Chapter 14
Ichigo, and Tatsuki had been running toward the sounds of battle, ducking into cover whenever they came across shinigami. They'd decided that the best course if action was subtlety given the explosive nature of the fighting. Having seen a large, black clad man walking around, looking for the "imposters" it was safe to say that they were on the shinigami hit list.
They watched as the distant pure white tower emanated a strong and penetrating force, then disappear, then reemerge sporadically. Both Ichigo and Tatsuki knew who's it was, and quickened their pace. As they rounded another corner, careful to look for shinigami who might want their heads, they felt an explosion of a cold, oenetrating reiatsu.
"Thats Nanashi..." Tatsuki said stopping to look in the direction it came from
Ichigo looked around to ensure their safety before replying. "Yeah, I guess the old guy got caught."
"He's not old Ichigo."
"The guy said he's lived ten times our lives! That makes him at least a hundred and fifty years old!"
"What? Thats idiotic. He's definitely our age, maybe even a few years older." Tatsuki replied. "Maybe he's just more established, and settled in life and that's why he's a..."
Trailing off, Tatsuki stopped herself from finishing that statement. She knew that Nanashi and her wouldn't happen, he was Rukia's. Still, the pain hurt as much as it did, despite Ichigo helping her realize that it was normal. She knew that he was aware of her feelings, so she wasn't worried abiut him pressing the issue, to which she was incredibly thankful.
Ichigo placed a hand in her shoulder, taking her out if her downtrodden thoughts. "Hey. I know its tough, but I'm here for you, Okay? Any time you wanna talk, just let me know."
Tatsuki fell behind Ichigo, letting him lead for now. While she was strong, he was far stronger, coupling that with the fact that she was struggling to combat the overwhelming familiarity of the reiatsu washing around them. She was fearful of collapsing. Ichigo already knew this, and volunteered to go in first, whether out of bravado or sincerity toward his friend didn't much matter to her in that moment. All she cared about was recentering herself and preparing for the next fight.
"You there! Halt!" Came a voice unfamiliar to Tatsuki.
Turning around, both she and Ichigo saw a man approaching with long, vibrant red hair. He had dried blood on his face, and he was running with a visible limp. He was wearing a small wooden symbol on his arm, but that's not what Tatsuki immediately noticed about this man. Her mind flashed to the scene she'd walked up on the night Rukia was taken, and her eyes widened. Nanashi lay on the ground, nearly disembowled, and Senna was face down in the dirt, unconsious and nearly drowning in the rain.
Tatsuki remembered what Senna had told her, and the description of the man she gave, fit him perfectly. Summoning her weapons Tatsuki's hands engulfed in flames, as did her feet, and soon a crimson gauntlet, and boots replaced them. She lunged at him, fist raised while he drew his own weapon.
"Wait, wait, wait!" The man pleaded. "I'm not here to fight you!"
Tatsuki punched, the power of her flame following it and crashing into him. "Why should I believe you?!"
"Because we have new orders, directly from our leadership!" The man explained. "I need to deliver a message that will save Rukia's life!"
Ichigo landed next to Tatsuki, and placed a hand on her wrist. She looked up at him and saw his troubled, yet calm demeanor. She felt her defenses calm to normal levels, and her weapon turned into a flame, and dimmed out.
"You've got information that can save Rukia? Why the sudden change?"
"Renji is my name, nice to meet you too." Renji replied, displeased with Ichigo's arrogance. "And my orders changed because believe it or not, the entire Gotei 13 is under attack."
A distant deep rumble resounded, and Renji's eyes widened in shock. Ichigo and Tatsuki turned around, and the white tower slowly lowered into the ground. Their point of reference was gone, but now they reqlized the severity if this situation. If Renji was to be believed, then he might be the one to lead them. Not to mention, he could get the past any guards who hadn't gotten word yet.
"We need to move." Renji stated. "Now look, I know you think I'm a bad guy, and I'm assuming you know that I took Rukia away with my Captain. But I assure you, we have reason to believe that the Rukia we took, was an imposter."
Ichigo whipped his head around, looking at Renji and realizing his tone. "What? She's an imposter? The hell do you mean?!"
"It's foggy right now, but central 46 seems to believe that a long forgotten enemy is finally making its move against us." Renji replied. "We won't know for sure standing out here, let's go."
Reluctantly, Tatsuki followed in behid Ichigo. If what Renji said was true, then Nanashi would be furious, and would need someone to talk to. Maybe she could fill that gap after all.
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Nanashi awoke to the sounds of chains, and whispering voices. Pushing himself up, the casting off of rocks and stone echoed into the dimly lit cavern. The subtle sounds of shuffling footsteps echoed, and he knew he wasn't alone. He scanned his surroundings, and found several shadowed figures standing still. The vaguely humanoid figures seemed to take steps, but Nanashi couldnt tell if they were forward or back, the light didn't allow for it.
"Who the hell are you?" A voice called out, echoing off of the nearby walls making it impossible to determine where it came from.
A sliver of red light caught Nanashi's eye, and a deadly red beam flew toward Nanashi's head. He ducked below it, and it collided with a pillar behind him. Suddenly feeling arms wrapped around him, Nanashi slipped back, and was pressed into the pillar. His face was pressed into it by a small yet powerful hand and he struggled to free himself.
"Hello slave. Miss me?" Aka manah spoke.
Nanashi brought his arm up, and elbowed anything he could reach. He connected with Aka Manah, and she let him go, stumbling back. Blindly, Nanashi swung a fist out, missing anything he aimed for. He stepped forward, catching a glimpse of Aka Manah, and with one final swing finally connected her face.
The red light erupted from the darkness, barely missing Nanashi's head, and exploding into the ceiling. A large hole was torn into it, and bright sunlight bled into the room. Nanashi got a good look at his surroundigs, and saw the black humanoid figures with the same horned hollow masks that had attacked him when the first arrived in this world. Chained to the floor and whispering and whining to be made whole. Aka Manah pulled her whip back and stood opposite of the falling debris, looking at Nanashi.
Scanning the room, Nanashi couldn't find his Zanpakuto anywhere. He tried to reach out, and call Shin'en no Arashi, but couldn't feel him.
"Oh, I can assure you your Zanpakuto isn't anywhere near here." Aka Manah said, suddenly charging toward Nanashi.
Nanashi braced as best as he could but Aka Manah was gaining speed. It became clear that he'd have to move, or risk his ribs crushing into themselves. There was a glint in the corner of his eye, and he felt the familiar feeling of his own soul. As Aka Manah was upon him, he leapt toward the glint, and she destroyed the pillar he was in front of. The roof shook, and rocks fell onto the ground crushing some of the errant humanoid beings, and nearly Nanashi.
As he slid under one of the collapsing pillars, he caught a glimpse of the same shimmering light that drew him, and without warning his mind flooded with the cold tendrils of the Void.
"Shin'en no Arashi!"
Clacking into the ground, Nanashi slid past, barely picking his Zanpakuto in his had. The familiar weight of the weapon put him at ease, and levelled the fight. He stood a chance now.
"That was rude of you to drop me, Master." Shin'en no Arashi chided. "And here I thought you cared... Oh tis a cruel fate bestowed upon me!"
Aka Manah emerged through the dust and debris, and before Nanashi had seen her she was on him. His sealed Zanpakuto, while an effective weapon against lesser beings, would prove to be useless. He needed an escape plan, some way to get away for he could release his Shikai. He blocked what he could, and barely moving clear of what he couldn't block.
"We need a plan Master. She's eating you alive!" Shin'en no Arashi said.
Aka Manah was wildly slashing and clawing her way through Nanashi's defence. Whatever angle he tried to play was closed off by ber relentless assault, and Nanashi felt himself waining. The force of her attacks, coupled with the several hundred feet of rock be was thrown through, started to take it's toll, and hed soon be dead if it didn't change.
Aka Manah raised her arms, and the red bladed whip extended. "This is the end for you slave!"
Seeing his chance, Nanashi slashed at her arm, cutting into it. Widened eyes stared at the deeply embedded blade, and as the blood began to pour out if the wound, Nanashi took a breath.
"Show them their futility."
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Rukia was lead to the execution grounds, staring in awe at the collapsed tower of penance. She stood shocked as it fell, as did the other shinigami around them, yet she held onto a hope that Nanashi wasn't stuck in it as it fell. She reached out, and felt multiple reiatsu signatures eerily similar to Nanashi. The fighting still raged, and the flaring of the reiatsu gave her a small measure of hope.
"Halt!" Captain Aizen commanded. "Head Captain, I've found the prisoner trying to escape with the Ryoka. No doubt the other attacks were meant as a distraction."
Genryusai Yamamoto stood next to the Sokyuku, and two large wooden pillars. He was the head Captain of the entire Gotei 13. He was feared, respected, but most importantly of all, was the final say in Shinigami matters. He was the bridge between the 46 noble families, and the Shinigami. He was more often than not, the last person a prisoner would see. Rukia felt his presence growing as they approached the execution grounds, and held onto hope that her final plea might be honoured.
"Hmm, very good. Even through this attack, we must remain vigilant in our laws. A significant show of control must be given." Yamamoto replied. "Lady Kuchiki, even in this turbulent time, you still seek to throw our laws into disorder. What say you?"
Rukia knelt, exhaustion finally overcoming her. She looked up, and saw Byakuya, and several other captain's present for this. Pleading quietly to Byakuya, she felt despair when he scowled, and closed his eyes. Her plea's would fall onto deaf ears after all.
"I have nothing to say in my defence, Head Captain. I plead guilty of all charges."
"Very well, you have been sentenced to execution, which will be carried out immediately." Yamamoto commanded, raising an arm to signal the executioner.
"I have one final request, if I may be so bold." Rukia added.
Yamamoto opened his eyes, taken back by her sudden yet determined stare. She wasn't about to object to the sentencing, but there was something burning in her that caught his eye. If she were anyone else, he would attribute this to she Shin'o academy training. Rukia, however was always full of surprises, and a deep hidden power that he knew she didn't yet realize.
"Very well. We will honor your final request."
Relieved, Rukia relaxed, and fought back her tears. "I want you to let my friends, the Ryoka go free. They only meant to save me, and I dont want them to die because of it."
"Let the Ryoka go?! Do you have any idea how much damage they've caused? The attacks across the seireitei, the Tower of Pennance! That is a bold request, young Kuchiki." Aizen spoke.
"I will grant it, for all except the ones responsible for the Tower. Crimes must be punished."
Rukia lowered her head, and while she felt a modicum of relief, she knew that Nanashi was the one responsible for the tower falling. If he could do that, then maybe he could escape with little problems. It would have to do. She was led to the twin stakes atop Sokyuku hill, and three white boxed were placed at her feet. She felt a strange energy wrapping around her wrists and ankles, and was suddenly and quickly lifted into the air.
Quickly following her, the Sokyuku was lifted into the air by Yamamoto who began to chant the summoning spell. Rukia began to think back on her life, and silently smiled. She'd lived a full life, full of ups and downs, but didn't regret a thing. She used her time in the tower to contemplate where she might be if she'd made different choices, but found herself contented with the ones she made. She wanted to go and see her friends again, to make sure they were safe, but she felt that Nanashi would be able to take care of them. Thinking about them, she knew that they would be ready for whatever the world threw at them.
As the air around her warmed, and the brilliant orange glow engulfed her vision, she closed her eyes. Her thoughts drifted toward Nanashi, and she thought about her odd feeligs for him. He felt familiar, yet he was a complete stranger, she'd never met him before, and the first time she saw him was in her briefing before being deployed to Karakura. He was a shinigami, a seemingly rogue one, but didn't interfere with shinigami buisness. The gotei 13 had a plan to bring him in, but it was always an afterthought given how peacefully he had handled his few interactions with the shinigami. Things had no doubt changed now, given the state of the Tower of Pennance.
The Sokyuku had materialized, taking the form of a pheonix. The heat seemed to dissipate, and the flames seemed to die down, creating a deathly silence that filled the air. Rukia thanked her friends quietly, and resigned herself to her death. It was the least she could do.
The ground began to shake, and Rukia felt herself beginning to sway back and forth in reaction. A deafening roar overtook her hearing, and a plume of black and violet reiatsu erupted into the sky, kicking up dust, and rock. Rukia squinted through the onslaught of dirt, and soon the light from the sun was blotted out. She felt an immediate assault of reiatsu bombard her, filling her with a soul sucking cold. Her mind fuzzed over at the unrelenting force, and she had to close her eyes to focus in not passing out.
Emerging from the dust were two figures, each landing on opposite sides if the newly formed hole in the ground. After regaining herself, Rukia saw that distinctive white hair of Nanashi, and the vibrant orange red hair of Aka Manah.
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Nanashi was tired, sore, and bleeding almost everywhere. He'd had enough of Aka Manah's quips, and finally let his frustrations get the better of him. He poured nearly his entire being into his zanpakuto, just as Aka Manah had been increasing her power as well. He looked around, realizing his mistake when the walls of the cave couldn't hold. The shinigami would no doubt chastise him for its destruction, if they didn't try to kill him first chance they got. He looked down at himself, evaluating his ability to go on, and finally noticed his shihakusho was torn almost beyond repair. His haori was a distant memory, the only thing covering him was his torn shitagi, and hakama. More importantly to him, his chest was exposed and the banadages wrapped around them were a frayed mess. He placed a hand delicately over his prominent, circular scar seared into his flesh.
Nanashi's shame regarding his odd birthmark were flaring when he looked around and noticed Rukia strewn up next to two large wooden posts.
"Rukia?! What the hell happened?!" Nanashi called to her. "You were supposed to get out of here!"
Rukia looked down, seeing his bare chest made her lose focus and stare, if only for the myriad of scars that adorned him. Coming back to her senses, Rukia opened her mouth to reply, being cut off before she could. Nanashi had appeared, and was carrying her down after breaking the seals. Landing, Rukia began to panic as Aizen approached.
"Well done, Nanashi. I commend you for your daring rescue of lady Kuchiki." Aizen calmly stated. "Yet now, perhaps this needs to end."
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to leaving. I know I owe you a favour, for your help in Karakura, but any chance you can deal with this here while I find her a safe place?" Nanashi asked.
Aizen smirked, remembering the exchange with a sly smirk.
"Nanashi no, Aizen is going to-"
"I'm afraid I cannot do that." Aizen replied, as he placed his hand onto his head, and tapped his forhead with his thumb. "I don't like unfinished buisness. I'm calling in my favour, right now."
Nanashi felt his mind blank, and suddenly he lost colour in his sight. Grey and dull, Nanashi looked over to Rukia, trying to plead with her, yet unable to call for help, or tell her to leave. Rukia who was stricken with a quiet horror silently watched as Nanashi lost control, and sat perfectly still. His trance like gaze seemed to look through her and into the sky behind her.
"As you may now reqlize, my intent is my own. However, allow me to explain a few things Rukia was a very important catalyst for a special artifact. Similar to the one I had shown you there is the second half of the Hogyuku. I need you to retrieve it, and give it to me."
Aizen seemingly spoke directly into his mind. Nanashi began to protest, yet he found he couldn't. His whole body was being controlled by Aizen, even though his thoughts were his own, and his consciousness remained. He watched himself stand, dropping Rukia to the ground and look down at her.
"It is within her, Nanashi. The second half is within Rukia. Use your true power, the power bend reality and time to plung into her spirit, retrieve it, and give it to me."
Nanashi grabbed Rukia by the throat, effortlessly hoisting her into the air, and facing her chest. Rukia struggled against him, trying to pry open his hands and escape, but she couldn't in her weakened state. She had to watch as Nanashi's dead eyes quietly obeyed Aizen's command. Extending a hand back, Nanashi began to faintly glow a violet light around his hand and wrist, and thrust his hand into her, causing her to scream out in agonizing pain. Her chest felt a crushing weight as Nanashi's hand was inside her, and her whooe body soon felt numb. The pain of having her soul manipulated was excruciating, and she was powerless to stop him from doing it.
Nanashi was rooting around, searching deeper as he watched her cry out in pain. He tried to pull his hand away, but with Aizen controlling him, it was impossible. He had to sit and watch as he tortured the one he loved, only finding relief in the favt that she wouldn't die from this act. Slowly, he pulled his hand out, and the Hogyuku was pulled from her body.
Casting her to the ground, where she landed hard and unconscious, Nanashi turned to Aizen, and handed the small violet orb to him. Smiling, Aizen backed away, and faced the other shinigami, who were staring in horror at the events unfolding. Byakuya's eyes widened when he heard his sisters screams, but found himself planted in place. An unknown force held all of them in olace, binding them ti the ground, and each other.
"What is the meaning of this?! Explain yourself Souske!" Juushiro Ukitake, demanded. "Who is the boy?! What did he do to Miss Kuchiki?!"
Aizen walked past his fellow captains, and turned around. "My fellow shinigami. It appears as if this is where we part ways. I have with me, the second half of the Hogyuku. With it, I will be able to unlock the Void Forge, and unleash my will upon the world."
"You bastard... It was you! The whole time, it was you!" Nanashi shouted, returning from his daze. "You used me!"
"It was quite simple actually. The fact that you thougt you were worthy to fight me is quite insulting. Slave." Aka Manah replied.
"Now now Aka Manah. Remember what he's been through. It stands to reason that he'd forget his place." Aizen stated. "Boy, go to the memoriam. Read to Void tome. Learn, and then come after me, if you think you can. I wish to see what Kaveh can do.
Void energy tore through reality, creating a portal into it, and Aizen leapt through, followed by Aka Manash, and Gin Ichimaru. Nanashi looked back to Rukia, realizing that there wasn't anything he could do right now, except plead his case, and hope for her release. He knelt down beside her, cradling her head in his arms while the prison guards surrounded him, and the Shinigami present drew weapons and joined the guards.
"Make way! Official buisness!"
An argument began among the shinigami, and Nanashi let it drown out behind him. He looked at Rukia, worried about what had happened to her. She was still alive, yet unconscious, and unable to respond. What had he done? What the hell happened to him? What was Aizen planning. The questions piled up, filling his mind with growing despair, and more questions.
"Like it or not, Central 46 and the tribunal veto your decision. More is at stake here than your flow of souls, or your laws!" The emmisary shouted.
"Very well. I will meet with the tribunal. Let us see what they say when I express to them the damage done." Yamamoto replied looking over at the mysterious boy.
The emmisary quickly walked to Nanashi and Rukia, kneeling down beside them. "You needn't worry. She will be okay, and you will as well."
"How do you know?" Nanashi angrily replied.
The emmisary picked Rukia up, carefully cradling her as he walked to a strecher. "Because we've seen this before. All of the answers will come, trust me, but we must make haste. Come with me."
Not knowing what to do, or where to go, Nanashi followed the emmisary to the caravan of people. A few carts were lined up on the road, and Nanashi saw a few familiar faces. Ichigo, Tatsuki, and Renji all sitting in one, looking battered but okay. As he passed by, he nodded in affirmation.
As he settled in, his mind went back to the events as they unfolded. Aizen used him, Aka Manah used him, and now it seemed that the shinigami government was about to do the same. In that moment though, he didn't care. Aizen was his target now, and he'd pay in blood for everything he'd done.
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Chapter 14
And that's it for the Rukia Rescue Arc. I'm going to start naming the chapters after the story arc's name, just because of how long I intend this story to be. The Rukia Rescue Arc was shortened, because of dead scenes, and just a complicated mess of stuff that I wanted to do, that frankly would be more at home in a pancake fever dream. The extra time with these chapters is really allowing me to figure out the story progression, and I can happily say that the next Arc's story board is done. Going be longer than the Rukia Rescue Arc, and there's going to be some major plot points explored that I made in Alternate Story.
There is going to be a fan suggest OC making an appearance next chapter, so keep an eye out. I do take OC suggestions, but there isn't a guarantee that it'll make it into the story, or their importance to this story in particular. It has to fit more or less with the narrative but I'll be sure to let you know if I intend to use a character you've suggested. One last thing, please be flexible with your idea's, but don't just go along with it if you're really against any changes I suggest.
As always, let me know what you thought, I can only improve with feedback.
Atlas