White Sun Rising: Ron the True Fan Edition
(The blackness fades to show a room on the famed planet Z'ha'dum and a face most Babylon 5 fans love to hate: Morden)
MORDEN: Hello, everyone. My name is Morden, but you probably already know that. While the Author is busy with Kosh-
(An explosion rocks the room, showing that the fight is just above)
MORDEN: I am hosting this intermission with Sosuke Aizen.
(Camera pans to show said asshole)
AIZEN: Thank you, Morden. Now, it's time for this chapter's recap.
Chapter 13: End of the 13, Beginning of the 14/Forgiveness/Journey Home
Recap: Aizen has retreated from the Soul Society, although he is wounded and without his would-be ultimate weapon, the Hōgyoku. The Seireitei has entered a peaceful state, but peace can easily be shattered by one misstep. As such, a truce between Ichigo Kurosaki and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was declared, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi went to work to find out if Kurosaki's Inner Hollow was natural or not while Ichigo and Rukia trained in the use of their twin Bankai. Mayuri confirmed their claims, and now the Gotai 13 must change with this new knowledge. Already many shinigami are trying to unlock their Inner Hollows, but they will need help from Ichigo, Rukia and Momo Hinamori to do it. While this is going on, Yamamoto prepares to create the fourteenth Court Guard Squad.
Change is a part of life and a part of death.
Without change, there is stagnation.
Stagnation leads to failure and death.
The 13 Court Guard Squads, otherwise mostly known as the Gotai 13, had stagnated for over 300 years.
From this stagnation came Sosuke Aizen.
Now rapid changes come to the Gotai 13 and to the Soul Society.
The source of this change was Ichigo Kurosaki.
From him would come the creation of not only a new law, but a new Division which he would lead. The law would help unleash the potential of all shinigami, as they could now use their newly-discovered Inner Hollows freely without fear of arrest or execution.
At the moment, however, only three Gotai 13 shinigami other then Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki and Momo Hinamori (whose Inner Hollow got rid of her affections toward Aizen quickly and mercilessly) could use their Inner Hollow: Toshiro Hitsugaya, who unlocked his the day after Aizen retreated, and could barely use it without it taking him over, the unlikely Hanataro Yamada, who had nearly perfect control over it and, almost nightmarishly, Kenpachi Zaraki.
The less said of Zaraki and his Inner Hollow, the better, but what will be said is that at least he had the perfect sparring partner now.
Those hearing voices not belonging to their zanpakutō included Rangiku Matsumoto, Renji Abarai, Byakuya Kuchiki and Suì-Fēng, and the list was growing by the day.
The reason they could hear them now was that they were either actively trying to unlock them or, in Byakuya's case, was around someone who was either trying (Renji) or had already done it. (Rukia)
Emotion also had a role to play, as Byakuya was annoyed that Ichigo was courting his adopted sister.
This kept making the Hollow surface, although he kept suppressing it.
This would hold Byakuya back in the war to come, but he would learn that only in hindsight.
Speaking of Ichigo...
"IGHIGO-KUN!" (AN: Insert Hospital Chase from Star Trek IV The Voyage Home here)
He was currently being chased by 40% of the female shinigami population that was not Rukia.
Why 40?
The other 60% were either his actual girlfriend (Rukia) or knew he was dating someone.
They wanted to woo him away from Rukia, but he only had eyes for her.
Sadly, they didn't get that.
It took Zaraki popping up to make them go away, but this made Ichigo want to run even faster, for reasons we already know. (And love)
He ran into one of the few female shinigami that was not interested in either fighting him (Suì-Fēng being the exemplar for this, and they made of 45% of the total female population of the Gotai 13) or chasing him: Orihime Inoue, who had tied her hair back into a ponytail with a metal ball-shaped clip at the end of it to not only keep it from flowing everywhere, but made a nasty weapon.
He would know: one of the many perverts in the 11th tried to grope her, but received a ponytail whip, as Rukia coined it, to the face before Orihime started beating the shit out of him.
"Ichigo! You look like someone's trying to kill you."
"Kenpachi!"
Orihime pulled a chuckle that usually belonged to Tatsuki.
"Explains a lot. I'll take care of him. You get to the 1st Division Barracks: Yamamoto wants to talk to you."
"KUROSAKI!"
Zaraki finally caught up with him.
"Don't want to fight ya today, kid. There's a meeting, and you're wanted there, same with your friends and Kuchiki!"
He jumped off, as even he didn't want to test Yamamoto's patience.
Orihime sighed.
"I'll get Chad and Uryū. YOU get Rukia."
"Don't bother."
Rukia seemingly fell from the sky beside her boyfriend before jumping up to kiss him on the cheek.
It was getting easier to do that over the course of time, like she was getting taller.
"I was looking for him."
Orihime noted that, while it made her sad, they did make a really good couple.
"I'll get Chad and Uryū then."
Both noticed her sad undertone.
Uryū had taken a fancy to Nemu Kurotsuchi for some reason, and Orihime felt left out.
Chad wasn't her type, pure and simple.
"I think we need to play matchmaker with her."
"There's only one person that's interested in her, and it's a girl. As she is now, Orihime could kill her."
Didn't mean he wouldn't pay to watch her do it, though.
"Still, we have a meeting to get to. Let's go."
1st Division Barracks
Most of the captains (not including Zaraki) were already there waiting for Ichigo and company to arrive.
Most of the captains were not told what the meeting was about, as only Ukitake, Komamura and Kyoraku were told, and they were extremely tight-lipped.
Seconds later, Zaraki arrived, followed by Ichigo and Rukia. Orihime, Chad and Uryū arrived about 10 seconds later.
"Sorry if we're late, old man."
The 'old man' in question chuckled.
"I know what happened, Kurosaki. I was tempted to start laughing at your predicament. But I knew better then to do that. This meeting will now commence!"
Yamamoto's cane hit the floor, making a small shockwave that nearly knocked Chad and Uryū off their feet.
"This is both the end and the beginning: a crossroads, if you like. This will be the last meeting of the 13 Court Guard Squads."
All but the captains of the 7th, 8th and 13th looked at Yamamoto as if he were insane.
"It is also the first meeting of the 14 Court Guard Squads, and the appointment ceremony of the first Captain of the 14th Division. Ichigo Kurosaki, you are an odd case: a human turned into a Substitute Shinigami with Hollow powers and both continue to grow. Due to this, you are to be made Captain of the 14th Division."
Rukia resisted hugging Ichigo to death.
"The purpose of this new 14th division is to prevent the same tragedy that happened 200 years ago with the near extermination of the Quincies. Uryū Ishida, step forward!"
The Quincy cautiously walked toward Ichigo, into the light.
"Your grandfather wanted our two races to work side-by-side, to combat the Hollow menace, correct?"
Uryū nodded, still terrified that Yamamoto could easily kill him.
"You have already proven his point in working with Kurosaki. While the problem of your powers being able to kill a Hollow and all the souls it has taken is still an issue, the 12th Division has been trying to find a way to counter it with a medium of sorts."
Uryū sighed in relief.
They weren't going to kill him.
"As for what happened back then...on behalf of the Gotai 14, I apologize for what happened and for ordering it. It was not easy for us to go through with doing that, necessary or not."
Uryū wanted to yell, but Yamamoto had swallowed his pride to say those words.
It was far past time to bury the fucking hatchet.
"I accept your apology, Captain-General Yamamoto."
Yamamoto looked at the group before him.
"As most of you know, the Court Guard Squads have specializations: the Fourth Division is healing and supply, the Thirteenth's is kido and the Eleventh's is sword-fighting, for example. As such, the Fourteenth has a unique role: spiritually aware humans with unique powers are the specialization of this Division."
Ichigo sighed.
He knew three people on the top of his head that could join the 14th: Tatsuki and his sisters.
It would be a cold day in hell when his sisters would join the Gotai 14 before their time.
An EXTREMELY cold day in hell.
Momo, who was acting captain for the 5th, looked at the Captain-General.
"Sir, who will be the captain of the 14th?"
Yamamoto looked at Ichigo.
"Kurosaki Ichigo! Step forward!"
Ichigo walked toward the Captain-General.
"I have heard you are capable of Bankai. Show us."
Ichigo took out Zangetsu, as he was not risking using Shirayuki's Bankai yet: not in an enclosed space.
With his power level, he could easily kill half the captains in the room, not to mention Uryū, Orihime, Chad and Momo.
"Bankai!"
His uniform transformed into the trenchcoat hybrid.
"Tensa Zangetsu."
"A Condensed-Type Bankai is something I have not seen in a long time, Kurosaki. And your other blade?"
"I'd rather not. Shirayuki's Bankai has an area effect, and it gets REALLY cold."
"Worried for the safety of others, Kurosaki?"
Ichigo looked at Yamamoto.
"That is what my name means, old man: First Guardian."
If anything, that truly made him captain material.
"Captains Unohana and Komamura, the Haori."
Both nodded and brought a newly-made Haori, with the Japanese character for 14 on the back with a mask underneath the number.
They placed the Haori on his shoulders, and he put his arms through the sleeves.
"Normally, there would be a swearing-in ceremony, but your squad is a special case, Captain Kurosaki. Only those that are spiritually aware and can fight Hollows will be allowed into your Division. Those that cannot fight are under your Division's protection."
That brought a smile to Ichigo's face.
"At least I'd live up to my name. And the matter of my Lieutenant?"
"Normally, you would have the one assigned to your division, but as your division is new, we will need to select one."
Rukia coughed into her hand.
"Sir, I would like to volunteer. I know Ichigo best out of all of us, and we have each other's zanpakutō. In separate divisions, our abilities would be wasted."
"You were the only one on the list, Rukia-san."
Yamamoto produced a badge with the same emblems on Ichigo's new Haori on it.
'Volunteered for it, then you get shanghaied into doing it. At least you still get to be with Ichigo.' 'Shirayuki, please, I don't need this right now.'
She stepped forward, noticing Byakuya's twitching eye.
It appeared his Inner Hollow (which was less refined as he was, and a lot simpler to deal with) was enjoying this.
Secretly, she enjoyed it, too.
She retrieved the badge of office from the Captain-General, then tied it to her left sleeve.
"You, Rukia Kuchiki, are now Lieutenant of the 14th Division under Captain Ichigo Kurosaki. Bring pride to your Division!"
Rukia bowed while Ichigo gave Yamamoto a military-grade salute.
The gesture was not completely lost on some of them, as they had Konso'ed soldiers in the past, and saw them perform it.
"The reason you were chosen, Captain, as the leader of your new Division is simple: you are still alive, and thus can identify anyone that can fight against Hollows. However, you cannot be everywhere at once, and while Karakura Town has a great amount of spirit energy, it is not the only place in the living world like it. As such, I will assign a number of shinigami from other divisions to assist you in finding those like Sado-san and Uryū-san. They will search the living world for them."
"They better get told what they're getting into. Everything we do is kinda need-to-know."
Yamamoto looked Ichigo in the eye.
"They will be told, Kurosaki. It is time the Gotai 14 learns from the mistakes of its' predecessor, and lack of information to our allies was only one of many mistakes. Captains of the Gotai 14, dismissed!" Yamamoto left the room, followed by most of the captains.
Only Ichigo and his friends remained behind.
"So, Uryū, care to join my Division?"
Uryū was tempted to say no, but his grandfather would slap him upside the head and tell him to say yes.
As if fearing that his grandfather would pop out of nowhere to do just that, he nodded.
"Chad, Orihime? What about you?"
Orihime scoffed.
"Why bother asking, Ichigo? You know we'll both say yes."
Chad simply nodded.
"Well, all we need now is Tatsuki and the gang would all be here."
"Ichigo, about that..."
Shiba residence
As Kukaku hadn't moved the house, it was easy to find. Rukia was nervous.
"Ichigo-"
"I know about Kaien, Rukia. Shirayuki told me when Kukaku asked me about her. They already forgave you a long time ago. Besides, we're going to be spending a lot of time here, if she agrees."
Ganju looked at Ichigo.
"Agrees to what?"
They entered the house, and Ichigo discovered the Kukaku was sitting down where they met her in the first place.
"Oi, Kurosaki. What's with the Haori?"
"It's a very long story, Kukaku."
4 hours later
It was now 1755 hours SS Standard Time, and Ichigo had finished telling Kukaku of everything that happened, from his fight with Ikkaku to Aizen's betrayal to getting the captaincy of a newly-made Division.
"Lot of stuff for just getting your girlfriend back. So, why come here?"
Rukia sighed. Even after introducing herself, she was still nervous.
"Until the 14th Division's barracks are complete, the squad needs somewhere to stay."
Kukaku's pipe moved slightly.
"I can't let over 200 people stay here!"
"The 14th Division isn't made of over 200 men and women: just 5. And all of them are in this room."
She looked at them.
"You're serious. Just you, Kuchiki, the big guy, the bubbly girl and the Quincy? Since when did they let Quincies in?"
"My Division's special: we deal with humans with spiritual powers, including Quincies. They can either join or they can help us deal with the Hollows while staying in the living world."
Kukaku's pipe hit the floor, and of its' own accord this time.
"And Yamamoto's letting you do that?!"
Ichigo chuckled.
"My Division, my problem."
Kukaku started laughing.
"Until you get someone else to join your Division, Kurosaki, my doors are open!"
"Then you'll have to close them." Yoruichi walked in, wearing a shinigami uniform.
"Hope you don't mind, but I told Yamamoto that I'd be joining the 14th Division."
Ichigo blinked.
"What, thought I wasn't a shinigami? I was Suì-Fēng's captain once!"
"Didn't cross my mind, Yoruichi. Then again, you WERE a cat at the time."
"Technically, I still am. But I see your point. Besides teasing the hell out of you, there is a practical reason I'm joining your squad. You're a newbie captain of a newbie Division. Since I was a captain, I get to advise you on what the hell you need to do. Of course, that's it: you need to make decisions on your own, otherwise I'd be the captain, not you."
Ichigo nodded, getting Yoruichi's point.
Kukaku looked at Ichigo.
"Where are they buildin' the barracks for your squad? They can't fit 'em in the Seireitei."
Uryū adjusted his glasses.
"Actually, it's being built outside western Rukongai, so we'll have easy access to Karakura Town from there."
"It's a fucking fortress: you'd need modern weaponry to break in."
Kukaku looked at Orihime.
"What happened to you?"
"I got turned into a Substitute Shinigami by Kenpachi Zaraki."
Kukaku inched back slightly.
"That explains a lot."
"Relax. While I have the urge to fight something strong, I'm not giving into it. I'm still me, just more...violent."
"With Zaraki's mouth, clearly."
Ichigo got up.
"Kurosaki, you're staying with your girlfriend. The rest of you, you know where to go!"
While they were now members of the Gotai 14, they were still scared of Kukaku.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Yoruichi laughed her ass off at their fear while noticing Rukia hold Ichigo tightly.
And that she had gotten slightly taller: just an inch or two, but taller.
"Ah, young love. Ish."
1 week later: 14th Division Barracks (still under construction)
Orihime's comment was not far off as to needing modern weapons to get in, if the design of the foundations was anything to go by.
It was built as a castle, combining Asian, European and Mideastern styles into one design.
The only thing that WAS finished was the Senkaimon gate that led to Karakura Town.
Top priority was given to the living quarters and the administration area, and those would be finished within a few weeks, with the walls already up to 10 feet in height, blocking access inside except through a large, European-style gate, which could only be opened from within.
Most of the labor came from the same Rukon district Jidanbo came from, and the giant was even helping build the fortress after getting his arm healed by Orihime.
"Orihime, you were wrong. When it's done, anyone wanting to get inside will need air support to get in."
"Same thing, Kurosaki-kun."
Orihime had been alternating between using Ichigo's given name and his family name for a while now.
Rukia smiled.
"Ok, time to go home."
Ichigo smiled at that.
Before they left, the residents of the district bid them farewell and told them to come back soon. Ichigo gave them a thumbs up in return. "I'll be back soon!" He produced a Hell Butterfly (after being taught by Hitsugaya and Ukitake) and opened the Senkaimon.
"Next stop, Karakura Town!"
The members of the 14th Division walked through, and ended up damn near face to face with the Cleaner.
Again.
"NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN!"
"Just keep running!"
After a minute or two, they reached the world of the living.
Or rather, 50 feet above it.
"FUCK!"
They started falling (and in more then one case, screaming) to the ground when they saw a tarp coming at them.
It rapped around them, and they landed near Urahara's shop in Tessai's massive arms.
It was just another thing Urahara was going to pay for.
And Yoruichi was going to help the couple with it and make sure they didn't kill him at the same time. After all, they still needed him. In pain, if nothing else.
(Joining the Assholes is Kisuke Urahara, who is hiding from the couple)
KISUKE: Thanks for hiding me here.
MORDEN: No thanks needed. I have a question for you: what do you want?
(Ichigo and Rukia enter the room, both swords in hand and in Bankai)
ICHIRUKI: HIM DEAD!
ALL 3: Uh-oh.
(10 seconds later, Z'ha'dum explodes. Again)
(The Author sits in the cockpit of his personal Bluestar)
AUTHOR: Never let those two Bankai at the same time. It's a bad idea.
Urahara's going to get his ass handed to him, but I'm not going to kill him: I like the man too much for that. That being said, he will be in a hospital bed for the next two months once Ichigo and Rukia are done with him, as I like the idea of the couple kicking his ass for all the shit they were put through more then I like Urahara. Of course, as soon as he's fully recovered, Fade to Black starts. Sucks to be him.
Next time on White Sun Rising: Ichigo and Rukia kick Urahara's ass, then return to Ichigo's home to deal with Isshin and Ichigo's sisters.
Ja Ne!
(BOOM!)
AUTHOR: Fucking Christ, they just blew up Babylon 5!