Chapter 35
Karakura Town
Jumping from roof top to roof top, Ichigo kept a look out on the streets as he made his usual rounds through Karakura. This past month had been some of the happiest days of his life, ever since his mothers return to their lives he has gotten to know her better than he did as a child.
'She can be as much of a handful as the old man sometimes.' he thought with a fond smile. 'But she is exactly as I remember her.'
With one last jump, he cleared the last building that led to the bridge and started jumping on the air. He had gotten halfway through the bridge when he heard something, causing him to stop and look around. Hearing the noise again he looked up towards the sky, where he spotted a familiar from dressed in green rags.
"ITSYGOOOOOOO!" the tiny arrancar called out as she fell towards him. A wide bright smile on her face.
"Nel!" Ichigo responded, surprise to see her after so long, smiling he continued. "Its-"
"Super speed!" she suddenly called out catching him by surprise, as she shot towards him and tackled him towards the water.
"Aaahhhhh!" Ichigo yelled out as he got caught in the stomach and plummeted into the river. He is stunned for a second and water started filling his lungs before he pushed himself up to his feet taking the young Arrancar hugging him by his stomach up with him. "cough, cough!" he coughed out the water that had entered his lungs. "Nel!" he exclaimed as he removed the girl from his body and held her up in front of him and glared.
"Itsygo!" Nel said as she waved her arms at her side. "Nel ish glad to see you againth!"
"Ah," Ichigo responded as his faced soften, a smile coming to his face. "It's good to see you too." he said, "But what are you-"
"Super speed!" another voice called out. Not hesitating Ichigo jumped back and watched as Pesche hit the shallow river head first.
"Good reaction time Ichigo-kun!" Pesche jumped to his feet. "Do you remember me?" he asked as he pointed at himself.
"Pesche." Ichigo replied in a dry tone.
"Yes exactly!" Pesche exclaimed as stood to his full height giving him a thumps up. "I knew you couldn't possibly forget the ever heroic me." he finished laugh as his hands came to his hips and he thrust out his pelvis.
"That's not exactly the reason I-"
"Super speed!"
"Shit!" Ichigo let out as he brought Nel closer to his body and rolled out of the way, before coming to his feet. He watched as Pesche got run over by Dondochakka and the two of them rolled down the river. "Tsk, I completely forgot about him."
"WHAT!" Dondochakka screamed at the top of his lungs tears coming to his masked eyes. "How can you forget about me? Aren't my spots good enough? Am I not colorful enough?" he asked as he brought his hands to his mouth.
"T-that's not what I meant." Ichigo began to explained with stuttered as he saw the hollow being to cry. "It's just Pesche's entrance distracted me its all." he said as he tried to appease Dondochakka.
"See that, Dodonchakka! It's not that he forgot, just that I'm so cool he couldn't think of anything else." Pesche soothed as he patted his friend on the back.
"Your not cool!" Ichigo yelled out and pointed at him. "Your just the weirdest person I've ever met."
"W-weird." Pesche began sounding depress. "But I-"
"Hahahahahahaha!" Nel laughed at their antics. "Pesche isth weird!" she exclaimed as she pointed at him as well.
"Et tu, Nelliel-sama!" Pesche said out as he hung his head.
Sighing, Ichigo shook his head.
Looking towards dry land, Ichigo used shunpo and moved to the river's edge. Placing Nel down on her feet, he stood to his full height as Dondochakka and Pesche used sonido appeared beside their leader, friend and little sister.
"So what's going?" Ichigo asked as he looked them over. "Or is this just a social visit?"
"Oh itsth terrible Itsygo," Nel began as she made fist and tears started coming to her eyes. "For the lasth month Huecoth Mundo has been under attackth by the Qunicyth arthmy."
"Wait what?" Ichigo asked interrupting her. "What Quincy army? And Why wouldn't Soul Society tell me about them?"
"Thath doesn'th matter now." Nel shook her head as she explained. "Theyth were all killed excepth for their leader by Friethza."
"Who's Friethza?"
"Well Ichigo, Frieza is the new king of Hueco Mundo." Pesche answered. Holding up his hand he stopped Ichigo from asking any questions, "From what we've learned he only appeared about five days ago, but he conquered the adjuchas and now he has Las Noches under his control."
"Hmm," Dondochakka continued. "He is so powerful that he killed most of the Quincy army as they came to attack, and even deflected the leaders strongest attack don't cha know."
"You wouldn't tell me this if he wasn't planning something." he stated as he noticed the serious look on Nels face.
"Friethza, is planning on attackingth soul society." She stated her usual cheerful voice become grim, as she looked down to the ground. "Andth I don't thinkth they could beat him."
"Damn it." Ichigo whispered, bringing his voice above a whisper he continued. "Then we don't have any other choice but to fight." he stated and gestured towards the Urahara shoten. "Lets go to Urahara's, If anyone can come up with something I'm sure he can."
Urahara Shoten
Sitting around the living room table, Ichigo his friends and the Urahara taichi were quiet as Nel and her fraccion had finished explaining the reason for their sudden visit.
"I can't believe this." Ishida spoke as he shook his head. "I thought I was the last of the Quincy's, and to learn that their were so many still alive up until two days ago. It's just so," he trailed off as he saw the sympathy in his friends faces. "No. Forget it." he shook his head and readjusted his glasses. "I don't like that they all happened to get killed by this Frieza character. But I can't condone their actions, after what happened with soul society they should have all known that killing so many hollows wouldn't have changed anything."
"Your father would be glad to hear it." Urahara spoke causing Ishida to glare at him. "Now, now, I understand how you feel about the whole issue. If I were in your position, I would probably feel the same way. But the Quincy ability to use energy besides their own to kill hollows is dangerous to all spiritual beings."
"Now," Urahara continued. "Soul Society had already been keeping a close watch on Hueco Mundo, specifically Las Noches. So they were aware of the threat that the Quincy were, and have been preparing for war." he held up a finger and stopped everyone from speaking. "The reason they hadn't informed Kurosaki-san, was because this would mean he would have to fight against human opponents again."
At the end of his explanation, he saw the high school friends shift uncomfortably for a second as they recalled the Full Bringers.
"From what I've managed to learn this Frieza as Nel-chan has told us about uses his powers in same way that Trunks-san does."
"Really?" Orihime asked. "Then where is Trunks-kun?"
"He's down stairs having a sparring match with Tatsuki-san and Karin-san."
"Wait, I don't feel anything." Ishida said as he got a look of concentration on his face, stretching out his senses.
"You wouldn't." Yoruichi spoke as she got to her feet. "They're hiding their reiatsu the way Trunks taught them to." she explained as she headed for the door. "I'll go get them. If this Frieza uses his powers like Trunks, then he may know something." She said with a glance over her shoulder at Urahara.
"That would explain it." Ishida commented as with a smile. "I've been getting weird vibes as though someone's been using their powers but they were so vague I couldn't pin point them."
"Right," Ichigo commented with nodded as his eyes became hooded. "Exactly how long has Karin been here anyway?"
"Oh my," Urahara said as he pulled out his fan to hide his smile. "It looks like someone hasn't gotten over our little joke."
"S-shut up!"
"Whath joke?" Nel asked
Trunks stood in an open area of Urahara's training area, a look of concentration on his face. His long hair tied back with a string, wearing a grey shirt, a light blue set of jeans and black converse sneakers.
Stepping back, he dodge a right knee that's aimed for the side of face by Karin and ducked as she spun to her right and spin kicked at him with her left. Moving to grab her leg as it passed over him, he stopped and jumped as Tatsuki appeared behind him delivering a low front kick. Back-flipping as he reach the apex of his jump Trunks landed several feet from them.
"Nice try," he commented as they both turned to face him. "But I told you both this exercise is to get you to work in sync with each other. Just coming in and attacking me at random isn't gonna work."
"Yeah, just keep talking." Tatsuki replied with a smirk. "It won't be long before we hit on the face."
"I like to see try." Trunks challenged with smirk, as he took a stance. Left leg forward, right hand by his face with his pinky and ring finger closed while his other three fingers in the shape of a claw. His left arm forward with his palm upwards, he wave them over towards him; earning himself a glare from his two students.
"Ready Tatsuki." Karin as they fell into similar stances, fist clenched at their sides. The girls, dressed the same as during their last sparring match on their training planet, except that they were wearing boots of capsule corp design and no gloves.
"Yeah." Tatsuki answered and they took off running towards Trunks. A they reached him they attacked, Karin low with sweep kick and Tatsuki high with a high kick.
Lifting his left leg and lean back Trunks dodge both attacks and stepped back as they pressed forward. As they punched and kicked at him; Trunks dodge, blocked and parried their attacks and smiled. Proud of the process they had made when it came to fighting as team.
Duking under Tatsuki's upper cut, Trunks spun and grabbed Karin's arm before moving behind her and pushing her towards Tatsuki causing them both to stumble to their sides. Catching themselves before they fell they jumped at Trunks, their attacks becoming more in sync as they worked together to drive him back.
Suddenly, Tatsuki moved forward and directly attacked Trunks punching as quickly as she could. Throwing an elbow that got parried to the left she spun with the momentum and sweep at his legs. Forcing Trunks to jump just as Karin moved in with a jumping kick.
Throwing himself backwards, Trunks dodge the kick. Before Karin turned in mid air and kicked down at him from his left, forcing him to block. Suddenly he felt a grip on his right ankle and he got pulled back towards Tatsuki, who had turned to her side as she pulled him towards her elbow. Putting up his hand, he blocked the her attack and used it to pull himself over her and kicked her from behind with his left, forcing her to let go to dodge out-of-the-way.
They continued in this way, for a couple of minutes with Karin and Tatsuki doing everything in their power to land a clean hit and Trunks, leading them around the field.
"Yo! Trunks-kun, do you know anyone named Frieza?"
"Frie-" Trunks began as he turned his head, when two feet planted themselves on his stomach. "Uuuaagghh!" he grunted as he got thrown across the field and through one of the hills located in the field, before it collapse on top of him.
"Yeah!" Tatsuki and Karin yelled as they pumped their fist in the air and turned to look at Yoruichi as she approached them.
"Nice job you two." She commented as she stopped by their sides.
"We couldn't have done it without you." Tatsuki replied with a smile.
"Were gonna need to come up with a way to distract him if we want to get any hits in." Karin said as she watched the rocks start to move.
"Did you say Frieza?" Trunks asked as he pushed the rocks of his body.
"I take it you know him."
Las Noches
Standing before his army of Arrancars, Adjuchas, Gillians and Hollows. Frieza smiled as he watched them all assemble before him, 'Soon I'll make everything this universe has to offer mine.' he thought as floated up into the air to address them.
"My loyal subjects," He began with a sweep of his left hand. "Today is the day that we take Soul Society and the Gotei 13," he closed his hand into fist. "And crush them for all their transgressions against your kind."
"At the end of this day hollows shall be the dominant spiritual entities and all humans and shinigami souls will be nothing but lives stock just like the Quincy before them." he said as he glanced at his newest acquisition, who glared at him with the same hatred he has seen in Vegeta's eyes for so many years. "Now let us rejoice for the beginning of a new era!" he yelled and the crowd broke out into a frenzy screaming out his name.
Floating back to the ground he turned his back to his army and nodded at his four generals.
Taking that as their queue. Harribel, Enriqueta, Achiopeta and Lammerslint opened a large garganta and walked through it Frieza following through soon afterwards.
All around him, the former leader of the Vandenreich watched as every hollow opened a garganta and made their way to Soul Society on the orders of the current bane of his existence.
'Just you wait Frieza.' he thought as a shadow appeared below his feet. 'Once I have my revenge against Yamamoto I will make you suffer for what you've done to my people.' he promised himself as the shadow moved up and covered his body.
Soul Society
All through out Soul Society the alarms rang, as across the Rukongai hundreds upon hundreds of gargantas opened. The shinigami of all 13 squads ran or used shunpo to all four gates, to protect the citizens of the Rukongai. Leading two of the groups of the 13th divisions towards the west gate Kuchiki Rukia and Kujo Nozomi ran with determine looks on their faces. Willing and ready to sacrifice their lives to protect the defenseless masses of Soul Society.
"Rukia," Nozomi called out as a when she noticed a large garganta open up in the sky. "We have more in coming."
"Don't worry about those," Rukia replied after taking a glance. "As long as they don't come into the Gotei 13 we have to they are not a threat." she explained. "Right now we have to get to the outside and protect the pluses."
"Righ-" Nozomi began to replied when she looked up again gasps. "Rukia!" she called out desperately as she stopped and pointed towards the sky once more.
Stopping several steps ahead, Rukia looked back to see that all the shinigami that had been with her and Nozomi had stopped as well. Looking towards the sky Rukia saw a massive ball of golden energy that in a lot of ways resembled the sun. "What is that?" she asked aloud as it got launched, the air around swirling violently as the it fell toward the Sekkiseki barrier and impacted.
"Damn it!" Rukia said aloud as the barrier was unable to dissipate the attack and started to crack at the impact point as the massive ball of energy pushed down. "Everyone keep moving, if we stay here when that thing breaks through the barrier were all gonna killed." she ordered in her firmest voice, getting everyone's attention.
"Hai!" they all yelled and resumed their run towards the gates.
High above Soul Society, Harribel watched the massive ball of energy as it caused the barrier created by the sekkiseki to crack little by little. Looking closer she noticed that it wasn't just the barrier that was giving out but the walls themselves.
'He produced such a powerful attack with so little preparation.' she thought as she unsheathed her zanpakutou knowing that she had no choice but to fight. 'If this is only the beginning, than what can he really do when he lets loose.'
Just as she thought that the barrier shattered, leaving the walls of the Gotei 13 cracked. She noticed that while the giant ball of energy had destroyed the barrier, it had shrunk to one-third of its size as it plummeted towards the ground suddenly.
Suddenly the air is filled with the reiatsu of the captains, as they combined their attacks and hit the energy ball with everything they had. Reflecting it towards the sky of the soul society.
"Hmm," Frieza let out as he watched his attack fly towards the sky. "Looks likes this will at least be entertaining." Turning his head forward, he watched as the captains of the Gotei 13 assembled before him.
"I hope my show was to your satisfaction." he commented as he crossed his arms before him.
"Impudent child!" Yamamoto began as his reiatsu rose all around him like wall of fire. "Your little show has caused great damage to both the Gotei 13 and it's pride." he said as he glared at the small tyrant. "For that I will teach you a lesson in matters!"
Nothing much to say, except that the the reason the barrier broke under Frieza's attack is similar how the energy from the Reishukaku was able to protect Ichigo and the others before penetrating the said barrier. In this case, Frieza's attack being so heavy with energy was able to pour enough pressure to destroy the Gotei 13's main defense before it would dissipate the energy that is created from.