Chapter 25: Battle Lines.

Espada. Like the Espada, he would use these Hollows to achieve his goal of domination. He stood at the head of the table and lifted his glass. "I would like to thank all of you for coming," he said. "I'm sure by now you know who I am and what I want you to help me with."

One Arrancar with the remains of his mask in the shape of a scare along his face stood up. "We all know who you are, Aizen so I'll get to the point," said Al Capone. "What I want to know is why should we listen to you? We all know you stabbed those Espada in the back so how do we know you won't do the same to us?"

Aizen smiled at them. "Mr. Capone," he said. "Those Espada failed me. Like yourself if subordinates fail you punish them. As they had failed to defeat their opponents, then death was the only acceptable punishment." Aizen took a drink of his tea. "You who have gathered here are far more powerful than those hollow."

"Say we join you on your little attack on Fiddler's Green," said Capone. "What's in it for us?" Capone pointed a finger at Jesse James. "James here said you would give us something that would make us all more powerful."

A large hollow whose mask formed a beard which was painted black slammed his hand on the table. "Aye," said Blackbeard. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't fer some kind of reward."

"The reward," said Aizen. "Is this." Aizen pulled out the box with the shards of the Hogyoku. They let out a black glow that engulfed all the Hollows in the room. Aizen smiled as he saw the look of longing on the collective faces of the Hollows around him. "To get these all I ask is for you to do a simple thing for me."

The hollows looked at each other the Capone spoke up. "We have a deal," he said. "If you can prove they do what you say they do."

Aizen nodded and turned to Jesse and Frank. "These two have helped me immensely," he said. "As a reward I will give them each a shard."

Aizen handed Jesse a shard. Jesse didn't hesitate for a second and jammed the shard into his chest. As soon as he did this, he felt an incredible surge of power inside of him. His physical appearance didn't change, but everyone in the room knew he had changed. "This is amazing," said Jesse. "I feel like I could beat every Soul Reaper that lives!"

Aizen smiled and turned to Frank and handed him a shard. Frank took it and held it in his hand and paused. He could almost hear the shard whisper promises of power in his mind and he could feel the power emanating from it, but something stopped him from using it. He looked into the black shard and saw only death. He handed the shard back to Aizen. "Thanks for the offer," he said. "But I'll make do without it."

The room went silent for a moment. Jesse took his brothers arm and took him off to the side. "Are you insane?" he hissed. "Take the shard and gain the power. Together we can destroy those who killed our friends."

Frank jerked his arm out of Jesse's grip. "I've spent a lot of time with Aizen," he said. "We can't trust anything that man says or does. If you blindly trust this man, then you are on your own."

Jesse sneered. "If you've lost the stomach for this," he said. "Then leave and don't bother coming back."

Frank shook his head. "I'm not going to leave my brother alone in this," he said. "But mark my words, you're going to regret following this guy."

Frank walked away and sat down. Jesse didn't say anything as he took his seat next to Aizen, he just stared at Frank. Aizen didn't comment he just turned to the other hollows. "The rest of you will receive a shard for your assault on Fiddler's Green," he said. "After you have proven yourselves during the battle."

"And how do we do that," asked Dillinger his arm on the shoulders of a petite Arrancar.

"We will attack the Soul Society," said Aizen. "Any of you who live through that assault, will receive a shard."

As soon as he said that, the room exploded in protests. Aizen closed his eyes for a moment. Unlike the discipline of his Espada, these Americans felt that they each should say something and each one wanted to do it at once. Aizen raised his hand and the hollows fell silent. "I should point out that right now a large number of American Shinigami our outside this place," he said. "I suspect they will attack soon."

"We need to get out of here," said a skinny Hollow in the back.

"As soon as you leave this room they will kill you," said Aizen. "The only way you can escape is if you help me in my plans to attack Soul Society."

One of the hollows got up from his chair and looked out a window. "I can't see them," he said. "But they are out there."

"How many?" asked Dillinger.

Aizen shrugged. "3 Division," he said. "I believe a man by the name of Patton is in charge."

Dillinger's face fell and Capone coughed in his hand. "Great," said Capone. "If the 13th Division is out there then we need to leave before all hell breaks loose."

The hollows began to murmur amongst themselves and some stood to leave when Aizen stood up and spread his arms. "My friends," he said. "Never in history will you have a better chance to destroy two of the most powerful shinigami forces in all the Earth. If you follow me into battle, we will start a new Utopia for all hollows and rule this planet together."

"And if we don't," asked Capone. "What if we decide to kill you and take the shards for ourselves and go home? I doubt you could stop us even with Jesse watching your back."

"Because none of you know how to use the shards," said Aizen. "And right now several Shinigami are going to kill you if you don't accept my offer." Aizen paused for a moment and let his comments sink in. "If you join me we will be victorious and you will go back as conquers."

All of the Hollows looked at each other knowing full well that Aizen had them. One by one they nodded to until finally Jesse James stood up. "We will follow you, Lord Aizen."

"Not out of any loyalty," said Blackbeard quickly. "But only because you have forced us too. Make no mistake once this battle is over, we will kill you."

"What about reinforcements?" asked Frank from across the room. "This is all well and good, but one of us using a Hogyoku shard and the rest of us is not enough to beat the Japanese Shinigami."

"He's right," said Dillinger. "We can't make any attack without help."

Aizen nodded his head. "I have arranged to have several Hollows help us," he said. "Mostly just common hollows, but enough to overwhelm them by sheer numbers."

The skinny hollow looked out a window and saw several men moving around. "Oh," he said. "It looks like they are going to attack soon."

"Then we need to depart," said Aizen. Aizen tapped his finger on the air and a portal opened. "When you step through this you will be teleported to a place in Soul Society, from there we will launch our attack."

The Hollows hesitated for a moment when suddenly several explosions started falling around them. "They are attacking," yelled the skinny hollow in the back. "I'm not staying for this, I'm out of here."

The skinny hollow dashed out the door as Aizen opened a portal and stepped to the side. "If you want to live, then it would be best if we leave now," he said. "Unless you want to make your stand here?"

Jesse stepped through the portal first followed by Frank. One by one all the Hollows followed until Aizen was the last one left in the room. He closed his eyes for a moment and sensed him. Ichigo was leading the charge. Aizen smiled and put his hood up and waited for Ichigo to burst through the door. Just as predicted the door was blown off its hinges and Ichigo stood in the door way. "Stop right there," he said.

Aizen lowered his hood slowly and smiled at Ichigo. "Good evening, Ichigo." Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise and before he could move Aizen stepped through the portal and closed it. Aizen knew that letting Ichigo know he was alive would give away the element of surprise, but the look on his face and been worth the theatrical revealing. Besides, by the time Ichigo returned to Soul Society the attack will have already begun.

Jesse and Frank were waiting for him as the portal closed. "What happened?" asked Jesse. "Why did you wait so long to come through?"

"Nothing," said Aizen. "I was just saying hello to an old friend." Aizen started walking to where the Hollows waited. "Come, we have much to do," he said. "Very soon we will leave Soul Society in flames."

Grey lay on his belly and looked through a pair of binoculars at a distant warehouse. He turned and looked at Cameron Mitchell. "You're sure they are in there?"

Mitchell nodded. "We saw several Hollows on the list Captain Ryohei gave us enter the warehouse," he said. "No one has come out."

"I don't like it," said Ichigo. "It seems too easy."

"What do you mean?" asked Mitchell. "We have them completely by surprise."

"That's what worries me," said Ichigo. "This whole thing is sloppy. They didn't even try to hide the fact they were coming here."

"Because they didn't know we were on to them," argued Mitchell. He turned to Grey. "Come on Lieutenant, give the order and we will bust in on them and take them out."

"They are all Arrancar," said Ichigo. "Most of them are capable of taking on a Captain Class Shinigami and most of your men here are not up to the job."

"If you're scared you can wait here," said Mitchell condescendingly. "I'm not worried at all."

"Ahh, to be young and stupid," murmured Grey. He put the binoculars down and looked up at Mitchell. "You should listen to Ichigo here."

"Why is that?" asked Mitchell.

"Because he is right," said Grey. "Something is very wrong here and I'm not going to attack until I know what the heck I'm up against." A voice started speaking in Grey communicator. Grey put a finger to his ear and listened to the speaker on the other end for a moment and silently cursed. "All right," he said. "We are ready when you, are just give the signal." Grey sighed and then looked up at his companions. "Seems like ole Blood and Guts has taken command of all forces here and has ordered an immediate attack."

"Finally," said Mitchell cracking his knuckles. "We're going to see some action."

"Lucky us," said Grey. "Captain Patton has given us the order to attack so we might as well start things with a bang." Grey nodded to Mitchell and they both stood up. "Destructive Art 95, Howitzer Cannon!"

The Cannon Balls struck the area around the building and exploded sending debris flying through the air. Several other Soul Reapers fired as well causing damage to the area. Grey saw the door open and a skinny hollow run out.

"One's trying to get away," said a Soul Reaper.

Grey took a harder look and smiled. "I'll handle this one," he said turning to Ichigo. "Take Mitchell and the others and bust in the door."

Ichigo nodded and flashed stepped away with Grey's troops. Grey watched for a second as several other Soul Reapers began to decend on the area searching all the buildings for signs of escaping hollows. Grey flashed stepped in front of the fleeing Hollow and grabbed him by the coller. "Well if it is my old pal Benny," he said pulling his gun out and pointing it a Benny's temple. "I think I'll kill you now."

Benny held up his hands. "Wait," he said. "Think of my kids."

Grey shook his head. "You don't have any kids."

Benny shrugged. "Someday I might," he said smiling.

Grey let go of Benny and holstered his gun. "Better start talking Benny," he said. "I want to know what you and your new friend were talking about."

"What Friend?" said Benny. "You're the only friend I've got."

Grey pushed the back of Benny's head into a wall. "Not what I wanted to hear," he said. Benny muttered something under his breath. "What did you say?"

"I don't want to tell you," said Benny. "You would just hit me some more."

Grey looked at the building and saw a cooling fan of an A/C moving. He drug Benny over to it and ripped the protective mesh off and held Benny's head to the spinning blades. "I'm done playing Benny," he said. "Spill it or you're going to have a lobotomy Steven Grey style!"

Benny's eyes widened as Grey started leaning his head towards the spinning fan. "Ok ok," he said panicking. "Jesse James called us all to hear an offer to get our hands on some Hogyoku shards. To get them we had to survive the attack that the leader had planned."

"What part of Fiddler's Green is going to be attacked?" asked Grey.

Benny opened his mouth to speak when Mitchell ran over to him. "Sir," he said. "No one was in the building. They just…vanished."

Grey turned to Benny. "Where did they go, Benny?"

"They went to Lost Nachos or something like that," he said.

Grey tried to hide the surprise on his face. "Aizen's old palace" he asked. "Why are they going there?"

"The guy in charge wants to use it as a test to see which of us was worthy to have a shard," said Benny. "He wanted us to use that place to get ready."

"Who is the leader of this little attack?" asked Grey. "And where in Fiddler's Green do they plan to attack?"

Benny was about to answer when Ichigo walked up. "It's Aizen," he said through gritted teeth. "I saw Aizen in the warehouse. He's the one who set all this up."

Grey let go of Benny. "Impossible," he said. "You killed Aizen over a year ago. Are you sure it was him?"

Ichigo nodded. "It was him," said Ichigo. "There was no mistaking it.

"I don't get it," said Grey. "Why would Aizen want to attack Fiddlers Green?"

"Aizen has no intention of attacking Fiddler's Green," said Ichigo. "It was all a set up to get me out of Soul Society so he could attack it."

Grey's eyes widened. "Holy Crap," he said. He put his finger to his ear and activated his communicator. "Jake, I need you to patch me through to Captain Kuchiki," he said.

Grey waited a moment before he got Captain Kuchiki. "What is it Grey?" he asked.

"Sir," he said. "Aizen is alive. I repeat Aizen is alive and on his way with an Army to attack Soul Society."

"That's great," said Captain Kuchiki. "Now take that information, put it in a memo, and file it under crap I already know." Grey heard an explosion in the background. "A ton of hollows just showed up out of nowhere and attacked. We managed to hold off their first assault, but if we don't get reinforcements pronto, things are going to be FUBAR any second now. I want you to advise Grant on the situation and get yourself and Ichigo here ASAP." Grey heard another explosion followed by a scream. "You and Ichigo need to come now, have Mitchell organize the division and they can follow once they are ready, oh and tell Patton about this, he should be interested to come with his me." Grey heard another explosion. "Get back," yelled his Captain. "Regroup at…."

The communication suddenly cut off and Grey heard nothing but static. "Captain?" he said "Captain Kuchiki!" Grey cursed and threw his communicator against the wall. He turned to Mitchell. "Get the men ready and get them to Soul Society," he said. "Tell Captain Patton and tell him Captain Kuchiki needs his help. Now MOVE!"

Ichigo nodded as Mitchell started barking orders to the Soul Reapers around him and started flash stepping towards the Senkaimon Gate. Grey grabbed another Soul Reaper. "Contact the guys at the gate to have the Chargers ready. The Soul Reaper nodded and started speaking into a communicator as Grey followed after Ichigo and soon caught up to him. "Do you have a plan?" he asked.

Ichigo nodded his head. "Get back to Soul Society and kill Aizen once and for all."

"I love a simple plan," said Grey. "Let's just hope we get there before the fun ends."

Ichigo didn't say anything as they ran into the Senkaimon Gate, the doors shut tight. "We need to get through," said Ichigo. "Open these things."

"Hold on," said Grey. "It will take 3 hours to get back to Soul Society; we need to wait for the Chargers."

"What's a charger?" asked Ichigo. Grey pointed as two black horses were lead to them. Grey jumped on the back of one. "You're kidding right?"

"These Chargers will cut the time in half," said Grey. "We need to hurry up."

Ichigo jumped on the back and suddenly the horse reared on its back legs. "Whoa," said Ichigo.

"We should be there in an hour or so," said Grey. He saw the worried look on Ichigo's face. "Don't worry," he said. "I'm sure Rukia is going to be fine."

Ichigo didn't say anything as the Gate opened up and the horses rushed forward faster than Ichigo thought possible. As they rode Ichigo felt a growing sense of dread in his belly. He had to get to Rukia, because he knew beyond a shadow of doubt that Aizen would make his house first on his list of places to visit. "Hang on Rukia," said Ichigo to himself. "I'm coming."

Thanks for reading and sorry the update took so long. Please Read and Review and Merry Christmas.