The Blood Prince
Chapter 24: Survival Protocol
Lucifer was catching up quickly to Aizen and the young demon so they stopped on the 4th level of hell. Dark stormy skies raged above them and despite the lava the upper levels of hell were always a bit cooler. Or that's at least what Daygon thought as he looked back to still see a bit of sweat on Aizen's brow.
"The skull shrine." Dagon jumped up onto the largest skull looking down at the pools of lava below.
"Can you do it from here?" Aizen asked.
Daygon straightened his crimson eyes going to the sky, "I think so."
"Then begin," Aizen ordered.
As Lucifer lead through the many graves that made up the 4th level he stopped.
"What?" Ichigo stopped and looked back as the other's skidded to a halt on the narrow path
Lucifer didn't respond for a while. That was until he broke out into a grin and laughed.
"Oh I perfect little creation!" He clapped.
"What's happened?" Rangiku asked.
"He stopped blocking me." Lucifer stated as he flicked his hand up and the scenery changed again.
"Then begin," Aizen ordered.
"Yes, master."
The young demon closed his eyes and raised his left hand, his marking began to glow but nothing was happening. Aizen's eyes narrowed he didn't know exactly how this was going to happen so he had no choice but to wait.
Although the demon stopped abruptly and laughed, "Actually, no, master."
"What!" Aizen growled.
"Survival Protocol," The demon stated tracing the marks of his collar with a smile that mimicked his father, "If an order you give me leads to my death I can easily refuse."
"How does this lead to your death?" Aizen hissed, annoyed.
"Father learned from the seal. He created me on the same principle, if he is to die, I die too." The boy told him, "Survival Protocol also allows me to do this."
His fingers slipped under the collar,
"No! I order you to stop!" Aizen snapped hopeing he could order him not to do it quickly but it was too late.
Daygon snapped the collar off swaying again with no one to steady him he fell to his knees. In his moment of confusion Aizen flash stepped behind him. His zanpactou raised his eyes narrowed in hatred his sword came down to execute the boy who had defied him.
"That is my child,"
Aizen hardly had a chance to look round before the back of his collar was grabbed and he was flung away from the prince.
"It's been a while since I've ever been happy to see you father," Toushiro looked back.
"I'm touched." His father grabbed his shoulder, dragging the boy to his feet, "No you be a good boy and, shuu," His eyes turned to the direction Aizen was in, his evil grin splitting his face, "Daddy has work to do."
Hitsugaya stumbled a little watching as his father bolted off to deal with Aizen.
"Toushiro!" Ichigo called from the bottom of the shrine.
"Daygon or Hisugaya, Kurosaki!" He snapped, scowling as he jumped down.
"You're alright?" Rukia blinked, then her eyes focused on the collar on in his hand, "You got it off yourself."
"Why couldn't you do that before?" Renji glared a hand on his stomach.
"Hmm…." The boy looked away guilty, "Aizen asked me to break the seal which would kill father. I was created with a connection to my father which would mean if he dies I die. I cannot carry out on order that would mean I die. It's a Survival Protocol."
He was knocked out of his thoughts when Rangiku crushed him in a hug, "As long as you're okay."
He sighed letting a small smile escape it was a relief that everyone was okay. That in the end they didn't have to get too involved. That was Toushiro's greatest fear when he felt that there was something wrong, but now everything was okay and they had to get back.
Squirming in Rangiku's grip laughing she got off.
"We need to get the others and leave," His marks began to glow again as they heard a scream in the distance,
Daygon's mouth tugged at a smile as he felt his father's enjoyment his own hatred making it hard not for him to at least chuckle.
A portal opened next to them and most of them went through, bar Rangiku. She looked back to where they were beginning to hear the screams of agony.
"Are you alright, with leaving him captain?" She asked,
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked.
She looked at him but reasoned with herself that he was probably completely ignorant of how much his father truly cared for him,
"No reason," She shook it off and went through closely followed by the little demon after he pocketed the collar.
"Thank goodness your all alright?" Ukitake stood as the came though back into the small room of the black palace.
"Care to explain what happened?" Kyoraku looked to the little demon.
"Long story," Daygon replied, "Ending in Aizen being personally tortured by Father."
"Then you are ready to take us back, demon," Yamamoto rose from his seat,
Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed. He'd even stopped calling him by his name. It wasn't a good sign for when this was all over.
"Yeah," He didn't say anything though.
Without another word he raised his left hand as before the seal appeared beneath them at a slow pace. This time without stopping it slowly became transparent and they dropped into the world most of them belonged in.
It was not all that much of a welcoming site. A bit heavy in his breathing Toushiro changed his form again to look over the Soul Society and see it completely covered in fog. They were where they left from, Sogyoku hill a place just high enough to be out of the fog.
"Ichimaru's ablity?" Yamamoto looked to Hitsugaya.
He nodded, "As far as I know."
"What about the others?" Rukia looked over the edge.
"Anyone in the fog is as good as dead." Toushiro said grimly, "But I don't believe the other captains would fall to it so easily."
"Unohona would have set up somewhere as a safe haven," Ukitake said, "If we can find them then we can make a plan."
"Sounds like a plan," Kyoraku agreed.
"Captain Zaraki was in the seriete when we left right?" Hitsugaya looked round.
"To the best of my knowledge yes," Yamamoto answered.
"What is it Captain?" Rangiku asked,
"To what I know of Gin's power, large reatsu's like Captain Zaraki's should be able to blow it away, not to mention he shouldn't be able to make it so wide spread."
"Gin could have been holding back," Rangiku spoke, "So up until now he never used the full extent of his power."
Toushiro nodded, "It would make sense considering how he and my father never got along."
"Either way we shall discuss this when we find the other captains." Yamamoto ordered.
"I don't feel their reatsu," Rukia frowned.
"The fog is likely distorting your senses," Toushiro told her,
"Then we will have to search anywhere not covered by the fog." Yamamoto spoke,
"The good old fashioned way," Kyoraku sighed, "But don't worry, I'll be able to sniff out the ladies."
"I don't think now's the time for jokes Captain," Rangiku sighed.
They began to discuss Toushiro closed his eyes con concentrate. Gin's fog may have been distorting their senses for Reatsu but Kyoraku had given him an idea and he used a sense he had long abandoned.
"Their below us," He spoke crouching down place a hand on the ground, "Defiantly."
He opened his eyes and looked to the others who were waiting for an explanation.
"Demons are able to smell sin. I stopped using the talent a while ago as the amount of selflessness and love sometimes made me want to puke," He told them, "But I can tell they're beneath us."
"Well, that was a difficult search, hey team?" Kyoraku laughed,
"The how come they haven't sensed us?" Renji asked.
"I would assume they would have set up a barrier." Yamamoto pointed out, "We will have to see if we can find an entrance and show them we have returned."
"I can handle that one." Ichigo smiled knowing where they were.
Renji took a moment before he realised.
The two guys lead to the edge Sogyoku hill to what to most of the shinigami had been a store room but when they got down to the entrance they saw two guards and a captain by the door.
"Head Captain!" The wolf captain exclaimed.
"Captain Konamura," The head captain greeted, "if you would let us in there is much to discuss."
"Of course, Head Captain."
"Wait!" came a shrill order as the guards were about to open the barrier.
SoiFon jumped down obviously a back-up force, "For all we know they could be illusions created by the fog."
"That is true," Konamura muttered then the two looked out to the group.
"If you do not raise this barrier, I will break it," Yamamoto said harshly.
The two looked between each other.
"Or you could just raise it a little," Ukitake came in sensibly, "Then you would be able to sense out reatsu and know it is truly us."
The two captains considered this, raising the barrier even a little would weaken it.
"I say we take the chance." Konamura spoke.
"But,"
"Would you rather find out the consequences if it really the head captain?" He pointed out.
Soi Fon went to talk but looked away. That was her sign of approval.
And so the barrier was lifted alight and the reatsu was let through. It was easily recognisable and they were let in.
Author Notes: I do not own bleach
Their finally out of hell and Aizen gonna have a ball for the rest of eternity :P. Now just Gin to go!
Oh for those who love this idea I plan on putting up a little collection of unfinshed Blood Prince AUs and depending on what people think of each trying to carry on with them. Keep an eye out for them on my channel.
other than that thank you for all reviews and feed back and for overall readying lol hope you've enjoyed.