Please forgive my absence, everyone. I don't have a real good excuse, but I have been doing school and family stuff, and Yu-Gi-Oh! has once again interested me. So I've been kinda distracted, but here's a 3781 (or something like that) word chapter for you all! This is my longest chapter. :)

~HUECO MUNDO: LAS NOCHES~

Ryoko walked through the halls of Las Noches, looking down and kicking the ground in anger. "How dare they?" she asked herself, glaring at the floor, "They still think Aizen's evil… I know what I saw. It wasn't him." She squeaked when someone ran into her, knocking them both down. "Ow! Watch where you're going!" she growled, looking at the person. She blinked when she saw Gin. "Gin?"

Gin looked at her and smiled. "Ah, sorry about that Ryoko," he apologized, standing and helping her to her feet, "I'm in a bit of a hurry."

Ryoko looked confused. "Why?" she asked.

"Aizen-sama wishes for Tousen and I to follow him to Karakura Town," he explained.

"Can I go? I haven't gone in a loooong time!" she exclaimed with a pout. Gin looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "YAY!"

Gin chuckled at her antics before gesturing for her to follow.

~LAS NOCHES THRONE ROOM~

"Ah, Gin, there you are." Aizen said, turning his head to look at the albino with a soft smile.

"Aizen-sama!" Ryoko smiled, running to him and jumping up to hug him. Aizen chuckled and set her down. He looked at Gin to explain.

Gin shrugged. "She wanted to come. Who am I to keep a child from her dreams?"

"I am not a child! I'm a teen!"

"Compared to us you're a baby."

"Tch…" Ryoko glared.

"Ryoko," said girl turned to Aizen, "I may have use for you there. You may come with us." Ryoko pumped her fist in the air. Aizen turned to his throne, where Ulquiorra was. "Ulquiorra, please finish things here."

"Yes, Aizen-sama." He turned to walk away.

"Wait!"

Ulquiorra turned to Ryoko, and was immediately engulfed in a hug, shocking the Espada. "Remember our promise, Ulquiorra…" she whispered so only he would hear. His eyes widened even more as she looked at him and smiled. "Don't die." He nodded briefly. Ryoko seemed pleased with that and she let go of Ulquiorra and walked back to Aizen and Gin and Tousen, waving at the black haired boy.

Tousen opened up a portal and the four of them walked through.

"Be safe… Ryoko."

~KARAKURA TOWN~

the Garganta opened wide above Karakura Town, giving the four ex-Shinigami's a view of the town. Ryoko leaned forward with a wide smile, one hand above her eyes. "Woah! It's even bigger than I remember!" she exclaimed. Ryoko turned to the others. "Come on, let's go—" She heard a strange sound, and looked down at the town. "Huh?" she heard the sound again.

"They're here," Aizen stated, a small smirk on his face.

"Who?" Ryoko asked, looking back at him. Her question was answer as she felt numerous powerful spiritual pressures. She recognized them all right away. Her eyes slowly widened until her irises were tiny. She slowly turned her head to look at them.

Head Captain Yamamoto, Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe, Captain Komamura, Lieutenant Iba, Captain Soi-Fon, Lieutenant Omaeda, Captain Shunsui, Lieutenant Matsumoto, and…

Ryoko gulped. "Ukitake… and… Toshiro… too…" she whispered to herself in shock. "W-why are they all…?"

Aizen took a couple steps out and glared t the Head Captain. "It seems we made it on time," the old man said.

"Made it in time?" Aizen asked, "Exactly what are you referring to?" He took a couple steps away from the Garganta. "I am well aware this isn't Karakura Town," Ryoko had to cover her mouth to keep from screaming in rage, "But that means nothing to me."

Suddenly, three other Gargantas under theirs started opening.

"If Karakura Town is in the Soul Society… then I'll simply slaughter you here."

One Garganta opens fully, showing Lilynette and Starrk. Another showed Barragan and his Fraccion, and the third showed Tier with her three Fraccion.

Ryoko stared at the Captains with a frown on her face. She looked over at the three ex-Captains as they walk forward and away from the Garganta. Ryoko sighed and followed behind them and next to Gin. Her movement allowed everyone to be aware of her. And what they saw shocked them.

Ukitake and Shunsui stared at her in shock. "Is that who I think it is?" Shunsui asked his friend. Ukitake nodded, still in shock.

"Ryoko…" he whispered.

"Ryoko… why…?" Toshiro whispered to himself. Matsumoto looked at him sadly, being the only one who heard him and knowing his dilemma.

Soi-Fon growled. "Are you happy with yourself, Ryoko?!" she yelled to the girl, making her look at her. "Are you happy that you're a monster now?!"

Ryoko's eyes widened in anger. "Oh, I'm the monster NOW?!" she yelled back, "NOW?! Don't pull that on me! According to all of you, I was a monster when I first came to Soul Society! You called me a monster and a freak of nature!"

Soi-Fon was shocked. "We never called you that!"

"Then explain the day when you all tried to kill me!"

"You were going on a rampage!"

"Because of you!"

"Ryoko, enough."

Ryoko looked at Aizen angrily. Finally, she took a deep breath and calmed down, looking at all of the Captains. She couldn't look at Toshiro or Ukitake, and only they noticed.

Omaeda grit his teeth, looking at Soi-Fon. "Captain, They still got that monstrously heavy reiatsu."

"Feel free to run if you want, coward."

"I think it would be smart to attack their leader first, don't you?" Iba asked his Captain.

"No, Aizen's abilities are unique. We should defeat everyone else first so we can only focus on him."

"I wonder which one's the strongest…?" Shunsui asked, looking at his choices. Ukitake, who was still lost in thought about Ryoko, turned his head to look at his opponents.

"That's a tough one… We would have to ask Aizen."

"I don't think Aizen would just sit by and watch his subordinates get killed," Toshiro explained, trying to focus on the problem at hand.

Yamamoto closed his eyes in thought for a moment, then took a step forward. "Everyone, stand back." He lifted his cane, and the wood casing dispersed, showing the hidden sword. Everyone looked at it in shock. "Reduce all creation to ash." The sword started catching fire.

Ryoko eyes widened in shock. "Oh no!"

"Ryuujin Jakka!" Flames erupted from around him, blowing winds on every direction. Ryoko knelt down slightly so as to not fall back, and put an arm around her eyes. Yamamoto swung the sword and fire started shooting toward Aizen, wrapping around them. Once the flames completely trapped them, Yamamoto sheathed his sword. "Joukaku Enjou. Even Aizen won't be able to escape this wall of flames for a while. So let's make sure we finish the rest off."

Ukitake looked shocked at the man. "Y-you're crazy, Head Captain…"

"You must be in a pretty bad mood, Ol' Man Yama."

Everyone stared at the flames with frowns on their faces.

"Aizen…" Matsumoto looked at her Captain and her eyes widened at what she saw. His eyes were narrowed in anger, and were ice cold and filled with hatred. "I will make you pay for what you have done to Ryoko… I will kill you…" he whispered, his voice filled with venom and Matsumoto was scared. She knew, from his expression, he was going to keep that promise.

"Captain, why did you put Ryoko in there as well?" Komamura asked. The others turned to the Head Captain to hear his response.

The Head Captain sighed. "Despite her being on the enemy side, I can tell that none of you would be willing to fight her under any circumstance." Everyone bowed their heads or looked away in shame. "We have all been touched by the girl, and wish for her to be unharmed. I cannot allow that risk. We will deal with her later." Everyone was shocked that this was coming from the Head Captain, but said nothing of it.

—

Toshiro stared at Halibel, both of their swords out in battle. "Tell me something…" Halibel raised an eyebrow. "Why? Why is Ryoko so important to you guys?!" he growled, gripping his zanpakuto angrily. Halibel raised the other eyebrow.

So this is who Ryoko talked about. Albino, short, Captain… her eyes narrowed, Now I see…

"You like the girl, don't you?" Halibel asked. Toshiro's eyes widened and he blushed, then shook his head and glared harder.

"Answer me!"

Halibel sighed, "We did not need her."

"What?"

"Aizen-sama had no real use for her," she explained, but that only angered the Captain more.

"Then why!"

"She is special. There was never a Quincy Shinigami before. Why have her be on the Shinigami's side and give them a special power when we could take her for ourselves?"

Toshiro's sword started to tremble. "So… you just took her from us… just to play with her emotions?!" he shouted. Halibel closed her eyes in what looked like regret, confusing Toshiro. After a moment, she opened her eyes.

"Are you going to talk or fight?"

Toshiro grit his teeth, but charged at her nonetheless.

—

Lilynette watched from the sidelines as Starrk and Shunsui fought. She frowned slightly, turning toward the large ring of fire. "Ryoko…" She then quickly turned her head to see Ukitake meditating. Her eye twitched. Is this really the man who raised Ryoko…? "Oi!"

Ukitake opened his eyes and looked at her questioningly. "Hm?"

"Aren't you going to help him?"

"Of course not! Two-on-one isn't fair."

"You're sure this is the right time for you to be saying that?" she asked skeptically, "Starrk's pretty damn strong. That old fart'll die."

"It's okay," he said, smiling, "Shunsui's pretty strong, too."

"Tch, whatever! You'll regret this after he's dead!"

"Well, I'll pray that never happens."

Lilynette ruffled her hair in frustration, "Then why not fight me?!"

"Out of the question!"

"Huh?!"

"You're just a child! A child shouldn't be out on the battlefield!" he exclaimed, before suddenly deflating and looking down sadly, "Not one…"

Lilynette blinked, stunned at his change in attitude. What he said clicked and her eyes widened. "Are you talking about Ryoko?"

Ukitake nodded silently, a sad look in his eyes.

"You really screwed her up, you know?" she said, making him more deflated, which got her even more confused. "Why are you sad? You're the ones who drove her out with all that bullcrap you told her—"

"We never called her a monster!" He yelled at her, shocking both he and Lilynette.

From above, Starrk was looking down at Ukitake and Lilynette.

Ukitake looked down. "We never called her that… Aizen tricked her. I loved her like a daughter. I tried to protect her…"

"But you failed," Lilynette pointed out.

"Yeah… we failed big time," Ukitake laughed bitterly, "I tried my hardest to protect her… but in the end I ended up hurting her. What kind of father am I?"

Lilynette stared at the man who was trying to wipe the tears in his eyes with his sleeves. She frowned and looked at Starrk. They locked eyes, and nodded.

—

"Ugh! I hate Yamamoto!" Ryoko complained, falling onto her back and looking at the sky with a frown.

"Calm down, Ryoko. We'll be out of here soon," Tousen said calmly. Ryoko sighed and looked down. She could see part of Karakura town, and a few bright lights in different directions slowing the battles, but she couldn't see ONE BATTLE!

She rolled onto her stomach and watched as lights form explosions carried through the town. Finally, something came to mind. "Aizen-sama?"

"What is it, Ryoko?"

"Why are we here? If you knew this was a fake town, why even come here?"

"…"

"Hahaha! Ya stumped him, Ryoko!" Gin laughed. Ryoko chuckled. Aizen rolled his eyes slightly and looked at the fire.

"Ryoko."

"Yes, Aizen-sama?"

"When I tell you, break the fire." Ryoko's eyes widened.

"B-but how?"

"Use the powers you've learned. Use whatever techniques you can." Ryoko gulped and nodded, sitting cross-legged and closing her eyes.

The next time she opened them, she was in her Inner World. She looked around. "Maneshi? Manna?" she called out. The blue flames on the houses shot toward her and landed in front of her, forming two bodies.

"Ryoko, are you alright?" Manna asked, looking worried. Ryoko nodded.

"I need help breaking the fire barrier around us.

"Fire barrier?" Maneshi looked confused.

"Head Captain Yamamoto trapped Aizen-sama, Tousen, Gin, and I inside a ring of fire. We can't escape and Aizen-sama wants me to break us out."

The two spirits looked thoughtful. "It will be a lot harder than you think. Our attribute is also fire, and his is stronger."

"We need to combine both of our powers. However, even that will not be enough." Maneshi informed. Ryoko nodded and looked down in thought, before the ground started to shake.

"W-what the…?"

They all looked behind Ryoko, their eyes widening at the large dragon.

"Seems someone's come out of hiding."

Ryoko slowly walked toward the dragon and raised a hand to it. "Hollow, will you lend me your power to defeat the Shinigami?"

The dragon roared loudly before glowing blue. Ryoko's hair lifted lightly as she also glowed blue, along with the other two spirits as they added their power to her.

"I will punish any who wrong my master!" The dragon roared.

A bright light engulfed Ryoko's world, and the next thing she knew she was back in the ring of fire. She looked at the three others. "How long was I out?"

"A couple hours. Not long," Gin answered. Ryoko nodded and stood.

"Ryoko, the battles have all ceased. Destroy the ring."

Ryoko nodded and stepped in front of all of them. "Stand back," she advised, holding her arm out and unsheathing her zanpakuto with the other hand, "I don't know how strong I'll be or how well I can handle this." Ryoko closed her eyes in concentration, pointing her sword forward at the fire.

"Release, Shisha no Ryu!" Blue fire erupted from her body. Her eyes turned pitch black with white irises that seem to be glowing slightly blue. Three horns extended from the other side of her head to match the other side. The two clips that held her hair back were still two separate pieces, but now went to the back of her head and wrapped around her neck, then spiraled down her left arm, ending in the palm of her hand and connecting at the tip. Two large bone-like wings shot out from her back and stretched outward. A bone tail extended from the small of her back and was long enough to wrap around her legs three times.

She stared at the fire in front of her silently before raising her left hand. The clip at the top of her head started to glow, and the glow slowly covered the entirety of the clip, ending at her hand where energy formed in her hand. Suddenly, it shot out, hitting the fire as it tried to block the energy. Ryoko pushed the energy, and it shot right through the fire, dispersing it completely.

Everyone who was left looked at the fire as it disappeared in shock.

Toshiro, who had one against Halibel, looked at the one who had shot it, and he froze. "N-no… it… it can't be… It's… not possible…!"

"Ryoko…" Ukitake whispered. Shinsui looked at his friend sadly, knowing how much she meant to him.

Yamamoto looked over at Ryoko, and his eyes narrowed.

"Good job, Ryoko." Aizen smiled, putting a hand on her shoulder as the bones cracked and disappeared. Ryoko smiled happily at him.

~TIMESKIP TO AFTER ICHIGO APPEARS BECAUSE I'M LAZY AND TIRED~

Ichigo was just about to release an attack on Aizen when Shinji appeared in front of him. "No, Ichigo. Let us deal with him."

"But Shinji—"

"No," he said harshly, looking at Ichigo, "This is our fight now. Besides, you're the only one who hasn't been subject to Kyoka Suigetsu. You know what happens when he uses it, right?"

Ichigo winced and looked down, remembering the day Ryoko was stabbed by Aizen. "Yeah…"

"So let us take care of it!" Sudenly, multiple people appeared in front of Ichigo. Komamura, Lisa, Toshiro, Soi-Fon and Omaeda, Shunsui, Love, and Rojuro.

Ryoko blinked, then waved. "Hey, it's Shinji!" Shinji's eyes widened and he quickly looked at Ryoko.

"No way!"

"Shinji?" Ichigo asked.

"So that's it…" Shinji's eyes narrowed, "I knew something was off about you…!"

"What are you talking about, Shinji?" he asked.

"The Vizards helped that little punk with her Hollow!" Shinji exclaimed, "AIzen tricked us again!"

Ryoko giggled, then turned, "Have fuun~", then disappeared.

Aizen watched her leave, then turned to his opponents with a straight face. "Did you really think you could beat me with sheer numbers alone? How naive." He looked up at Komamura. "My understanding of power… is far greater than yours. Let me show you… when I talk about power…" He shunpo'd above Komamura with his sword raised high. "This is what I mean!"

Komamura growled. "Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh!" he exclaimed activating his Bankai. A large soldier appeared next to him. Aizen swung his sword down, easily cutting the solder's sword in half, and cutting Komamura.

Komamura, blinded by rage, swung his broken sword at Aizen, who simply blocked with his own sword. Aizen swung his zanpakuto, cutting Komamura down. As Aizen watched the fox fall, Love and Rojuro appeared behind him. Rojuro swung his yellow whip.

"Kinshara!" He yelled as he swung the whip. Aizen caught it and pulled Rojuro toward him and cut him down easily. He wrapped the other end around Love and did the same.

"Aizen-sama, look out!" Ryoko yelled. Aizen turned his head to the side as Lisa's spear shot passed him. He cut the spear in half and sliced her back.

"A hollowfication?" Aizen asked, looking at the diamond-shaped mask on Lisa's face. "I told you before… you're just failed mock Arrancars. The Arrancar follow me. Mock Arrancars shouldn't point their swords at me."

Ichigo watched as everyone was cut down, his eyes wide in shock. "No… No way… How is this possible? You've gotta be kidding me!"

Soi-Fon smirked as she used her speed to make multiple clones of herself. "We will… Not allow… You to win… Aizen!" She shot forward. Aizen lifted his sword to attack, but was stopped by a pillar of ice that surrounded his sword and hand. He looked at it in shock.

"Wha—" His eyes widened and he looked down at his chest. Soi-Fon had reached him and stabbed him with Suzumebachi. She reared her arm back.

"I will make you pay for what you have done to Ryoko!" she yelled then stabbed him again. "Nigeki Kessatsu!"

Soi-Fon stared at the point in shock. "'Death in two stings', huh?" Soi-Fon looked at him in fear as he gripped her hand tighter, mere inches from touching him. "What an amusing technique. But it won't reach me!" He broke his other hand free and raised his sword, looking down at the female captain. He grinned, but it was wiped off in mere seconds. His eyes widened as a sword made from shadows pierced his stomach. He looked behind him. "What?"

"How careless of you," a voice spoke as the blade retracted. A shadow on the ice slowly started to come out and form a body. Shunsui. "You created a shadow on the ice."

AIzen glared at Shunsui. "W-why… you… bastard…"

"It's over, Aizen." Aizen turned and looked at Toshiro in Bankai state, holding his sword tightly. Aizen's eyes narrowed.

"Tell me, Captains. Why kill me for something you caused? She came with me because you hurt her. I was her saving grace—"

"You were a manipulator!" Toshiro yelled, shutting Aizen up and getting his attention. "You told her lies! We did not think of her as a monster! We thought of her as different! A good kind of different! We wanted her to harness her powers! Then you had to go and make it sound like we're the bad guys! It's your damn fault she's like this! You lied and used her for your own purpose!" Toshiro's eyes narrowed. "And now we're going to get her back! You will pay for what you have done to everyone! And I'll kill you for using Ryoko!" Aizen's eyes widened in shock as Toshiro shot forward. Aizen raised his sword about to counter, when he saw Shinji rotating his sword with a smirk.

"No! It's the other way around!" Aizen turned his head a moment too late, as Toshiro's sword went straight through the middle of his chest and freezing to the spot. He slowly turned his head to look at Toshiro and his eyes widened even more. Toshiro's eyes were narrowed, filled with anger and hate and… anguish?

Aizen slowly turned his head to the front, looking at the tip of the sword. He reached up and grabbed Hyorinmaru's blade, his hand shaking. "I… can't…" He couldn't finish, as his hand lowered slightly, before falling limp.

"You have done many crimes in Soul Society, Aizen…" Toshiro growled in Aizen's ear, "You tricked Ryoko… played your mind games on her… on a little girl! You deserved this." he finished darkly.

Everyone watched in silence, waiting to see if Aizen would move. When he didn't, they relaxed. "Th-they… they won! The Captains won!" Iba exclaimed. He turned to Kira, who was standing next to him. "Hey, Kira! Why can't you be a little happier? You look unmoved as always!"

Kira didn't look at him, just kept his eyes on Aizen. "Something's not right…" he said to himself.

Shinji put his sword over his shoulder. "Good grief… We finally turned things around. Right, Ichimaru?" he asked, looking over to the albino who stood on a destroyed building.

Suddenly, Aizen smirked, shocking everyone and making everyone but Toshiro step back. "W-what?!"

Aizen slowly turned his head and looked at Toshiro through the corner of his eye. "Toshi…ro…" The small Captain's eyes widened. That voice… was not Aizen's.

Slowly, Aizen's clothes and body started to crack like a mirror, before eventually shattering completely, revealing the real opponent.

Toshiro, Shunsui, Soi-Fon, and Shinji's eyes all widened in shock at the one who was impaled.

"Ry—" Soi-Fon inhaled sharply.

"Ryoko…" Toshiro whispered in horror. The girl smiled at him weakly, her eyes halfway open.

Shinji's eyes widened, and he looked around. "Where's Aizen?!"

Iba and Kira fell to the ground as Aizen cut them down. Shinji grit his teeth. "How long…?"

"How long? What an interesting question. You know that my Kyouka Suigetsu's power is Complete Hypnosis, right? It can control all five senses and lead people to hallucinate. However, you do not know Ryoko's power." He smirked and turned to look at Ryoko's body, hung in the air only by the weapon impaling her chest.

"Using her Shikai, she has the ability to copy another person's Shikai and use it as her own. Her Bankai, on the other hand, allows her to copy another's Bankai. But that's not the only difference." His eyes narrowed at Shinji, whose face was red with rage. "She can take the form of another, and their ability that she uses gets stronger."

Shinji grit his teeth even harder, threatening to crack them. "Since when?!" he yelled out, rushing toward Aizen. "When did she use that ability?!"

"Think about it." He said. Shinji's eyes widened.

When she left! Before the fight began! Shinji looked at Ryoko, We fought her the entire time!

The ice pillar shattered as Toshiro took Hyorinmaru out of Ryoko and put her in his arms. He slowly descended onto a roof, kneeling down and staring at Ryoko in horror. Ryoko opened her eyes slightly, looking at his face. "Toshi…ro…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. He gripped her arm tighter, gritting his teeth as he closed his eyes tightly. Ryoko put a hand on his that's on her arm, making him open his eyes and look at her in surprise.

She's cold… Why is she cold? She's fire, she's not supposed to be cold! Toshiro thought. Her voice broke him out of his rampaging thoughts.

"I'm… sorry…" Toshiro froze at her words, looking at her face. Tears were streaming down the sides of her face, but she had a ghost of a smile. "They… were right… I guess…" At Toshiro's confused face, she continued, "My… spirits… they… said he… was evil… I t-tried… to ignore… th-them… but…" she laughed dully, but stopped when she coughed up blood, "I was… fooling… myself…" Toshiro watched as she put a hand on his cheek, and his eyes widened slightly when he realized she was wiping a tear. "Don't… be sad… Toshi…ro…" she smiled, then frowned sadly. She slowly moved her hand to his chest, feeling a scar.

~FLASHBACK~

Ryoko stared in shock at Toshiro, eyes as wide as could be. Ylfordt… Nakeem… S-Shawlong… Di Roy… Edorad… All of you are… Her eyes narrowed in anger. Rangiku looked at Ryoko for a split second before she sonido'd up to Toshiro, making her eyes widen.

"Captain!" Too late.

His eyes widened just as Ryoko slashed his torso, causing blood to pool out and splatter everywhere, his two ice wings shattering completely. Toshiro stared in shock at the girl standing in front of him, her cold, dead eyes staring into his. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a groan came out as he plummeted to the building roof.

~END FLASHBACK~

Ryoko trace the scar lightly. "Please… for…give… me…" Her eyes started to close. "…Toshiro…" Her hand went limp, falling to her stomach. Toshiro's eyes widened.

He leaned in slightly, moving his hand that was holding her legs, and hovering it above her face. "…Ryoko?" he asked softly. When she didn't answer, he put his hand on her cheek and moved her head toward him. "Ryoko?" he asked again. His vision grew blurry. "Ryoko, answer me!" he pleaded, "Please!" He gripped her shirt tightly and buried his face in her chest, crying.

Down on the ground, Aizen looked up at Toshiro. He scoffed. "What a useless little girl… If I had known she was going to get killed I wouldn't have bothered swapping. I underestimated her." He turned away slightly before he heard an earth-shattering cry. He quickly whipped his head to look at Toshiro, who was now standing and screaming angrily. His ice wings flapped hard, shooting him into the air before he shot down toward Aizen.

Soi-Fon and Shunsui saw this and turned. "Wait!" Shunsui exclaimed. "Captain Hitsugaya!" His yells were ignored as Toshiro got closer and closer to his target.

Aizen smirked. "You're all full of openings."

Toshiro froze, eyes wide, as Aizen cut his arm and foot clean off.

Soi-Fon raced to Aizen next, but he cut her down. Shunsui faced the same fate with Shinji when they tried to double-team him from behind.

Toshiro stood frozen in the air, his eyes wide. "Im…possible…" He narrowed his eyes at his arms, before he fell to the ground with a thud.

Aizen smirked, knowing he won.