XXVI.

A Teacher's Secret

Dated: Gotei Thirteen Era Five

We see the dawn each morning

And as it travels across the sky, so too our lives continue

Know that each setting sun has a duty to the one which rises after it

That each of our kind has a duty to his successor

Just as a father has a duty to his son

- The Shinigami's Honor –

By Rande Tao, Taichou of the Twelfth Squad

Ichigo stood over the slowly fading corpse. The bloody stain on the white sheets of her bed would not let him forget her sacrifice for his benefit. For a moment, he sat at her bedside, her grave. Then, with a sigh, he stood. It was time for him to return to his home.

The next day at school was oddly quiet. Ichigo had not yet returned, leaving Orihime, Chad, Rukia, Renji, and Ishida to sit and wonder. It was too quiet for comfort.

Naijin didn't show up to class that day, and no substitute was present. Left to their own tasks, the friends gathered in a circle, talking quietly.

"What should we do?" Chad asked. "Do you think he's dead?"

A silence fell over the group. It was on everyone's minds, but no one would admit it.

Suddenly, realization dawned on Renji's face.

"Rukia! Call your brother. He might know something!"

Rukia pulled out her phone. The person who picked up was not at all who she was expecting.

Yamamoto Shigekuni-Genryusai sighed quietly as Kenpachi hobbled slowly into his office.

"Well?"

"He's… quiet alive."

"He beat you?"

"We don't know how he does it. He's simply immortal."

Yamamoto glared at the intruding figure.

"And who are you?"

"Forgive me, Sotaichou. My name is Kushajishi Yachiru, Fukutaichou of the Eleventh Squad."

Yamamoto hid his surprise well.

"You've grown quite a bit, Yachiru. So… you fought him too?"
"Yes. I had him on the defensive…"

"But?"

"But he used something… I don't know what to say, but he has a THIRD release! I felt its reiatsu, and just ran for it. It's too powerful."

Yamamoto smiled at the girl.

"You've just proven that you could survive a fight against me, Yachiru. You made him desperate. Very good. Now then…"

Yamamoto's sentence was interrupted as his scrawny Fukutaichou entered the room.

"A call from Kuchiki-chan, sir."

"Thank you." He nodded to dismiss the man as he picked up the phone. "Yes, Rukia? Yes, I know… Please report… All right… Kurosaki's gone... No, I haven't seen him. I need you to evacuate Karakura. There won't be much left when my battle gets going. See if you can't get as many people out as you can. Thank you, Rukia."

"Of course, Sotaichou. Thank you."

"Has he found Ichigo?"

"No… but he's coming here."

"Yamamoto is coming here?" Renji gaped.

"What? Is that significant in some way?" Ishida asked.

"He's insane, that's what's significant. If he releases his sword in the city, he'll kill everyone!"

"He wants us to evacuate the city." Rukia continued.

Suddenly, a hand reached down, grabbing the phone from Rukia's hand.

"Sensei?"

He turned to Rukia.

"Is he coming?" His voice was a barely controlled shout.

"Yamamoto is coming here. You'd best leave."

Naijin laughed. "Stupid girl. You and your silly beliefs. At least see through my disguise." Naijin smiled, and a single crease appeared across his face. At that moment, his body fell, dead. Red robes billowed into being. A pair of sunglasses were carefully balanced on his nose.

"No…"

Ikatsue Karite smiled at Rukia.

"What's wrong? It was me the whole time. You were so naïve, Rukia. Now…" His reiatsu exploded over the room. It was barely his limit, not enough to even restrict the movements of Ichigo's friends. The non-spiritually sensitive students fell to their knees, clutching their throats in agony. As they finally fell, dead, Ikatsue gathered up his power again.

"You bastard!" Rukia screamed, releasing her Gigai and drawing her Zanpakuto. Around her, her friends drew their weapons.

Ikatsue cracked his knuckles.

"Two Shinigami, a Quincy… a part-hollow? And a puny human girl? Please, children. I'm not here to kill all of you. Just Kuchiki-chan."

Tatsuki dove between man and Rukia. The Orihime gasped in fear for her longtime companion.

"You won't hurt my friends."

Ikatsue laughed as he lifted his hand.

Tatsuki swept out her leg, knocking the man down. A well placed blow fell into his chest, which he seemed to enjoy. He tolerated her beatings with barely a glance at the others.

"Tatsuki, get back! He could kill you!"

She smiled over her shoulder. "Then help me out."

Ikatsue took the massive opening her glance left him. The back of his hand spun, colliding with her face. She flew at least twelve feet, finally coming to a stop halfway through the classroom's drywall.

Orihime ran over to help her friend.

Ishida let loose a stream of arrows. Ikatsue didn't remove his single eye from Ishida as he batted away the attacks.

Ishida saw the drop of blood fall.

"Well, well, Uryu. You actually can hurt me?"

A massive, skull shaped red ball appeared in his peripheral vision. He quickly dove to the side as the blast removed a good portion of the classroom's wall.

"A Cero? That was unexpected."

"Hoero, Zabimaru!"

The blade took off Ikatsue's hand. He laughed as a new hand grew out of the bleeding stump.

Renji grimaced.

Rukia turned her own blade toward the ground.

"Mae, Sode No Shirayuki!"

The icy blast wrapped around Ikatsue. When the crystalline ice shattered, he emerged, uninjured.

"Is that the best your puny town can muster? Ichigo might have been able to save you, with his fiery eyes, but he's off in Seireitei, looking for a dead woman right now."

Rukia's eyes widened.

"Not that you'll ever see him again…" Ikatsue's iron grip wrapped around her throat.

At that moment, a Quincy arrow pierced his skull. He fell, already dead before he hit the ground.

"All of you! Get out, now!" Urahara shouted as he, Ryukken, Isshin, and Yoruichi dove through the windows, blades drawn.

The friends didn't wait for another command. Instead, they fled quickly.

Ikatsue smiled from his place on the ground.

"A nice shot, Quincy. I don't suppose I could get your names?"

Isshin charged forward, bringing his blade down toward Ikatsue's head.

"I am Kurosaki Isshin."

His blade met the floor, but Ikatsue was uninjured.

"Well, well, that's right. You're Ichigo's father."

Ikatsue turned.

"And Kisuke Urahara. I thought somebody killed you all those years ago."

Urahara smiled, pulling a pistol out of his robe to occupy his off hand as Benihime glowed with a crimson light in the other.

"No, bastard, I'm still here. Sorry to burst your bubble there."

Ryukken turned. "You know him?"

"I was the Twelfth Squad Fukutaichou… all those years ago."

Yoruichi smiled, brining a small dagger to rest on Ikatsue's chin.

"So… you're the one who gave my Urahara all those nasty scars?"

"No." Ikatsue laughed, disappearing from her grip. Yoruichi felt a blade touch her own chin. Ikatsue's voice came from over her shoulder. "It was his Taichou, because he was too daft to realize he couldn't beat her."

Another Quincy arrow flew toward Ikatsue's head. Again, it connected, killing Ikatsue instantly.

"I really need to pay more attention to you, Quincy. You're very fast."

Isshin rammed his Zanpakuto into the red-robed man's chest.

"Damn! I'm really out of shape." Ikatsue muttered. "I'll fight you four in a few days… Goodbye."

And, as if it were the "magic word", Karite Ikatsue disappeared.

Ichigo walked up to the gateway of to his home world.

"Kurosaki? What are you doing here?"

Ichigo turned. Yamamoto settled his feet on the dirt before the portal.

"I went to Ran' Tao."

"What? Why?"

"I… the fire in my eyes came out again. I needed someone to teach me how to control it, and Ikatsue said…"

"You went to Ikatsue?" Yamamoto asked.

"He's the only one who could tell me."

Yamamoto sighed. "Very well. I'm going to Karakura."

Ichigo smiled out of the corner of his mouth.

"To kill him?"

"Please… this was before your time."

Ichigo sighed.

"Tell me about the Seven Perfect Zanpakuto."

As the portal cracked open before them, Yamamoto turned.

"What?"

"Tell me about my sword."
"You… I see. I was wondering how a little kid like you was able to beat two of my Taichou. Well… a long time ago, there were seven great Shinigami. Under their direction, the lesser Shinigami eliminated hollows. It was a time of peace. Then one of them turned on the others. He was quite powerful, taking the soul of one of his companions and binding it into his Zanpakuto." Yamamoto paused to enter the portal.

"And…"

"Come." As soon as he was satisfied that Ichigo was coming, he continued. "When he used this new sword… Sokyoku…, he made a discovery. The blade had a third release."

"A what?"

"It's extremely rare. Only the Seven have it." Yamamoto paused, remembering where he had left off.

"The others tried to defeat him, but his new blade was too powerful. He took another of the group, bonding the man to his own Zanpakuto. That was how the second sword was made. The remaining four decided that they needed a way to defeat the man. Three bonded themselves to their swords, so the greatest amongst them could use them in battle. The two clashed and the man with the three blades triumphed. He bonded the man to his Zanpakuto, making the sixth."

"Why are there seven then?"

Yamamoto smiled to himself.

"Ask Zangetsu."

Urahara was already waiting for the team when they arrived at his shop.

As if anticipating their question, he shook his head.

"He got away."

"Damn it! And now Yamamoto's coming here!" Renji shouted.

"What?" Urahara asked.

"Apparently, Yamamoto found out Ikatsue was here, so he decided to come and finish the job." Ishida explained.

"How'd he find out Ikatsue was still alive?"

"What?" Renji asked.

"When I talked to him after he got back from Hueco Mundo, he said Ikatsue was dead. He had no idea he had survived."

There was a long silence.

"I told him." Rukia finally explained.

"What?"

"Well… Yamamoto came to me and told me that I… I had to spy on Ichigo."

"What?"

"Why?"

"To see if he went to talk to Ikatsue. Yamamoto was worried that Ichigo might have joined his side…"

The group gasped as one.

"But… you don't think Yamamoto would…"

No one answered, until Urahara finally broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, kids. If Yamamoto thought he was Ikatsue's ally. . ."

"How does he expect us to evacuate the city? That's insane."

Urahara shook his head. "You don't know Yamamoto. He has always believed that the ends justify the means."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that he's only talking about us when he says to evacuate."

"He wouldn't kill all those innocent…"

"In Yamamoto's mind, since they'll all go on to a better place anyway, he doesn't care."

"And what about the families they leave behind… or those poor souls who go to hell?"

"He doesn't care." Urahara sighed. "He once told me something, all those years ago."

Urahara stood, his black robes fluttering in the wind. He still wore his Fukutaichou armband, despite having betrayed his captain. He stood aside Yamamoto as the pair awaited their respective teachers. It would be a battle to decide the fate of all souls for years to come.

Yamamoto turned to his companion.

"It's been all this time, Urahara. Are you sure you're ready?"

Urahara smiled. "I wouldn't miss it. I only wish I didn't have to fight her."

"Sometimes sacrifices have to be made, Urahara. Death is never a permanent thing. Always remember that. I'm glad you're with me."

Urahara laughed. "Odd, that we should end up like this."

Yamamoto smiled. "One way, or another, this will be the end."

"Good. I'm ready for a new beginning."

Ikatsue walked up to the door of the old, abandoned hotel, and flung open the door. The entire building shook as the door exploded into a thousand splinters of wood.

"Hey, old-man." Gin smiled. He lay on his back on a threadbare sofa, wearing a brown jacket, a black t-shirt, and jeans.

"Shut up, Gin! I'm not in the mood."

"Something wrong?" The far younger man asked.

"I…" Ikatsue's hand was twitching as he curled it into a fist. "…I'm fine. I just need to feed."

"What?"

"I haven't eaten since I was in Seireitei."

"There's some good wine down in the cellar…"

"No, damn it! That's not what I mean. Ichigo's coming back. I have… three days…"

"Then go out."

"Shut up, boy!" Ikatsue turned. His cold gaze shot over the top of his sunglasses, and Gin felt himself grow silent. "You don't understand anything, do you? In three days, I fight Yamamoto. Because he is coming, the weaker Shinigami will flee… probably a day ahead of time. That gives me one night to gather my strength. In the meantime, I will restore you to whatever puny power you once had."

The insult was hardly veiled, but Gin didn't care. He hated life as a normal human.

"What are you going to do?"

Ikatsue smiled.

"Sit here." He gestured to a spot on the ground about three feet in front of him.

Gin found his place, and made himself comfortable.

"Now then… Hanto-Chi, Masamune."

Gin watched as the blade grew in size in Ikatsue's hand.

"Bankai! Gakuryoku Nitsuku Ryoku!"

The blade split in half, and then peeled away from itself. When it reached the base, instead of a single full blade, there were two parallel, slim blades rising up from the single hilt. Ikatsue tossed the blade up in the air. It rotated twice, before falling back down, blades first. Ikatsue let it fall, and then caught it by its handle. Its blades hung, half an inch from the floorboards.

"Kinkai! Kokkaku!"

Gin gasped.

"You…"

"Of course. Now shut up."

The blade released a massive blast of power over Ikatsue's body, leaving him panting. Slowly, but surely, a silver spark appeared at the hilt, in between the two blades. As it rose, cold steel came into existence. Finally, the spark paused. Behind it, a small blade had appeared.

Ikatsue fell to his knees. Veins came forward on his forehead, bulging forth like a tiny mountain range. He frowned slowly. The spark continued up. A hilt and handle came into existence. Finally, the glow disappeared. Ikatsue sat, panting and sweating. From between the blades, the new sword clattered to the ground.

"What is it?"

Ikatsue looked up. "Don't… don't you rec…" He coughed, and a small stream of blood ran down his poorly shaven chin. "Don't you recognize your sword? Pick it up."

Gin reached down, but hesitated. Ikatsue smiled even wider. His eyes closed, and he fell over forwards, passing out on the wooden floor. Gin picked up his sword, and immediately felt the reiatsu course through his body. He was restored.

A few hours later, Ikatsue rose from his spot on the floor. With careful precision, he folded his legs into a meditation position. He let his hands hang free, and his mind wandered away. Then, in a moment, it was caught again.

A moment of worry caught Ikatsue's mind. With careful precision, he placed both hands on his chest, and ripped it open. Not a single drop of blood fell from the opening. He carefully wrapped three fingers around his heart and removed it.

Sliding his thumbs in opposite directions across it's face, Ikatsue opened the organ. Inside sat two perfect orbs.

"Only two? Only… ONLY TWO! DAMN THIS CITY! DAMN THEM ALL!"

With angry hands, he replaced his heart and sat down to fume for two days.