The palanquin struck ground, but everyone who was conscious was far too tired or bereaved to land on their feet. Ichigo hit the floor hard as dots of light crisscrossed his gaze, and he bit back a cuss as something hard struck his forehead.
When his eyes adjusted to the low light, he realized that Rukia was lying on top of him, rubbing her forehead, which struck against Ichigo's. She felt heavier than usual, no doubt due to the sedative Ichigo had been injected with, but she was shaking all over. She rolled off Ichigo and met his eyes, and Ichigo winced when he saw she looked to be on the verge of tears.
The sounds of movement were slow coming, and dispersed between groans of effort as the survivors picked themselves up. The inside of the palanquin was filled with dust and ash, and the horrific scent of burning hair and flesh was strong. From off to the side, Ichigo heard his sister retch.
The couple lifted themselves from the floor of the palanquin and made their way outside. They stood in a wooded clearing, and as the dusk turned to night, stars began to twinkle in the darkness.
Fabric flapped as Karin and Neliel, Grimmjow slung between them, practically fell out of the palanquin, dust swirling in eddies as they coughed and spluttered.
Chad came out and had both Sung-Sun and Apacci slung over each of his broad shoulders, moving gingerly as he limped out into the night and knelt in the clearing. The big guy had a line of blood running from his temple to his chin, and his spirit energy was dangerously low. His massive limbs shivered and shook as he took several deep breaths.
Yoruichi was the last to exit the palanquin. Her hair had come unbound, and flowed loosely down her shoulders, but otherwise, she looked physically sound. The dullness in her eyes masked the inner workings of her mind as she processed her grief.
"Hey, Yoruichi, any idea where we are?" Ichigo plied the noblewoman.
Rukia elbowed him, her eyes flashing a warning, but Ichigo elbowed her right back, and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"We need to keep her preoccupied," he said in an undertone. "It's the best thing for her right now."
Rukia shook her head adamantly, but stopped when Yoruichi turned to look at them. The dark skinned woman began to pat the dust off her clothes before finally deigning to speak.
"We're about ten klicks north of the Shihouin Training Facility," Yoruichi said evenly, brushing the dust from her knees. "The palanquin is difficult to control for me. Kisuke was the one who usually does it."
Karin began to work at healing Grimmjow and the others, and Neliel looked on helplessly, the light in her eyes almost as dim as Yoruichi's as she wrapped her arms about her person.
"What's our next move?" asked Chad, having laid the injured next to each other by Karin and Nel.
"I don't-" Yoruichi began, only to be cut off when several members of the Stealth Force appeared around the clearing.
At once, the fugitives were surrounded by men with their zanpakuto drawn. Their faces were covered, and they wore the traditional slim fitting uniforms of the Stealth Force. There was no way out for them.
The fugitives were just as fast, thanks in part to their adrenaline. No sooner had they been surrounded, they had already formed a perimeter around their injured allies. Rukia had bared her steel, as had Ichigo. Yoruichi had her arms crossed, as if daring anyone to try and hurt her allies. Chad's Fullbring had been activated, making him even more imposing than normal. Karin had her hand raised, her arm braced, taking aim as she prepared to cast a spell.
"Give up," came a soft, familiar tone that made Rukia nervous in the extreme, "you are completely surrounded."
"Brother," she whispered.
From outside the ring of Stealth Force members, Byakuya Kuchiki entered the clearing. Trailing along behind the captain was one of the strangest groups Ichigo had ever laid his eyes on.
"Wha- Orihime, Uryu, what are you guys doing with Byakuya?"
The both of them looked pale, as if they hadn't been outside in days. Orihime's eyes clung to Ichigo, and she felt something in her heart squirm unpleasantly at the sight of him.
Coming up from behind Uryu and Orihime, Renji Abarai and Isane Kotetsu emerged from the tree line. The Captain of the Fourth Division raised a hand in greeting at Ichigo.
"Looks like there are some people in your group that need some healing," she said seriously. "May I?"
Ichigo's eyes flickered back and forth. If he moved to allow Isane to heal the arrancars, anyone from the Stealth Force could rush in for an attack. Then he pushed that thought aside. His bankai was slowly recovering, and even with a sedative still making it hard to react, he was far faster than any one there, save perhaps Yoruichi and Byakuya.
He lowered the Tensa Zangetsu and nodded, stepping aside so that Isane could enter the encirclement of fugitives. As she passed him by, she gently clapped him on the shoulder, giving him a kind smile. Neliel watched Isane work out of the corner of her eye, careful to make sure the Captain didn't do anything to hurt the arrancars.
"Ichigo Kurosaki," Byakuya murmured, coming to a standstill before the substitute soul reaper.
"Brother, stay your blade!" Rukia was suddenly in front of Ichigo, her limbs splayed as she shielded him with her body. "We can explain!"
"Don't," Byakuya said. "There are too many people here, listening to our every word. Suffice it to say that the Captains of the Gotei Thirteen are well aware of the situation."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed as someone appeared behind him in a flash. It was Yoruichi, and the dull light in her eyes had become a fury so intense that they almost seemed to glow yellow.
"Lady Yoruichi-" Rukia's words caught in her throat as the woman shot her a blood curdling glare.
"What is the meaning of this, Shihouin?" Byakuya asked calmly as the cat lady's claws pricked the nape of his neck.
The rasp of a blade being drawn was loud as Renji drew Zabimaru, but Byakuya raised a hand, and the lieutenant froze.
"Apparently there are some things the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are as of yet unaware of," Yoruichi said, "chief of which is that there is a monster flitting about the Seireitei, masquerading as a nobleman."
Byakuya's jaw clenched as he felt Yoruichi's claws on his neck, but he showed no fear. His face was impassive as he muttered, "That monster is the reason I am here. The Head Captain has commanded that I rendezvous with your party in secret, because we have a common enemy."
Yoruichi's breath was warm on Byakuya's ear as she lowered her voice. "You know that… he… is free?"
"Why else would I have come to you with my sword in its sheathe? We are running out of time."
"Brother," Rukia said, "what do you mean?"
That's when Orihime and Uryu stepped forward as well.
"He can't go into details," the Quincy interjected. "It would compromise the plan."
Orihime perked right up, and put her fist into her palm, "That's right! We have a plan to stop Ai-mmph!"
Uryu clamped a hand over the girl's mouth until she realized what she had almost let slip.
"Sorry," she said bashfully
"But then," Chad's fists slowly sank to his sides, "you guys know? That means we're not enemies."
Yoruichi released Byakuya, who frowned and straightened his shihakusho and haori. Yoruichi, however, leaned on one leg and crossed her arms, her lips pursed.
"So now what? You've come to fetch Ichigo like a good little captain?"
Byakuya turned his attention to the substitute soul reaper, who was still being shielded from him by Rukia.
"Not exactly."
"Then what's this about Byakuya? In case it's escaped your notice, everybody here is a little too beat to be mincing words or messing around with cloak and dagger. So why don't you just tell us what we need to know and get the hell out of here."
Ichigo's head echoed with the sounds of Urahara's desperate pleas, but he shook himself and met the steely eye of the Sixth Division Captain, who slowly looked around the clearing and took a headcount.
"You're missing one," he observed with a frown. "Urahara isn't here."
"He's dead," Yoruichi stated coldly. "He stayed behind to save us from that monster we were discussing."
"Hm," the lines around Byakuya's eyes grew a little deeper, "I see. You have my sincerest condolences."
"Shove them up your ass," spat Yoruichi. "And tell us why you're here."
"Wait a minute," Orihime mumbled, "you guys are saying that Mr. Urahara is-"
"Dead!" Yoruichi said loudly, her pupils changing to become longer and thin, like those of a cat. "He's dead! How many times do I have to say it before it sinks into your thick skulls!"
Orihime's lip trembled, and Uryu glowered at Yoruichi, who looked mortified at what she'd done. Everyone in the clearing looked away. Ichigo stared at the ground, his heart hurting for the woman who had just lost her lover. He wanted to tell her off for yelling at Orihime, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. If Rukia had been the one to die, he wouldn't have handled it nearly as well.
"I… I'm sorry," the noblewoman said, walking up to Orihime and hugging her. "I'm sorry, Orihime… I….."
Her words left her, and Yoruichi began to tremble, only to be enveloped in a hug by Orihime, and then Uryu. The noblewoman sank to her knees, but they stayed with her, holding her as she quietly sobbed.
"I am here because of these," Byakuya held out two scrolls, which Rukia took from him. "They are orders from Captain Commander Kyoraku, laying out a plan that he intends to enact very soon."
"Orders from the Head Captain?" Rukia wondered.
"They are to remained sealed until each of you returns to the world of the living. They may be opened there, preferably in a safe location."
The sobbing stopped. Every one of the fugitives (save the ones whom had been severely injured during the hollow's attack) instantly grew silent and stared at Byakuya like he was crazy.
"Go back to the world of the living?!" Ichigo asked. "What the hell, Byakuya?!"
"Did I misspeak? If so allow me to correct myself," the nobleman said haughtily. "Each and every one of you has been banished from the Soul Society. Especially you, Ichigo Kurosaki."
Outrage. Anger. Dismay. Ichigo felt all of these things in equal measure, but he knew that Byakuya would not joke or lie about something like this.
"Banished?" Ichigo asked, clearly shaken by the news.
Byakuya nodded. "Under pain of death. The only way for you to repeal your banishment is for you to comply with the orders given to you by the Head Captain."
Ichigo's forehead was wrinkled as he frowned at the captain. He wanted to say there was a mistake, or claim that there was no reason for him to be banished, but it wasn't true. He'd fought against soul reapers to save Rukia, he'd defied the Head Captain, hell, he'd even shrugged off his execution like it was no big deal. There was every reason for him to be banished.
But the iron hard knot in his gut fortified his indignance. They would banish him? Ichigo? The guy who'd saved their lives, and the Soul Society in its entirety? It made him sick to his stomach, it made him so angry that he felt as if he were on fire, but the worst part of it was that he actually felt a little sympathy for Aizen. He, too, had helped in the fight against Yhwach, and had still been imprisoned afterward, with no changes to his sentence. No, the traitorous captain's one good deed done for the wrong reasons did not absolve him of his other horrible crimes. But it did make Ichigo feel he understood the guy a little better. And this only served to terrify him.
'Don't compare me to that bastard,' Ichigo recalled telling Tensa Zangetsu. If the sword had any inkling of his current thoughts, the spirit inside was probably smirking to himself.
"Why was I banished?" Ichigo gestured to himself. "After all I've done?!"
"Perhaps," the nobleman said coldly, fixing Ichigo with a deadpan glare, "it is because the Head Captain has finally recognized that you are nothing but a liability. Or maybe, just maybe, he knows that you would not leave if he asked you to, because you are as immature as you are reckless."
The scorching hot ire in Ichigo's stomach swelled, and anger seeped into his spiritual pressure, making the clearing go frighteningly cold. He stepped forward and seized Byakuya by the collar of his haori. The captain's only reaction was to scowl a little deeper.
"Say that again," Ichigo muttered through gritted teeth.
His hollow was not to blame. His words were his own, and they felt oh so good leaving his tongue. Byakuya had only ever looked down on him, and Ichigo was itching to hurt something, if only to deal with the grief of losing a friend.
"Listening has never been a strong suit of yours, Kurosaki, so I will speak a little slower, so that I need not repeat everything I say," Byakuya pushed his face into Ichigo's. They were so close they could have kissed, but the air between them was charged with murderous intent instead of passion. When their noses were almost touching, Byakuya murmured, "You are a danger to yourself and to everyone around you. Death and destruction follow in your wake, and you fail to see the big picture. Captain Commander Kyoraku knows this, and he knows you are as foolish as you are stubborn. For the plan to work, you need to return to the world of the living, and so you have been banished, for your own good, and the good of the Soul Society."
One second passed, then two. Yoruichi was crying again, once more being comforted by Orihime and Uryu, both of whom she was quietly catching up with. The injured arrancars were still being tended to, and were in rough shape. Everyone had just barely survived a run in with Aizen's most recent creation, which had killed not one, but two powerful soul reapers; both Urahara, and Kazue.
And now here was Byakuya, telling Ichigo that he was banished.
The substitute soul reaper raised a fist, his expression one of rage unbound.
Rukia saw what was happening before she could even begin to try and stop it, and she yelled, "Ichigo, NO!"
He was upon Byakuya in an instant, the Tensa Zangetsu all but forgotten. Before the captain could draw his blade, Ichigo had landed a blow and tackled him to the ground. They rolled as they fought, each one trying to gain the upper hand.
Ichigo's rage made him immune to the strikes Byakuya aimed at his face, only serving to make him angrier. A well-aimed hit to the temple made him see stars. He swore and head-butted Byakuya on the nose, breaking it and causing blood to spurt from his nostrils. The captain placed a foot flat upon the ground and got the leverage to twist, forcing Ichigo underneath him as he unleashed his frustrations on the young redhead.
Chad came up to try and help, but wasn't fast enough. Captain Isane shook her head sadly at the display. Karin worked alongside the captain, wanting to help her brother, but still too numb to rise and intercede. The scuffle ended abruptly when Byakuya was dragged off of Ichigo and both men were hauled to their feet by a livid, dark haired soul reaper whose obsidian eyes were now twinkling with angry tears.
"That is ENOUGH!" Rukia bellowed. "The both of you are acting like idiots!"
"He instigated this brawl," Byakuya snipped.
"You are a captain!" Rukia shrieked at him. "You should not have struck back, even in anger, brother! And you-"
She yanked on Ichigo's collar to make sure he was paying attention. "What are you thinking attacking Byakuya?! My brother was just following orders! Just because he insulted you by calling you immature does not mean you need to prove him right!"
"I…" Ichigo couldn't meet Rukia's gaze, which made him feel small. Whether it was the pain, or the realization that Urahara was actually dead and gone just now catching up with him, Ichigo felt something hot run down his face, only to find it was not blood, but tears.
Byakuya's lip was split, and blood trailed from his broken nose, which was quickly turning purple. Even battered as he was, he still managed to look down on Ichigo.
"Apologize at once," hissed Rukia at her captives, "or so help me I will…"
"I am the leader of our clan-" Byakuya started before a deathly stare from Rukia silenced him.
"Then behave like it," she told him. "You are held to a higher standard, both as a nobleman, and a captain. You failed in both accounts when attacking Ichigo!"
The high schooler mumbled, "I'm fine Rukia, really."
"Look at yourself!" she rolled her eyes at her husband. "You've been beaten to a pulp, Ichigo!"
He reached up with hands shaking from adrenaline and felt his face, noting that it was puffy and bruised. He had a black eye, a swollen lip, several lumps on his head, three missing teeth, a bloody nose, and, if the pain was anything to go by, a dislocated jaw. If he had a mirror, he doubted he would recognize himself. Fortunately, the sedative and his overall exhaustion made it so that all he felt was a vague throbbing heat in his face and a dull ache in his jaw.
Byakuya heaved a sigh and pointed at Ichigo's face. His fingertip pulsed with spiritual energy as light suffused Ichigo's beaten face, and then what little pain he felt had faded.
"I apologize for causing you harm," Byakuya said at last, looking like the words tasted rather bitter on his tongue.
Ichigo felt his face. The lumps and swelling were gone. His teeth were back, and his jaw did not hurt. Rukia elbowed Ichigo in the ribs, and he extended a hand to Byakuya.
"Sorry, Bya- Captain Kuchiki." Ichigo's voice was gruff and husky, but it was the best he could manage.
The captain reached out hesitantly and took Ichigo's hand, giving it a firm shake. He tensed when he was dragged forward, and Ichigo grabbed his broken nose, setting it properly and healing it with kido in one deft movement.
The warm brown eyes met the cold black ones as Ichigo worked, and like iron in a smelter, the hostility between them melted away.
When the substitute soul reaper was finished, Byakuya felt his nose to find it whole and unbroken. He nodded curtly to Ichigo, who tried to smile, but had some difficulty. His body was sore, his soul was spent, and his heart was aching. In that moment, the only thing he wanted to do was go home.
"I guess we don't have much choice," he reasoned. "And I could definitely use a little break."
Before Ichigo could say anything more, Renji appeared at his captain's side. "Captain Kuchiki, may I speak with Kurosaki in private?"
Renji looked straight at his captain, completely ignoring that fact that Ichigo was right there. As he waited for an answer, a member of the stealth force materialized on the captain's other side and whispered in his ear. Byakuya listened, his eyes flashing about the clearing, and then he nodded.
"She may do as she pleases," the Sixth Division commander said, "just remind her to remain vigilant."
The stealth force member was gone before Ichigo could even muster interest in whatever quiet conversation had just taken place.
"You have five minutes, Lieutenant. Then the Senkaimon will be opened."
"Thank you, sir. C'mon, Ichigo."
Ichigo looked unsure about being led away by Renji. Recently, the two of them hadn't exactly met on friendly terms. He almost wanted to ask Rukia to come with him, but she was still fuming. Besides, Renji had his orders to worry about. He wouldn't have any opportunity to try and attack Ichigo.
As he followed the lieutenant of Squad Six across the clearing, gently pushing their way through the wall of Stealth Force agents, Ichigo saw a flash of movement as none other than Soifon appeared, standing at Yoruichi's side. After a few words, the Stealth Force Commander dropped to her knees as well, throwing her arms around the noblewoman.
"I suppose this is the last time we'll be here," Ichigo said quietly. "For a little while, anyway."
"Yeah," Renji agreed. "Enjoy it while you can."
They stepped out of the clearing, into the brush, and Ichigo immediately cursed his luck, as the uneven ground and plentiful obstacles made following Renji a chore. Fighting while he was drugged was one thing. Muscle memory and reflexes could keep him alive in a fight, but stepping over and under branches, avoiding thorny bushes, and trying not trip was something else altogether. Renji came to a halt by a large tree which had fallen time ago, and now lay rotting.
He took a seat on the fallen tree, his hands clasped as he looked upward at the light of the moon which shone down upon them.
"You were right," he said, still not looking at Ichigo.
"About what?"
"Aizen. Rukia. All of this."
Renji finally met Ichigo's gaze, and the high schooler could sense just how hard this was for the lieutenant.
"Yeah, well, he told me his plan the day of the tea ceremony."
"So you hollowfied to try and save Rukia."
Ichigo closed his eyes and exhaled heavily through his nose. He took a seat on a boulder facing Renji and put his head in his hands, feeling like he could fall asleep where he sat.
"No. I hollowfied because I was terrified I wouldn't be able to save her from him."
There was a tense silence that followed, and Renji looked uncomfortable. His eyes were sunken, with great shadows beneath them from a lack of sleep. He looked like he'd been training extensively, but rather than looking fit and healthy, he looked malnourished and overwhelmed, like the last few days had been hell for him. Given that he'd probably been scared for Rukia, and only fed rumors of what had happened, it was no surprise. For all he might have known, she was dead.
"And then at the wedding…"
"Aizen stabbed Rukia, and I hollowfied again. I lost control… when I woke up, she was dying in my arms. We managed to recuperate for a few hours to heal and lie low, but Kenpachi Zaraki caught up to us and we managed to make a getaway."
Renji smirked, and quietly gave a humorless laugh that sounded more like a wheeze. "You know, I could never understand your hollowfication. I didn't know how someone could be forced to such extremes because they care for someone so deeply. Now though…"
His sunken eyes burned into Ichigo, who felt guilt surge through him in waves. All of that concern, and Renji's current state suddenly made a lot more sense.
"You're still in love with Rukia, aren't you?" Ichigo asked.
The lieutenant laughed again, just as humorless and sad as the first one. The look in his eyes was hard to read, but it only made more sense when he gave his answer.
"I always will be in love with her, Ichigo." He mumbled quietly. "I can't change that. That's actually part of why I wanted to bring you out here to talk."
Renji stood from his log and knelt on the ground, laying Zabimaru across his lap. Even with the blade in his hands, he didn't seem to have the will to use it.
"I never used to doubt myself like this. The only times I ever did were when you got involved. First when Rukia was slated for execution, and then again, when you were convinced Rukia was in danger and her marriage was a sham."
Ichigo shifted slightly, but did not speak.
"You always knew what was best for her, even if no one else did. You two have a bond I can't even begin to fathom, and you always put her needs above your own. I could never do that. My priority has forever been my squad and my captain. But now I think I understand you a little better, Ichigo. I know the lengths to which you would go to protect her. Even so far as to turn yourself into a monster…"
"What are you trying to say, Renji?" Ichigo grumbled. "We don't have much time, y'know."
A smile flashed weakly across the long haired man's lips as he thought, 'Leave it to Ichigo to make these things difficult.'
"In that case, I'll come right out and say it," Renji stood up and brushed off the knees of his shihakusho. "I swear on my honor that I will not come between you and Rukia. And I know now that I've been a jackass about this whole thing so… I'm sorry."
"Don't sweat it."
Renji seemed taken aback, so much so that his sword fell from his hand. "Wha- that's it?! How can you forgive me so easily?! Have you forgotten that I tried to kill you?!"
"You only had Rukia's best interests at heart, Renji. And apologizing to me like this can't have been easy for a guy as proud as you are. It took a lot of guts." Ichigo shrugged. "So it's fine."
"I don't believe it," Renji said, crossing his arms, "you're really something else, Ichigo."
The substitute shinigami tried to smile, but it felt strange on his face, like a mask. It was almost as if he'd forgotten how it felt to truly smile. He absently combed his fingers through the hair on the back of his head and said, "Not really. I just don't have it in me to be angry right now. I just got the piss beat outta me, Kisuke is gone… and we both have bigger things to worry about."
"You mean Aizen."
Just saying the man's name put a sour taste in Renji's mouth and an equally bitter look on his face. Once more, the Soul Society was about to be embroiled in a war, and the culmination was just around the bend. Both soul reapers gave a little shudder as a shadow seemed to pass over the moon, making the night harshly cold, but only for a second.
"So then… we're cool?" Renji said, sounding unsure.
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah. No hard feelings."
The two of them began to walk back towards the clearing, listening carefully for any sounds of commotion, but all was quiet. Just as they stepped into the clearing they had arrived in, a large pair of fancy bamboo doors appeared in thin air, opening to reveal a white light through which no eye could pierce. But beyond that door was home, and food, and a warm bed.
Ichigo met Byakuya's eyes, only to find the captain was already watching him. He turned his gaze away when Rukia sidled up to Ichigo and wove her fingers through his.
"What did Renji want?" she asked quietly.
"He apologized."
"Hm. I never would have thought him to be remorseful of his actions. I wonder what changed him," Rukia peered at him for a moment, but in the instant she looked away, Renji's eyes took her in, something sad and longing within them. Then Renji saw Ichigo was watching him, and he nodded solemnly, a quiet understanding passing between them. Ichigo would not tell Rukia about Renji's feelings for her, and Renji would not come between the two of them. It seemed a one sided exchange to Ichigo, but he found he respected the lieutenant a bit more for it.
"It is time to go back." Byakuya declared as Renji fell into line next to him. "Bring in the secondary priority target. Quickly!"
Soifon, whom had been supporting Yoruichi with a shoulder to cry on gently untangled herself and placed a fist to her heart before vanishing. The seconds ticked by, and then a spiritual pressure so incredibly strong that it made Ichigo wince appeared right behind the fugitives whom had gathered before the entrance of the Senkaimon.
Rukia was tugging at Ichigo's sleeve, words unable to express the horror she felt. This spiritual pressure was intense, and fear ran through Ichigo like he'd just been doused in ice water.
"It was a setup," the substitute soul reaper said, drawing his sword from his back and turning to find himself face to face with… someone he'd never seen before.
Ichigo had been expecting Aizen, but this was not him. He wore a standard shihakusho with an unmarked captain's haori, but Ichigo had never met this person before in his life. Something about him seemed eerily familiar. Was this a new captain, or one of Aizen's tricks?
"Ichigo," Rukia gasped, pulling them away from the man, "it's-"
"Aizen," Yoruichi sneered, her pupils becoming long and cat like as she hissed at the man before her.
"Wait," Ichigo's brow furrowed, "this isn't Aizen. Who are you?"
"Are you blind?!" Yoruichi asked incredulously. "He's standing right in front of you!"
That was when a gentle but firm hand clamped down upon Ichigo's shoulder, and Byakuya spoke from behind him. "Do not attack. This is not Aizen, though he will appear to be for everyone who has been affected by the turncoat's shikai."
"I never thought I would get tired of having to introduce myself," the man who looked like Aizen laughed, "but when everyone's first instinct is to hate you… it does become quite the chore."
Yoruichi, whom had been standing at the nobleman's side, slowly began to stalk around him. She put her fingers together so they formed a point and used her spirit energy to reinforce her hand. She struck at the man without care, her only thought revenge as she drove her hand towards the man's lower back, aiming for his spine, which she fully intended to rip out.
That was when a familiar spiritual pressure pervaded the cat woman's senses, and she found her attack had been halted by a hand around her wrist.
"Lady Yoruichi," Soifon breathed in her ear, "this is not the traitor. He had nothing to do with Kisuke's death. I would stake my life on it."
"Then you can die with him."
Yoruichi found herself ensnared, but she was not being pulled away by guards, she was being hugged. Soifon had thrown her arms around Yoruichi's neck, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Enough innocent blood has been shed today," Soifon mumbled. "Lady Yoruichi… do not let your rage blind you."
And with that, Yoruichi shrank back from the nobleman, trembling with adrenaline and newly refreshed tears as Soifon led her away for a short walk around the clearing.
"Brother… are you sure?" Rukia's voice was little more than a whisper. "He looks just like him."
"It's not him," Ichigo insisted. "But then who…"
All the pieces of the puzzle fit together; a greater reiatsu than even the strongest captains; the noble, yet familiar features.
"You must be the real Kamisaigaiku," he surmised. "The one Aizen has been impersonating."
The nobleman clasped his hands behind his back. His smile twitched at the mention of Aizen, as if the name had a bitter story all its own for him.
"Indeed, I am Hideyoshi Kamisaigaiku, the shadow of the Spirit King, and commander of his covert forces." The man gave a bow to Ichigo, "and you are the person who saved my life by unraveling this dastardly scheme. I owe you a debt of gratitude, young man."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. Being called 'young man' was something he didn't care for, especially by someone who looked so young themselves.
Hideyoshi was slim built and tall, rather like Byakuya, with long silvery grey hair that was braided by his temples. His face was long, his forehead high, his chin and cheekbones sharp. Bright blue eyes twinkled with joy, but were also deep and unfathomable. Other than his hair, the man seemed timeless. Even under Ichigo's careful scrutiny, not a single wrinkle or line could be found on his face. He might have been twenty or two thousand.
"I was gonna say, this doesn't look like that Aizen guy," Karin noted, scratching at her chin.
The nobleman turned to her. "Ah, another clear sighted individual! What are the odds? I've been in hiding for days now because of Aizen's massive influence. It would seem that the majority of the Soul Society are beholden to his illusory powers."
That was when the hand on Ichigo's shoulder gave him a sharp squeeze, and Byakuya called out for everyone to hear, "All the more reason for everyone to leave, now. As of this moment, your banishment is in full effect."
The words 'banishment' seemed to put a damper on the mood. Everyone reacted by fixing blank expressions on their faces, but it was not hard to sense their displeasure as several powerful spiritual pressures grew tart and bitter .
Isane ushered the men carrying the arrancars through the Senkaimon first. Masked Stealth Force members carrying stretchers between them rushed headlong into the world of the living, only to return with empty stretchers.
"I only managed to heal them to the point where they could be transported without suffering any more damage," Isane explained hurriedly to Karin. "As arrancars, they will be difficult to treat. When they are stable, I believe Tessai should be able to help you find a way to heal them."
"But… I mean, I can do healing kido, but I'm not a scientist or anything. How am I supposed to know what to do?"
Isane smiled. "You don't have to be a genius or a scientist. Sometimes, all you need to have is a desire to help, and a willingness to learn."
Neliel, who was standing next to Karin hung her head sadly.
"Could you come with?" Karin pleaded with Isane. "Just for a few minutes?"
"No. Once you are returned to the world of the living, we will be unable to meet again. Good luck to you, Karin Kurosaki." Karin and Isane shook hands.
The captain paused before laying a hand upon Nel's shoulder, "I hope your friends get well soon. Perhaps you can help Karin and Tessai."
"I'll try," Nel replied numbly, unable to meet Isane's eye. The arrancar pulled away, and with a nod to Byakuya, trailed off after the men bearing Grimmjow on a stretcher, following them into the Senkaimon.
Up next were Ichigo and Rukia, both of whom seemed unsure of how to proceed. Ichigo was well aware of everyone's eyes on him, and he hated it. To walk away when there was an enemy on the loose seemed wrong. It felt cowardly.
But then Byakuya's words about his immaturity rang in his ears, and he gave a sigh. This was a chance to prove he had changed, and an opportunity to rest. It may very well have been his last.
Rukia seemed to pick up on Ichigo's distaste for the situation, and she stood on her tiptoes to give his a quick kiss.
Orihime, whom had been hanging back, suddenly felt a million pounds heavier, as if the entire world had put its weight on her shoulders. Uryu noticed the change immediately.
"What's wrong, Orihime?"
"I… it's nothing. I'm fine."
She didn't sound fine, though. She sounded tired, as if she hadn't slept in years. When she smiled at him, it didn't reach her eyes. She turned away before they began to water, sniffling quietly.
Ichigo and Rukia made to step through the Senkaimon, only to be stopped by Byakuya.
"What's the holdup?" Ichigo asked. "First it's time to go, then you're stopping us. Make up your damn mind."
"These are from the Captain Commander," Byakuya said, handing two scrolls tied with black ribbons to Rukia, who cradled them in her arms like children. "They are only to be read once you are safely returned to your home in the world of the living. They will explain everything, and will lay out the plan that has been formulated to deal with the looming threat."
"From the Head Captain?" Ichigo asked, looking at the scrolls. "But why-"
"Save your questions," Byakuya drew his blade, "and begone from the Soul Society at once. Do not return, lest a most horrendous death fall upon you and your loved ones."
"Brother," Rukia muttered, trying and failing to catch Byakuya's eyes as Ichigo put an arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the Senkaimon. They entered the portal, and within seconds their silhouettes were swallowed up by the blinding light within the gateway. Hideyoshi Kamisaigaiku inclined his head to Byakuya, who gave a steep bow as the nobleman stepped through the Senkaimon as well.
Next went Chad, then Yoruichi, and then Karin. Finally, it was just Isane, Byakuya, Soifon, Renji, Orihime, Uryu, and the Stealth Force that remained. When they approached, the Sixth Division captain nodded stiffly to the Quincy and his companion.
"Best of luck, Uryu," Renji said. "And to you, Orihime."
"Huh?" the redhead shook herself from her melancholy long enough to force a tired smile. "Oh, yeah. Same to you guys. Take care."
"Farewell," Byakuya told them. "Keep Kusosaki out of trouble, and in the world of the living."
"Mhmm," Orihime mumbled. "Got it."
Ichigo's name only made her shoulders droop even more. Uryu had the wild urge to put his arms around her, but he felt it would do no good.
"C'mon," he said gently, leading the way into the Senkaimon. "Let's catch up with the others."
"Yeah."
The high schoolers stepped through the gateway, which slowly began to close. Byakuya stood at the ready, his hand on the hilt of Senbonzakura, but no one came forth to seek entry. Once the portal was closed, Byakuya waved a hand, causing the bamboo doors to shatter into a thousand glimmering particles of color.
"We're done here," he called to the clearing at large. "Move out!"
The world of the living was cold and dark when Ichigo and his friends appeared through a Senkaimon in the front yard of Kisuke Urahara's shop. A light snowfall had begun, dropping snowflakes onto the black of Ichigo's robes, which slowly faded to become those of his normal shihakusho, with white pauldrons, and a long, striped black and white sash about his waist.
Everyone's breath steamed in the air as they shivered, unsure of what to do.
"Come inside," Tessai called, standing in the doorway to the shop, light spilling out past him.
Before long, everyone was gathered about the tea table, but without Kisuke there with them, no one dared to speak first. Ichigo was back in his body, which felt strangely constricted, like his skin had been covered with some unseen layer that prevented him from moving quite so freely. He chalked it up to having been out of his body for a long time.
"Where's Yoruichi?" Uryu asked.
Tessai's mustache twitched as he spoke. "She's lying down. I didn't get much out of her, I'm afraid. I was hoping all of you may be able to fill me in on the details. Where is Kisuke? And why is this man who looks so much like Aizen travelling with you?"
No one moved, no one breathed. Not a single person wanted to be the one to tell Tessai about his friend's death. So when Rukia shifted her gaze to him and took in a long breath, everyone turned to stare at her.
"I'm so very sorry, Tessai," she told the burly man, "but Kisuke died saving us. It was Aizen- erm, not the man travelling with us, though."
And so began a long, convoluted story, starting with Aizen's plot, to Urahara's daring rescue of everyone after the wedding, the shopkeeper's death at the hands of Black, and the groups newest ally, Hideyoshi Kamisaigaiku. When Rukia was finished speaking, Tessai's mustache was positively trembling, and he pulled off his sunglasses to dab at his watery eyes with a handkerchief.
After a loud round of nose-blowing, he sank to his knees and murmured, "He knew this day would come. Kisuke always knew he would die by Aizen's hand, just not when. He was one of the few people who could match the man's wit. He posed too much of a threat to Aizen's plans… and he knew it."
"I wanted to help him," Ichigo admitted quietly. "I keep thinking that if I had stayed there-"
"You would have most certainly been killed," Tessai interjected. "Kisuke Urahara would not do something so rash unless all of his other options had been explored. If he sacrificed himself to save you all, I can guarantee it was the only way things would have ended without all of you dying."
Ichigo met Tessai's eyes for a second before the large man smiled at him. "Still, I appreciate sentiment. Kisuke would, too, though I doubt he'd ever admit it."
Kamisaigaiku raised a hand and said, "I do not know this man well, but if he was willing to give his life for his friends, he undoubtedly sits at the side of the Soul King."
Tessai had always looked unshakable to Ichigo, so when the large, muscly man began to shiver, and tears spilled unabashedly from his face, it hurt Ichigo's heart.
"Oh no… poor Ururu," Tessai mumbled. "I don't think she'll take this well."
That caught everyone off guard. They had nearly forgotten about the young people in Urahara's employ.
"Is there anything we can do to help you guys?" Chad offered. "Anything that might make this easier?"
"No. No, I don't think so," Tessai sniffled. "Please leave me to grieve in peace. Lady Yoruichi and the arrancars will be safe here for the night. The rest of you should return to your homes and try to get some rest."
"Yeah," Orihime muttered. "That sounds nice."
Uryu leaned in close to Orihime, who looked at him quizzically through dull eyes.
"Hey, are you feeling ok?"
"I'm just sad for Tessai," she explained wearily. "You don't have to worry about me, Uryu."
She smiled, and it sent a strange sense of foreboding crawling down Uryu's back. Those lifeless, unfeeling eyes seemed to bore into him, but that smile looked so real, so genuine. Only, it was wrong, like a reflection of the one Orihime had used to wear. Seeing that pained, false smile only served to scare him.
"Did you want me to stay and help take care of the others?" Karin asked. "I could use my healing kido on them."
"You must not do that," the burly man said. "While you are here in the world of the living, you must not use any spiritual energy. That goes for all of you."
His eyes came to rest on Ichigo. When the redhead looked about, he noticed everyone else's eyes on him as well.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?!" he demanded.
"Because, even as weak as you are now, your spirit energy is radiating off of you," Uryu said. "I bet every hollow within a five mile radius can sense you."
Tessai got to his feet and left the room for a moment. When he came back, he was carrying a long black fur lined coat, which he tossed rather carelessly to Ichigo.
"Put that on," he said. "And take this as well. You can't wear a coat indoors."
In his outstretched hands, Tessai held out a familiar eyepatch that sent jolt of traumatic recognition through the young man.
"Is that-"
"The one you lost," the store manager nodded. "It arrived here this morning with the mail. It was sent anonymously, but I could swear I saw a member of the Second Division drop it off. They must have known you were coming."
Ichigo held up the eye patch in front of his face, looking unenthused. "Nothing like being half-blind all the time."
Orihime shot a glare into the back of Ichigo's head. "I'll tell everyone it's because you have a lazy eye. That way no one we know will question it."
"A good cover," Chad nodded thoughfully, "but I get the feeling that we probably won't be going out and socializing every weekend. If they want us to hide our spiritual pressures, then they'll want us to stay indoors, so we don't attract attention."
"Exactly."
Neliel stood up. She had been sitting quietly between Karin and Uryu, but she could no longer bear such conversation. Her heart was not in it.
"Hey, where are you going?" Karin called.
"I am not one of you," Nel muttered, stepping around the table as she made for the door. "My spiritual pressure can be masked at will, and I have no intention of leaving while my comrades are dying. I'm going to try and heal them."
Karin frowned, "Are you sure you don't need any help?"
"Yes," the arrancar paused with her hand upon the door. She answered without looking back. "I am sure."
"Nel," Ichigo said suddenly, making the arrancar stop in her tracks, "Don't be stupid. You are one of us, whether you like it or not. You did all you could to help Grimmjow and the others. Beating yourself up over it won't heal them any faster."
"I know that," she replied, doing her best to keep the oncoming emotion out of her voice.
And with a swish of long turquoise hair and a soft thud, the sliding door closed behind her. Tessai wiped at his runny nose and glanced at his watch before clearing his throat. "It is late, and the hollows will be most active soon. It is best if you all leave now. Travel in groups or pairs, and stay safe."
"Yeah," Ichigo, having had Rukia help him put on his eyepatch, stood from his seat and pulled on his new coat. "We will, Tessai. Thanks for everything…. Take care of yourself."
"Of course."
The store manager went to stand behind the counter in the main store and busied himself with his list of opening chores to prepare for tomorrow. The young adults and the nobleman in the tea room kicked on their shoes, muttered their melancholy farewells, and went on their way. The bell tinkled cheerfully behind Orihime, who was the last to leave, and the sound of quiet voices faded as they strode off into the night.
Tessai stopped working, his hands shaking too badly to continue stocking shelves or dusting. He let his shoulders sag, and in an instant, he was unrecognizable from his usual stoic self. Even his flamboyant mustache seemed a little less magnificent.
"Then, I suppose it's high time I read this…" with faltering fingers, he withdrew an envelope from one of the pockets of his coveralls. In Kisuke's cramped, hasty script were the words 'To Tessai. Open when I'm dead. ' Followed by a smiley face. When Tessai had first received it, he assumed it was an elaborate joke. Now, he had no doubts. This was truly a note from Kisuke Urahara, and the shopkeeper had known that he was going to die.
Unsealing the envelope, Tessai unfolded a single piece of paper and began to read. With every line, his eyes grew wider and wider, until he got to the end of it.
"It can't be," he whispered.
Rukia led the way back to the Kurosaki household, with Ichigo, Karin, Kamisaigaiku, Chad, Uryu and Orihime trailing along behind her. Chad was the first to split off, saying that he was going home to rest, and that he would catch up with everyone tomorrow. He set off with a wave before turning his collar to a frigid headwind and treading off in the direction of his apartment.
"Should someone go with him?" Karin queried.
"Chad is the strongest guy I know," Ichigo said to her, "he'll be fine."
The younger Kurosaki kept her silence, and they walked without speaking until they came to another familiar intersection, not too far from the clinic. The streets were completely barren, which was no surprise given the cold and the late hour. The snow had begun to fall faster now, leaving a layer of white on every surface.
"I suppose this is where we say goodbye," Orihime said, looking off in the direction of her home. "Take care, everyone."
"I'll come with you," Uryu offered quickly, only to flinch when she scowled at him.
"No! No. Thanks, Uryu, but I need to shower and get some sleep."
"I see."
He said no more, and Orihime wrapped her arms more tightly about herself and trudged off into the silent night. It wasn't long before she was obscured by the snow and lost to the darkness.
Rukia shivered as her instincts cried out for her to stop Orihime. Somehow, the thought of the redhead being alone made her scared, as if she were in grave danger. From what, though, was beyond Rukia. She could sense no hollows, only the dim, waning spiritual pressure of the high school girl as she drew further and further away.
"Uryu?" Rukia turned to the Quincy. "Maybe you should go after her. Orihime seems… different."
"If she doesn't want me to go with her, than I must respect her wishes," the bespectacled man said. With a curt nod to the Kurosaki siblings and Rukia, and a quick, awkward bow to Hideyoshi, Uryu made a rushed promise to meet up with them tomorrow. With that, he meandered off in the opposite direction as Orihime, his eyes downcast and his hands tucked into his pockets.
And just like that, their group had fractured into pieces.
"Let's get back home," sighed Ichigo, scratching at his covered eye, "I want to get some rest."
"Yeah," Rukia said, putting her arm through Ichigo's and causing Karin to roll her eyes, "let's go home."
Ichigo opened the door to his home, feeling nostalgic. He wasn't sure how long he'd been in the Soul Society, but it felt as if he'd been away from home for forever. The first thing he noted was the silence. There were still lights on in the common rooms, but otherwise, there were no signs of life. He had just stepped over the threshold when he heard a strange sound resonating from the kitchen.
Rukia and Karin both looked to Ichigo, their eyes wide. They had heard it, too. Kamisaigaiku cocked his head, listening carefully.
Putting his hand into his pocket, where his combat pass was located, Ichigo crept further into his house, pausing whenever he heard the sound. It was a strange sniffling sound, and so quiet that it almost might have been a figment of his imagination. He flung himself around the corner, holding his combat pass to his chest, only for it to fall from his hand and clatter on the floor.
Yuzu was sitting alone at the dinner table. Four places were set, and four dinners, now cold, had been made up. Each plate was completely untouched, as if Yuzu had dished them for her family, hoping against hope that someone might finally come home.
"Y-Yuzu? Why are you crying?"
The girl froze, her eyes wide and tear filled as she slowly turned to find Ichigo in the doorway to the kitchen, Rukia and Karin behind him.
"Ichigo?" Yuzu whimpered, standing from her place at the table and wiping her eyes, "Karin? Rukia?"
"Yeah, we just got back. What's up? Why are you crying, Yuzu? And what's with all the-"
Ichigo staggered as his youngest sister stood and wrapped her arms around him so tightly that his own arms were pinned at his sides. "I-I-I was so worried about you!"
Ice cold venom seemed to fill Ichigo's insides as he realized that with Karin, himself, and Isshin gone, Yuzu was left at home all by herself, for who knew how long.
"I thought you guys might've just left me here- you could've been dead for all I knew! And then… and today is the day…"
'The day?' Ichigo thought, completely nonplussed, 'what day is it? What day could make Yuzu cry like-'
The guilt which had frozen his insides burned like he'd swallowed liquid nitrogen. He wrapped his arms as best he could around Yuzu, who sobbed into his chest.
"It's the anniversary of mom's death," Ichigo realized. "And you were scared you would have to spend it alone."
"Dad left the day after you did," Yuzu mumbled. "He didn't say where too, or why. And I… I was left here, all by myself, not knowing if…."
Someone pushed Ichigo away from Yuzu, and he found himself replaced by none other than Karin, who hugged Yuzu so tightly that the youngest Kurosaki felt as if she was being crushed.
"I'm sorry, Yuzu," Karin told her baby sister. "I didn't mean to leave you alone like that."
"Karin…" the younger sister felt like she may melt. It was a very rare occurrence for Karin to show such genuine emotion, and even rarer that she doled out such tender hugs. Yuzu hugged her sister back, and when the two of them broke apart, Yuzu looked much happier. She wiped at her tears and smiled brightly before taking her seat at the table with a laugh and gesturing for everyone else to join her.
"C'mon guys!" she said cheerfully, "Let's eat!"
Kamisaigaiku appeared at the table as well, looking quite out of place. With Ichigo in his physical body, and Rukia in a gigai, he was the only one dressed like a shinigami.
"Uh, who is this?" Yuzu frowned. "A friend of yours?"
"Oh, uh, yeah. He's… um, he's in witness protection," Ichigo explained lamely.
"Hideyoshi Kamisaigaiku," the nobleman said, shaking Yuzu's hand. "You must be Ichigo's little sister! Forgive my rudeness, but this food looks positively incredible. May I?"
At once, Yuzu's concern was gone, replaced by laughter, "Of course! I always make enough for guests! Dig in, I'll get you something to drink!"
Even with a nobleman he barely knew sitting at his table, and even though food was cold, it was some of the best Ichigo had ever tasted. Something about food in the Soul Society could never really beat a good home cooked meal as far as he was concerned, and he ate with a relish that made Yuzu throw a napkin at him.
"Chew your food!" she chastised him happily, only to laugh when he lifted his face from his plate, his cheeks bulging.
He swallowed hard and thumped his chest, Kamisaigaiku chuckling lightheartedly at his side. Rukia raised an eyebrow, her expression uncertain.
"This is the man I fell in love with," she muttered to herself.
Later that night, in the darkness of the shop where the wounded arrancars lay resting, Neliel struggled to heal her friends.
She was at it for hours, laboring over them as best she could. She'd even gone so far as to revert to her child form and drool on them, as it was the most effective method of healing she possessed without tapping into her powers, which would attract unwanted attention.
But in the light of the moon that spilled in through the curtains and painted her friends' faces stark white, it was hard not to imagine that they were already dead. The only reminder they still lived were their shaky, uneven breaths.
Midnight came and went, and Neliel sat in a chair in the corner of the room, drowning in grief and bitter self-admonishment. If she wasn't so worthless, none of this would have happened. If she had fought Aizen's puppet instead of freezing in her tracks, she could have prevented this.
That thought made her smile weakly, in the way a whimsical fantasy of flight might make a child happy for a moment. She knew it was impossible. In the time since Ichigo had stormed Los Noches with his friends to save Orihime, Nel had begun to remember her time as an Espada. She had witnessed Aizen's cruelty firsthand, and was one of the first to succumb to his demands and join his ranks. There was nothing she could have done but die for her friends. And with how awful she was feeling at that instant, she dearly wished she had.
"I'm sorry," she said to no one, slumping down in her chair as sadness and exhaustion forced her eyes closed and sleep carried her away from her sorrows.
Moments later, someone, or something, peered in through the open windows, bright eyes glistening with ill intent, their maw forming a twisted smile.
There were four weak, helpless arrancars for the taking, and the being looking in from outside licked their lips.
"Dinner time."
Author's Notes:
I'm kinda pressed for time, so I'll simply say that I'm back, and I'm sorry for the delay in writing. I've been working nonstop and my pc has been undergoing major surgery. Thankfully, no data was lost, only time.
This chapter we see the setup (sort of) which any (competent) author would have gradually done across the whole of the story instead of jamming it into one chapter, but whatever.
Here's some music to listen to:
Death Valley-Fall out boy
Nicotine-Panic at the Disco
Old Fashioned-Panic at the Disco
to the souls that leave us too soon-doug clark (rip my boy kisuke)
Kings Never Die-Eminem
Put It On Me- Matt Maeson
Hemorrhage- Filter
Thanks for reading, and a big thank you to those that took the time to review the last chapter, and all the ones before. You guys are too kind.
