "That is what was once that boy."
"I don't believe you."
"I realise this is difficult, Ms Inoue, and I admire your determination, but you are bordering the line of determination and blind stubbornness. That is Kai Friel, and there is no way around it."
"It's-"
"Orihime," Rukia said softly, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "That is him. He turned into that thing before he disappeared, that's what left us defeated before."
Orihime didn't reply, still coming to terms with it. She found it too difficult to understand and refused to believe it, but she knew that she was being ignorant and stubborn, and nothing more.
"Go on without me." she said softly, keeping her voice steady. "I'll catch up later."
The group nodded, unsure of what she was going to do, but also aware that time was running out for Seireitei, and ran towards the hulking beast, leaving the auburn girl to herself, worry passing over her under the red smoky skies.
Kai's Inner World
Kai eyed what appeared to be his inner world, but no one was stood with him as there usually was. The cave was just a desolate, cold shell of itself. Kai looked around, confused.
"What the hell?" he asked, but the wall began to crack until it dissolved into blackness. "What's going on here?"
"I'm taking control." came the dark voice of the equally evil Dark Nova Dragon. "Therefore, your world is becoming mine." The creature stepped from the darkness and generated it's sword. "All I have to do is destroy you, and you will never take back control. Think of it as falling asleep but never waking up again and just accept it."
"Fuck off!" Kai spat, drawing his blade. "I'm never giving in to anything without a fight!"
"You really have no clue, do you?" The dragon cracked it's neck and rolled it's shoulders. "My blade is more than that of yours. Your Shikai isn't even a tenth of my power, what makes you believe you have a chance against me?"
"Who said I do believe that? I'm just not giving in without giving it my all and failing." Kai charged his zanpakuto, his red reiatsu flaring up. "Bankai!"
Nothing happened. The energy aura subsided but nothing had changed in terms of the zanpakuto, except for a small chip in the silver of the blade. Dark Nova laughed.
"Pah! You really are a fool if you believe I will let you use my own power against me. And don't even try hollowfying either, that won't work here."
"You bastard!" Kai hissed, lunging forward. His blade smashed into the obsidian evolution of itself and a flurry of sparks kicked up, blurring the action, but a crack was slowly developing in the blade of Supernova Dragon. "What the-" Kai leapt back to stop the damage, but it stayed like that.
"I told you this was a bad idea on your part." The creature lunged forward, his strike skimming off of the cracked sword, chipping it further. "You never listen!" Another strike scarred the zanpakuto. "I'm going to put a stop to your self-destruction!" Another strike, this one went wide and lopped the tip of the blade clean off. "I have out-grown you, give up!"
Kai stared at the broken chip of the tip as it clattered to the floor ominously.
"How?" he asked. "That should be impossible, so how the hell did you break my blade?"
"Isn't it obvious?" The overhead slash cracked the damaged zanpakuto further as it impacted and sent shards of shattered sword over the cave floor. "Your zanpakuto's integrity depends on your soul being matched to it's own. This means in the event that we stray apart," Dark Nova pressed harder, the cut running ever deeper into the sword. "The physical sword can easily be destroyed. You will never defeat me with such a will power lacking a tool to use it!"
The sound of metal tearing and splintering echoed before the sickly sound of a cry of pain followed sharply.
Squad 12 Grounds, Seireitei
"Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo roared, his third lunar fang bouncing off of the creature's armoured wing.
"Stop," the Hogyoku growled sarcastically. "That tickled. Got any more so-called 'attacks', kid?"
"Ichigo, now!" Isshin yelled, appearing beside Ichigo.
"Right." Both Kurosaki's drew back their zanpakuto, a blue energy sheathing the blades as they both charged their attack. "Twin-"
"-Getsuga!" The pair swung inward, the energy arcs meeting the familiar reiatsu of the other and fusing to make a much more powerful attack that utilised the power of two Getsuga Tenshous with greater precision and power.
The attack slammed into the arm of the dragon-like beast, leaving a slight crack, but the wound healed over as quickly as it was formed, and a jet of dark flames tore over to them as a counter attack.
"Oh no you don't!" Rukia yelled, leaping into the path of the fire. "Bankai!"
The small Soul Reaper's shield formed just in time to block the attack, a crust of ice shrouding it and spreading far from around the edge to cause the trio to be protected completely.
"Sing, Benihime!" Urahara released a burst of red energy into the ground surrounding the Hogyoku, the blast whipping around obediently, and slashed his blade once more, causing the ground to cave in beneath it and immobilise it. The speed of it all caused the fiend's jaws to snap shut, halting the offensive strike. "Ichigo, Rukia, you two go help the other squads with Kai! We'll hold this thing off in the mean time!"
"Right!" the pair yelled back, before Ichigo released his Bankai and they both swooped over the fighting between the powerful being and the other squad members. Ichigo stopped the large blade with his katana as it slammed downward on an unarmed Squad 5 Soul Reaper.
"Captain!" the Soul Reaper exclaimed. Rukia quickly swooped downward and slammed her shield into the masked face, forcing the assailant away before he could release an attack. "Lieutenant!"
"Round up some help from the squad and get the wounded and get them to Squad 4 right away!" Ichigo called, before lunging forward and slashing at Kai's out of control body but finding his strike deflected as swiftly as it had come. "Dammit, Kai, snap out of it!"
"Kai's not here right now." The voice that came from the being was like Kai's, but there was a twisted, dark undertone like his Hollow's voice crossed with an eviller edge and a deep, growling tone. "But if you leave a message, I'm sure I can pass it on once I kill you and destroy this place."
"You bastard!" Ichigo spat angrily, throwing another strike at his foe. "Who are you, and what the hell have you done with Kai?"
"Since you asked so nicely," He paused to swat the lunge away with his free hand. "I am Dark Nova Dragon, and I'm Kai's Supreme Release."
"What the hell is a Supreme Release?" Ichigo asked.
"I've never heard of it either." Rukia replied. Dark Nova scoffed.
"Of course you haven't heard of it," he replied as if it were obvious. "I'm the first and probably the only Supreme Release, and my power far outdoes that of Bankai. Now, we've talked long enough; time to die."
Instead of lunging, or even swiping the sword to release his ultimate attack, the creature raised his blade above his head and swung downward until it was aimed at Rukia. A series of red electric-like energy tendrils pulsed over the whole sword, from the spiked hilt to the orange guard and up the obsidian blade. Before either Captain or Lieutenant could react, the sword launched a bolt of red lightning that bore down on a stunned Rukia. She clenched her eyes tightly shut and braced herself for the fateful blow that would strike her down.
She hadn't counted on the actions of a certain Captain nearby and what he did in that moment.
Senkai Gate, Outer Seireitei
Orihime watched in fear as the fighting broke out, countless Soul Reapers attacking the huge creature only to be knocked back and struck down by it's counter-attacks. It was horrible, but she could do nothing but stay there, on her knees, and watch the chaos unfold. Never before had she felt so powerless in the wake of destruction as it unfolded.
"What should I do?" she asked weakly, tears brimming her eyes. "I have to do something, I can't just sit here and watch. But what can I do?"
"For God's sake, girl," came a sharp voice. "Will you shut up?"
Orihime looked up sharply, looking over to the source of the noise. The Shun Shun Rikka looked back at her, Tsubaki in his usually pissy mood. Orihime looked down, embarrassed. Shun'o moved closer, concerned for her master's depressed mood.
"Don't take any notice of him." she said softly. "You don't need to hide your feelings from us, you know."
"I know, but I can't do anything, I feel completely useless here!" Orihime started to sob a little. The fairies exchanged looks.
"Should we tell her?" Ayame asked. Orihime's eyes shot up and she stared at the flower fairies.
"Tell me what?" she questioned.
"Way to go, big mouth!" Tsubaki sneered at Ayame, causing her to flinch. "She's not ready to know that!"
"Well, we might as well tell her." Shun'o turned to Orihime and started explaining. "Our powers take three forms; healing, shielding and attacking, right? Well, those aren't our sully forms, they're just an echo of what we can do. Our actual forms offer much more power and also make us more resilient in battle.
"It takes three of us to form each tool, and it's more damaging if you overuse them, but our powers could be what you need. It's called the Sword and Shield technique. Using this, we take the form of a sword and a shield that both offer better durability and amplifies our powers. To use it, you just have to say 'Shun Shun Rikka, Sword and Shield activate' and we'll do the rest."
"How would that help?" Orihime asked, hope in her voice.
"You need us to spell it out for ya?" Tsubaki yelled harshly. "You're boyfriend-"
"He's not my boyfriend." Orihime said grudgingly. She let out a cry as Tsubaki attacked her.
"Don't interrupt me!"
"Ow! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Tsubaki eased off and huffed.
"As I was saying," he continued. "He's being controlled and taken over by something inside him, and he's obviously getting his can handed to him at that, so he needs a bit of help. That's where you come in. You see, his mind is effectively infected with something that we can reject partially to give him an edge. N order for that to work, however, healing has to be done from the inside out, therefore you need to cross my power to cut into him and then use Soten Kisshun in succession without killing him. That's where the sword comes in handy, as it utilises healing and attacking abilities at once for a faster, more direct healing method. Get it?"
"I... I think so."
"Don't 'think so', know so, dammit!"
"Tsubaki, she understands." Shun'o said, sighing. "Honestly, you're always too violent for these things."
"What was that?" Tsubaki yelled. "Why you-!" Shun'o ignored him.
"Come, Orihime," she said. "We have to hurry, or Kai might not be able to hold on."
"Right!" Orihime stood, her resolve burning brighter than ever before. The fairies returned to her hair clips and she sprinted off in the direction of the fighting. "I'm coming, Kai!" she said firmly.
Unfortunately, she just so happened to pick then not to look where she was going and tripped over, causing Tsubaki to facepalm.
"Some hero she is." he muttered, deadpan.
Ichigo (hollowfied): Let's do this, Rukia!
Urahara: If we don't stop this thing soon, Seireitei will split in two.
Dark Nova: My master wants all of you dead!
?: What the hell is this form?
Hogyoku: The end is nigh. And Seireitei will fall tonight.
Alright, there we go, one new entry for powers, next one will be one of two chapters off.
I'm sorry it took so long, coursework is creeping up on me again, but I am working on this, albeit at a slower rate than I want to.
April should be a good month, nice gap from school to boost my writing.
There's gonna be more chapters going in to this than I had first thought, but there you go, these things happen.
Anyway, please do review or PM questions, I feel very left out of late :(
Oh, and there's a darker side to the next chapter in the sense of the mystery person in the ender.
All will be revealed on that front next time. For now, I'm off.
Take care everybody!