Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach

Chapter 14: The Storming Bankai

The unnatural storm confused Ichigo. "I don't get it." He said to himself. "Is there more, or is this really it."

"Captain Kurosaki!"

Ichigo turned to see several Soul Reapers entering the arena. "Sir, we sensed the increase in spiritual pressure and got here as fast as we could." The leader said.

Ichigo nodded and looked across at Akio and Adalberto, but mainly at Akio. If Akio had achieved Bankai before he became a lieutenant, then why did he bother becoming one. He already had the necessary qualities, and I'm sure Shinji would've appreciated not having to do the extra work. So why not reveal it? Thought Ichigo.

In truth, Akio didn't even realize that a crowd had gathered, he was so focused on the fight. He thought him and Adalberto were the only people in the area. Therefore, he could use Bankai without anyone knowing. Boy was he wrong.

Adalberto, of course, was unimpressed. He looked up at the storm. "This? This is your Bankai?" He asked in disbelief.

Akio crossed his arms and smirked. "Yeah, shocked?"

Adalberto nodded. "Truthfully, I expected something more intimidating. This is just a storm."

Akio frowned. "What? Do you not know that you can be seriously injured if you're struck by lightning? Hell, it could even kill you."

Adalberto returned the frown. "And do you even know the odds of being struck by lightning in the first place?" He asked, starting to get annoyed.

"Oh I know the odds." Akio smiled. "But Tengoku no Kaminari can defy those odds. Watch and learn Squidy."

The moment Akio said this, lightning flashed and enveloped Akio in electricity. Adalberto's eyes widened as this happened. Ichigo and all the other Soul Reaper's present did the same. "Amazing," Ichigo heard one guy say. "How can he do that without feeling any pain?"

Ichigo was thinking the same thing. Akio, still not noticing everyone else's presence due to his focus on Adalberto, smiled even wider. "Surprised, eh Squidy?" Akio asked.

Adalberto glared at his foe, despising the fact that the young man continued to retain his confidence. "Allow me to explain: Tengoku no Kaminari pretty much turns me into a human lightning-rod. Collecting lightning from the storm above us and using its power for both melee and projectile attacks. Making it a highly dangerous Bankai." Explained Akio.

Adalberto, for once, was impressed. "I see, and it's limitless because of the storm, correct?" He asked.

Akio grinned. "Correct!" He echoed.

The grin then disappeared, Akio hung his head low, signaling that he was troubled by something. "However, there are some limits to this power." He said, sadly.

Adalberto was shocked by this. "What do you mean?"

Akio gestured to himself. "Tengoku no Kaminari requires a lot of spirit energy to release it. As do most Bankai. However, it requires even more energy to maintain it. See, I have to harness a high amount of spirit energy inside me in order to balance and control the energy that Tengoku no Kaminari gives off. Otherwise, I would actually be killed by all this lightning."

Adalberto was amazed for once. "And you're willing to put yourself at risk just for a chance to defeat me?"

Akio nodded. "Believe me, I don't like using my Bankai because of the strain it puts on my body. But for the Soul Society's safety, for my fathers honor, and for all the Soul Reapers you've hurt or killed. I...will...defeat you!"

Yamamoto felt Akio's spiritual pressure rise from inside his office. He immediately realized what was happening. "So he decided to use it." He simply said.

Chōjirō Sasakibe nodded. "Yeah, there's no other explanation for why his spiritual pressure is suddenly off the charts."

Yamamoto nodded in agreement. Sasakibe, however, was curious about something else. "Sir, why didn't Akio apply to become a captain after achieving Bankai?"

Yamamoto shook his head. "You really don't know, Chōjirō?" Yamamoto asked.

Sasakibe shook his head. Yamamoto took this as a sign to continue and did. "Could you imagine the pressure a young man would feel to be suddenly thrown into a captaincy? All that pressure would do incredible harm to his mind. Along with that, we simply did not wish for him to become a captain yet."

Sasakibe was still confused. "But why?"

Yamamoto took a deep breath. "It happened after he had achieved Bankai." He began.

Flashback: Two Months Ago

Akio panted as Kaminari fell to his knees, defeated. "Well, you won." Kaminari said. "You have officially achieved Bankai."

"Awesome..." Akio panted.

Kaminari started to fade away, the Tenshintai started to come into view again. "Just remember, this Bankai is unique. You have to maintain a high amount of spirit energy in order to balance out the high power it has to offer. Making it very taxing on your body. If you allow your energy to falter for even a short period of time. You will feel excruciating pain. And unless you are able to get it back under control. You will die."

Akio shook his head. "I'm ready, I can handle it."

Kaminari smiled. He managed to say one final thing before he faded into the Tenshintai: "Good luck, kid."

With that, Kaminari was gone. Yamamoto came up to Akio. "You have done well. It seems the creator's theory was correct."

Akio nodded. "However, I've decided not to make you a captain just yet." Yamamoto said bluntly.

Yamamoto expected anger from his adopted son. But instead, he got a look of understanding from him. "You're...not angry." Yamamoto noticed.

Akio nodded. "Why would I be, I understand completely."

Yamamoto opened one of his eyes. "You do?"

Akio nodded. "Oh yes, politically, it is simply not a good move. Imagine, how bad you'd look to the rest of the Soul Society if you personally trained someone to be your replacement. People'd feel like that their chance of becoming the Head Captain was gone because the chance to do so is already taken." He explained.

Yamamoto's eyes widened. "In just a few months you already know me too well, my son."

Akio chuckled. "Well come on, one of the reasons you adopted me was my ability to quickly analyze things. Figuring that out was child's play."

Yamamoto gave no reply. Akio could tell, however, that he agreed. Neither spoke for awhile, it seemed that the two were simply just trying to find things to talk about. Akio eventually broke the silence. "When should I become a captain?" He asked.

Yamamoto placed a hand on his shoulder. "I will leave that for you to decide, my son. When you think you're ready, you will be examined by myself and two other captains."

Akio nodded, accepting this.

Flashback End

"Akio understood the political situation at that time. However, I fear that now he may have no choice but to become a captain." Yamamoto said, sadly. "That spiritual pressure will be felt all across the Seireitei. And people everywhere are going to start asking who it belonged to. Eventually it will be traced back to him."

Adalberto Ahogarse launched his tentacles at Akio again. However, Akio protected himself again in the same way he had before. He channeled the lightning into his arms and used them as a shield. This is impossible! Adalberto thought, furiously. I am more powerful than this! I defeated a captain, I have to be more powerful then him!

Akio pushed the tentacles out of the way and pointed the palm of his right hand at Adalberto. "Naguru!" He shouted.

Adalberto immediately knew what was happening. It was the same attack he used in his Shikai form, something he could block easily. Adalberto's tentacles moved in front of his body and took on the role of a shield. When the lightning came into contact, instead of simply disappearing due to being unable to penetrate his defenses, he was pushed back. Adalberto cried out as he was sent into the ground. He quickly got up, panting. Akio shook his head, disappointedly. "You keep on making the same mistake of underestimating me Squidy. To be honest, it's starting to piss me off. If you don't get your act together, I'm gonna win this fight."

Adalberto glared at him. "You shut up!" He screamed. "I don't have to listen to that crap! I'm superior to you in every way."

Akio shook his head. "The more you act that way, the more you remind me of Theseus." He said.

That set Adalberto off. Screaming maliciously, he charged Akio again. Surprisingly, Akio's expression did not change. It was still the same calm and calculating look. Adalberto's tentacles came down on Akio. Akio jumped back, avoiding six of them, and then did something that surprised Adalberto and the spectators: He destroyed one of the tentacles with a lightning-powered punch. He then destroyed another with a kick filled with the same power. Adalberto screamed as he felt the pain of a body part being destroyed. He stumbled backwards and panted. "You bastard."

Akio didn't reply. Adalberto took it as a lack of respect and launched his tentacles again. The results were the same, two tentacles destroyed (but by two punches). He then went for an opening and fired another Naguru at him. The attack sent him flying backwards, damaging his chest and causing blood to splatter onto the floor. Akio took a look at his opponents wound, then at the panting Arrancar before him. "Look," he began. "Since we both know I'm going to win, I'm going to make you an offer. I don't really have to kill you. If you surrender now, I'll spare you. You'll be a prisoner of war, but at least you'll still be alive."

Adalberto shook his head. "I don't need your mercy, Soul Reaper! This battle is far from over!"

Adalberto charged again. Akio sighed. "I was really hoping you wouldn't say that. Now I have no choice."

Akio then snapped his fingers. "Ten'nosabaki." He said.

A great bolt of lightning then shot out of the dark, cloudy sky. The lightning struck Adalberto. The pain on his face was evident as he screamed at an earsplitting volume. "The pain is unbearable isn't it?" Akio asked in a monotone voice.

Adalberto simply screamed in response. Knowing he couldn't reply, Akio simply continued. "What you are experiencing is the full extent of Tengoku no Kaminari's power. What you are experiencing is the powerful spirit energy that I have to match in order to actually use this Bankai."

Akio turned and started to walk away. "In a few moments you will be dead."

Something then came to his mind, he cocked his head and faced his opponent one more time. "Do you now see what I mean, Squidy? If you allow arrogance to take over your mind, it will be your downfall." He said, repeating the proverb he had told Adalberto at the beginning of their battle.

Adalberto, for his part, felt exactly what Akio was explaining. The pain was, indeed, unbearable. He wanted to die. But at the same time, he wanted to survive this. He had came to the Seireitei thinking that this was how he was going to impress the new king of Hueco Mundo. After he had lost his chance to become one of Sōsuke Aizen's Espada, he worked to become one of Benito Muerta's generals. But it couldn't end for him now, could it? He was Adalberto Ahogarse, he shouldn't die yet.

I can't die! Adalberto thought. I...I'm supposed to become one of King Muerta's generals! I'm not suppose to die!

Adalberto's body started to disintegrate due to being overwhelmed by the sheer might of Akio's Ten'nosabaki. He took one last look at Akio before completely fading away. I curse you, Akio Yamamoto! One day, someone will avenge me and you will pay for taking away the chance to take what was mine! He thought angrily.

And with that, Adalberto Ahogarse was dead. Akio took one final look at the spot his opponent used to be and said scornfully. "If Captain Soifon had released her Bankai, she would've won."

Akio then noticed two things. One: He had been watched this entire battle, meaning they had seen his Bankai. Two: The wounds Adalberto had given him had grown worse due to the strain his Bankai put on his body. Ichigo then came up to him, still clearly in shock over the events that had just played out. "Akio, that was your Bankai?" Ichigo asked in disbelief.

Akio nodded, his body starting to grow weak from the strain. "Are you okay?" Ichigo asked, concerned.

Akio forced a smile. "Never been better," he said, feeling woozy. "However, I must advise you go find Captain Soifon. She's on a rooftop and by now I bet she's in worse shape then me."

Ichigo looked at the blood that was starting to seep through the makeshift bandages. "I'm going to have to disagree with that statement." He said.

Akio laughed as he started to sway. "Yeah, I guess I am in pretty bad shape too. Care to get me to a medic?"

With that Akio fainted. "Crap." Ichigo said, worried.

He then shouted out to the other Soul Reapers. "Go find Captain Soifon! She should be on one of the roofs nearby!"

"Yes sir!" They replied.

Ichigo picked up Akio's body. "Hang on buddy."

Meanwhile, above the Seireitei, someone else had entered during the commotion. His light blue hair flowed in the wind as he stared down at the ravaged battleground that was the Seireitei. Grimmjow Jaegerjacque scowled. "What a bunch of losers." He said, referring to the now deceased La Seis Primera. "I can't believe they all just got themselves killed. And half of them didn't even put up much of a fight."

Ichigo's fight with Gabriel Fortunato played through his mind. He grinned maniacally. The bloodlust inside him increasing. "Kurosaki's power is even more amazing then it was before." He said excitedly. "I can't wait for the rematch."

For a moment he was tempted to go down there right now and fight his rival to the death. But he quickly shook that thought away. "But Beni said I couldn't fight him yet." He said in a slightly angered tone.

Grimmjow had developed a habit for disobeying orders. He had done it several times during his days as an Espada. But he could not disobey Benito Muerta. Since the day he had met the new king, Grimmjow had feared him. So, he kept himself in check, reminding himself of Benito's orders.

Grimmjow turned away and opened a Gargantua, a portal to Hueco Mundo. Next time, he thought. Next time, Ichigo Kurosaki will be mine.

A.N: Hope you enjoyed this one. This one was certainly difficult to write because I had been trying not to make Akio's Bankai seem overpowered. While it may seem that way at first glance. The drawback, as explained in the chapter, is great. If Akio allows his spirit energy to slip below the required amount to maintain control of his Bankai, he could be killed. A great weakness if you ask me. Once again, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.