Chapter Sixty One:
The sweet sensation of Nelliel's fingers brushing through his hair wasn't quite enough to silence the restless frustration that left him fidgety and moody. Aizen had left Las Noches three days ago, taking Tōsen and Gin with him on the mission to find Adjuchas or Vasto Lordes worthy of becoming Espada. They would be gone for another three days before finally returning.
During the absence of the Shinigami masters, Shiro had been left in charge just as Aizen had said. He was in complete control of Las Noches and every single Hollow within her. It was a task weighty with responsibility and the depth of Aizen's belief in him. It brought a smile to his face every time he realised that.
"You miss him greatly." Nelliel's soft tones made him peer up at her heart shaped face, "Aizen-sama will be back soon, Shiro."
"I know." He said quietly, he couldn't be rude to her no matter how annoyed he was, "And I know he'll get a kick out of watchin' the footage, seein' how much I'm pinin' for him. Yeah... His ego will know no bounds."
She giggled sweetly, "Probably, but I am sure he is missing your company too. I've seen how he looks at you. He doesn't look at anyone else in quite the same way."
Nelliel was perceptive. Aizen was the master of his own emotions and reactions, hiding everything at the flick of a switch, and yet Nelliel could see beyond it. Not as deeply as he could, but still deeply enough to know that there was something important between them. Hell, it was still weird enough for him to know there was something truly important between them.
Aizen's forehead was resting on a pale shoulder, eyes closed as he caught his breath, "You fear me becoming distant from you... Because of your feelings..." His voice was quiet, not quite restored, "Why would I, when I share them?"
Shiro sat up at the memory of that day. It was undoubtedly the best day of his life. Nelliel had been healed, restored to her powerful adult form, he'd had mind blowing sex with Aizen and then the man had taken his breath away with the most indirect confession he'd ever heard. They'd said nothing more on it, not mentioning it was something they were both already skilled at. But there was a subtle change, a tenderness between them shown in touches and glances that left Shiro's insides the consistency of jelly.
He hadn't returned to his own quarters since that day, lounging around in the King's Suite had become his personal bad habit. It felt good, he felt at home. He felt welcome. But he knew he was free to come and go as he pleased. He wasn't being tied down, restricted or controlled. He was independent.
Staring at the immaculate desk in the middle of the room, the albino found himself considering everything he and Aizen had spoken about the morning the Shinigami had left. Aizen had finally revealed the end game. His ultimate goal. What it had all been about. It was the finer points that stuck with Shiro, the details.
"Once I have returned with the new candidates for the Espada we can finally begin preparations for the war." Aizen's fingers were roaming the bare expanse of Shiro's back thoughtfully, "My command will not be limited to Hueco Mundo... When my plans are finalised Soul Society, and the World of the Living will also kneel."
"How are ya gonna manage that?" Shiro peered up at him lazily, stretching out languidly at his side, "I know the Espada are strong, but defeatin' the Goeti will be a hard task..."
"It will not be a difficult task by the time we get around to it. My elite ten warriors and their Fracción, lead by you while I still have the likes of Byakuya and Rukia Kuchiki, and Abarai locked away in the prison cells... It will be a decisive battle, one single fight. Not lengthy. Take away their commanders and the flock will fall." The brunet's smirk twitched a little, "Have you ever heard of the Ōken?"
"Ōken?" He repeated, "No... I don't think so."
"The Ōken is a key, far more special than any normal key it permits entry into the Soul King's domain. When the Goeti Thirteen has fallen, we will enter the Royal Palace and take our rightful places there. I will take the throne, and you will sit beside me."
"So ya already have this... Ōken? But the Shinigami don't know what ya next move is gonna be?"Pale eyebrows furrowed.
"Mm. Regretfully an Ōken is not something I can simply obtain. I must create one. And sacrifices must be made in order to do so..." The brunet trailed off as he kissed the top of Shiro's head, "An Ōken can be crafted by sacrificing one hundred thousand souls within the radius of half a spirit-mile. We need a concentrated spirit zone. And as luck would have it, my field agent in Seireitei has been able to locate one for me."
"One hundred thousand lives..." The Cero Espada breathed, golden eyes wide as he tried to picture how many corpses that would leave, "Where is it? This... Concentrated zone?"
Aizen hesitated, something most unusual for the man and it caused Shiro to peer up at him curiously, propping himself up on an elbow. The Shinigami met his gaze, apparently searching his eyes for something, an answer to an unasked question.
"Karakura town." He said finally.
Shiro snorted, a wicked grin spreading across his face, "Yer jokin'? Karakura? Oh... Oh that is disgustingly perfect. He'd be turnin' in his grave if he knew... Precious Karakura town turned to ash..."
It was definitely the finer details that stuck with him, but the end game was so delightfully enticing he found himself excited for it. Knowing that Aizen planned to take him with him, all the way to the very top. He wanted to make sure he succeeded. He'd do anything to ensure it. Anything.
"Your crazy is slipping out again." Nelliel commented, smiling as she saw the unhinged grin on his face.
"Sorry." His eyes were twinkling as he looked at her, "Doesn't scare ya does it?"
"Silly Shiro." She shook her head and kissed his cheek, "You could never scare me."
The albino grinned at her, his expression losing some of its mania as warmth rose in its place, "What shall we do today? I'm bored of sittin' here waitin' for Aizen-sama to come home. Ya can choose anythin' and we'll do it."
"That's more like it!" She clapped her hands together excitedly and got to her feet, "How about we go and spar for a little while? You still need help using your Bankai right?"
He nodded and followed her from the room, making sure it was locked securely behind him. Nelliel alone knew that he was having trouble with Bankai, he hadn't dared reveal it to the Espada or to Aizen in case they took it as a sign of weakness. In truth, ever since Zangetsu had closed all access to the Inner World he had been unable to use any of the Zanpakutō's abilities, except for Getsuga Tenshou. The annoying, grim Zanpakutō spirit had effectively locked him out of Bankai, but he was determined to break back into it by force. Nelliel had been helping him, she deemed fighting to help him regain something he had lost a worthy cause and a righteous reason for battle.
He walked beside her, silently proud of how she held her head high and seemed almost unshakeable. She'd been over the moon to accept the role of Cuatro, gleeful to know her power still allowed her to walk among the Espada and even happier to know she was strong enough to still spend time with him. But she had refused to take on new Fracción. The realisation that her former Fracción and friends had died while she had been locked in child form had been painful for her. She had vowed never to replace them.
Likewise, Shiro still had no interest in having any Fracción himself, the Arrancar, the Números were simply too weak for him to even consider. They'd never survive him unleashing the full fury of his reiatsu, so what good were they? He remained firmly decided that the only Hollow he would ever have considered was Nelliel.
Hands shoved deeply in his pockets, he mostly ignored the polite squeaks and bows they received from lesser Hollows, apparently they felt the need to express their gratitude that he no longer crushed them on sight. Ignorant. He shot a Cero behind him without looking back, smirking wildly as he heard a scream of pain as at least one of the pesky critters was obliterated.
"Shiro!" Nelliel scolded him with a frown, "That was Lumina and Verona! Szayel's going to throw a fit... You really are the worst sometimes."
"My hand slipped." He smirked, winking at her, "Come on, I've got a reputation to live up to."
They exited the porcelain hallways, onto the bridge between the central palace and the still ruined site of Aaroniero's dark tower, Shiro briefly cast an eye upwards to scan the false sky, the false sunlight flittering down upon them both. They'd been using the wrecked area to train in peace, the other Espada stayed away, uninterested in their play fights.
They strolled leisurely across the bridge, and Shiro sucked in a deep breath, fingers already reaching towards Zangetsu's bandaged hilt, ready to draw it, itching for the fight. Even if he'd never press hard enough to hurt Nelliel, she gave a good fight. The pads of his index and middle fingers had only just scraped the material when the bridge shook beneath them both, the gargantuan roar of an explosion coming from across Las Noches shaking the surrounding area.
The two Espada spun on the spot, grabbing the railing as they watched a violent beam of light shoot up into the air, striking the dome, and splintering faint cracks across the false sky, showering the area with fragmented glass as it shattered and fell.
Their eyes met for a long moment, both wide and disbelieving.
"What the fuck was that?!" The albino exclaimed, letting out a shaky gasp as the area finally stopped rattling.
"I don't know! It... It came from Szayel's laboratory!" Nelliel exclaimed.
Scouting the landscape, Shiro could see thick plumes of smoke rising in the distance, "Shit, yer right. Come on! We need to assess the damage, make sure he wasn't in the middle of that explosion!"
"I'm right behind you!" She nodded.
They darted back inside the corridors of the palace, Sonido crackling as they drove themselves towards the epicentre of the explosion as quickly as they could. Aizen would be less than impressed if he received a report stating he needed to add a new Octavo to the list of recruits.
Shiro moved just slightly ahead of her as they neared the laboratory entrance, smoke was escaping beneath the doors in curling tendrils. Without a moment of hesitation, the Cero Espada threw the doors open and hurried inside, looking around for the source of the explosion.
There was a large gaping hole in the ceiling, allowing for thin sun beams to flitter into the large room, fragments of rubble were discarded around, strewn by whatever had caused the discharge. Hurrying forwards, Shiro looked left and right, trying to see a flash of pink. Surely Szayel wouldn't be beneath the rubble. Surely he wouldn't have been harmed.
Suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and Nelliel's body collided with his own, shoving him forcefully to the ground, a cry of pain escaping her as she was struck by the crackling, frenzied fluctuations of a Gran Rey Cero. She was wincing in pain, her uniform scorched and burnt away around her ribs, revealing an ugly wound that almost seemed bone deep.
Shiro was on his feet, muscles coiling ready to pounce as he moved himself in front of her, protecting her. Eyes scanning furiously as they hunted for the attacker. His ire only increased when he met narrow blue eyes and a shock of hair to match.
"Grimmjow." The name left his lips in a snarl, "What the fuck are ya doin'?"
The Sexta's teeth were clenched, fingers dripping with blood from where he'd sliced them for the attack, "I'm doin' what I have to."
Slowly reaching up for his Zanpakutō, Shiro began to prowl, his muscles uncoiling fluidly with each movement as he dared to roam closer to the blue haired Arrancar, "Surrender now... And I won't kill ya. Continue doin' whatever the fuck it is yer doin' and I'll end ya."
"I won't surrender to the likes of you." Grimmjow's expression was set, he was serious, but there was a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
"Fine." He sneered, shooting forwards without warning as he ripped Zangetsu from it's sheath and swung the blade towards the Espada's neck.
Grimmjow dodged, barely. Sonido carried him just out of reach. Shiro lunged again, twisting and turning, following the Sexta's evasive movements. It was frustrating, infuriating. He was being mocked. Taunted. Challenged. His blood was boiling. How dare Grimmjow hurt Nel.
Foot snagging on a chunk of rubble, the blue haired Arrancar stumbled, Shiro's eyes narrowing in satisfaction as he saw a flash of fear cross the Sexta's face. Zangetsu swung forwards mercilessly. Golden eyes widened suddenly as a firm hand gripped his wrist, stopping him just inches away from exposed flesh.
"My friend," Starrk met his angry gaze, "I fear I cannot let you do this."
"Step aside." The Cero growled.
"I cannot."
"Step. Aside." He said again, reiatsu rising to enforce which one of them was stronger.
"No." The Primera's expression seemed regretful, but his fingers remained tight around his wrist, a flare of reiatsu just a little weaker than his own rising in challenge.
"Look at what he did to Nelliel!" He barked, "That was meant for me. It is my responsibility to punish him for his actions. Let me go!"
"Nelliel... Was never meant to be here." Blue-grey eyes tightened at the corners, "Lumina and Verona were meant to send her on an errand."
Shiro's mouth dropped open as he recalled blasting the pair with a Cero, eyes darting to where Nelliel lay unconscious, her wound still grisly and deep. Then, things began to click into place and his shock was gone, replaced with cold hard rage.
"This wasn't an accident." He breathed, "Yer in on it too. What is this, Starrk? While Aizen's away... Mutiny? Take back Las Noches? Kill everyone loyal to him?"
"I'm afraid... This is no mutiny, my friend." Starrk's fingers tightened around his wrist, pinching his nerves and tendons, squeezing them so hard that his fingers grew numb.
Zangetsu hit the floor, Shiro's eyes narrowing, "So it's me yer after." He clicked his tongue against his teeth and drew his free arm back ready to strike the Primera, "I don't need a sword to kill ya."
"We know." A hand grabbed his other arm, and then another, bony fingers tightly holding him in place.
Shiro's head snapped around, breath catching at the sight of Nnoitra. The Quinto was in his Resurrecciōn form. Horns extended from his skull in the shape of a crescent moon. Six arms, two currently restricting his movement while the other four spun his large scythes. Without warning, the spinning stopped and the scythes clunked forwards, interlocking like a prison around the albino Espada's throat, making it impossible for him to move without losing his head.
"Careful now, Cero," Nnoitra's single eye was narrowed, "I don't believe even you can recover if you're decapitated, no matter how good your high speed regeneration is."
"And sadly, I cannot fix decapitations." Szayel's voice came from behind him, withholding all of its usual smugness.
"Clever." Shiro spat, "So tell me, what are ya after? Ya want me in cuffs? Restrained in the prisons like a dog? Ya want to see me weak?"
"I fear it is not you we want at all." Starrk said quietly, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Ah..." The Cero let out a breath, closing his eyes as he felt a great swell of anger bubbling in the pit of his belly, "How long?"
"What?"
"How long... Have ya been plottin' with Kuchiki?" He breathed.
"Shit, how did you..."
"Enough Szayel." The Sexta's voice was sharp.
"Hm." Shiro smiled, it was bittersweet, "Let me guess... After ya saw what I did to Ulquiorra ya felt a tremble of fear, knowin' there was an Espada stronger that the Primera. Unhinged, dangerous, talented... An Espada held in high regard by Aizen. And Byakuya Kuchiki was there to tell ya all about me. Am I right?"
"You are." Starrk said softly, "He only confirmed our own concerns, that you are unstable... Unsafe... And loyal to no one except Aizen. You are as likely to kill us as you are to lead us."
The albino let out a long and steady breath, glancing at each Espada in turn. Grimmjow, his head was held high; his eyes were narrowed and his hands were shoved deeply into the pockets of his uniform, he knew the Sexta loathed his presence because of what had happened with Byakuya. Szayel, the scientist looked the least comfortable out of those present, the weakest among them he was likely afraid of the multiple outcomes his brilliant brain had analysed. Nnoitra, the arrogant bastard seemed glad to have him in such a trap, knowing that a single move could take his head off, a chance for him to regain some of his dignity. Starrk... Out of all the original Espada he had truly believed he had at least some kind of bond with the Primera, no matter how shaky or feeble he wouldn't have expected his betrayal.
"Do ya truly believe Aizen will thank ya for this? Do ya expect to survive his anger when he finds out about it?" Shiro raised an eyebrow, looking straight at Starrk, "Do ya think he'll spare Lilynette?"
The Primera's usually calm demeanour slipped, just slightly, "We have all prepared for every eventuality."
"I see." The faint scent of blossom reached his senses and the albino released a low growl, "Come out Byakuya. I'm done talkin' to yer puppets."
There was a pregnant pause, the tension in the laboratory overflowing so thickly it could be cut with a knife and then with a seemingly deliberate hesitation the door of Szayel's office opened and the raven haired Shinigami stepped out. The Kuchiki heir was standing tall and proud, fearless. His Zanpakutō was at his side, the bandages which had so aptly protected his useless left arm were missing, revealing a clenched fist.
The Cero felt his anger spiralling at the sight, the depth of the Espada's betrayal now clear to him as he caught sight of Zommari and Barragan in the office behind the Shinigami. Snarling moodily as he watched the Kuchiki heir walk towards him he snapped his teeth, fingers twitching with the urge to snap his neck.
"What's the plan, Kuchiki? Kill me and escape Hueco Mundo? Flee back to Soul Society and prepare them for the war?" His top lip curled back with his sneer.
"I'm not going to kill you, Shiro." Byakuya's voice was even despite the rage boiling in the albino's expression, "I'm going to send you back where you belong."
Shiro's eyes widened sharply and he released a truly animalistic rumble from the back of his throat, he tried to lunge at the Shinigami. Stopping only when the sting of metal against his throat registered and he glowered at the scythes still locked around his neck. He was shaking, muscles rigid as they coiled beneath his skin, reiatsu flaring out like angry snakes snapping and lashing back and forth.
"I will kill ya." The albino breathed, "I'll make it slow... Painful... But I'll make sure ya live just long enough to watch Rukia's head roll!"
The Kuchiki heir's breath hitched only slightly at the threat against his sister, but his expression seemed to set like stone, "And that, more than anything else... Is why you cannot stay in control."
A tremble of fear ran through Shiro as he watched the nobleman lift his hands, and for the first time he saw that he was no longer restrained by reiatsu suppressing shackles of bands. The nobleman was completely free and unhindered. Able to do anything. Everything. Shunpo, Kidō, Shikai, Bankai. It was his duty, as the temporary commander of Las Noches, as the Cero Espada, as Aizen's consort to put an end to the threat. And that was exactly what Byakuya Kuchiki was. A threat.
Shiro's fingers twitched, adrenaline pumping through his veins like thousands of tiny needles prickling against his insides. His reiatsu detonated around him like a buffer, manifesting like angry scarlet flames. He could see the sudden change on their faces, the fear. The panic. The Cero Espada twisted both of his wrists with deliberate force, the crunch of bones breaking spurring his anger onwards as he slipped free of Starrk and Nnoitra's grasp.
Nnoitra's scythes lunged inwards to close the miniscule gap between blade and flesh. Shiro dropped, taking a cut to the scalp and jaw as his knees hit the floor. He was free. He swivelled, leg darting out as he swept Nnoitra and Starrk off their feet in one smooth motion. The albino rolled backwards as Grimmjow's sword stabbed mercilessly into the floor where his head had been.
Another twitch of his fingers brought Zangetsu back into his grasp, grip tight as he rose to his feet, reiatsu still boiling and bubbling around him like a stormy current, he batted Grimmjow aside with his bare hand, eyes fixed solely on the Shinigami.
They clashed. He could hear the gasp from the watched Espada as they recovered from the blows delivered to them. They wouldn't dare interfere now. The small crowd shied away from the Cero and the Taichou. All skill and lean muscle, leaping back and forth with catlike agility between the cumbersome splashes of rubble and fallen concrete. Shiro cracked a smile, it was bloodthirsty, hungry, cut throat. Making sure they made eye contact, he could see the seriousness in Byakuya's eyes, the determination, the willpower. Resilience. Months of captivity had not dulled his ability.
Advancing, dancing, spinning. Sparks flew between them as the huge blade of Zangetsu clashed painfully against the more elegant and compact Senbonzakura. Shiro threw his weight behind each strike and lunge, trying to throw Byakuya off balance. If he could use Bankai... If Zangetsu would just do what he asked... He'd have won already.
He was taken aback by a sudden back swing, the tip of the nobleman's blade curved an ugly wound across his face. The albino let out a choked groan of pain, feeling the hot splash of blood. He dodged a second surprise jab, cackling loudly as he felt the stinging wound heal on command. His regenerative powers truly were impressive. He threw his Zanpakutō forwards suddenly, watching as Byakuya's blade went back, back, back. It wasn't enough to knock it free from his grasp, his fingers tightening tenfold.
Byakuya struck out. The arcing shot sliced the fabric of Shiro's shihakusho at the midsection. It missed the flesh by a hairs' breadth. But the nobleman had overextended his reach this time and staggered. Shiro swung. Byakuya ducked and the albino saw a few hairs flutter aside, he had missed by a split second, nothing more. The sight only increased his ire.
Swing, hack, slash, lunge. He missed the first three badly, anger driving him to be clumsy with his movements. But the lunge made contact, found flesh. He watched as blood ran down the creamy white material covering the Shinigami's left leg. Satisfied he watched as Byakuya dropped to one knee.
"If ya really thought I'd lose yer a bigger fool than I ever realised, Byakuya Kuchiki!" Shiro smirked, raising Zangetsu above his head.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
A vibrant explosion of rippling, trickling petals spurted upwards, curving and coalescing around Zangetsu, stopping it from making its' deathly swing. At the same moment, the laboratory doors blasted inwards without warning, revealing the breathlessly panting forms of Rukia and Renji, stood side by side. Shiro's eyes narrowed at the sight of them and he released a low growl.
"Bakudō 1: Sai!" Rukia's hand flew up instinctively as he turned towards them.
Gasping, the albino let out an infuriated roar as his body constricted against his will, sword slipping from his grasp as his arms twisted up behind his back, entrapped by some invisible force, "FUCK!" He howled, instantly fighting against the restriction, pushing his reiatsu out to sever the bonds.
"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and tear out your own throat. Bakudō 9: Hōrin!" Byakuya's hands were raised, orange hued tendrils ensnaring and immobilising the Cero Espada further as the Kidō wound around him.
Spitting and hissing like an angry snake, the Cero raised his reiatsu again, teeth clenched as he fought against the Kidō. He'd be out of it in seconds. This was pointless. He was going to kill them all for this. He was going to snap their necks one by one and-
"Bakudō 4: Hainawa!" Rukia shouted out.
"Bakudō 63: Sajō Sabaku!" Byakuya joined her, rising to his feet again.
Shiro's eyes widened, watching as Byakuya lifted his arm, reaching out towards him, the dense yellow chains leapt forth from his fingertips, shooting out and coiling themselves around the Espada's body, painfully. The albino staggered, roaring furiously as he fell to his knees. Still fighting with every inch of strength.
"Bakudō 99: Kin!" The sight of the Kuchiki heir's fingers entwining left him reeling, his body jerking violently from left to right as he fought against the spiritual black fabric and iron shafts that were entrapping him, dragging him downwards towards the tiled floor of the laboratory.
"BASTARDS!" He screeched, writhing as he raised his reiatsu again, trying to force the smallest of gaps between himself and his restraints, trying to slip even a single hand free. He would blast them all to Hell for this, "TREACHOUS SNAKES!"
The laboratory seemed to come alive, Starrk; Grimmjow and Nnoitra moved forwards in unison, their reiatsu raising to protect the Shinigami Taichou from the Cero's venomously thrashing energy, Szayel joined them seconds later, Barragan and Zommari left the confines of the Octavo's office. All of them lifting a shield of their own reiatsu that protected Byakuya, while at the same time piled it down on top of the Cero.
Seething, thrashing, panting, sweating. He could feel the crushing weight of their combined strength. He felt it when Rukia and Renji joined in. While their power was wildly beneath that of the Espada, it still added to the force pushing him down into the ground.
'All of them... They're all in on it... Fuckin' treacherous lyin' bastards... I'll kill them... All of them... Who do they think they're dealin' with?!' His mind was a jumble of angry cats trying to break loose as mania took hold, his struggles growing more and more frantic as he kicked and tossed and turned and wriggled.
"Walls of iron sand, a priestly pagoda, glowing ironclad fireflies. Standing upright, silent to the end." Byakuya's hands were clasped again, fingers knotted tightly as five small orbs of yellow light emerged and formed a circle, "Bakudō 75: Gochūtekkan!"
The Cero Espada released a Hollowfied shout, golden eyed almost slit-like as he managed to tear an arm free, raising it towards the Shinigami and charging the fastest Cero of his life. He would obliterate him right now, and damn the consequences!
Scarlet flooded the room as he let out a cry of pain, body crushed beneath the five tall, thick pillars summoned by the last Bakudō, he let out a sick snort of pleasure as he felt his power collide with something, certain that when the light faded he would be gratified with the sight of bloodied smears against the far wall.
Lifting his head shakily, his smile faded when instead he saw the cracking shell of an orange shield, the long burnt orange hair and warm brown eyes of Orihime Ishida. She was staring at him, her expression set with overflowing determination, Harribel was just behind her, hand on her shoulder. Sonido. The Tres had used her Sonido to get the girl there in time.
Anger spilled into his every fibre as the orange shield broke leaving nothing between him and his captors except the murder in his eyes, "Aizen... Will kill ya all for this..."
"An eventuality... Which we are all prepared for." Szayel nudged his glasses up his nose, head held high despite the smallest tremble in his voice.
"So what will ya do? Kill me?" Shiro scoffed.
Byakuya let out a quiet groan of discomfort as he pushed his fingers into the wound on his thigh, skin dyed red with blood as deft fingers wove an intricate twine of scrawls up his bared arms, countless whirls and symbols he had memorised after seeing only once. Shiro's body tensed, he knew those symbols. He knew that pattern.
"I WILL NOT GO BACK!" He roared, thrashing again with renewed vigour, "I WILL SEE YA DEAD FIRST, KUCHIKI!"
Sucking in a breath, the Kuchiki heir met his burning gaze, "I would see you try." Was all he said before raising his hands sharply, "Ye lord! Mask of distance and space, all initiations, swell of hearts, ye who bears the name of Man! On the barrier of light, bind a twin lotus. In the depths of our hearts, hear the demands of the heavens. Bakudō 101: Māji!"
Shiro suddenly put up a greater fight against his restrictions, howling so loudly and with such force that the walls began to shake. Not like this! He wouldn't fall, not from trickery and betrayal. Not like this!
"NO!" He screamed out.
Brilliant green light leapt from the Shinigami's palms, illuminating the laboratory in an almost blinding spark. Byakuya's body wobbled as his arms dropped to his sides, steam rising softly from the smudged markings on his skin, he winced as his knees buckled. He was caught by swift and strong arms around his middle, Byakuya knew already that Grimmjow was holding him up and whispered a weak word of gratitude.
"D-Did it work?" Szayel breathed from beside them, slowly tiptoeing closer to the motionless body of the Cero Espada.
"Yes." Byakuya whispered, voice harsh from weariness, "It worked."
He owed Kisuke Urahara a drink when they got out of this, had he not witnessed the man use the incantation all those months ago he would never have been able to pull this off. Slowly standing on his own two feet, he cautiously crouched down in front of Shiro's still form, reaching out nervous fingers and brushing some scattered locks of white hair from his face, nodding more confidently when he saw deeply glazed over eyes.
"It worked." He said again before he looked around as Rukia sprinted across the room towards him.
"Nii-sama! It's so good to see you." Her arms were flung around him tightly, her face pressed against his chest, "Are you alright Nii-sama?"
Byakuya held her tightly, letting out a shaky breath as he kissed the top of her head, "I will be fine." He whispered.
Gone were the days he would show stoicism to her instead of the kindness she deserved. If he had learned anything from his time in Grimmjow's care it was not to hide his feelings from those who mattered the most. Emotions were not shameful. Emotions were not weak.
"Taichou." Renji reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder, "You look well."
Smiling faintly, he was relieved to see his Fukutaichou looking so well. Despite having visited the detention centre to receive treatment from Orihime, the work the Human girl had done on his arm had been in a side room away from the other prisoners, he hadn't seen them. He'd only Orihime and Harribel's word on how they were all fairing and it had done little to alleviate his anxieties.
"In truth... I could never have done this without the help of the Espada." The Kuchiki heir glanced at the curious group of Arrancar, "I owe them a great deal."
"This was always as much for our benefit as it was for yours." Nnoitra muttered.
"Shut up, Quinto." Grimmjow's eyes rolled dramatically before he offered a smile to the Shinigami.
Steel eyes slid back to the open, glazed golden ones, and the nobleman hugged his sister all the tighter for it, "It's up to Ichigo now." He whispered.
Byakuya's expression evened out and his jaw clenched in certainty. He would keep his vow. If Ichigo did not return... If Shiro rose again... He would end him. He would keep his promise to Ichigo, if it was the very last thing he ever did.
