Author's Note: And the cliff hanger continues~ Oh! And because Aizen doesn't know how to shut up, you can skip anything that has a * at the beginning – it's all speech directly from the anime explaining his plans… There will be a * at the end too. The dialogue takes up a ton of this chapter so it seems, so I'll make sure to put a goodie at the end ;)
Muttering something under his breath while looking at the remnants of the execution stand, Renji started and looked over when Aizen spoke. "Welcome, Abarai-kun." He greeted him, the cloth in Gin's hand returning to normal.
"Captain Aizen…?" Renji asked, wide eyed.
"Renji!" I screamed at him, cupping my mouth. Immediately everyone looked over at me. "He's the fucking enemy! He ordered Rukia to be killed after he took over Central 46!" I screamed bloody murder, trying to get Renji to flee. Instead he crouched there with Rukia, who had the same wide eyes as everyone else did.
"Oh? You're quite informed." Gin commented as I glared at him. Don't lose your edge because you know he's good – he's willing to kill you and you'll blow his cover!
"Of course, Gin." Aizen explained, watching me as I shook with how much adrenaline was now pumping in my veins. "She's one of them after all." Gritting my teeth, I stayed silent as he started to explain. "The Evolueren came from a different universe – they found their way to that universe after their souls were destroyed. Souls from all time periods entered that dimension – it was quite a mix. But the universe was unstable – so when one more soul was added into the mix, it collapsed. It seemed they over spilled into this dimension, as we are the closest." He was not finished – not by a long shot. "But that's not all. It seems that this girl – the only one in the entire human dimension, or so it would seem – when she was forcefully pushed into this dimension by the shock waves of the previous one exploding, she was pushed into another soul. These two souls rejected each other – otherwise they would've become one with even greater potential. So Ichigo Kurosaki's soul was pushed out of this dimension – and pulled into the other dimension, which was reforming itself. That dimension will always remain unstable – it was never meant to have any life." I stared at him, wide eyed.
H-how… "But that doesn't explain why she knows about us, Captain Aizen." Gin observed.
"I suppose it doesn't." He agreed. "Very well then. The dimension the Evolueren previously existed in had, like I stated before, people from multiple times. Someone from the future here must've been destroyed and appeared in their world. Also, the barrier that keeps our memories of our previous lives locked away was weakened as they passed through the natural barrier surrounding the dimension – that's why one of them regained his memories, probably. I believe he wrote a manga about us, Gin." Aizen observed as I went pale. Said man tipped his head in wonder; apparently he was considering the thought of being famous.
"So… So you know the entire story?!" I gasped, shocked.
"No, that is not true." Aizen corrected me. "I have never been able to confirm that there was one… But now that I have, I will definitely see into it." My breath hitched as I was dunked into the deep vat of complete horror.
"It's no use…" I muttered as he rose an eyebrow.
"Oh? What do you mean?" He asked, curious.
"Look at me. I've replaced Ichigo Kurosaki completely – even gaining his last name. The story has already changed, Aizen." I told him, now staring at him with sheer and utter determination. "And there's nothing you can do about it."
"I suppose so." He said. I started to walk forward; I had to protect the others. Gripping my short sword tightly, I ignored the paranoia as I stopped a little ways away between the two groups. "But that doesn't mean I can't learn from it, can I?" He asked as I chuckled. "What's so funny?" I could hear the danger in his voice.
"Are you sure you want to hear it? You of all people won't be able to forget it…" I told him darkly as he smiled.
"That is not a problem." He answered simply as we entered a brief silence. He opened his mouth to speak again when I suddenly interrupted him.
"Don't do it, Aizen!" A shocked silence filled the area as I stared at the ground; I was unable to meet his gaze.
My eyes widened when I felt a hand cup my chin, pulling my head up to look him in the eye as he bent over. "It's as you said, Sydney darling. The story has already begun to change." Coughing up blood, I only realized that deep cuts circle around me body after I hit the ground and my blood had already spilled up to my face. Staring at him, I could barely breathe as he looked down at me coldly. "So try not to get in the way." He warned as my eyes involuntarily shut, my Bankai cloak sliding off my shoulders and into the shadows as my power receded.
-x-x-x-x-x
I stared at Sydney's bloody form, shocked. My blue hair swayed in a gentle breeze brought on by the incoming storm, but I paid no heed as her blood continued to escape through her body. The rest of the group was just as shocked – how could he beat our leader so easily?! We didn't even notice him do it! And all that blood…!
"This is what happens when you get in my way." The man called Aizen continued. "So I suggest that all of you stand back – I wouldn't want any of you getting hurt as well." He told us as we all continued to numbly stare.
"Look at that stare, creepy!" Ichimaru commented, making my eyes widen more. W-What's going on here?!
"Leave Rukia Kuchiki here and back away." He commanded Renji as I suddenly snapped back to my senses. Fists tightening, I waited waged an internal war on myself. Dammit, I need to save Rukia! No – you saw how fast Sydney was defeated! She was the strongest!
"W-What? What did you say?" Renji asked shakily, not believing his ears.
"How odd. You surely must've heard me. I said, 'Leave Rukia Kuchiki here and back away." He repeated. "Abarai-kun."
Suddenly hearing a noise akin to a chopper, my eyes widened as I heard a voice inside my head.
"Attention all Thirteen Court Guard Squads Captains, lieutenants, and seated officers… And also the Ryoka. This is Squad 4 lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu. This is an emergency. This is an emergency announcement…from Squad 4 Captain Retsu Unohana and me, Isane Kotetsu. Everything I am about to tell you is the truth!" My eyes narrowed as she went on to describe everything that Aizen had done – the faked murder, the murder of Central 46, attacking Hinamori and Captain Hitsugaya…and that he was here. Hearing this, Renji spoke.
"I refuse." He said bravely.
"What?" Aizen asked, continuing to smile.
"I said I refuse." Renji told him again. "Captain Aizen!"
Smirking, the light bounced off one side of Aizen's glasses as he responded. "I see." He said evenly. He didn't even look over when Gin put a hand on his sword to respond. "That won't be needed, Gin." He told him, walking forward to Renji. "You are stubborn, Abarai-kun. If you don't want to leave Rukia Kuchiki and back away, then you leave me no choice… But I'll take your feelings into consideration. She can stay in your arms…" drawing his sword, I automatically put a hand on mine. No one reacted. "But the rest of you goes." He told him as I flinched forward, barely managing to stop myself. Don't do it…!
Barely managing to jump away in time, Renji's arm took a hard blow as he withdrew his Zanpakuto. Blood ran down his arm as he managed to hold Rukia with his uninjured arm. "R-Renji…!" she breathed.
"My, my… You've learn to dodge well, Abarai-kun. I'm happy to see that you improved. But I hope you won't struggle for too long." He told the panting red head. "It's difficult to step on an ant without crushing it." He explained confidently. "As your former superior, I'd prefer not to kill you if I can help it." That was a lie. He doesn't care at all.
"Renji!" Rukia pleaded.
"Shut up, Rukia." Renji panted, still tired from the exertion of carrying her half way across the Sereitei. "You don't want to kill me? Yeah right!" I'm glad that Renji doesn't buy his act either. "Then why did you kill Hinamori?!" He asked, face showing anger.
Closing his eyes almost happily, my stomach gave sick twitch as he spoke. "I'd trained her so that she couldn't live without me. So don't you think it was merciful of me to kill her?" Gasping a little of this, I saw more of the rage come over Renji's face. "It's also true that I didn't want to kill her myself. So I went to all the trouble…and tried to have her, Kira and Hitsugaya kill each other." Renji's eyes were wide and shaking – just like all of ours. "But that didn't work out. So I had no choice but to kill her myself." He told him, smirking confidently while his head was tipped to the side. How…how disgusting!
"So you were the one pulling the strings on Kira and Hinamori!" Renji spoke, voice shaking with anger.
"And you too, Abarai-kun." Aizen interjected.
Renji stared at him coldly. "I get it. You're not the Captain Aizen I knew. I don't know why you want her," he said, voice rising "but I'm not handing over Rukia even if it costs me my life!" Said girl gasped.
"Not the Sosuke Aizen you knew, huh?" Said man asked, expression unreadable. "Unfortunately, the Sosuke Aizen you used to know was just an illusion, Abarai-kun. He never existed in the first place." He ended, smirking with a confident shine to his eyes.
Growling, Renji immediately jumped high into the sky. "Roar, Zabimaru!" He yelled, sword releasing as he whipped it towards the traitor.
"Shikai, huh?" Aizen asked, making my eyes narrow more. So he knows we have Bankai? My eye then widened as he raised his blade, Renji's flying away as if it was an insect. "I guess it can't be helped with the condition you're in, but that won't even buy you any time." He told him lowly.
"You never know!" Renji screamed, bringing his sword back before throwing it at him again.
"A bothersome kid you are." He quietly said. I openly gasped when he caught the end of Renji's blade with one hand. Now's my chance! I realized, unsheathing my sword and charging with a yell. Dodging around Chad and in between Sloth and Damien, they all stared at me with wide, shocked eyes. I saw the traitor's brown eyes flick to me before something appeared in me. Immediately braking, I froze when a blade was pressed against my neck. Eyes narrowing as I gritted my teeth, I registered it was the darker skinned man from earlier…Tosen, if Komamura was a reliable source.
"Don't move." He warned the others, who instantly got the point. Not daring to move myself, I could only close my eyes and focus on listening to the 'battle', if you could even call it that, between Aizen and Renji.
-x-x-x-x-x
I gasped, my emerald eyes widening as Seeker suddenly darted in between Damien and I, yelling a battle cry. My breath hitched as I registered he was at sword point. So fast! "Don't move." The man warned us as my eyes narrowed yet again. Dammit…we don't have enough strength to beat them! I realized, eyeing Sydney.
"You really are the most troublesome of this entire group, Abarai-kun." Aizen observed, eyes going back to him. I frowned, watching their fight unfold. Why doesn't he just finish him…? I gaped when he suddenly tore Renji's Shikai in half – blood started to flow out of his back, and I knew I had just been a little too impatient.
"Renji!" Rukia gasped as we continued to stare, realizing Aizen was in front of him.
"I knew…" he started. "I knew that I could use you three when I first met you. So when you joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, I had you all assigned to Squad 5 immediately. Then I made the two who more useful, Gin and my subordinates. I sent you away because you seemed troublesome. It seems that my instincts were right." He observed. "This is the final warning. Leave Rukia Kuchiki here and back away."
"P-please wait, Captain Aizen! I will-"
"I refuse!" Renji interrupted her, tightening his grip.
"Renji!" She pleaded to the exhausted, panting man. "Ren…"
"I won't let you go…!" He wheezed up, grip tightening still. "Like I'd ever let you go… You idiot." He told her, eyes still staring coldly at Aizen.
Said man's eyes narrowed. "I see." Raising his sword, he brought it up over his head. "Too bad." Bringing it down quickly, my eyes widened impossible large at what had happened.
-x-x-x-x-x
Blocking the blow successfully, whatever dirt blonde hair wasn't matted with my own blood flew in the wind. My body had been badly injured…but nothing like Ichigo had been, thankfully. But with what I ate earlier, I had easily regenerated my blood supply, and the wounds had already clotted and stopped bleeding thanks to my Zanpakuto. "I can still fight!" I hissed out, brown eyes watching brown eyes with narrowed, cold dislike. I could never find hate for this man – not with what happened after he was sealed. And it was true – I felt nothing when my sword met his. I felt the weight, but there was no soul.
"I know Rukia isn't that heavy, Renji – now stand up straight and fight." I ordered him, jumping away.
"That sword," Aizen started, eyeing my golden blade. Immediately I hid it in my cloak – I knew he was able to read Kanji. "It is golden, and has Kanji engraved on the side of it. What does it say?" He asked good naturedly.
"It says to keep your nose out of my damn business." I growled at him as he smirked.
"Oh? Are you unable to read it? I can hear it – that tiny accent of yours." Narrowing my eyes, he chuckled. "I should've known – someone who hasn't been using Japanese frequently for a long time has an excruciatingly hard time reading pure Kanji. Very well then, shall I read it for you?" He asked as my eyes widened. N-No, don't! "It says Soul Princess. It's different from your Shikai and Asauchi, isn't it?" He asked as my eyes narrowed. "I've been watching you – I am one hundred percent sure it is different. Shall I tell you what they say as well?" He asked. By this time I was gritting my teeth. Keeping my trap shut because I knew I would only dig myself an early grave, I let him continue. "If I recall correctly, your Asauchi reads 'Holy Soul Piercer bestowed on a Demigod. And your Shikai reads 'Demigod'." Pausing as I took this in, I tried not to let my mind distract me from the enemy.
"Strange, isn't it? That they all have that theme. I wonder what it means…?" He asked playfully as my gaze darkened.
"Sydney…" Renji said softly behind me.
"Yeah, I know." I replied politely, but a little too forcefully. "Sorry!" I apologized curtly, thankful when he stayed silent.
"Furthermore, your blade is golden. I have never seen one like that before." He commented, and I unconsciously took a step back as he examined me. "Also, you gained stronger powers and more potential than Ichigo Kurosaki will ever have in a week's time." My eyes narrowed at this – he's been watching me the whole time? "Do you know what this all means?" He asked me as I watched him. "Very well, I will tell you this as well. But this is the last freebie, Sydney Kurosaki. It means-"
"Don't say it!" I suddenly shrieked, making my friend's eyes widen as the Aizen and Gin looked at me with questioning eyes. "I know what it means…!" I told them shakily. "So don't say it! Quit saying it! Don't you ever dare to say it!" I yelled. "I'm not ready…to accept that yet…!" I told them shakily, my body trembling. "I can't handle…that much pressure…" I told them sadly.
Lapsing into a brief silence, Aizen spoke. "I see. You are unfit for ruling, then." He observed as I glared at him, my eyes glistening slightly. "That is truly a shame. Such great blood as yours should not go to waste."
"It won't go to waste…!" I hissed at him. He raised an eyebrow in question. "Just shut up about it!" I hissed as a strong breeze suddenly blew against the plateau.
Taking advantage of the moment, Gin spoke. "Sorry. I didn't think I should interfere, so I let her pass." He explained. "But now I see that you wanted to tell her a few things."
"Yes; I felt a need to tell her. If she lives out her life like this, ignorant, it could mean the ruin of many." Aizen explained to him.
"But if she knows, it might be the ruin of us!" Gin proposed the idea.
"No. We will not fail. I am merely seeking a worthy opponent for the future." He spoke truthfully, I could see it. You just want to be normal, don't you…? "But for now, it doesn't matter if there's two specks of dust to brush off or one."
"I'm going to stay and fight." Renji stated next to me, setting down Rukia. Obediently she flanked him just enough so that she could see around him.
"Fine with me! Running away from this is impossible, anyways. Cool! Let's fight together." I told him, smirking as I became more confident with Renji fighting by my side.
"Yeah!" He agreed, striding a little ways away from me. "I can use this technique only once…" He muttered, putting a hand against his hilt and removing it as his sword began to sizzle and steam at th end of the wires. "But if it hits, the enemy will be left open. Strike in that opening!" He hissed.
"Got it." I answered, waiting for him to strike at any second. Hitting the end of his sword against the ground, I observed energy circle in closer to Aizen. "Here we go, Zabimaru! Higazekko!" He yelled, red power radiating off of him. Each individual piece of his Zanpakuto glowed, rising into the air above Aizen. They immediately began to fly down at him and I flexed in my power, letting it glow around my body.
Yelling a battle cry, I used my fastest Sonido to charge him. Bringing out my golden sword as my cloak flew out behind me, I jumped up and brought it around in an attempt to behead him. Hearing a small, high pitched yet echoing ping, I gasped as I realized what had happened to me. Putting the top part of his finger on my sword, I coughed up blood as my eyes widened in horror, an exceedingly large gash on my stomach, tracing up to my abdomen.
"Oh?" Aizen asked innocently, looking eerily happy. "I thought if I cut you in half from the waist down, but it seemed too shallow." He observed, letting go of my blade. My eyes widened as I felt something stab into my neck and draw out blood. Coughing up more, it was ripped out. "I just took a blood sample. Do not worry." He told me before disappearing. Coughing up more blood, I could only listen as Renji gasped and collapsed. Hearing Rukia softly call our names in complete terror, I heard Aizen stop walking in front of her.
"Now stand…" He ordered her. "Rukia Kuchiki." Hearing her get dragged to her feet, I struggled to hear their conversation over my abnormally loud and raspy breathing. "Hm? Oh, I see." He realized. "My Spiritual Pressure has caused your body to go limp." Forcing my arms under me, I shakily started to get up as I wheezed. "The poor things. She's still conscious." He noted coldly. Glaring at him, I panted before falling back to the earth with a pained grunt.
"Having too much life force without abilities to back it up may work against you. Give it up already." He told me, sheathing his sword. "You've all been useful enough. You've served your purpose." He told me.
"O-Of distraction…?" I grunted out, not remembering this part very well. "How did you know how we would…fall in where we did?" I asked, curious.
"What a strange thing to ask." He stated. "The West Rukon District is Kisuke Urahara's base of operations. That's the only place you can enter through his Senkaimon – didn't he tell his own lover?" He asked, making me freeze.
"What is with that concentrated face? Don't tell me you forgot." He remarked on my expression.
"No – well, yeah but he never told me. Let me go through without explaining the Hogyoku or anything." I explained. "Because I already know it all – I heard the story of this world before," I told him, being careful not to mention it was called Bleach. "but some things still slip past the net." I informed him.
"I see. You should be more careful with your memories." He told me, tugging Rukia behind him as he walked back to the main group. "But I will still explain – I am afraid Rukia-chan doesn't understand." He told us, not looking back. "And neither do your friends." Pausing for a few seconds, he started to walk again.
*"Soul Reapers have four main fighting methods – Zanjutsu, Hakudo, Hoho, and Kido. But there is a limit to how strong you can get in any one of them. There's a limit to how much a soul can take and that's where the growth stops. In other words, there's the limit as a Soul Reaper. Is there any way to get past that and surpass the limits of those four abilities to get stronger then? Well, there's a way." He said, and I noticed his smirk. "That's…to become a Hollow. A Soul Reaper to a Hollow, or vice versa… Only by removing the border between those two opposing existences, can one become an even greater existence. In theory, it was thought plausible. So I secretly tried to turn various Hollows into becoming Soul Reapers. A Hollow that could hide its Spiritual Pressure, or a Hollow that could destroy Zanpakuto with a touch and fuse with Soul Reapers. But none of them worked out as well as I wanted them to. In the end, nobody could find a way."
"But Kisuke Urahara made a way. It was something that could instantly remove the border dividing Hollow and Soul Reaper, something that defied all logic within the Soul Society. It's called Hogyoku. Dangerous stuff. He probably felt the same way. He tried to destroy the Hogyoku. But he was unable to find a way to destroy his own creation. So he reluctantly resorted to another method. That was to create a shield around the Hogyoku and hide it somewhere deep within a Konpaku, soul. Now do you understand?" He asked, turning to look at the wide eyed and shocked Rukia. "That place he chose to hide it was within you, Rukia Kuchiki." He told her shaking form. She gasped, her eyes wide.
"But when I found that out, you had already gone missing in the World of the Living. I instantly knew Kisuke Urahara had something to do with it. He was exiled from the Soul Society for creating an untraceable gigai that contained no Reishi. There's no other way a Soul Reaper in gigai can go missing. There was another reason why he was exiled. That gigai continues to break down the spirit energy of the Soul Reaper using it. Because of that, the Soul Reaper never recovers their power. The connection with the gigai becomes dim to the point that all of their spirit energies are lost. Their Konpaku is reduced to that of a mere human." He told her wide eyes. "Do you understand now? He didn't help you. He was just trying to hide the location of the Hogyoku by turning you into a human." She gasped, most likely recalling me carrying her to his shop as well.*
"But luckily, you were found in the World of the Living a few months later. I immediately went to Central 46 and…" Not even flinching as a half dead Komamura appeared behind him, he merely turned around to the already bloody mess.
"Aizen!" The wolf screamed out, a large blade standing into where the brown haired man was. Oh thank god he was getting so long winded. Silently thanking the heavens, I started to wonder how Rukia would treat me now… It is clear that everyone here knew I knew the future, so… Plus me and Kisuke are –giggle- together, so… Sighing mentally, I decided to cross that bridge when I come to it.
As the cloud cleared, I stared as I saw he had caught the giant's blade as well. "It's been quite some time since I last saw your face. What's with the change of heart, Komamura-kun?" He asked, smiling.
"How can you still smile like that, Aizen?! You betrayed all of us! I will not forgive you!" He growled. Eyeing Tosen holding a blade to Seeker's neck behind him, he growled more. "You too…Tosen!" I watched Komamura threw a punch, the fist of his Shikai hit the ground. Spotting Aizen jumping away and out of the dust cloud, I was still thankful yet nervous because he still had Rukia.
Growling, the wolf held his blade out to the side as he yelled to them. "Tosen, explain yourself if you can!" The man remained silent. "Or can you? How regrettable, Tosen!" Suddenly exerting his power, my eyes widened at his recklessness. "Bankai!" He yelled. Smirking, Aizen suddenly appeared in front of him.
Lifting his hand, I watched as a black and purple spell crackled about. "Hado 90, Kurohitsugi." A black box formed around Komamura, spear like points growling larger before growing smaller. I watched in horror as it disappeared, a bloody Komamura falling to the ground. Turning to look back at the fallen Captain, Aizen spoke. "Kyokasuigetsu's perfect hypnosis is inescapable. There's no way to escape it even if you know it's coming." He explained.
"Hado 90 without the chant. How scary." Gin commented off on the side lines. "When did you learn to do that?" He asked curiously.
"No, it was a failure…" Aizen disagreed, walking towards him. "I didn't even get a third of its true destructive force. Ninety really is hard to control. Eyeing Rukia who I just noticed Gin was holding, he gripped her collar.
*"Now then… I haven't finished explaining it to you, have I?" He asked her, making me feel a little left out. He turned around, leading her to another spot. "Kuchiki Rukia, when I found where you were in the World of the Living, the first thing I did…was to eliminate the Central 46. Isane probably told you "Aizen Sosuke faked his death and hid his whereabouts. Afterwards, he slaughtered Central 46. But that's not true. As soon as I discovered you, I immediately killed Central 46 and used my Kyokasuigetsu on the entire central underground assembly hall. So that way it looked as if Central 46 was still alive and having meetings. There was always one of the three of us in the assembly hall. Since then, we had been acting as Central 46 and been issuing all of their orders."
"To make sure of your arrest, I had those two from Squad 6 apprehend you. In order to separate you from the humans… I ordered the immediate return and destruction of your gigai. In order to completely evaporate your soul and take the Hogyoku from within you, I have decided to have you executed with the Sokyoku. The only time we weren't in the underground assembly hall…were the few hours surrounding the two Captain's Meetings. I faked my death soon after that and hid underground. Because I knew there was a possibility that the execution might fail because of you guys."*
Reaching into his Shihakusho and stopping, he spoke. "There are only two ways to remove a foreign object planted directly into a soul. You can use intense thermal disruption like the Sokyoku which will evaporate the soul that envelops it… Or by some other method that will interfere with the soul's composition and forcefully separate them. In the unlikely event that the Sokyoku failed, I had to find that other method." He told us, taking a small cylinder out of his coat. Dammit… When does he take the time to breathe? I asked myself exasperatedly.
"For that I needed the information kept within the underground assembly hall's Daireisho Archive. I looked up Kisuke Urahara's past research. He was the one who developed the technique to plant a foreign object into a soul." Clicking a button on the cylinder, I watched as air seemed to hiss either out of it, or into it…from this distance I was unable to tell. "So I figured that…the technique needed to remove it must be hidden somewhere in his research. Yes." He said, wooden spikes abruptly shooting out of the ground in a circle around the two. Rukia looked at them, terrified. "This is…the answer.
I watched in horror as his hand seemed to turn to a wood like substance as well – instantly pushing it into her chest, my eyes widened further as I saw the large, black hole. Red electricity danced around the tops of the spikes, fading within a few seconds. I watched as he took the Hogyoku and its shield out, Rukia immediately dropping to the ground, seemingly unconscious.
"I'm surprised." Aizen sure as hell didn't look like it. "It's so small." He commented, the substance on his arm disappearing quickly. "This is the Hogyoku… I see." His eyes looked down and mine follow the movement to see the gaping, black hole in Rukia's chest close as she breathed heavily. So she's still conscious. I noted. "The soul is unharmed. What a wonderful technique. But, too bad." He told her, picking her up. "I have no use for you anymore… Kill her, Gin." He told the silver haired man, holding her at arm's length. I tensed, unsure if Byakuya would make it in time.
"Oh well~" Ichimaru replied, walking closer as he unsheathed his sword. Pointing it at her upside down, he spoke. "Shoot 'im dead, Shinso!" he told the glowing blade, which automatically extended its frighteningly fast and frighteningly long reach to her.
Eyes continuing to stare and my breath caught in my throat, it took a second to realize Byakuya had been on time. Blood flew; he had been stabbed in the chest. He held her with one hand, and gripped the blade with the other. "Brother!" She cried out as he collapsed, Gin dislodging Shinso. "Brother…why?" she asked, holding him up as he panted. "Why did you save me?!" she cried out, Aizen walking closer. Putting a hand on his Zanpakuto, he paused to look up.
"Let's go, Jidanbo!" Recognizing the voice, I immediately identified Kukkaku.
"All right!" The giant hollered out.
Shouting a spell, I listened. "Bones of beasts scattered far and wide! Steeple crimson crystal! Steel wheels! Wind in action! And the sky at rest! The sound of flying arrows, fill the hollow castle! Hado 63: Raikoho!" She yelled, a strong current of yellow electricity discharging into her hand where Aizen was. I watched, eye twitching form her entry, as Jidanbo landed on the ground.
"Sis!" Ganju screamed, surprised.
"Jidanbo-san!" Orihime called out happily.
I noticed Aizen appear outside the cloud; immediately his dominant hand was bound to his Zanpakuto, and Yoruichi and Soi Fon were on him, ready to kill him even if he twitched.
"This is another face I haven't seen for quite some time." He spoke aloud, talking to Yoruichi.
"Don't move!" She responded seriously. "If you move even a muscle…"
"We'll cut off your head!" Soi Fon finished, looking rather beat up, but still functioning.
Blinking, Aizen responded. "I see."
The giant stepped closer, and Yoruichi automatically smiled. "Kukkaku!" She called happily.
"Hey, Yoruichi! I had too much free time… And since I was out for a walk, I thought I'd check in!" She called down, smiling.
My eyes narrowed, immediately registering Matsumoto take Gin hostage. "Sorry, Captain Aizen. I got caught." He stated lightly, gesturing with the same hand Matsumoto was holding on the wrist.
"This is it." Yoruichi stated as Aizen looked at Gin.
He looked back at her, the light bouncing off his glasses. "What did you say?"
"Don't you understand, Aizen? There's no place…left for you." She stated, everyone who had left after the I blew up the execution stand finally returning. Shunsui, Ukitake, Nanao, Head Captain…all of them were here. A few muttered his name; I noticed Tosen had Shuhei's blade at his throat, but had yet to release Seeker. Seeing Shuhei mutter something, Tosen released Seeker and let the suspicious boy go back with our friends. "It's over, Aizen." She stated it once again. I am sure everyone noticed the little smile he had on his face. "What's so funny?!" Yoruichi asked darkly.
"Oh, sorry. It's time." He sure didn't seem sorry.
Something seemed to click in Yoruichi's mind; instantly she was wide eyed and yelling at Soi Fon. "Get away!" She ordered the wide eyed girl. Both of them barely managed to get out of the yellow box light in time, it hit the ground so fast. Everyone's eyes followed it up.
"I-Impossible!" Ukitake realized. Forcing myself to roll over so that I could see, I saw a large Garganta crack into the sky and a Menos Grande tear it open. Seeing more of the same species, I had a hunch that the multiple sets of red eyes that glowed in the darkness were of the same species.
"Menos Grande!" Soi Fon realized with wide eyes. They all seemed to be attempting to free themselves; first they shoved their arms out before retreating, next shoving out all of their heads.
"The Gillians! How many of them are there?!" Omeida had the same trouble of counting fast moving objects as I did occasionally, then.
"No…wait! There's still something in there!" Hisagi realized, eyes just as wide as anyone else's. The Garganta had ripped open more; now there was an empty black space in the background, revealing the only slightly open purple eye. Two more beams of light suddenly shot out; Matsumoto and Hisagi barely had time to dodge.
"It's a bit of a letdown…" Gin said, hand still raised. "I wouldn't have minded being your prisoner a little longer… Goodbye, Rangiku-san." Looking back at her, I wasn't able to see the look her gave her. But I could remember it – truthful, and true to his next words. "I'm sorry."
The ground that the traitors stood on started to crack and float up, leaving them with small mounds of earth to stand on. "You're going to run away, you-" The Soul Reaper with the glasses started, unsheathing his sword. I felt slightly frustrated for not remembering his na- Iba! His name is Iba. Smirking lightly at my accomplishment, I listened to the Head Captain.
"Stop!"
"Head Captain…" Iba muttered, not understanding.
"That light is called "Negacion". The Menos use it to help save their fellow Hollows." He told us as the traitor's floated up higher still. "Once enveloped by that light, it is impossible for those within and without to interact. It's an isolated world. All who have fought Menos knows… The moment that light fell on Sosuke Aizen it became impossible to reach him." He explained as I watched Aizen continue to smirk.
"Tosen!" Komamura called out, lying on his stomach in a gigantic pool of blood. "Come down here, Tosen!" He tried again, coughing up a few drops of blood. "I don't understand! Why did you become a Soul Reaper?! Wasn't it for your friend who passed away?! Wasn't it to carry out your justice?! Where has your sense of justice gone?!" He yelled.
"I told you, Komamura!" Kaname spoke, looking down at him despite the fact he was blind. "The only thing I can see with my eyes is the least bloody path. Justice is always there. The path I follow is justice!" He said confidently I frowned, but stayed silent.
"Tosen…!" Komamura hoarsely whispered, watching his once friend with pained eyes. I noticed Ukitake take a step closer to Aizen's beam.
"You've joined with the Menos…" he started. "Why?!" He asked, glaring at the traitor. Aizen looked down on him, returning it easily.
"To reach higher." He admitted honestly, calmly.
"Have you fallen so much, Aizen?" He asked.
"You're too arrogant, Ukitake." He answered, getting increasingly close to the Menos. "No one stood at the top from the beginning. Neither you, nor me, nor the gods." He told us, taking off his glasses. "But that unbearable vacancy of heaven's throne ends now." He told us, smoothing back his hair as his glasses disintegrated. "From now on…" He started, looking at coldly…lowly. "I will stand atop the heavens." He boasted. Everyone stared at him in disbelief. "Goodbye, Soul Reapers." He was taken into a Menos's hands. "And goodbye, Ryoka girl." He told me, looking down at my form. "For something not quite human, you were surprisingly interesting… I hope that you find the courage to unlock your blood soon." He told me before turning away, the Garganta snapping shut.
A dead silence rang throughout the execution grounds for a few minutes; each to their own thoughts. I'll never have the courage to do that… I realized, swallowing. Never…
"Groups Two and Three, care for Captain Kuchiki!" I started slightly, twisting around to see people from Squad four flooding the scene. "Groups Seven, Ten, Eleven, and Thirteen all help to heal Captain Komamura! Lieutenant Abarai has received stage six treatment. Groups Eight and nine, prepare for transport! Let's go!" The blonde haired medic yelled as the groups called all ran as fast as they could to where they were assigned. "They're all seriously wounded! Let's move it!" He yelled at the dawdlers. Sighing aloud as I looked into the sky, I noticed that the clouds had gotten even more suffocating – the storm that would happen tonight would be one to recall.
Hearing footsteps run over to me, my eyes widened when I registered my friends looking down at me. Hearing a skidding noise, I looked over to see a very concentrated looking Orihime, who immediately put me into her shield. "Don't worry, I'll heal you!" She said confidently, putting her hands up to help the shield.
"Brother! Brother!" I heard Rukia crying out and looked over, seeing one of the stronger Squad 4 members holding her back as they performed some kind of surgery on him.
"Please stay back. He's being treated right now!" He tried to convince her. She froze, eyes still wide.
My eyes trailed elsewhere, noticing that the Medic Leader and a team were looking at a standing, perfectly well Kurotsuchi like he was an alien. Following my gaze, Brianna commented. "He's an alien! Very hard to beat – he has these injections that heal him. But good thing he didn't have one for his Bankai!" She told me, smiling as she stuck up a fist. I sweat dropped before my eyes returned to him. They widened somewhat as I registered him walking over.
Not that we meant to be rude or anything, but we all stared at him as he walked up to us, looking at Brianna in particular. "That was surprising." He commented as she stood up. "I was never expecting a simple Ryoka to have Bankai – let alone destroy my Bankai with her own." He admitted as she smiled somewhat sheepishly.
"It was nothing! You were just really weak~" She teased, waving a finger as he became agitated.
Walking away, he growled at Nemu who had just appeared on our side of the forest on the other side of the hill. "I won't forget this!" He warned the determinedly smirking Brianna.
"And I won't lose to you again." She replied cockily, plopping back down and looking at the group. Seeing all of our questioning expressions, she chuckled. "I think that might've been his angry way of showing respect." She admitted as we all sweat dropped.
Hearing something akin to a whale, I looked over to see Captain Unohana arriving on her Bankai. "Captain Unohana!" He respectfully addressed her as she pet her Shikai, looking over at him. "What's the condition of Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Hinamori?" He asked.
"They've escaped death. It's up to them now. Isane is continuing to treat them." She informed him, starting to walk away. "Who's left?" She asked curiously.
"Captain Kuchiki and the Ryoka girl." He answered, glancing over to me as I watched them. Watching Unohana as she eyed both the shield and me, she spoke.
"It doesn't seem like the Ryoka needs our help." She observed, walking next to Byakuya who was lying on the ground in a makeshift bed in a marked off square.
"H-Huh…is that so?!" He asked as the Soul Reapers who had been watching over him stood and bowed respectively before running off. She sat by his side and I instantly started to fidget, knowing that my wounds were almost done healing.
"Don't fidget." Chad warned as I mock glared at him.
"Oh and whatta' you have ta' say 'bout dat, Sir?!" I asked him, using my ghetto voice. Seeing the group sweat drop, Ishida sighed before replying.
"Well, at least she's back to normal."
…..
"I can't do this anymore!" I suddenly screeched, gaining the attention of everyone still left on this godforsaken rock. Springing up, I broke Orihime's shield and she cried out in surprise. Shaking my head madly and attempting to run a hand through my dirty hair, I had to tug it out as it got snagged in a combination of sweat, blood, dirt, and who knows what else.
"H-Hey, Kurosaki!" Ishida called after me as I jumped clean over Orihime, my Bankai long having sense disappeared. Spotting a now wide eyed set of Kuchiki's staring at me as I practically pranced over, I plopped by his side and started to twitch in frequent intervals while I talked.
"I'm staying at your place tonight, can we have sushi?!" I realized what I wanted to eat in the first word, thus exciting myself. "I love sushi!" I told him, twitching more as they continued to stare at me.
"Who said you can stay at my place?" He asked slowly, not yet completely healed.
"Why you did of course!" I told him, smiling as he frowned.
"No I didn't." He objected.
"Yes you did! Over there!" I told him, smiling giddily at my sweat dropping friends. "You came into my mind and promised me we could bond over sushi!" I claimed truthfully, having played the event in my mind. He sweat dropped as I cackled giddily. Unable to hold still longer, I sprang up and jumped out of the box, falling completely on my back. Jumping right up, my eyes scanned the grounds until I found Ukitake, Shunsui and the Head Captain discussing something. "Bye!" I called my farewells to the thoroughly confused duo, immediately starting to sprint over to the duo.
I made it halfway before I was completely clothes lined by Seeker. "No way! Not alone!" He phrased his words slowly, making me stare intently at him for a few seconds before twisting around and scuttling away on our fours. He stepped on my back, making me grunt as I fell into the earth. Struggling, we both came to realize that the trio was now staring at us. He waved sheepishly while I smiled and waved like I was on pure crack. We watched as they started to walk closer and I immediately started to struggle. Almost managing to free myself, I gasped when my face was suddenly shoved into the dirt with Sloth's shoe on my head.
"Sorry, she gets kinda special some times." She commented.
Struggling harder as I heard Ukitake laugh nervously, I tried to make out a sentence.
"Huh? We can't hear you. You should get your head out of the dirt~" Seeker teased me as my temper flared. Struggling more, I jumped up and knocked the two over…and proceeded to start stomping on their stomachs. Instantly being picked up by Chad, I started to kick and struggle as he put me over my shoulder.
Kyoraku laughed, looking at my now pouting state. "You seem like a hand full! There's no way you could be the leader of the Ryoka, right?!" He asked, laughing more.
"She's just spazzy. She is our leader, though." Damien commented, walking up with everyone else. Ukitake and Kyoraku looked at him surprised while the Head Captain watched silently.
"But she's…" Trailing off and looking at me, I couldn't help the smirk that said 'come on!'.
"She pulls through when needed. I'm surprised these two got beat up today, though." He commented, looking at the smoking duo at our feet. "Usually it's Ishida." He said, throwing a thumb over his shoulder at the Quincy who was flanking him. "She says he secretly flips her off… Not that I blame her~" He teased, looking back as said person frowned.
"I would never do something like that to a woman!" He objected.
"Chad, go get my man suit! I want to know if he'll admit it then!" I loudly whispered in my friends ear as he sweat dropped.
"You have a man suit…?" He echoed while Damien smirked.
"Yup, that's good old Sydney!" Brianna commented, standing on Chad's other side.
"I'ma hero!" I said childishly as Kyoraku lowered his hat. Ukitake appeared amused, and the Head Captain had yet to show any emotion.
"I see. Is that why you chose to come after Rukia?" He asked me, reading into my statement.
"No! Well – kinda?" I guessed, scratching my head. "She's our friend – she was going to die because she did something simple. If she killed a bunch of people, I'd understand. But she didn't, so I had to come." I told them, making up an excuse and only telling them half of the story. I can't let them know about my knowledge!
But if Aizen knows, they'll be at a disadvantage. My Zanpakuto chimed in, making my eyes narrow dangerously unconsciously as I thought about the topic. "Dammit." I stated, suddenly serious. "I suppose your right this time, you stupid sword." I grumbled at the blade on my back as she stayed silent once more.
"I suppose that isn't true – I knew Aizen had gotten into Central 46. Because I know the future." I told them as Chad put me down. I stood in front of my friends, my arms automatically crossing.
"What do you mean?" The Head Captain asked, interested in this topic. "I mean just that – I heard a story a while ago," Don't let them know your Evolueren! They'll kill you for sure! Sighing aloud at this thought, I became tenser as I continued. "A story about this – this place. And what was going to happen – an Evolueren told me before she died." I told them to make my story more believable.
"It can't be helped…" Ukitake stated, frowning.
"You know it had to be done! The humans are right in what they're doing – they're very dangerous." Kyoraku told him as Ukitake glanced at him before looking back at me.
"She told me everything – about the war that's going to happen, and about Aizen." I explained as their eyes narrowed. "It's like they come from a different dimension – and somehow someone remembered it from a book that had been written down after it all already happened." I told them. "Although they didn't know what side won – they had forgotten. It was just a fairy tale, after all." I told them, making sure they wouldn't get over confident with the knowledge that they'll win. But Aizen knows about this story – and he's going to go to great lengths to memorize it." I told them, all of their eyes narrowed.
"Very well." The Head Captain decided. "We will overlook the fact that you broke into Soul Society – but you will help with the war time effort." He ordered us. I nodded bravely.
"I would help even if you didn't ask me to, sir." I told them as Ukitake's brows knit together.
"Why?" He asked. "What has Aizen done to you?"
"Hey, Ukitake!" Kyoraku tried to stop him, knowing it may be a sensitive topic.
"No, we need to know." He didn't look at him as he responded – just at me.
"Aizen…" I started slowly, unsure of how to correctly place my words. "Aizen is… I'm the only one that can stop him." I told them, my eyes closed as I sighed.
"What?" Kyoraku asked, surprised.
"I'm the only one who understands the most about why he's doing this – even if he doesn't realize it himself. Plus…"
"Plus?" Ukitake pressed as the trio watched me carefully.
Unsheathing my sword, I showed them a little of the gold. I wasn't prepared for them to read the kanji – not yet. "I'm the girl with the golden Zanpakuto." I told their wide eyes. I bowed slightly. "If you'll excuse me." I told them, walking away as they stared after me. My friends trailed after behind before Ganju went over to his sister Kukaku, seeing that we were leaving. Waving and offering him well wishes and smiles, we continued on our journey.
"The girl with the golden sword, huh?" Ishida asked, walking next to me as we started down the large stair case.
"What of it?" I asked, keeping a careful eye on my footing. If I slipped on this thing… I wouldn't die from the fall, I'd die of my heart attack.
"Sounds like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." He observed as my eye twitched.
"I'm not a sex book, Ishida!"
…..Later that Night at the Kuchiki Mansion (and Sushi)…..
Springing up, I panted heavily just as another lightning flash invaded the privacy of my given room. Eyes immediately going to the sliding doors, I registered the heavy torrent of rain that was sure to be flying down at a steep diagonal angle. Looking down at the thin white robe they had given me, I looked over to see a fresh Shihakusho with pants – they had replaced my dirty ones when I was sleeping.
Glancing at the sliding doors when a brilliant light blinded me, I immediately threw off my blanket and changed. Slamming open the sliding doors without a second thought, I had to put effort into pushing them shut before I could sling my Zanpakuto over my shoulder. Striding past the rooms that were further up the hallway, I let my eyes glance at the garden these rooms – the rooms of my friends and I – faced. Seeing another flash of light, I pressed on faster against the water that had made its personal job to assault my face. Rubbing my eyes repeatedly, I used a stumble filled Sonido to jump over the wall next to the main entrance, knowing the guards wouldn't open it for me. Jumping onto the roof stops, I jumped my to the Sokyoku hill so that I would have the best spot to witness this thunderstorm – everything in it was powerful, especially the light show.
Not wanting to leap in the air to get the top, I took the more dangerous path of the stairs. Sliding here and there, I made it to the top lightly panting as a powerful gust of wind ripped through the forest in front of me. Blowing me backwards, my feet slipped off the cement all too easily – latching on with my arms, I knew crying out for help would be a futile fight against the roaring of the thunder.
Brown eyes narrowing, I registered a figure in front of me. "Kisuke...?" My whisper was devoured by the thunder, one of my hands reaching out reflexively as I further slipped off the edge. His hand met my own, and I was instantly pulled up and past the person. Twirling around, my eyes widened as I registered it as Byakuya Kuchiki. Staring at him, he returned my shocked expression with a questioning one.
My eyes flicked down to his mouth as he said something, but my brows knit together when I didn't understand him. He frowned, realizing I hadn't heard him. Gesturing, he started to head back down, to which I immediately shook my head. He looked at me questioningly and I pointed towards the execution stand. Looking back at me, he seemed to not understand. Now amused at this, I grabbed his sleeve and started to tug him along behind me as I headed into the forest.
Looking back when he pulled it out of my grasp, I saw that he was continuing on his own. Making it out of the forest, I slid a few paces and hunched over, eyes narrowed against the intense storm as I forced my way over to the execution stand. Hands pressing against it as I turned and pushed my back against it, I desperately held onto one of the corners as a strong gust of wind blew at us. Standing next to me, Byakuya looked at me questioningly as I gestured to the sky. Looking up, his eyes widened as thunder struck dangerously close to us. Smiling up at his shocked expression, his shock faded somewhat as he gazed into the sky.
This is pure madness…
But I'm glad that I have someone to share it with…
Even if Kisuke isn't here to enjoy it with me.
Author's Note: Hope you liked the ending. I promised something special, and this is special, but not special…enough. So be prepared for next chapter. ;)