SailorStar9: With Chapter 12 uploaded, this is Chapter 13 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Ishida/Hasu, minor pairing Hitsugaya/Karin

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.

Chapter 13: Gather Together by Tula's Side! Group of the Strongest Shinigami!

"It's been quite a while since I've seen your uncovered face, hasn't it?" Aizen mocked, stopping Komamura's blade with a hand. "I wonder what this change of heart is, Komamura?"

"Why are you able to laugh like that, Aizen?" Komamura demanded. "I will never forgive you for plotting against everyone and betraying us. You too, Tōsen!" he looked over at the blind Captain. Unleashing Tenken, he sent a punch at Aizen, who jumped to dodge the attack. "Tōsen! If you have an explanation, tell me. You don't have one?" he noted, when Tōsen remained silent. "Nothing? This is unfortunate, Tōsen. Bankai!" Impossible. He was stunned to see Aizen right in front of him. Aizen was standing next to Tōsen.

"Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi." his illusionary image fading, Aizen cast the Kido, enclosing Komamura in a black energy box and severely injuring him. "Kyōka Suigetsu's 'Complete Hypnosis' is completely flawless. Even if you realize you're under it, it's impossible to escape it."

"How scary." Ichimaru remarked. "When did you become able to do something like that?"

"No, it was a failure." Aizen corrected. "Not even a third of its destructive powers were released. It's difficult to control it after all. Now then," he retook Rukia. "Excuse me." he turned to Ichigo. "I was in the middle of my conversation with you."

"Kurosaki!" at that moment, the others arrived, only to be struck by Ichimaru's Reiatsu.

"Kuchiki Rukia," Aizen continued. "Once you were found in the Real World, I immediately did this: I massacred Central 46. You probably heard this from Isane." he pulled Rukia off. "'Aizen Sousuke faked death in order to hide his whereabouts. Shortly afterwards, he killed Central 46.' But that is incorrect. As soon as you were found, I immediately killed Central 46 and cast Kyōka Suigetsu on all of the Underground Assembly Hall. I made it look like Central 46 was still alive and continuing its meetings. And then, one of the three of us was always in the Underground Assembly Hall. From then until now, we have continued to act as Central 46 and control all the orders. In order to assure your capture, I changed who was supposed to capture you to those two from Squad 6. To keep you away from the humans, I put out the order for the immediate return of your Gigai. In order to completely vaporize your soul and remove the Hōgyoku from inside of you, I decided to use Sōkyoku to execute you. We completely vacated the Underground Assembly Hall for only a few hours, including during the second Captains' meeting. Directly after that, I faked my death and hid in the Underground Assembly Hall because I figured out that there was a possibility that the execution would fail due to your efforts. There are two ways to pull out something which has been intertwined and buried within a soul. Having the outer layer, the soul, vaporized by something like the extremely hot destructive powers of Sōkyoku and then remove it. Or, forcefully separate it by some method that directly interferes with the with the soul's composition. If in the one-in-a-million chance that the execution by Sōkyoku failed, I had to find that other method." he pulled out a tube-like capsule from his Shihakushō. "In order to do that, I needed the information in the Underground Assembly Hall's Daireishokairō. I carefully went over Urahara Kisuke's past research, since he was the one who devised the technique to combine and bury matter within a soul. I figured that the technique to remove it would definitely be hidden in his research. This is that technique." activating the capsule, he caused six green spikes to break out of the ground around them. With his right hand covered in the similar matter as the spikes, he thrust his hand into Rukia's chest and pulled out the Hōgyoku. "This is a surprise." he noted, gaining his prize. "It's something so small. This is Hōgyoku. This soul itself is uninjured?" he mused. "Such a wonderful technique. But this is unfortunate. I no longer need you." he pulled Rukia up. "Kill her, Gin."

"There's no helping it." Ichimaru shrugged. "Shoot to kill, Shinsō." he activated his Shikai. The white-haired Captain blinked when his extended blade missed its target, hitting Byakuya instead, the Kuchiki Clan Head having snatched Rukia from Aizen's clutches.

"Let's go, Jidanbō!" on the Gatekeeper's shoulder, Kūkaku dropped in from the sky onto the Sōkyoku Hill before Aizen could dispatch Rukia off. "Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle! Hadō #63. Raikōhō!" she fired the lightning attack directly at Aizen, who jumped to dodge the attack.

Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng moved in, the former sealing Aizen's Zanpakutō and Suì-Fēng had her Zanpakutō against Aizen's neck.

"This is another rather nostalgic face." Aizen was nonplussed.

"Don't move." Yoruichi warned. "If you move a single muscle..."

"I'll immediately cut off your head." Suì-Fēng promised.

"Kūkaku." Yoruichi greeted her long-time friend.

"Yo, Yoruichi." Kūkaku grinned. "I had too much free time. I took a walk to check in on you."

"They're flashy." Ichimaru tsked. "What should I do?"

"Don't move." Matsumoto was instantly behind him, her Zanpakutō resting against his neck.

"This is as far you you go." Yoruichi declared.

"What did you say?" Aizen inquired.

"Can't you tell, Aizen?" Yoruichi retorted. "You no longer have a place to run away to." she declared as the other ranking officers of the Gotei 13 arrived, with Ise and Kiyone flanking both of Tula's sides.

Hisagi, also, had his Zanpakutō against his former Captain's throat.

"It's over, Aizen." Tula informed the traitor. "If you still consider yourself Shinigami, you should acknowledge your wrongdoing."

"What's funny?" Yoruichi frowned at Aizen's grin.

"I'm sorry." Aizen replied. "It's time."

"Get away from him, Suì-Fēng!" Yoruichi barked, both female Shinigami jumping back just in time to avoid getting hit by the Negación light column that had descended from the sky.

"Impossible!" Ukitake gasped as two Menos Grande opened a Garganta in the sky.

"Menos Grande!" Suì-Fēng was shocked as an entire mass of Manos broke out from the portal.

"A Gillian!" Ōmaeda recognized the Hollow class. "Just how many are there?"

"No..." Hisagi gasped. "There's something behind them." he was forced to jump back with a Negación engulfed Tōsen.

Matsumoto shielded her eyes when the Negación came down on Ichimaru.

"Trying to run away?" Iba pulled out his Zanpakutō.

"Stop." Tula blocked him with the Command Staff.

"Tula-sama?" Iba blinked.

"That light is known as the Negación." Tula explained. "Menos use them when saving one of their own. The moment all three of them are engulfed in the light, it's all over. The inside of the light is its own impenetrable, completely solitary world. Anyone who have fought Manos before should understand this. The second the light was brought down, it's impossible to even touch Aizen."

"Tōsen!" Komamura slammed a fist on the ground as the three traitors were lifted into the air. "Come down here, Tōsen! I won't let you go. Why did you become a Shinigami? Wasn't it for your friends who perished? Wasn't it to fight for justice? Where did your justice disappear to?"

"I've told you, Komamura." Tōsen replied. "All that is reflected in these eyes is a path covered in more blood. That is where justice already is. The path I walk is justice."

"He's even joined up with the Menos?" Ukitake gaped. "For what purpose?"

"To search for greatness." Aizen answered.

"Have you fallen so low, Aizen?" Ukitake glared.

"You're too proud, Ukitake." Aizen declared. "From the very start, there is no one worthy ruling Olympus. Not you, not me, not even Zeus. However, that emptiness shall end." removing his glasses, he slicked his hair back as he shattered his glasses. "From here on, I will be the only man with the most qualification to rule Olympus. Farewell, Shinigami. And farewell, human ryoka boy." he added, the Menos carrying all three former Captains in their hands. "For a human, you were truly interesting."

Later...

"2nd and 3rd Patrols, take care of Captain Kuchiki." Iemura ordered. "Patrols 7, 10, 11 and 13, go cure Captain Komamura. Lieutenant Abarai has finished surgery up to the sixth phase. Patrols 8 and 9, get ready to move him.

"Excuse me, 3rd Seat Iemura." one of the remaining Squad 4 members voiced. "What should we do?"

"Help with treating the ryoka." Iemura replied. "You should understand this already. They are Soul Society's saviors; Senshi who had returned Tula-sama back to Seireitei. Well done." he hurried over, hearing Minazuki's cry, indicating Unohana had arrived. "Captain Unohana. What is the condition of Lieutenant Hinamori?

"For now, she has escaped death." Unohana replied. "The rest is up to her. Right now, Isane is taking over the rest of the procedures. Who's remaining?"

"Captain Kuchiki and the ryoka boy." Iemura replied.

"It seems that the ryoka don't need our help." Unohana noted, seeing Inoue was already healing Ichigo. "You pushed yourself too far, haven't you?" she knelt down beside Byakuya. "Kuchiki Rukia, come here." she looked at the younger Shinigami. "Captain Kuchiki is calling for you."

"Rukia, are you there?" Byakuya voiced.

"Yes, nii-sama." Rukia knelt beside her adopted brother.

"There is something I need to tell you." Byakuya stated. "It's a 15-year-old story. That year, I lost m wife before the first plums blossomed. Hisana was your sister. Hisana died in the Real World and was sent to Inuzuiri together with you. However, it was difficult to live. She abandoned you when you were still a baby and fled. That is what she said. Hisana regretted that. Even after she became my wife, every day, she continued to search for you. And then, the spring of the fifth year..." he recounted how Hisana had died after their fifth year of marriage. "I found you the following year. I immediately entered you into the Kuchiki Family. It was the same as with Hisana. Those from the manor argued that it was against the rules to allow someone from Rukongai into the noble family, and that it would lower the Kuchiki name. But I cut through everyone's objections, because I wanted to fulfill my promise with Hisana no matter what. But it was also the truth that I went against the rules. I made a pledge before my parents' graves: in order to alleviate my feeling of unease, I swore that this would be the last time I broke the rules. No matter what happens in the future, I will always obey the laws. I will always carry Hisana's memory with me. But I made two promises that I should not have made. When your death penalty was decided, I was unsure what to do. Protect my vow, or protect the law: the promise that I made to my parents, or my promise to Hisana to protect her sister. Which one of them should I keep? Kurosaki Ichigo, I thank you. Rukia, I'm sorry."

Omake: Shinigami Illustrated Picture Guide

Tessai: Jinta-dono! Goodness, where could he have gone to play hooky from the store? Jinta-do... (Stops suddenly when his 'In Danger' senses start tingling) I can't allow it!

Kon and Jinta clash against each other in the soccer field.

Tessai: (Runs forward to break the fight) I CANNOT ALLOW IT! (Rips Kon's plush toy body from Jinta's hip)

An 'End' stamp appears in the background.

Chibi Ichigo: (Pops up on screen) This isn't the end!

SailorStar9: In the next chapter, with their main goal accomplished, Ichigo and his friends, minus Hasu, return to the human world. However, Rukia decides to remain in the Soul Society rather than leave with Ichigo.