Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach in any way.

Soul Society

It was a busy afternoon in the Seireitei as the Shinigami from all the divisions were running through the streets and the barracks to complete the orders from their supervisors.

A group of Onmitsukido members was rushing to the Maggot's Nest to tighten the security, while another group from the 4th squad was running from the storage unit back to their main building, ensuring that enough medical units would be available before any attack happens.

Soon, multiple alarms started to violently ring inside the 12th division, putting them on alert. Multiple foreign Reiatsu signatures were detected all around the Seireitei. Akon, the 12th division's lieutenant and the vice president of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute activated the emergency signal in the streets, informing the other barracks.

The Shinigami stopped what they were doing and anxiously waited for something to happen.

The Captains rushed outside from their division's barracks, just to witness a large ripping in the sky and several soldiers appeared all around the Seireitei. With the data defenses implemented after the Quincy war, the Guerilla soldiers had been forced to break the enhanced Shakonmaku that surrounded the Seireitei with bombs. Thick spiritual energy glowed after the explosions, the defenses were broken and a panic began.

Small groups of Guerilla soldiers formed, each one opening a Garganta which allowed other soldiers to appear with Hollows, pouring out directly into the Seireitei. A second siren rang, informing that other Guerilla soldiers were in the Rokongai, making several Captains divide from their Barracks.

Wearing their talisman around their necks, many Hollows and soldiers were draining the Shinigami of their Reiatsu, made for a rather one-sided fight.

Feeling the Reiatsu which was covering Soul Society, Kenpachi grinned. He jumped from his meditative pose, grabbed the hilt of his Zapankuto, and hurried outside to see the silhouettes and Hollows emerging from the Garganta. He could taste the raw energy on his tongue making his mouth water from excitement.

"I'm coming for you, bastards!"

He ran through the Guerilla forces with glee, but he was starting to slow down, feeling his Reiatsu getting sucked away.

"The fuck is going on?!" Zaraki growled when one of the soldiers he just killed duplicated under his eyes.

"The party's going to be longer than I thought!" he grinned, running his sword threw the Guerilla soldiers that duplicated.

The alley he ended up in turned into a bloodbath. Solders were sprawled everywhere as Zaraki tossed a headless soldier into a broken pile of scatters. His eyes-patch had long since been ripped off so he could keep up fighting even if a large part of his Reiatsu had been sucked away. He was leaking enough power to make the air wrap, attracting more duplicated Guerilla soldiers, like starving zombies needing fresh meat.

At the same time, every Shinigami received the same report: "Aim at their Talismans, it's what allows them to duplicate from the Reiatsu accumulated in them,"

More explosion occurred, making the ground moist from all the blood gushing from the gaping wounds of the many Shinigami that were cut down.

Almost every division was under attack. The medical division was the most heavily defended and assaulted. Guerilla soldiers and hollows were chipping away at the defenses quickly. With the majority of the Captains and vice-captains fighting elsewhere, it was guarded by lower seated officers and regular Shinigami.

Byakuya and Renji, who were the closest to the 4th division, were fighting in the Rokongai.

"These Talismans are going to end us! The soldiers can't seem to stop duplicating!" Renji shouted while blocking an attack from his opponent. A punch to his gut felt like a cannonball and he was forced on his knees, coughing blood. Receiving a kick to the face, he felt his body fly backward. The power of the kick sent him traveling across the air, smashing several walls in the process and almost breaking his bones.

"It's like our Reiatsu make them stronger…" Renji panted, wiping blood from his mouth.

"Aim for the talisman. I've had enough of this cheap and coward technic," Byakuya frowned. "Scatter, Senbonzakura,"

Thousands of small blades rushed through the air and hit the soldiers that disposed of Renji. He stood above them, watching his petals reducing the talismans in ashes.

The Vice-Captain groaned in pain and forced himself to stand back up. He didn't want to leave his captain fight alone. Not after all the training, he underwent with the hope of surpassing him one day.

The Captain Commander of the Gotei was standing on the roof of the 1st division, watching over the Seireitei and the battles within. He was forced to watch as his men were cut down, his anger increasing with every soul lost. He wanted to go down and swipe the enemies but he couldn't. He had to trust his Captains and be patient.

This attitude was crucial in every war. You let your underlings fight the enemy underlings and you go after the enemy's leader as the highest leader. There was Ichigo also, who could defeat Soul Society's greatest enemy, Juha Bach. Seeing his godly powers, Kyoraku trusted him to easily take down Ainoko Tsunayashiro and make sure that Aizen wouldn't move from his cell.

Byakuya's mansion

"Now they really thought we were going to eat candy and watch movies while a war is raging outside?" Ichika frowned while throwing a square of chocolate in her mouth.

Ichika's room looked like a perfect magazine cover. Kazui was afraid to sit in case he wrinkled the fabric or stain it with something he didn't even know was on his Shihakusho robe. Her bed was cream but inlaid with fine green silk; leaves embroidered so delicately that they might have landed there in spring and just sunk in but Kazui knew they took hundreds of hours to sew. The white curtains were linen, the kind of white that was untouched by hands and devoid of dust.

The floor is a high polished wood, dark and free of either dust or clutter. There was no television, but a DVD stack was stored on a bookshelf.

"We forgot to buy a television from the human world the last time we came," Ichika stated as she noticed Kazui's confusion. "Uncle Byakuya choose to order one from the 12th division. He said he didn't trust the candy man, Urahara-san." She sunk on her bed and looked like she was melting.

Black and white photographs hung on the wall. Not casual family snaps but arranged to look like such by a professional. There was Ichika when she was a baby, her parents' wedding photos... Oh, his parents were on the pictures too … and himself as a baby?

"We need to sneak out, but I know we're being monitored. We could fight along with the 11th division, they're so powerful, they'll end this attack in a second!"

"I can't… I have to look out for my mom," Kazui objected halfheartedly.

Ichika's eyes were alight, her every muscle needed to move, "now that's interesting!" she grinned, her smile lightening the room, "But aren't you afraid that we'll face strong opponents?"

"I thought you trained… but it turns out you're just a wimp!" Kazui mocked.

"Shut up! our parents are going to kill us, you know that?" Ichika retorted, not feeling quite well about Kazui's plan.

He wanted to say yes. He wanted to say it loud enough, maybe he'd feel less nervous. Being out there in the middle of an attack was dangerous. He knew he was taking a risk with his life and Ichika's, by defying his father's wish. Yet, a voice in his mind cried out that his father also promised him that he'd be allowed to help to find his mom. He was angry because once again, his father kept him away. If he could train with Uncle Urahara, then what's the point if he wasn't allowed to fight, do to anything?

The young boy felt ashamed of himself, he took some deep breaths, trying to calm down and hide his fear and indignation. Getting his anger ahead of his safety and Ichika's was out of the question. If saving his mom meant going against his father's wishes and Ichika's parents, then he'd do so and deal with the consequences later.

"Uncle Urahara always told me that I better ask forgiveness than permission,"

"And you believe him! Uncle Byakuya was right about him!" she threw her cushion at his face. "he seems shady as hell!"

"Listen, I haven't seen mom for months, I need to see her and save her from whatever mess she's in," the young boy looked down, looking at his hands, "I've been training hard these past few weeks, I'm ready,"

"You know that facing real opponents is going to be different from training, right?" Ichika closed her arms in annoyance. Even if she was training hard, she wasn't allowed to fight actual hollows yet.

"Worst case scenario you use Kido and we run away or hide somewhere,"

"Yeah, and you call me a wimp? What kind of plan is that?" she turned around, only to see him outside her window, "Hey! When did you leave? Wait for me!" she gripped her sword and used Shunpo to catch him.

"Best plan is when there's none!" the boy smiled using Shunpo.

Rukia was helping hold the defensive line at the 4th division but the worry for her family was evident.

"I hope the kids will stay out of this…Ichika is capable of sneaking out from nii-Sama's house…" she muttered to herself, fully focused on the fight.

A mass message went out to the Shinigami forces informing them that Urahara was coming to bring a Reitasu badge to prevent the Guerilla from draining the energy but the situation was becoming urgent bringing even if it brought them more hope.

Feeling Ichigo's Reiatsu approaching, Rukia lit up at knowing her friend would arrive soon to help her. However, she didn't notice the Guerilla soldier approaching the defensive line.

"Let me have some fun first…" the soldier grinned, hiding his Reiatsu.

Ichigo flew into the sky above the Seireitei, trying to take comfort in the fact Kazui was safe with Ichika at Byakuya's. He halted when he felt he was high enough and tried to quickly assess the situation.

"I wonder when Orihime's coming…" Ichigo puzzled, his eyes scanning the area.

"Here's Rukia!" he felt reassured until he noticed her Reiatsu skyrocketed suddenly, indicating she was in trouble. Ichigo used Sonido to the 4th division barracks, making sure he arrived in a blink of an eye.

"Rukia…" The whole front wall of the squad four was gone, replaced by a giant smoking crater. All around were the littered remains of Shinigami. Most of them were indistinguishable from the next, but two figures standing on the edge of the scatters stood out.

"She seems allergic to bombs, isn't she?" the soldier was laughing wholeheartedly, gripping the dark hair of a girl and lifting her limp head to see her lifeless face. She was missing a leg and impaled from the back by a large white shining sword, the blade protruding from the left side of her chest. She was suspended above the ground halfway down the blade, her limbs hanging and her Zanpakuto lying on a pool of blood on the ground beneath her.

The solider let go of the girl's hair and her head rolled forward, mouth open and eyes looking into nothingness. The soldier faced Ichigo, his lips curling in an excited smile.

"Finally, someone interesting! Nice to meet you Ichigo Kurosaki, my name is Ainoko Tsunayashiro, the Guerilla's leader,"

Ichigo's body trembled with fear, sweat started trickling down his neck. He landed and ran towards the unmoving girl on the ground, only seeing her, "No, she can't be…"

Ainoko was delighted by the sight, he looked from Ichigo to the Shinigami woman he just killed, realization dawning on him that she probably meant something to him.

"Rukia!" Ichigo shouted as he reached out to her, willing her to move, to twitch, to do anything.

The arrow that sunk into his shoulder tossed him back when it exploded. He found himself on the ground further away to his friend. He pushed the pain back to his mind, his attention focused on getting to Rukia and helping her.

A single Garganta opened above them. Kamiko, Grimmjow, Harribel, Nell, Rudborrn, and the Tres Bestias pulled off their swords, surveying the battle.

"Ichigo!" Orihime exclaimed. The sight stole her breath. Right away, Kamiko closed her eyes, letting Orihime take control of her body.

"Don't be too long, Orihime-san," Kamiko warned, "If I see Ainoko again or Aizen, I'll take the lead,"

"O-Orihime?" Ichigo's eyes locked on his wife's floating body, her hair slowly changing back to its auburn color.

"Good to see you all reunited, you're going to make me cry from this emotional reunion!" Ainoko sniffed, his voice tinged with a touch of mockery and sarcasm. "Sadly, I have something urgent to do… we'll see each other later, I promise you all!" Ainoko grinned before vanishing using Shunpo.

Ichigo hadn't heard most of his words, the strong pulsing in his ears drowned that out. His Reitasu began to beat, each beat growing in power and growing darker.

"This coward covered his Reiatsu!" Nell complained, "we can't even follow him!"

"We can't do shit right now, let's get inside to get our Reiatsu healed," Grimmjow rolled his eyes and disappeared with the other Arrancar.

Orihime used Sonido and landed before Ichigo. Seeing him on the ground made her defenses feel like paper. Before she could draw in the air her body needed, she melted into his form. Her body molded his own, her golden dome bathing both of them, making him feel safe in her embrace. Ichigo buried his head in her chest, his fingers curled tightly into the fabric of her clothes bringing her closer to him.

"You came back to me," he stated clenching harder at her clothes. "H-How?"

He pulled his head back and wiped the tears from his wife's face before pressing his lips against hers.

"Orihime," he whispered slowly, running his hand through her hair. The orange-haired girl smiled, her heart fluttering at his voice as she clasped her hands on either side of his face.

"Rukia, she's, she's…"

"I got this," she interrupted, gazing at him while her dome covered Rukia's body to reconstruct it.

Ichigo held Orihime's hand and they both rose, heading to their friend. Orihime knelt and hugged Rukia's body in her arms, brushing away the strands of hair that fell into her face.

"O-Orihime…" Rukia softly smiled, fighting the weight lingering on her eyelids.

Watching the scene in indignation, Ichigo's body exploded in his black and blue Reiatsu, feeling wrath eating his insides.

"That bastard is going to pay," he clenched his fists, black flames of energy flying off his body. The wars were supposed to be over. Soul Society was still shaken from the Quincy War. He won't let such a gang win over them due to their technology. He'll protect everyone and return to Karakura, holding his wife's and kid's hand in his.

"Ichigo, let's make sure Rukia is safe first, her Reiatsu is very low," Orihime soothed, "I know where Ainoko might be, but first try to get a hold on your Reiatsu!"

Rukia's unconscious body was being transported on her glowing shield inside the squad 4th medical unit. She scanned the area, frowning.

"Ichigo, where's Kazui?" she asked as she held her husband's hand in concern.

The glowing embers leaped and twirled in a fiery dance, twinkling like stars in the hot swirling air before cascading to earth like gleeful fire fiends, setting alight the tinder on the houses and engulfing everything on its path. Columns of thick grey smoke billowed into the sky. The once pale blue was now shielded by a veil of darkness as the smoke swallowed up the sky.

It was definitely a hot day, as the wind caught the fire and pushed it at an enormous speed across the Seireitei. Kazui couldn't breathe, nor hear his heart in his chest. Witnessing the city burning, what once was beautiful cracked and wilted under the weight of the weightless fire. The bright turned black and ascended in the air in dark gray plumes of darkness and misery. Carrying the dreams and lives of many to another place far beyond the stars…

No matter how much effort was given, the fire didn't cease its reign of terror. He could not run, nor could he scream. He only watched in terror the dead Shinigami corpses on the ground. Their flesh turned black as the fire ate greedily at their mangled faces and torn backs. How could they escape the pain and death this attacked caused? How many dreams did it steal?

"Kazui, move!" Ichika smashed the kid on his head, knocking him out of his nervousness. "Do you want to become a carbonized orange?" she yelled "The situation is worse than I thought, let's keep looking for aunty Orihime elsewhere,"

Both kids felt high spiritual pressure. Ichika's eyes went wide while Kazui was astonished. It was so great that it would've knocked him unconscious if not for his training in resisting such forces. It took all his concentration to stay upright and not relent.

"Destroy, Tiburon!"

Harribel whipped her blade from its sheath on her back and gripped it tightly. The moment her release completed, she burst into a Sonido forwards the fire. Glancing briefly at the kids, she drew her power and quietly called "Cascada,".

The children watched on in shock as her massive watery attack engulfed the fire, leaving only smoke hanging in the streets. While she knew it won't kill the Guerrilla soldiers, she was pleased to see them brutally knocked off balance, allowing Shinigami to gain the upper hand in the fights.

"Shit, an Arrancar!" Ichika grabbed Kazui who was still marveled at the woman, "we better run!" she Shunpo'ed in the opposite direction, leaving the blond Arrancar looking suspiciously at them.

"Let's get going, girls," her fraccion appeared behind her, following her orders.

Kazui and Ichika landed on the ground, trying to catch their breaths against a scattered building. Rubbles and stones covered the street, causing them to stare in panic.

"I don't even recognize this place…" Ichika declared, sadness registering on her face.

Kazui was about to answer when they felt the ground shake. Before he could steady himself, he fell flat on his face. As everything shook, Ichika followed him on the ground.

"What's happening?" Kazui worried, holding into a building scatter.

"That's probably a Hollow", Ichika squeaked, "something is happening beneath us,"

"It's best if we stay right here," Kazui figured out as several more shocks followed the initial one and it grew less and less intense.

Ichika rose to stand, "I think it stopped. This is serious Kazui we should go back home…"

"I can't," Kazui stood and looked into her eyes sincerely. "I'll protect you, you don't have to worry,"

"If I die, I'll kill you!" Ichika still looked nervous but was taking a chance at trusting him. "and I-I can protect myself!" she blushed and looked away.

Pilling up the bodies, he threw the last one and let one a long sigh. "Damn, coming at me like rats looking for cheese," he lifted his head and smiled towards the sky, taking a deep breath in.

"Soon, my Lord…my plan is working perfectly," wiping drops of blood from his face, he scanned the area. His eyes spotted an orange-haired boy and a red-haired girl. His eyes shone with hunger and rage watching the duo turn at a corner.

Covering his Reiatsu, he quickly moved to their position, following his new prey with great interest. One of the kids felt like a dense stone, raw strength condensed, and concentrated into the body of a child. Just thinking about them brought water to his mouth and he felt a shiver down his spine.

"Damn it should be forbidden to be this lucky in a single day…" Ainoko grinned widely, gripping his sword tightly in his hand. "I guess I deserve a little break since I finished…"

"Something's stinky here," Kazui pinched his nose in disgust.

"We need to move…we're in trouble," Ichika frowned as she nervously scanned the area.

"I think something smells delicious…" both kids froze, the voice scratching at their minds like nails on a chalkboard. Both of them couldn't move, overwhelmed by the Reiatsu crashing down on them.

Something snapped in his mind, Ichika was in danger because of him. It was like getting struck by lightning. He was scared, beyond belief, but there was someone else with him, someone who didn't deserve any of this, someone he promised to protect.

All at once, his brain raced with his uncle Urahara and his Dad's words. Spells, technics, information… it all flashed before his eyes but couldn't use any of it. He hadn't memorized any spells, nor he had a sword… He looked back at the man standing before him. It was over for them.

Elsewhere in the Seireitei

No one within the Seireitei missed the earlier explosion of the frightening Reiatsu, nor the trembling of the ground. Most of the fighting stopped for the briefest of moments as everyone tried to discern where it came from. Every Captain recognized the mixture within that energy, feeling relieved to have such a powerful ally.

"It seems that my experiment was much more fruitful than I thought," Aizen mused, smirking as he shifted slightly in his bindings. "Ichigo seemed angry but I guess that's only the beginning…" Dust was shaken from the various area of the room, announcing him that the Seireitei was under attack.

Maggot's Nest

Orihime sailed through the air as Ichigo left a trail in his wake. Still angry at Rukia's misadventure, he promised to avenge her even if she made it out alive thanks to his wife's powers.

Ichigo explosively landed on the ground, sending small shockwaves to his surroundings. Orihime landed gracefully behind him and held his hand.

"Ichigo, you haven't even fought yet, try to calm down…" she sighed, scared that his Reiatsu could drag soldiers to them. Even if she was married to one of the most powerful people in the Soul Society, she still feared for him. He was still a human after all…

A third report reached every Shinigami on the battlefield, making everyone stop for a couple of seconds.

"A small box is going to appear in front of each Shinigami. It contains a device, a special badge that put in front of the intruders, will counter-attack and prevent the Guerilla talisman from draining the Reitasu."

Ichigo blinked in confusion as a box appeared before him.

"Damn that scientist…he probably summoned it with Kido…" he took the device and scanned it carefully.

"Where's yours, Hime'?" as soon as he took out his badge, the box disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Heh…" she scratched her head in embarrassment, "I'm not a Shinigami registered in Soul Society…"

"You take mine then," he took her hand and placed the device on it.

"No Ichigo! Remember, I'm in charge of the defensive, I don't need it as long as I'm with you," she softly smiled to him, making him understand she won't change her mind. "you need it more than I do,"

"You stay right by my side then!" he smirked playfully. He could never refuse anything to her.

The howling winds rushed by Ichigo's ears. His hair thrashed in the gusts along with his clothes. The white cloak he had been gifted by the Zero Squad gently dancing with the wind, he carefully examined the area, sensing a strange feeling engulfing him.

"Hime', something's not right, look at all this dust…" he drew his short sword and spin it out of the sheath. With a gentle swing, he blasted away the dust, and they both noticed a massive hole just ahead. "Let's keep moving, something must have happened here…"

"Ichigo!" Orihime cried, facing a pile of dead bodies, "t-those a-are…"

"The Onmitsukido members... They were sent here to guard the Maggot's Nest…"

Orihime ran towards them and summoned her shield, "there's too many of them! It seems like they died because their Reiatsu had been sucked dry…I can't do much for that…"

"I've been waiting for you both for quite a time…you missed all the fun…" Ainoko slowly landed on the ground, facing the couple, "I think I already introduced myself earlier…"

"Fuck your name," Ichigo frowned. He tightened his grip on his short sword and raised his arm to the grip his main one, "Getsuga Tensho!" Flames were summoned to his sword and he released his powerful attack to his opponent.

"Ichigo!" Orihime cried, eyes widening as she remembered what Kamiko told her about Ainoko.

The orange-haired man turned around and frowned intensively at her. Without a word, he vanished attacking Ainoko again.

With that simple stare, she understood that he wanted her to keep healing the Onmitsukido members. Trying to concentrate on her task, she felt Kamiko pressuring her to take the lead. She concentrated even more to fight the Arrancar's exploding Reiatsu in her.

"Kamiko please trust him! He's faced worse than that!" Orihime pleaded in her mind. "give me some more minutes please!"

"You're lucky my Reiatsu isn't fully back since I saved the ex-Espada members!" Kamiko raged. "I swear if he's not dead in the next 15 minutes I'll force you to go back into your inner world!"

"Nice try," Ainoko avoided Ichigo's attack using Sonido. He brought his sword up and easily blocked the feral downward strike from Ichigo's main sword. The white energy bow from his Zanpakuto held fast against the earth-shattering strike. Ainoko twisted his right hand, making Ichigo's small sword fall to the left. He brought his left knee up, caving in Ichigo's exposed stomach. Ichigo disappeared into the Maggot's Nest wall, rubble falling over him and cutting him off from view.

"You seem unfocused…that's not funny!" Ainoko scoffed. "Are you concerned about your wife? Your kid?... Lord Aizen? You have so many reasons after all,"

Ichigo's Reiatsu washed over him and even before it became visible, he felt the concern inducing wrath behind it. The rubble exploded and vaporized in the geyser of black and blue energy now surrounding him.

Ichigo took a step forward, black flames engulfing his body. "Don't mention my family's name on your filthy mouth!"

Ainoko felt Ichigo's energy and decided to attack him first before he could attack him. He boasted in a flash, his Zanpakuto launched a rain of arrows at Ichigo, who didn't even bother to dodge.

"Arrows, huh?" Ichigo growled.

A dozen arrows sunk into Ichigo's chest which stopped rising to his face when it was struck. The arrows didn't last as they melted away in the flaring power he emitted. Ainoko drew back, worry making its way to his face as his attack didn't even phase the man.

"Yeah, arrows. That's why the other Shinigami didn't like me. Quite provocative huh?" He took out his talisman, eyes widening as he realized it wasn't working anymore. "They said I should have been a Quincy, an insult for a Nobleman and Shinigami such as myself,"

"Getsuga Tensho!"

A ring of roaring flame burst from his dual sword, spinning around Ainoko's body and shot him into the air in a massive geyser of destructive power. Ainoko was engulfed in the flames, a smile lingering on his face.

The geyser rushed up into the sky, growing fainter and smaller as it did. Finally, the energy dissipated into the air, leaving only the smoking upper half of Ainoko. At the Geyser's base, Ichigo stood with Zanpakuto in hand. A trail of blue sparks drifting off of Zangetsu's blade as Ichigo floated down like a God from on high. He spun his sword overhead and slid it into place.

"Luckily, my Hierro is still working fine, even if I'm a little injured…" Ainoko coughed, using Sonido to vanish. While flying, his body convulsed suddenly, as Ichigo's attack sliced his shoulder down the half of his chest. He cursed internally, he probably hadn't much time left…

Ichigo's eyes widened in shock as he followed him in a flash step. Arriving at Ainoko's emplacement, he stood not far from the Onmitsukido members who were still being healed by Orihime. Ichigo stood right behind her, making sure Ainoko couldn't get closer to her. He put his hand on her shoulder, reassuring her.

"I forgot something! I have two gifts for you, for your reunion…" Ainoko panted, his wound squirting blood on his white Shihakusho. "You're concerned about your kid, right?"

Orihime and Ichigo looked at each other, disbelief on their face.

"Just give me two seconds," Ainoko disappeared, leaving behind him a trail of dust.

Orihime pressed her hand on Ichigo's. Their eyes hardened into steel as they kept staring at each other, fear registering on their face.

Ainoko appeared in the air using Sonido, the black smoke of the early fire still lingering in the air. Seeing a large silhouette standing, Ichigo used his small sword to clear the dust with a swing.

Ainoko was laughing, gripping two small bodies with each hand.

"Don't you want to say hi to mommy and daddy?" he shook the first limp body. "hi mom! Hi dad!" he imitated the frail voice of a kid.

He turned his head back to the other body "and to you, it's aunty and uncle I guess?" he shook it with a puzzling look on his face.

"Fuck! they seem so heavy now that I'm injured… so here's the first gift!" he drew his hands back from their bodies and threw them both on the ground. "I'm sad to give them away, they were such perfect marionettes…"

Ainoko's lips curled into a large grin, "So what do you think? But wait, I'm not finished yet…" he exclaimed. "Yeah, I know, I'm such a generous man..."

Ichigo's body trembled, his eyes constricted, he couldn't wrap around the sight, "N-No…"

"Santen Kesshun" Orihime mumbled robotically so her shield catches the falling bodies. Bringing it closer to her, she noticed holes on their backs, their blood-stained from their clothes, and it was gushing out on her shield.

"K-Ka…I-Ich…" Orihime wailed, her hands trembling.

"Kazui! Ichika!" Ichigo shouted as he reached for the kids. He couldn't believe his eyes. He'd never seen something like that even in his worst nightmares. That he was seeing something his eyes won't ever be able to erase. Adrenalin flew through his veins, but he couldn't move a single muscle, not before they both opened their eyes or even move a finger, twitch, or anything that meant they were alive. He didn't remember being that scared in his life. All his attention was focused on both kids.

Everything fell away for Orihime. She couldn't breathe anymore, as if someone was choking her. She could no longer hear what was going on around her. Every muscle of her body was on hold. The absolute horror of seeing her child dead completely paralyzed her. She could hear her pulse banging in her ears and feel sweat dripping down her back. She wrapped her fingers on her son and surrogate niece's Shihakusho, summoning her golden dome around them, breaking the healing process from the Onmitsukido members. She crouched down, collapsing under the weight of her despair.

Her expression darkened, waiting for her powers to work on the unmoving kids. Her Reitasu washed over her, making Ichigo blink in confusion. Was he feeling… a vengeance desire behind it?

An explosion, a blazing torrent of flames exploded outwardly right behind the orange haired-couple. A large part of the area was engulfed in extreme heat. Orihime's powers working on their own, covered them all with a large shield to protect them.

"I told you I had a second gift…"

The ground shook under them, making the Maggot's Nest building explode in an enormous blast. Smoke filled the air, making it harder to see.

Ichigo stood, and noticed from afar that the whole Maggot Nest collapsed, leaving a second giant hole on the ground. He felt a familiar Reiatsu… but a little cracked voice brought his attention away.

"M-Mom….?" disoriented, Kazui slowly opened his eyes to face a golden dome.

"Aunty!" Ichika grabbed Orihime by her clothes, hugging her tightly. "I was so scared…" she bawled.

Relieved, Ichigo used Shunpo and hugged both of the kids.

"I'm so sorry, dad…" Kazui cried. Ichigo patted his head and hugged him closer.

"Orihime? You did it, honey! They're alive!" Ichigo exclaimed, hugging his wife tightly, still shaking from fear.

Unresponsive, Orihime's body burned more intensively, her Reiatsu covering her. Ichigo glared at her confusedly as he noticed her mouth twitched upward under the thick strands of her hair.

Lost in her mind, Orihime only had one thought; to protect her son, eliminating whatever dared to harm him. Nothing was going to stop her. Tsubaki erupted from her hairpin and put his hands on both kids.

"Hey there! What are you doing?" Ichigo grabbed him by his shoulder, preventing him from moving further.

"It's coming, Ichigo," he turned back with a dark look in his eyes. "Orihime wants me to bring them somewhere safe, and I know exactly where," the fairy clarified, and in a swirl of black-golden light, he vanished with the kids.

"Hime', what's going on-?" Ichigo was interrupted by the geyser of golden-black energy erupting from his wife.

Orihime rose as her body turned into a shadow from the black-golden Reiatsu that enveloped her. She seemed to look in Ainoko's direction, who was widely grinning at her. She no longer cared about anything else but avenging her son. Is that what the killing intent Kamiko told her about feels like?

The pain of seeing her dead son took her not far away, but deep inside herself to some primitive place that knew how to cope with that kind of pain that preceded death…

She closed her eyes and found herself amid vast darkness. There was a dull spotlight on Kamiko, who was smiling to her. "Did you feel it? come…our time has come…let's avenge them together…"

Orihime felt Kamiko's darkness creep inside of her as she held both Kamiko's hands under the spotlight. "I'm ready, Kamiko-san…"

She felt her thoughts being clouded and the last thing she saw was Kamiko grinning at her before taking her in her embrace.

Ichigo glanced up at Orihime, his eyes fixed at his wife's unblinking eyes. He focused even more trying to concentrate on her Reitasu. "It feels like it's being merged with the Arrancar's one, fuck!"

His scowl deepened as he tried to reach his wife to stop the process when another explosion of heavy Reiatsu washed over the Seireitei, making the ground shake again.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," he heard a cold voice that sent a shiver down his spine. He poured his own Reitasu over, trying to protect himself and his wife that seemed in a trance.

"I-Impossible…" he mumbled. He felt his muscles tense and all of the Winter war's memories filled his confused mind again.

"My lord," Ainoko spoke and bowed down in the air.

Aizen was floating in the air, the explosion setting him free of his chair. He slowly landed on the ground, making it crack and sending shockwaves to his surroundings.

"Transforming Kido spells into bombs? Smart move, Ainoko Tsunayashiro." Aizen stated, narrowing his eyes.

"Ichigo Kurosaki. You have grown some much since the last time..."

Hearing Aizen's voice snapped Orihime from her trance. She rose and took a step forward, flames of black-golden energy flying off her body that started to shape. Her eyes grew in a lighter color and her loose hair faded into a chestnut color, the perfect mix between her Kamiko's pitch black hair and her own auburn one.

Another step forward, her flames settled showing her altered outfit. From a white Arrancar suit, she wore a skull armor glowing in golden that cupped her breasts sporting a hole above her left bosom. A hollow skull rested on her left shoulder and on the left side on her head. Barefooted and broken chains around her limbs, she also wore a short skirt in the same color as her armor.

Ichigo's shock registered on his face. His mouth hung with lips slightly parted and his eyes were as wide as they could stretch. "Orihime…?"

"I've been released at the perfect moment…" Aizen grinned, "She won't talk back to you Ichigo. She completely fused with her hollow. It seems that the Hogyoku granted another one of her wishes…"

Her long hair blowing in the wind, Orihime turned around and gazed at Ichigo with a blank face.

Ichigo felt a shiver down his spine, he knew his wife she was still there and he could perfectly understand what she wanted him to do by that simple empty glance. He drew his double blades and tapped into his Reiatsu, trusting her with whatever she was going to do. Still, he felt unsure about how this was going to end.

Orihime mirrored a grim expression to her husband. Feeling her insides on fire, she felt bloodlust filling her, wanting to rip the head of the Arrancar who dared touch a strand of her son's hair. Aizen was only going to be the cherry on top.

Bursting into Sonido, Orihime was gone, leaving a distortion in the air and a massive upturn of earth and dust. Ichigo blinked several times before realizing how fast she had just moved.

"I'm coming, Aizen."

Still pouring his Reitasu, the ground beneath Ichigo's feet cracked and caved in, unable to withstand the incredible pressure. An instant later, the ground exploded in a shower of debris.

Ichigo lowered himself and released his potent energy in the form of a black and blue Reiatsu that began to slowly scorch his surroundings. Feeling Zangetsu's excitement at being fully released, his eyes snapped open, glowing with a swirl of red, black, and blue Reitasu.

"Bankai!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

The energy contained within Ichigo's body exploded out in a tidal wave. He pressed his legs against the shaking ground and shot in the air, cracking it with his speed.

A/N: My fiction is one year old :') time flies... but I'm pretty satisfied, I managed to finish it in 11 months! still, I'll keep updating it once or twice a month so my beta and I have the time to correct the remaining chapters.

Here's my list of thanks:

*Thanks for reading!

*Thanks to my beta ScepticalOne for correcting this chapter.

*Thanks to the artist EverlastingDarkness5 for allowing me to use one of their artworks. I suggest you check his DeviantArt page if you like their art. This image was the reason I had this fiction idea. I couldn't wait to use it but it would have been a huge spoiler if I did it earlier!

Take care and see you in 2-3 weeks! ++