Hunter Among Reapers

by Dandy Chiggins

Nero's life takes an unexpected turn when while on a job he finds himself flung in a new world. Where not Demons but Hollows threaten the safety of mankind and Shinigami (Soul Reapers) are tasked with stopping them. Nero must find his path in the new world but it seems that like any good Devil Hunter he just cant help get himself tangled in all sorts of trouble.

40. Ode To War

One issue I have with my own writing, and have had for a long time now as I'm sure you've noticed, is that I write too much. Most chapters are on average now anywhere from 12,000-16,000 words, sometimes a bit more or less. I think the problem is I like to cover a lot of characters, scenes and always worry if I cut or shorten things it might leave you readers confused on certain bits so make sure every little detail is fully explained, maybe too explained. For instance, in order to make sure I convey a character like Nero is angry, instead of just having one or two lines and descriptions, I'll write several lines and loads of description to ensure I convey this emotion properly. Which translates to hundreds of words to just get one point across.

I've been trying for a while to make shorter and more focused chapters but still slip into old habits. Which is bad because it both means you guys have to wait longer for chapters to come out, and frustrates me, making me doubt my own writing skill. There by putting off writing, making it even longer before a chapter comes out.

Let me know what you guys think and know I'll be trying to make shorter chapters that are still enjoyable but not too long and bulky.

Be sure to review the chapter, any and all feedback is appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Devil May Cry.

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Ode To War

They say blood is thicker than water. What that means various from person to person. But the brunt of it remains the same. Family is without a doubt one of, if not the, most important aspect of ones life. For our family moulds who we are and we influence them. Not everyone is blessed with a loving family so those that are should count their blessings and cherish that love for as long as possible. For the fact remains that no matter how much we wish otherwise, nothing, not even family, lasts forever.

A reality which earned and unsettling heartache in one certain woman. A woman that usually did well hiding her emotions, playing it off comically, but in truth loved her family with every fibre of her being.

So when that family was under threat, like a mother lioness, her chest was pounding in her throat and her claws were ready to carve the hyenas that went after her cub to ribbons.

'How could I have been so stupid. Dam it! This is all my fault!'

The citizens of the Rukongai were nearly blown over from a violent jet stream flurry, and shock-waves curtsy of sonic-booms, as a blitzing blur, which moved too fast for their eyes to comprehend, bolted past them with enough speed and force a thick trail of smoke and dust was kicked up behind the blur like she were a rocket fired on an open plain of sand.

'Please, Yushiro. Please. Just hang on. I'm coming for you, I PROMISE!'

No sooner had Phineas told of how Shihoin blood was needed to access Eirene's Temple, Yoruichi, whom understood what this meant for her brother, had darted out the room and used the Senkaimon in Kisuke's training facility to go to the Seireitei, where she made a beeline for her families manor. When she told the guards at the gate she needed to see her brother, news she got from the confused guards made her legs tremble and she nearly collapsed in stark aghast.

"What do you mean, Lady Shihoin? Your brother, the Lord Yushiro, along with Lady Chiyo, have ventured off to the Wildlands. To your clans old castle. You said you wanted to meet him there in your letter, did you not?"

A fear unlike any she'd felt in her life squeezed her chest like a vice. While Yoruichi may act like her brother annoyed her, which he most certainly did, she cherished him more than anything and anyone else in her life. Chiyo was her de facto grandmother. Soi Fon a sister in all but blood. Kisuke and Tessai her best friends since childhood. Nero her lover and the man who'd earned her hearts affection.

But Yushiro was her baby brother. The stubborn, yet innocent brat she'd been forced to raise as a more or less surrogate mother after the untimely passing of their parents.

She'd been the one to change his diapers. Feed him when he was hungry. Cradle him when he cried. Comfort him when he was scared. Teach him what his life as one of the members of the Shihoin Clan meant, but, more importantly, how to enjoy that life. She's watched him grow from a chubby little baby to a strong, if a little airheaded, young man. And since her return from a century of exile, had been helping train him in Hakuda when she had the spar time. Not so that that one day he could claim the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido and Captain of the 2nd Division, as all Shihoin's did by tradition. But so he could have the strength to chose his own path in life. Whatever life he wanted to live. For Yoruichi cared not for forcing her brother to stick to outdated traditions and expectations placed on those in her family which had dominated the better part of half her own life. All she cared about was he did what made him happy.

As big sister, it was Yoruichi's duty to ensure her brothers life was a happy one. A good one. A safe one. It was her duty to protect him.

And she'd failed.

'No!' She thought defiantly. 'I haven't failed, not yet. I swear, Yushiro. I'll find you. I'll take you home and spend as much time with you as you want. I swear I'll keep you SAFE! If anyone even thinks about hurting you I'll…' An image of a bloody, beaten and dead Yushiro flashed in her minds eye. 'STOP IT! Don't even think like that!' She shook her head, as if to hope those dark thoughts would fall out her ear. The mere thought of her sweet innocent brother hurt was simply too much for her already thumping heart to endure.

Eventually she reached a crossroads in the middle of an empty stretch of road. Yoruichi's mind was in such a tumultuous state that she had to come to a stop and carefully read the road sign, as the directions to the Wildlands which she'd always known had now abandoned her.

'Which way is it?!' The road signs might as well have been written in a foreign language. With so much stress and worry suffocating her, Yoruichi couldn't think clearly enough to remember which direction was correct. Even her own thoughts were muffled over the cacophony thumps of her hammering heart-rate. 'Come on. Come ON! I don't have time for this!'

The dark-skinned woman that was trying her best to choke back the tsunami of negative emotions welling inside, was so entrapped in her own head and imagining all the ill-fates that may befall her baby brother should she arrive too late, didn't even notice the voice full of concern call out to her multiple times in a yell so loud the villagers over a mile away must have.

"YORUICHI!"

"YORUICHI!"

"YORUICHIIIII!"

It was only when a scaly blue and glowing hand placed itself on her shoulder and gently turned her around did she come out her dread induced stupor.

"Yoruichi," said Nero, as if worried she'd become locked in her own head. He placed both his hands just above her elbows and held onto her, shooting a deeply worried look at her golden eyes which barely seemed to register his presence despite being almost face to face. "It's me, Yoruichi. I'm here," he spoke soft and gentle, anxious even hard words would break her clearly fragile form.

Golden eyes blinked as white hair, blue eyes and a handsome face full of concern came into focus. "N-…Nero?" Her dark chocolate-coloured face was deathly pale and her eyes tinted with red and glistening from the water she wasn't even aware was there.

"Gotta tell ya'. You're one quick cat. Almost never thought I'd catch up with you." His joke was both an attempt to lighten the mood as well as the truth. Nero was literally panting from doing his best to catch up with her. 'If she hadn't of stopped I'd of never caught her. People aren't lying when they say her speed is unequalled. Even when she can barely think clearly, like now.' He had to take a long breather before he could speak again.

Yoruichi herself was breathing hard, in shallow pants. Not from overexerting her stamina, from the bone-chilling fear she had for her brothers sake.

Once his lungs were back to full, Nero criticised her actions but did so with a light tone, "What were you thinking. Running off on your own like that. It's only thanks to Kisuke I knew where to head to find you after you ditched us back at his shop without so much as a heads-up."

"What was I thinking?" Yoruichi repeated quietly. Then her tormented, soft face contorted and hardened. She yelled in wild emotion-fueled anger that was directed at the situation itself rather than Nero, "That my brother is next on some deranged 'gods' and former Omnitsukido killers hit-list! They've already sent a letter to trick my brother into going into the Wildlands! If I don't find him before they do then… then…" Her trembling voice matched her tremulous body. Her eyes lowered to the floor as she lost herself once more and fell silent. Her eyes began to glisten with water, accompanying her cold sweat. She was living her worst nightmare.

Just seeing her like this hurt Nero. Instead of the strong, fierce, spirited woman that captured his heart, the woman before him now was the epitome of terrified and insecure. Her breaths uneven and hard. Her body trembling. And her voice whenever she spoke was devoid of its usual sly cadence, now timid and laced with anxiety. It made him clench his teeth in anger at Ares and Amagai for making her feel this way and wanted to make them suffer for hurting the woman he cared for more than anyone else in this world.

Angry he might have been at her for going off on her own, Nero understood her actions and knew that in the state she was in what she needed was comfort, not reprimanding.

Her downcast eyes were still fixed to the floor but might as well been staring into space. Her mouth opened up and said to no one in particular in a barely audible whisper, "Yushiro is all the family I have left. Yet I always tried to avoid him 'cause of how annoying he could be," her voice was shallow and tight, guilt and fear clutching her throat like a noose. "All he's ever wanted to do was spend time with me and my selfishness might cost him his life. How can I- Uhhh?"

Yoruichi was promptly cut off from self-demoralising scrutiny when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist and back, pulling her into Nero who embraced her.

"Don't be an idiot. Your brother knows you love him. He'd never blame you for any of this. So don't blame yourself," said Nero in a soft, gentle murmur. He could practically feel her thumping heart that was beating in overdrive vibrating against his chest. But as he held her, he could feel her heart-rate steadily descend.

The warmth of Nero was like a cosy blanket and glass of hot milk on a winters day, helping calm Yoruichi who made no attempt to free herself from his loving embrace and instead sunk into it, resting her weary head on his chest. The water from her eyes dampening his hoodie, not that minded. "…If anything happens to him…" The soft strokes his hands were tracing along her back were a much needed and appreciated stress relief.

"Nothing will happen," Nero cooed delicately to reliever her of some of the pain and blame she was shouldering. "We'll find him and take him back home." He nuzzled his mouth and nose atop her head, the exotic fruity scent of her violet hair a welcome smell.

"We?" Yoruichi parroted, her voice much weaker and unsure compared to her usual intrepid mischievous tone. She shook her head, but still kept it on his chest, not wanting to leave her serene pillow. Especially now he'd begun to run his hand through the length of her ponytail, something that always elicited a tranquil purr from her, perhaps owing to her feline traits she got from her cat form. "I'm sorry, Nero. But this is something I have to do on my own. Yushiro is my brother and this is a matter of pride."

"Bullshit," was Nero's hard response, though his words were spoken soft. Her felt her stiffen in his arms.

Nero gently pulled out of their hug but kept one hand on her shoulder while using his other to wipe a stray stand of purple hair behind her ear using his Devil Bringer. He ran the back of two of his demonic fingers down her smooth chocolate cheek and cupped her chin, gently raising her head so they were locked in eye contact. The fact that Yoruichi didn't even flinch at the touch of his demonic claw meant the world to him and cemented just how amazing she was and how luck he was to have her in his life.

"I know you Shinigami like to tout on about two types of battles. One for your life and the other for pride. And I know it's considered offensive to butt into the latter one, but I don't care. Yushiro's my friend, I care for him too. And I care about you. Ares and Amagai have hurt you both and I'm not about to let that slide. Besides, aren't you the one that stopped me from going after Arkham alone. You were right to stop me from going it alone then. I'm not about to let you make the same mistake I nearly did. We do this together, Yoruichi."

In just the few minutes Nero had been with her, her breathing and heart-rate started to return to normalcy and she was able to think coherent thoughts. Yoruichi shut her golden irises, which had been shimmering with fear, and when she reopened them they were now stable, the wind back in her sails. She looked at Nero, his soft reassuring pools of azure telling her 'everything will be alright, so long as we're together'. He was the personification of confidence, which in turn quelled the intense flurry of primal fear tingling down her spine. She smiled a quite soft smile, knowing what Nero said was true. As long as they were together, the two of them could do anything. For he was her light and she was his rock. United in solidarity and strong bonds of affection neither anticipated they would ever feel for another. "Alright. And Nero… thank you."

Though Yoruichi now spoke in a more solid tone, Nero could still hear the panic. Whether she was trying to convince him or herself was unclear. But her brave mask only served to light a fire of fury in Nero who wanted nothing more than to make the two men responsible for causing her this pain to suffer.

"No need to thank me," said Nero with a warm and tenacious smile that made Yoruichi feel like everything was going to be alright, "It's you and me against the world. Like always." Without so much a word, he edged closer to her, closed his eyes, craned his neck down to be level with the shorter woman, and gently rested his forehead against hers. Running a hand through the violet waterfall that was her mane. "We stick together. You've never left me when I needed help and I'll never leave you," he whispered with warm earnest full of affection.

The two stayed like that for some time. Enjoying the others presence and the sense of peace and assurance the other gave them despite the dire situation.

His cavalier attitude in the face of adversity and the odds always made Yoruichi laugh. Now it helped soothe the terror in her heart which was swiftly being replaced by rage. Rage that would only be satiated with bloody vengeance.

---

Each of the Great Noble Families were all tasked with one specific role that they had to fulfil to the upmost of their abilities. That was both the blessing and curse of their position as the pillars that kept the Soul Society held up. The Tsunayashiro Clan are the "Watchers", whose job it is to maintain surveillance across the Soul Society, World of the Living and Hueco Mundo. The Shihoin Clan are the "Guardians", the caretakers of the Soul Society's most heavenly treasures and tools. The Kuchiki's are the "Preservers", their duty to document all the history of the three worlds and maintain that historical knowledge.

For that reason, located deep underground beneath the Kuchiki Manor was undoubtedly the greatest library to exist in any of the three worlds, perhaps even the entire Mortal Universe. That chronicled the million-plus year history of the Soul Society, the annals of the World of the Living, and the surprisingly rich tales from the Reishi-thick sands of the Hollows world. The wealth of knowledge in such a place couldn't even be comprehend by a normal mortal mind. Even the fabled library of Alexandria the humans held in great repute was barely a raindrop to the overflowing ocean of knowledge contained in these walls.

Given just how precious the collection of information was which this library held, the security around this 'library', which would have been apt to call a vault, was unlike any other. It was buried hundreds of feet below the Seireitei, lined with several meter thick Sekkiseki stone walls, only one way in and one way out with guards always stationed at the entrance, and filled with death traps on every floor so even if someone did defy the odds and manage to break in, the traps of poison, fire, ice, arrows, spikes and more would see to them before they even reached a floor numbered with more than one digit.

The security for the half-fort half-library was rivalled only by the other Great Noble Houses vaults and the Soul King's very palace. Even Fort Nox was a child's pillow fort in comparison. The one and only person admitted to enter this revered sanctuary of knowledge was the Head of the Kuchiki Clan, whomever that was at the given time. Not even other Kuchiki's were allowed access.

So when Byakuya broke this hallowed rule upheld by countless generations of Kuchiki's and permitted his fellow Captains access, the realisation at just how extreme the situation was became clearer than ever. Byakuya Kuchiki was as far from a rebel as one could be.

"I gotta say, Captain Kuchiki, your ancestors weren't ones for décor. I know library's aren't known for their flashiness but sheesh. This place is so drab. I can barely make out the words in these dusty old scrolls. You should really invest in some of those Reishi-powered lamps Captain Kurotsuchi's Division makes. Using these candles is straining my eyes."

An expressionless face was all Byakuya had the effort to give. "I apologies if you don't find your surroundings pleasing to the eye, Captain Kyoraku. My ancestors did build this place with the intent to be seen by as few as possible. As for your other point, I would never trust Captain Kurotsuchi to give me anything that wasn't ridden with surveillance bugs to spy on this place. There's a reason I refused to allow him of all people in here."

"Touché," nodded Shunsui. He was sitting at his own private desk as were the others, slouched lazily in his chair. "You did allow us in here though."

"I am only one man. Searching all these documents alone for mention of 'Ares' or this 'Eirene's Temple' would have take me too long." Byakuya, currently sitting at another desk with several books and scrolls around him and a candle on the side for light, then said matter-of-factly, "However, I only allowed those I trusted would adhere to the rules I set in place in regards to what materials you could and couldn't search. And knowing none of you would wag your tongues about what you read in here like gossiping hens."

A big goofy smile spread on Shunsui, acting flush. "Aww. You're saying you trust us four more than anyone else. You big ol' flatter you." He batted a hand at the Kuchiki noble as if an embarrassed teenage girl with her crush. Byakuya merely kept his back to the immature man and gave a subtle shake of his head as if regretting his decision to allow one of those four here.

"This place really is incredible." Sitting at another desk a few feet away was Jushiro Ukitake. He had no issues with the dim candlelight he was using to read the tomes. "It's hard to believe the Shinigami in league with the Bounts was able to break into this place. With all the layers of security we had to pass, I'd expect even the Head-Captain would find such a task arduous."

"This 'library' has many levels to it. The lower down, the more significant the information, and the more rigid the security," Byakuya said. "The one which the Shinigami you're referring too broke into was on the very first level. The level with the most lax security, where only documents deemed of "little importance" are kept."

That made Toshiro Hitsugaya let out a dry wheeze from where he sat. The pile of books on his desk were taller than himself. "The fact that your family considers the information that traitor stole of "little importance" is testament to just how valuable the knowledge in this place is." A Captain he was, he was still but a child at the end of the day. Never did Hitsugaya imagine back when he lived in the Rukongai slums he'd one day be kicking back in one of the Great Families paramount vaults.

"Hmmmm," mumbled Soi Fon absently, having been mostly silent for the groups conversations these past several hours. Like the rest, she too sat at her desk going through various historical documents, some so old they threatened to crumble at her touch. "Your families vault is impressive, Captain Kuchiki… But Lady Yoruichi's family vault is more so." She just couldn't help herself.

At this very moment, Byakuya, along with four other Captains, were all scouring through the plethora of books, scrolls, tome and journals housed in the Kuchiki library for any mention of "Eirene's Temple" and "Ares" as they had been the past few days.

Normally, hearing that the Head of the Kuchiki Clan had broken a scared law and allowed others into this revered library would have caused such an uproar among the ruling class it would have made the ruckus from when he married the commoner Hisana look a minor tiff. So sever was this crime, it was entirely within reason Byakuya could have been sentenced to exile as Yoruichi Shihoin had been when framed alongside Kisuke Urahara for the crimes of killing and Hollowfying Shinigami.

But the ruling class were still busy reeling from the news which had leaked from the Gotei 13 as expected and planned. That news being of Ragnarok.

Just as Yoruichi had said, word of the past had got out into the public, but having listened to Yoruichi's suggestion, the Gotei 13 had purposefully twisted the narrative so the backlash wasn't as bad as it could've been.

The full truth of Ragnarok which Yamamoto told the Captains, Nero and Yoruichi, was kept between only them. All other Seated and non-Seated Shinigami and the public were given a much more watered-down, and largely fabricated, version of Ragnarok. One which redacted a lot of information about other mortal worlds and races, and of how two demonic beings, Mundus and Sparda, possessed power above the Soul King. A being which was regarded as almighty, all-powerful and all-important by those in the Soul Society, so it was important the people not learn the 'omnipotent' Reio wasn't actually top dog.

That's not to say the public weren't angry or astonished at this Gotei-reworked revelation. It just meant it was unlikely the backlash would be as bad as had been after Temen-ni-gru.

"Speaking of Kurotsuchi. Is he still pestering old man Yama about the whole 'demon war'?" Shunsui asked aloud.

"No just the Head-Captain. From what I heard he all but demanded Central 46 give him unrestricted access to the Daireishokairo. They promptly showed him the door. Though I hear he's planning to go on strike of all things until he gets what he wants, claiming his "civil liberties have been ignored by the entitled elite"." Ukitake couldn't help but think Mayuri had maybe picked up too many things from studying the Human World.

"He's been harassing myself and Rukia too, in a deluded hope he'd be allowed into this library," Byakuya said pointedly as he scanned the old scroll on the table in front of him. "Of course, he'll never set foot in here. No one has the skills to break into my families manor without alerting me." He paused, thinking in his head, 'Well… Expect those vile harpies.'

Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi and the members of the Shinigami Women's Association seemed to know the secrets of the Kuchiki Manor better than Byakuya himself. How they were able to consistently turn his home into their personal club house no matter what security and precautions he put in place to keep them out he never knew.

"In fairness, I believe this is one of few times Captain Kurotsuchi's addicted craving for answers is warranted, and shared by us all," allowed Ukitake. "All anyone's been talking about the past few days is how a "great demon invasion" took place. One that involved other races and was lost from their memories. It is quite the scandalous tale after all. Even if that tale has been sugar-coated for the public."

The politically spun version of Ragnarnok Yamamoto and the Captains released to the public was intentionally whitewashed in their favour. For one, the public were told that it was from the writings in books salvaged from Temen-ni-gru that the Gotei learnt Ragnarok happened to begin with. A war of demons once invading the Mortal Universe and how mortals of races once thought myth banded together to face the hell-spawn and won, pushing the demons back to Hell at the cost of most mortal lives. The Gotei intentionally left out mentions of Mundus and Sparda, and claimed it was likely the demons fault that those of the Human World, Soul Society and Hueco Mundo lost their memories of the event. As to ensure the Four Great Nobles Families were free from any scrutiny had the truth of what they did with the Soul Kings power get out.

The only people that knew the full extent of Ragnarok were the Captains, Nero, Yoruichi and the Karakura gang, the latter having been told by Phineas. The Lieutenants had been informed of most of the truth the public wasn't privy too, but even they weren't told of what the Great Noble Families and Ichibe Hyosube did to erase the peoples memories.

"While I share everyone else's shock at this recent revelation. I can't help think some are taking it a little too far." His irked tone suggested Hitsugaya had an involvement in such matter. "You know Rangiku is claiming her mental health has become shaken from this news, and the only way to help is for an "all-inclusive weekend at the spa". One paid for out of my salary."

"All our subordinates took the news hard," Shunsui commented, lazily turning the pages of the dusty book he was going over. "Our resident journalist doesn't seem to mind though. I hear Lieutenant Hisagi's already got a special edition of the Seireitei Bulletin in the works."

"I can understand peoples shock. I can scarcly imagine how things must have been back then," Hitsugaya prounced, in a speculative fashion, "Times must have been extremely desperate if the Five Great Houses were willing to coerce the Soul King himself. Not fearing the Reio may hold a grudge at them and High Priest Hyosube for forcing his hand."

While Yamamoto had told everyone at the barracks that the Great Noble Families had made Ichibe Hyosube use the Soul King's power to erase all memories of Ragnarok from all humans, Souls, Hollows, and every other being whose soul was connected to the Reio, what they, and even Yamamoto himself, weren't aware of was the true extent of the horror this act.

You see, despite the Soul King being revered and symbolic to every Shinigami, Soul and even Hollows to some extent, all of whom viewed the Reio as a holy, almighty and divine god that sat above them all and actively controlled the flow of souls in order to maintain balance between the three world. None knew the truth of what the the Soul King really was but those in the Zero Division, Aizen, Urahara and perhaps a few more astute members of the Great Houses. That being that the Soul King was little more than a linchpin, a not dead but neither alive 'corpse' that the ancestors of the current Four Great Noble House, and the Shiba's prior to losing their titles, had used to create the current three worlds millions of years ago.

So when Yamamoto said the Great Houses and Ichibe Hyosube "used the Soul King's power", they all assumed this meant they talked him into it, despite him being against the idea. For they had no idea just how depraved the true history of the Soul King was.

A few moments of silence passed as the Captains continued to scour the various historical documents, when finally one among then brought up a topic that had been in the back of all their heads for a while now but none dared be the first to bring it up.

"I still can't believe what the old man said was true." He may have been portraying his usual laid-back self, but anyone that knew him could hear the edge in Kyoraku's tone. "Not only one but two beings with power that surpasses the Soul King. Both demons to boot. I know some of the salvaged scrolls and books from Temen-ni-gru said the same but when the old man confirmed it…" He released what might have been a humourless cynical chuckle but the others weren't too sure. "I always knew that Nero kid was strong, but having the blood of one of those demons coursing in his veins... Honestly, his potential sure is scary. Who knows what path the future has in store for that kid."

This time there was no mistaking his insinuation. As goofy as Shunsui Kyoraku portrayed himself, in reality he was as sharp as Kisuke Urahara, as cunning as Yoruichi Shihoin. But unlike those two, he wasn't as close or familiar with Nero, so had none of the bias they did. Making his ominous delivery clear on what he was suggesting.

That being: What would happen if one whom possessed the blood of a devil superior to the Soul King turned on them?

An unsettling consideration. Especially since many of the Captains in this very room had grown close enough to the Devil Hunter they would call him a friend, and so felt dirty even thinking such thoughts.

"Nero is our friend. Our ally. He'd never betray us." This sentiment may have been shared by many in the Gotei 13 that were close to the Devil Hunter, but the fact that it was said by the famously apathetic and impartial Soi Fon hit with greater gravitas. "He'd never betray… her..."

The others didn't need to be told who the "her" in question was. Since the Temen-ni-gru incident and the Tsunayashiro trial, rumours had been abound at just how close the Lady Shihoin was with the Devil Hunter. To the more astute, and those close with both of Nero and Yoruichi, this rumour was being adopted as certainty. And while the two hadn't come out and announced their relationship, neither one seemed to bother much with hiding it.

'But who's to say if she'll remain loyal to our side forever.' Shunsui hated himself for thinking this, but it was his duty as a Capitan to always expect and plan for the worse. Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara had both been betrayed by the Seireitei once before. It stood to reason they might hold a grudge. And if Nero ever turned on the Gotei or Lady Shihoin and Mr Urahara did so, there was really no question who those three would side with if the choice was the Gotei or each other. 'Oh brother. Speculating things like this is why I hope I kick the bucket before the old man. Being the Captain-Commander is not something I'd enjoy.'

"Captain Soi Fon is right. Young Nero has shown tremendous trust in us," Ukitake spoke in away that sounded more like he was telling Kyoraku, rather than voicing his opinion. "He helped us against Aizen, the Bounts and demons. He could have made the Head-Captain tell only himself and Lady Shihoin the truth of Ragnarok but instead he wanted us all to hear. And who's to say what Nero's potential power may be. He may have some blood from this 'Sparda' but the Sparda he's descended from is from another universe. And in Nero's own words he's but a distant ancestor of the great devil, so that blood may have diluted over the generations. He's fought and bled alongside us. If he has faith in us it's only right we reciprocate that trust in him."

Shunsui held up his hands. "Hey, hey. I wasn't saying I think he will betray us. Nero's bought me more than a few rounds of sake and anyone who pays for my booze is a saint in my book." Shunsui grinned, then said in a way that made those that heard unsure if it was supposed to be a joke or a serious statement, "This would be a hell of a lot easier if Ms. Yoruichi stopped protecting him and let us give him a Substitute Shinigami Badge to keep on eye on him."

Concerned eyes from Ukitake flickered to his best friend. While Soi Fon made a contemptuous grumble at how Kyoraku had used Yoruichi's name without any honorific titles. Byakuya merely kept his head down while researching the ancient books and scrolls, his own hard to discern beliefs masked by his neutral expression.

The four Captains got back to their research. Careful only to read from any documents from around three thousand years ago when the demon invasion took place, nothing too far past that nor beyond. Bykuya has been very persistent about that. While he was willing to break, or as he preferred to see it, bend the law, it was only to a certain degree, for his austere character would only go so far.

The flickering flames of the candles was all the noise that lingered in the underground library vault for some time as the Captains were deep in research for anything that might help them with knowing what this "Ares" and "Amagai" were up to, when…

"I knew I heard that name before."

All eyes turned on Byakuya. He was clearly speaking in a manner that demanded their attention.

"Something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?" Shunsui quipped mirthfully, tipping the straw hat on his head. But Byakuya, ever the adult, acted like he hadn't heard and carried on with what he wanted to say to his audience.

"My grandfather, Lord Ginrei Kuchiki, used to tell me many bedtime stories when I was a child. Particularly those that focused on urban legends and old myth." The book Byakuya was reading from brought back all the nostalgic memories. "One was of 'Eirene's Temple'." The others minor curiosity now elevated into captive intrigue, their focused eyes unblinking. "It was supposedly a 'corridor' or 'bridge' to other worlds, the fairy tales said. According to this journal, which was written at the time of Ragnarok, that wasn't a tall tale. But truth." He scanned the pages and gave brief detail to his enthralled audience about what it said. "The project to build the temple involved all mortal worlds. And the only ones able to access the temple was for those with the blood of Shi-" His regal aloofness quickly pivoted into one of abject concern. His wide eyes full of urgency bore onto the petite female among them. "Where is Lord Yushiro Shihoin? Is he at his families manor?"

A puzzled Soi Fon blinked, unsure as to what was making him so troubled. "No. I received word he was heading into the Wildlands of all places, for whatever reason." That news elicited an unnerved frown from the Kuchiki nobleman. "Don't look so panicked, Captain Kuchiki. Your concern for his lordship is appreciated but unwarranted. I sent a company of my finest men to guard him on his travels. No Runkongai thugs or wild Hollow will be a match for any Executive Militia elite of the Onmitsukido."

The woman's confidence wasn't shared by Byakuya whom fell silent with a tensed, calculating expression. He then abruptly rose from his seat. "We must mobilise our forces as quickly as possible and find Lord Yushiro. I'm afraid we've all been played for fools."

---

Yoruichi hadn't been exaggerating the distance when she said she and Nero would need to go at full speed to reach the informally named "Wildlands" before nightfall.

The Wildlands themselves were located outside the boundary of the Rukongai, but given the Rukongai itself dwarfed most countries in the Human World, getting there in time to reach Yushiro before Ares and Amagai did would take no small feat. Even with his newfound proficiency in the Hoho Shinigami art of Shunpo, Nero still needed to fall back on Trickster to help keep up with Yoruichi, and even then he could tell she was still slowing herself to allow him to keep pace. Only his drive to rescue the little rascal he'd grown fond off in the form of Yoruichi's brother kept Nero from keeling over from overexerting his speed.

If only they could use the Senkaimon-like portal networks which acted as 'teleportation sites'. Allowing one, or even a group, to instantaneously move from one location to another in seconds, with stops all across the Soul Society, it would've cut their travel time to a fraction. These worked via utilizing utilizing the spiritual ley lines, Reimyaku, woven into the Soul Society in conjuncture with the forbidden Kido teleportation spell. If anyone else tried to copy this method of travel, it would bring with it a hefty prison sentence, but the nobles, especially the top four families, had never needed to follow the same rules as everyone else.

Alas, only four keys to these portal networks existed, one for the Head of each Great Noble House, and Yoruichi had given hers to Yushiro, which is how he and his retinue had gotten to the Wildlands so quickly, as she was only the Regent Head and never expected to need it.

On their frenzied sprint, Yoruichi fed Nero the details about their destination, since he was still a newbie when it came to the more intricate knowledge of the Soul Society.

For as mind-bogglingly vast as the Seireitei and Rukongai are, they are by no means all the Soul Society. There were other notable locations beyond those two places, one of which was the aptly named Wildlands.

Long, long before the Seireitei became the supreme centre of power in a unified afterlife, the Soul Society had been divide up into five dominions. With each of the then Five Great Ruling Families reigning over their territory and subjects as kings. Lying sandwiched in the epicentre of the Five Kingdoms, where all five borders converged, was the 'Disputed Lands'. The area of the Soul Society which had the highest concentration of Reishi, Reiryoku and Reimyaku anywhere in the world of souls. For countless generations the Great Ruling Families fought over these lands which were as valuable to them as rich oil fields are to modern human nations.

After aeons of on-and-off warfare and no winners in sight, the Five Great Ruling Families decided to put aside their differences and come together, sharing the 'Disputed Lands' between themselves. In time the 'Disputed Lands' built up into a bustling city far larger than any in the Five Kingdoms. When the Five Great Ruling Families opted to leave their castles in their kingdoms and move to this grand new city, that was the final nail in the coffin for the age of the Five Kingdoms.

This new city soon became known as the 'Court of Pure Souls', known today as the Seireitei. And it was quickly established as the capital city of the entire Soul Society, and all the nobles, both great and small, left the declining Five Kingdoms, which own ruling families had abandoned, and made this city their new home. Thus turning the divided Soul Society into the single hegemonic oligarchy it is today. With one city and the now Five Great Noble Families ruling over all, and one and only one king left standing above even them, the Reio. Though, in truth, the Soul King was little more than a figurehead the Five Great Noble Families used to justify and assert their own unrivalled and limitless power.

Following in the upper-class's footsteps, the common folk likewise began to leave the now king-less kingdoms for this ever thriving city that stood as a beacon of change in the afterlife. Those too poor to live in the Seireitei set up home outside its walls. At first, there was but a small village on the outskirts of the Seireitei, but as more and more commoners flocked, this village became a town, the twon became a city and soon somethign even greater in scale than that. A megalopolis-size megacity of interconnected slums with dozens upon dozens of districts. Thus, the Rukongai was born.

Which left the once highly populated and prosperous Five Kingdoms to be forsaken in favour of these two new cities of rich and poor. Flourishing cities, towns and villages in the kingdoms became abandoned by people and time. Derelict ghost towns all that remained.

Over the following aeons, the lands that once served as the Five Kingdoms became reclaimed by time and nature. What were once heralded as kingdoms were now vast unclaimed wildlands. Where the only ones to venture were hermits seeking isolation, wild Hollows trying to escape the Gotei 13 as not even the Shinigami bothered to police the remote wilderness, and treasure hunters hoping to break into the abandoned former palaces of the nobles and loot any valuables still remaining for a tidy profit.

Hearing about these lands was one thing. Seeing was another. Once they reached where the Rukongai ended and Wildlands began, Nero had to stop to take in his surroundings.

"Whoa…"

No longer were there any buildings or throngs of people crowded around that were all too commonplace in the Seireitei and Rukongai. There was only green. So much of it. Just stepping into this frontier felt like diving into the unknown, getting blasted by a gale of crisp yet eerie air. A thick tapestry of shrubbery and tress that stood as tall as apartment complexes stretched as far as the eye could see. Snow-topped mountain peaks could be seen through the dense canopy in the far distance. Chirps, squeaks and songs from birds, critters, animals were the orchestra for this canvas of nature, accompanied by other guttural noises from animals Nero didn't recognise. Only a single overgrown dirt road foretold that civilisation once touched this place so long ago that humans still lived in caves when the lands were abandoned.

'Not even the Mitis Forest back at Fortuna holds a candle to this,' mused Nero.

Before he was yanked out his daydreams by Yoruichi, trying her hardest to steady the stress in her tone with her characteristic sarcasm. "If you want to enjoy the scenery then we can come back for a romantic picnic another time. We have more pressing matters to attend to right now."

The two lovers continued on their way. Using a series of Shunpo and Trickster Dashes to delve deeper into the seemingly infinite forest that made even the Amazon Rainforest resemble a small community park in contrast.

When but a few minutes later, and at least over two hundred miles into the wilderness, they came upon a gruesome and foreboding scene that made Yoruichi's heart drop…

"...No ...This can't be happening..."

Bloodstains, scorch marks that left black trails on the road, small craters, and many felled trees cut with the precision only a blade could make, and… corpses. So many corpses.

Yoruichi recognised the clothing and insignia on the dead. One was tame, made up of two outlines of rectangles overlapping the other, and the second was far more elegant in its opulent design, the same design that adorned the ring on Nero's finger. An ensemble of Onmitsukido Executive Militia force members and Shihoin household guards. All sprawled out across the battlefield, which was more a scene of butchery than battle. Some of the corpses had deep cuts across their body, so deep some had their entrails spilled out and others had entire limbs missing. While others were little more than charcoaled remains.

An overturned ornate carriage with incinerated horses still tied to the reins had fallen on its side in the gutter of the road. The fine woodwork sullied by burn marks and half its left side shattered to pieces, as if an explosion impacted the doors.

"No… Reio no… I was too late," her defeated voice came out in a whispered gasp. But just as Yoruichi's legs wobbled from her inner emotional pain and nearly collapsed to her knees, a feint mummer resonated from underneath the rubble that was once the carriage past Shihoin's oft used to travel the Seireitei.

"Yoruichi… are you-" Before Nero could attempt to console his despair-sodden lover, the dark-skinned woman made a mad dash to the carriage wreck.

Yoruichi franticly picked up and threw the broken planks of wood off the pile, beneath which was where the pained groaning was coming from. To her side was Nero, helping do the same. When he joined her she didn't know, she was too focused on the task at hand.

"Is that you, Yushiro?! Hang on, I'll get you outta there!" But it wasn't her brother. Once enough of the wood was removed, the one underneath was a far from a young dark-skinned purple-haired boy as you could get. "Chiyo?!"

Yoruichi and Nero helped free the elderly woman and placed her against a tree so she could lean back with some support.

"I never did like that flamboyant carriage," the woman spoke in a weak voice but did her best to act fearless despite her myriad of wounds. She could see the pain and fear tugging at Yoruichi's features and wanted to alleviate her granddaughter in all but blood from as much anguish as she could. "You two look like you've seen a ghost. I know I'm no looker at my age but I didn't think I was that ugly to look at-CkkuuGgHh!" She was hit with a coughing spree. She used her hand to cover her mouth and when she was done, she pulled her hand away and opened up her fist. Revealing spits and blood on her wrinkled hand, just as a trickle of blood began to leak from the side of her mouth.

"…Chiyo…" The worried expression on Yoruichi was shared by Nero who was standing beside her. She kneeled down to be better level with the woman that helped teach her the ways of court after her parents untimely passing and reached out to hold the woman's frail hands. Chiyo had always been pale, but now she was the same tone as chalk and looked so fragile a slight breeze would make her crumble to dust. "You need Kaido to help ease your injuries. Maybe Nero could take you back to the Seirei-"

"Oh, poppycock. I'm not about to die from these scrapes." Was what Chiyo said but her wounds were by no means superficial. Even talking hurt, but she made sure not to show this, knowing it would only cause Yoruichi further grief. "It's not me that needs your help. Your brother-"

"Yushiro?! What's happened to him?" Yoruichi was desperate to know, given how her brother was nowhere to be seen among the dead, and the pain at not knowing was killing her.

Chiyo then explained what had transpired earlier this day. That at the crack of dawn a letter claiming to be from Yoruichi herself told Yushiro to come to the old Shihoin Castle in the part of the Wildlands her family once ruled. That on their journey they'd been ambushed by the true author of the letter, a former Shinigami named Shusuke Amagai. Of how he slaughtered all those that got between him and Yushiro. How Chiyo had actually been the luckiest one as the fireball Amagai shot at her missed and hit the carriage instead, saving her life but leaving her able to only watch as the man knocked out Yushiro, despite the boys valiant attempts at defending himself and his family staff, and dragged the boy off deeper into the wilds.

"The summit of Mount Yamabiko," with great effort, Chiyo raised her trembling arm and pointed a boney finger at the mountain peak visible through the tree tops, "that's where he said he was taking him. Arrogant bastard told me so himself. Must've been sure I'd die before I could tell anyone. He took little Yushi over an hour ago. You both must hurry and go."

As much as she wanted to save her brother, Yoruichi couldn't just up and leave her surrogate grandmother here like this, in the middle of nowhere and covered in wounds. She was terrified that if Chiyo fell asleep now, she might never wake up. "Chiyo… we can't just-"

"Forget about me. I'll be fine," Chiyo assured, doing her best to act tough to ease Yoruichi's conscience. "Please," her features softened as she met Yoruichi's orbs of gold, her sharp tongue she was famed for now gone as she spoke from the heart, "you and your brother have been the best things to happen in my life, little Yoru. Don't let me be what causes you both pain."

Yoruichi went silent. Staring at her grandmother figure in a new found light. Fighting back the emotion and acting strong, as she'd always been tought to never let her emotions control her, rather, the other way around. "…Chiyo…" A tender hand clasped her shoulder. She gazed up and saw the compassionate look on Nero, as if to say 'I know it's hard. But we've no other choice'.

"She's right, Yoruichi. We need to go after Yushiro. If we're too late, who knows what will happen to him." Nero could see the dilemma on her forlorn face clear as day. He ever so gently squeezed his hand on her shoulder, not to harm her, but to remind her he was by her side now and always and they were in this together no matter what. "You know what Kisuke's like. By now he's probably figured out where we've headed and will have sent word to the others. When they get here they can treat Chiyo." Whether Nero truly believed that or was lying to relieve her was unclear to even himself. But sure as shit hoped it was true.

Quivering lips moved but no discernible sound came from Yoruichi. Clearly caught between a rock and a hard place as she wanted to save her brother but couldn't just abandon the woman that helped raise her. She kept turning her head between Chiyo and Nero, then scrunched her eyes shut, silently raging at how things had panned out. When another voice called out to help her decision.

"Listen to him, dear," the soft sincere smile was one Chiyo only ever gave the Shihoin children. She fought back the pain and edged closer to Yoruichi who looked like a lost child, rather than the tough as nails woman she was. She placed a hand on the woman's ebony cheek and gave it a delicate pinch, as she used to when the woman was but a little girl that would wake up from nightmares and need her surrogate grandmother to soothe her back to sleep. "Your parents and I taught you better than to let nerves cloud your judgement. Do the smart thing, the right thing. You aren't some timid weak girl. You're the strongest person I know, and I couldn't be more proud of the woman you've grown into. Now go. Go and get your brother. Be the hero he's always believed you are."

Shutting her eyes hard and clenching her fists, Yoruichi opened her eyes and allowed newfound resolution to form on her features. "I will. Thank you, Chiyo." That settled, she and Nero readied to set off in the direction Chiyo instructed, when the purplenette gave the old woman an oath she swore she would upkeep, "And don't worry. When I find that son of a bitch. I won't make the same mistake he did. When I'm done with him, I'll make damn sure he's dead."

---

"Not too far now. He's just beyond this ridge. His scent is all around there."

While Chiyo knew the rough direction Amagai had taken Yushiro, she didn't know the specific location. And given how large Mount Yamabiko was, there was no way Nero and Yoruichi could find him in time by scouring every square mile themselves. So Nero used a tactic hunters had for millennia. He summoned forth a dog, Baskerville to specific, and passed him the hair tie that had fallen from Yushiro during his struggle with Amagai and had the shadow-hound take in a big whiff. Baskerville's nose worked just as good as any Bloodhounds and soon enough he picked up the scent trail of Yushiro. Nero and Yoruichi following his lead.

"You sure?"

An exasperated Baskerville lifted his chin up at Nero's question. "Now see here. You may be my Master but I shall not take an insult against my nose lightly."

"Okay, okay. Sheesh. I'm sorry," apologised Nero. "And how many times do I have to tell you. Can it with the whole "Master" thing. Just use my name."

Baskerville grunted. Then gestured with a nod. "Over that ridge is the mountains peak, I can smell the crisp air. The boy and his abductor are both present."

"Just the two of them?" Yoruichi asked.

"Indeed. I can't smell this 'God of War' anywhere," replied Baskerville.

Nero nodded at his canine Devil Arm. "Thanks for assist. By the way. What's your range? How far can you travel away from me?"

Not the question Baskerville expected but he gave his best guess. "I'm not sure the specific distance. But like a remote control car is limited by how good the batteries are, I'm limited by how much Reiryoku my Mast- wielder has. The more power you have, the further I can travel while maintaining my form."

With a theorising frown on his face, Nero queried, "You think you can travel to the Seireitei?"

The shadowy mass that was the black dog raised a brow, "Perhaps. Why?"

At both Baskerville and Yoruichi's inquisitive looks, Nero stated, "Kisuke's bound to have sent word to the others about what's going on. The Shinigami have probably figured out by now Yushiro's gone to the Wildlands, but they won't know the exact location."

"I see," Baskerville uttered as he understood what his Master- No, Wielder, was thinking. "You want me to direct them?" Nero gave the dog a 'Yes'. "I can but try to get that far. Very well. I'll do as you wish." Taking a few steps down the trail, Baskerville aimed a cordial look at Yoruichi, his luminescent red eyes harbouring none of his usual scowl, "Cats and dogs may differ in many ways. But we each protect our own. And respect that. Show those cowards what happens when you mess with an animals pack."

Yoruichi gave a curt nod to the dog that up until now had always been cold towards her and she to him, living up to their reputation of cats and dogs never getting on. "I will."

With that, Baskerville left. Leaving Nero and Yoruichi alone on the windy mountain top. The wind and cold air biting at their skin.

Just the two of them, stood side by side. A brief moment of silence passed. Only the howling wind, rustling tress that's leaves were stolen by the wind and taken forcibly in the current, filled this quiet serene area that would have been beautiful if not for their reason for being here.

In unison, Nero and Yoruichi locked eyes. Afternoon blue sky and ethereal pots of gold. Each one could lose themselves just staring at the eyes of their partners that always seemed to know what the other was thinking.

"If Amagai is alone it'll be easier for us to capture and question him," was Nero's plan. "See what he knows about Ares and-"

"He's not alone." Yoruichi's features were hard and cold. Her aura so frosty it was like a black void, empty of any empathy. Even Nero felt uncomfortable seeing her like this, like he was looking at a machine built perfectly to kill without remorse. A master assassin. "He has my brother. I don't care what he might know. I'm not taking him alive. I'll snap his neck and throw his corpse in the dirt for the worms to feed on like he did to Chiyo."

"…" Sometimes Nero forgot that while Yoruichi was normally a bubbly, compassionate and spirited soul, she was once the Supreme Commander of the Onmitsukido, a group that even the Gotei 13 often looked down on for their dishonourable fighting tactics, and heralded as the best assassin the Soul Society had ever seen prior to her exile a century ago. 'She's a killer, deep down. She's probably took more lives during her time as a Captain than I can imagine. Not like I can blame her though. I'm no saint myself. I wanted Sanctus and Agnus dead just as bad for what they did to Kyrie and Credo.' Deciding what happened with Amagai was her call, Nero agreed, "Alright. If that's how you want to play this, I'll support your decision." Her lips curved to give a faint smile, eternally grateful Nero stood by her side on this and held no discrimination for her darker side. "Lets do this."

…

At the peak of the mountain, there lay what could only be described as an altar. Flat marble floor which led to a straight vertical drop off the mountain and into the clouds which lay below the peak. This altar had most likely not been visited by anyone in tens, if not hundreds, of millennia.

Today that changed.

A gruff man with shaggy unkempt blue hair and dressed in pseudo Gotei Captains attire, paced in circles around the altar. Off in the distance, and visible from the high peak, was the old Shihoin Castle. From this distance, little of the castle could be made out, but it was just as large as one might have expected from a family as prominent as them.

The man was wearing a grimace and kept shifting his gaze from the sky to the unconscious young dark-skinned boy that he was dragging along the floor like a sack, his hand clutched around the boys collar. The boy looked worse for ware. His mundane, yet visibly fancy clothes had several tears and burn marks on them. His purple hair was loose and frenzy. Blood stained the left side of his forehead and dried blood trails ran down his bruised and puffy face. His right eye was purple and swollen and lower lip busted.

"Tch," an irritated Amagai huffed, "The decorum for showing up on time clearly wasn't taught to the Olympians. Damn you, Ares. How much longer will you make me wait. It's bad enough I was the one who had to capture this little brat."

The sound of crunching snow moving closer and closer alerted Amagai that he'd been found. Clicking his tongue at this screw up in the plan, the traitor Shinigami hoisted up his prize, his hand around the kids neck.

From up the incline several feet away, two figures appeared. Coming straight at him and shooting him their most hate-filled glares.

"Ha! I'll be damned. Of all the people to find me it's you two," Amagai chuckled wickedly at the demon freak and the entitled Shihoin princess, both of them wearing their desire to kill him on their sleeves as it were.

"You'll be "damned" alright." The sight of her brother alive sent a wave of relief in Yoruichi. But as she noted the litany of wounds on him, a conflagration of primal fury unlike any she'd felt in her life awakened inside her and made her shake with rage. She readied to strike a killing blow on the man, "I'll damn you to hell for hurting him for fucki-!"

"Hold it right there!" Both his foes skidded to a halt as Amagai began to squeeze his hand around Yushiro's neck. Though unconscious, the boy still jerked and gagged as his windpipe was slowly being crushed. "One more step and I'll make you a lonely child."

Pure hatred unlike any Nero had ever seen radiated off Yoruichi. Her Reiatsu flaring out and showering the mountain peak in its hate-spiced intensity. "You bastard! I swear, I'm gonna put you through so much pain and suffering you'll beg for the mercy of death when I'm through with you," her ice-cold delivery sounded far more like a tangible promise than just some random angered threats.

"I'm sure you would. As a former member of the Onmitsukido myself, I heard many a stories of how your easy-going and unpretentious personality served to mask the maliciousness within. There are still those that fear you more than current Commander-in-Chief, Soi Fon. All those you imprisoned in the Maggots Nest, had executed, assassinated with your own hands, all without a fair trial. Is it any wonder karma has it out for a family of degenerates like yours." If Amagai hoped to gain a reaction from her, he was at a loss as she lowered her head so her expression was hidden by purple fridge and black shadow.

After a brief pause, her voice came out solid and genuine. "I was Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido and Captain of the 2nd Division. I did what I was instructed and don't feel any regret for my decisions. If I didn't do those things someone else would. The world isn't sunshine and daisy's," she said more so for Nero's sake as she knew what Amagai said sat with him.

While Nero was wise to the world, he too often remained ignorant to Yoruichi's dark side. She had been an assassin for many decades. Soi Fon didn't pick up her cool apathy for taking lives from nowhere after all. Though, unlike Yoruichi, Soin Fon had a harder time separating that dark side from her normal life.

Yoruichi slowly lifted her head, shadows and hair parting to reveal a profile of cold malice. She resembled a devil at this very moment far more than Nero did. "I'll gladly show you how I earned my reputation in those stories. My Shunpo isn't just for racing. In and out, killing my targets before they even knew what happened. Like a Goddess of 'Flash'."

'So that's how she earned that title.' The name 'Goddess of Flash' now took on new meaning to Nero.

"I'm sure your speed is as legendary as they say. I'm not fool enough to think I could compete with you in battle. But are you willing to bet your brothers life on your speed. All it would take is less than a second and one little squeeze of my hand and I'll break his neck like a twig." To emphasise his point, Amagai began to squeeze even harder on Yushiro's throat. The boys limp form twitching and whimpering in agony.

"Grrr!" A rage hotter than Ryujin Jakka and scorn colder than Hyorinmaru made Yoruichi their home. All her instincts were screaming at her to go for it, gouge the bastards eyes out and rip out his tongue. But she was forced to relent and back down. Even if she was ninety-nine point-nine percent sure she'd be fast enough to kill Amagai before the synapses in his brain could react to her movements, it was still a risk she wasn't willing to gamble with her baby brothers life on the line. "I'll kill you, you cowardly bastard. This will be your last night alive, make no mistake about that," she spat with poison. Stabbing at him with her most intense glare that would make most grown men weep in fear.

"You won't kill him. You need his blood." Sharing Yoruichi's own worries, Nero too made no attempt to spring an attack on the ex-Shinigami for fear Yushiro may suffer for it.

"Oh. So you've figured that much out, have you. No matter. Even if you know what Ares is after it doesn't matter." Pulling out his Zanpakuto with his free hand, and enjoying watching them both flinch upon him pointing the tip at the unconscious young Lords chest where his heart would be, Amagai said sinisterly, "Only a drop of Shihoin blood is needed from each member of the current household alive at any given time in order to open Eirene's Temple. But I don't mind taking more. Better say than sorry, that's what my father used to say."

"You-" Yoruichi hissed, clenching her fists so tight she drew blood, but there was so much adrenaline coursing through her system she never even noticed the pain.

The tension between the three warriors was nearly physical. The hate, fury and sneer on Nero, Yoruichi and Amagai jabbed at the other like a blade.

"Oh relax," Amagai rolled his eyes in apathy. "Jeez. You two can't take a joke can you. This brat may be just one of many unjust nobles whose sense of entitlement plagues the Seireitei with their corruption along with the Gotei 13, but I'm not in the business of killing kids. All I need…" he placed the tip of his katana on the boys ebony cheek, pressing down enough to draw blood and slowly moving his blade down. Leaving a vertical cut on the boys left cheek that leaked crimson. Amagai brought the tip blade of his sword which had blood running along it within inches of his face. "…Is just a drop."

Words couldn't describe what Yoruichi wanted to do the man as she watched him scar her baby brothers cheeks she'd kissed more times than she could count over the years she raised him. She had to fight every instinct that told her to pounce and claw the flesh from his bones. Her willpower being put on overdrive. "There. You have want you want. Now let him GO!"

Amagai's eyes flickered between his bloodstained blade, the young boy in his hold, and the woman baring her teeth at him. A cruel and wicked smile stretched across his features. "Let him go? Well, if the princess demands. I shall oblige."

With one mighty heave, Amagai threw Yushiro from his grip. Not towards his sister, but over the side of the mountain. Where was nothing but a sheer vertical drop to the rocks thousands of feet below.

"YUSHIRO!" In no hesitation at all, Yoruichi used Shunpo to dash past Amagai and to the edge of the mountain where she dived off with the grace of an Olympic diver.

"YORUICHI!" Nero made a mad dash to the edge himself, but as he looked down the straight drop he saw nothing but the clouds. Both Shihoin's nowhere to be seen.

"Aw. How touching. The last Shihoin's can die together on the rocks of the mountain in the lands their ancestors once ruled." Amagai fed the drops of Yushiro's blood on his blade into a small vial he then pocketed.

Nero whirled around in Amagai's direction, mouth twisting into a snarl. "If you think a bunch of rocks is enough to kill them you're as dumb as that hair makes you look." He clasped his hand around the handle of Red Queen which was holstered on his back, having brought the weapon with him when he left Urahara's and went after Yoruichi. "I'll shove both those weapons of yours so far up your ass you'll be shitting metal for months, you fuckin' asshole."

Every step the Devil Hunter took towards him, Amagai countered by taking two back. "It's funny to see one as vile as you," his disgusted lour found the scaly appendage that was the teens right arm, his Devil Bringer, "a demon-blooded freak, act as if I'm the villain here. Those two you care for so much are nothing more than entitled blue-bloods. It's because of nobles like them and the Gotei 13 that the Soul Society's fallen so. Corruption and injustice have tainted this world to the core. But Ares and I will change that."

Nero's cold sneer was more demonic than his arm. "If your plan is to bore me to death with speeches then you're doing a good job. I don't give a shit about "justice" or the state of the Soul Society. You hurt those I care about. That's reason enough for you to die." Before Nero could pull Red Queen from his back, a loud roar boomed from the sky. "Huh-?"

"Ah," unlike the part-demon that was taken aback by the roar to deep and guttural to be from any known animal, Amagai was the picture of calm, "About time he showed up."

Nero found Amagai's confidence disconcerting. "What are you-"

"RRRROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

The guttural growl made Nero's very bones vibrate from the intensity. But it at least established the location of the noise. 'That came from the sky. Just what…' Craning his neck up, Nero got a good look at the creature that had made the noise as it soared out from the clouds with the speed of lightning and manoeuvrability of hawk. "You've gotta be shittin' me. Is that…" On his face was the epitome of shell shock, eyes bulging and jaw agape, "a DRAGON?!"

Hurtling through the sky was a chimera-like beast with scales as black as night. Four limbs, two wings and a long neck, like a typical depiction of a western dragon. Only it had a whiskered, fish-like head, insectile antenna protruding from its crown and a bone-like white mask covering its lower jaw. Its hands were talon-like, akin to an eagles. Even from this distance Nero could make out the smouldering red pits that were its eyes which glowed like lava. At the centre of its chest, where the heart should be, was black hollowed out hole.

"I suppose I should've expected you wouldn't know of them. They aren't found in this side of the Soul Society, and neither the Seireitei nor Gotei 13 bother with them, seeing them as but a minor annoyance than a threat like the Hollows." Amagai spoke as casually as if he were talking about the weather. "Though we may call them "Dragons" they aren't the creatures humans write of in their fairy tales. They're more akin to Hollows, having once been human souls that morphed into these creatures due to reasons unknown to the Seireitei even today. They've been largely exterminated across all Soul Society and World of the Living but some areas in both worlds still harbour these 'Dragons', particularly Europe. The western branch of the Soul Society, Wing Bind, is responsible for dealing with them. But they're all the way over in Reverse London, a city on the opposite side of the Soul Society. So those weak little wizards and witches that rely on imitation Kido to fight with their Rieryoku so weak they couldn't even make it into the Shino Academy to become Shinigami won't be coming to help."

"…" Nero just stared at Amagai with a blank expression for some time before muttering, "Dragons? Wing Bind? Wizards and Witches? Reverse London? Did you just pull all that outta your ass to screw with me?"

The dragon-like beast descended from the clouds like comet, its trajectory heading straight for the mountain peak. Nero was able to Trickster Dash several feet away before he was crushed like a bug underneath the beast which landed where he'd been standing. The force of the creatures impact was so great that the very ground shattered upon its landing, rocks as large as boulders jettisoning out from the rubble like a bomb had gone off. Amagai summoned a Kido barrier to protect himself from any debris while Nero crossed his arms in front of himself in an 'X' shape.

"That's one big boy." Now it was but a few feet from him, Nero got a better sense of its scale. The Dragon was enormous. Easily over a hundred feet long. It's wings so large that as the monster outstretched them, the entire peak of the mountain became shrouded in darkness. Its teeth which it brandished were larger than even Red Queen and its jaw large enough to swallow a horse in one gulp. "Or are you a girl? 'Cause if you're a boy, I gotta say at least one part of your body didn't get the same 'growth spurt' the rest did."

The Dragon titled its head at Nero as if studying the puny insect that was not intimated in the least. Then drew in a breath and unleashed a mighty…

"RRRROOOOAAAARRRR!"

The force of the Dragons bellow put category five hurricanes to shame. What few trees grew at the mountain peak were ripped out their roots and sent careening away, along with masses of snow that avalanched down the mountains sides. Nero was only able to keep himself steady by planting his combat boots into the ground, and even then his feet skidded back a ways, his white hair and blue coat flapping in the high wind. Nero had no doubt that if not for his demonic regenerative healing his eardrums would had shattered there and then.

Once the Dragon let up, Nero casually ran a hand through his hair to get it back in the shaggy style he usually kept it and padded off the dirt and snow that had been kicked up onto his clothes from the beasts howl. "And people say I'm a loudmouth. They not have breath mints in Camelot or whatever fantasy land you're from."

The indifferent cavalier attitude the teen was giving off was not something the Dragon was used to seeing on its prey, and it struck a nerve with the beast that was about to give into its anger when someone stopped it.

"Easy there, my friend. Pay no heed to his attempts at humour."

'That voice…' The Dragon listened to the man's words and pulled back from Nero whom it was about to attack and into a more relaxed posture. As it did so, the Dragon lowered one of its wings enough to give Nero a peek at its back. There, sitting on the Dragon's back like a jockey would a horse was… "Ares," the name was laced with venom.

The Olympian, clad in his Spartan-like armour, acted pleased as he looked down at the young white-haired youth from his high position. "So, you got through to that half-headed stubborn demon better than I ever did? You have my congratulations. If you learnt of my identity from that hell-spawn I assume that means you know of everything else."

"I know about Ragnarok, if that's what you're asking. Phineas and the old man told us all," said Nero, making sure to not to go into too much detail as to keep his cards close to his chest.

Ares was oddly surprised. "That obstinate wrinkled soldier actually broke his oath of secrecy to his Soul King. My my. His stubbornness was legendary even when he was a young lad. Why, it would have even killed him three thousands years ago had I not stepped in and saved his life when he tried to take on a demon above his weight. And here I thought I'd have to be the one to tell you and the Shinigami about the past."

Nero thought that weird. 'Why Ares would want to tell us about Ragnarok?' But he chose not to dwell on it. "We also know about that Temple you're after. What? You lookin' to use it to conquer all mortal worlds? You bad guys are all so cliché in your goals. Would some originality kill ya'."

Ares' expression gave nothing away. "You're partly correct. But I'm no deluded power-hungry cur. Do not mistake me for this 'Sosuke Aizen' that turned on your friends in the Gotei 13. What I seek is salvation. For all mortals." The confused part-devil flapped his lips to speak but Ares turned to his ally on the ground, not caring what the lad had to say. "Speaking of the Temple. Where's the Shihoin boy?"

"He and his sister went for a 'swan dive'," a conceited Amagai gestured with his thumb to the cliff drop. He held up the bloody tip of his blade to placate the frown on Ares he could see growing. "I got his blood before they fell. The two keys we've been needing are finally ours."

A profound look of annoyed disappointment stretched on Ares. "I'd have preferred the Shihoin boy, and his sister especially, have been left unharmed." He shook his head. "No matter. What's done is done. Get on, Shusuke. We have a castle to visit and a temple to awaken."

Doing as told, Amagai used Shunpo to appear atop the Dragons back, just behind Ares, and took his seat.

"Lets go!" The Dragon obeyed Ares command and flapped its wings, causing a localises gale.

"HOLD IT!" The high wind pressure swept Nero's coat and hair back and he had to put an arm out in front of his face since the air currents stung his eyes. He was able to stop himself being blow away unlike most of the landscape around him by impaling Red Queen into the ground and using it as his anchor. "Grrrr!"

"As much as I'd love to stay and chat, I have business to attend to," Ares called out to Nero. "Something I've being planning for over a century. And now I have to two keys required I can finally achieve that dream."

It felt surreal for Ares to be so close to his goal. Close enough he could see and taste it. Ever since he learnt he needed the blood of the Shihoin's to use Eirene's Temple he sought the family members out. Only to find out one of the two had fled the Soul Society and was in hiding in the Human World, doing such a good job of it Ares failed to locate her for a century. He thought he'd never find her, until a few months ago when word of her return made its way to Amagai and Ares, both still keeping tabs on the goings on in the Seireitei.

Apparently, Yoruichi Shihoin had played a role in freeing a Shinigami sentenced to death and made a home for herself in a small Japanese town called Karakura. But still Ares couldn't pinpoint her location. That was until rumour of her friendship with a certain part-demon reached Amagai's, then Ares', ear. And Ares realised that by going after this part-demon, it would bring the Shihoin woman to him as she'd want to avenge her friend. Her brother was the easy part.

Now both siblings blood was in his hands, Ares wasn't about to waste time talking with some part-demon vermin. "You have my thanks for all you did for me!" He had to shout to be heard over the Dragons cyclone generating wings. "You plucked that thorn Arkham from my side and handed my the two Shihoin's on a platter! I couldn't have done this without you!"

The Dragon beat its wings and ascended several feet off the ground, turned in the direction of the old Shihoin Castle off in the far distance and began its flight path towards it.

"Like hell you're getting' away that easy, you pompous pricks!" Using his brute strength, Nero defied the heavy jet-stream-like gale attempting to sweep him away, and by digging his boots into the ground with each step and using Red Queen as a pseudo ski pole, he was able to push through the heavy winds that made him feel like he were standing behind the exhaust of a taking off rocket ship and close the distance between himself and the Dragon.

The Dragon paid no heed to the encroaching demon slayer and with one final hefty flap of its wings, flew off the mountain peak. Yet, before the Dragon could fly too far away, the silver-haired figure leaped off the very same cliff-face Yoruichi had just dived off and extended out his right arm. A spectral-like and mostly transparent blue demonic arm formed into being beside the young man and latched itself onto the Dragons tail, pulling him towards the beast like a grappling hook.

Blissfully ignorant of this, a snide and cynical Amagai fussed, "I don't understand your reluctance to just kill those two blue-blooded elites after we got their blood."

Giving a tired shake of his head, Ares, who'd grown sick of hearing his partner go on about this for the past few days, countered, "They are the only two remaining members of the Shihoin Clan. They, along with the other Great Noble Families, possess natural prowess and power but a minuscule handful of other mortals can achieve. Combined with their power and prestige, it would be very advantageous to have them on our side in order to gain the Soul Society's allegiance. Not to mention that my distant cousin Eirene designed the temple to work with blood of living Shihoin's. I don't know what would happen if we used their blood after their deaths, and frankly, I'd rather not risk it."

This didn't sit right with Amagai, his form of malignant suspicion. "What do you mean? You promised me we'd kill the nobles after we used the Temple to get this 'army' of yours. Those self-important snobs are just as guilty as the Gotei 13 for the corruption that's poisoned the Seireitei and took so many lives… like… his…"

'Urgh. Here we go again with the daddy issues.' Inwardly, Ares groaned at having to listen to yet another one of Amagai's speeches on how the nobles and Shinigami's evil and corruption was the reason his father met an untimely demise. He was able to retain his mask of assurance on the outside. "I know what I promised as payment for your assistance. Payment which involved taking out "select" nobles and Shinigami. Not all of them, as you yourself agreed too." His ex-Shinigami partner grumbled something under his breath but gave no objection. "Fret not. Soon enough the Soul Society will be back in just hands, as you so desire."

That placated Amagai enough to end the topic, though he did have an uneasy shade to him. What he failed to notice, given Ares was sitting a few feet in front and had his back to him, was the subtle callous, almost belittling crooked smirk twisting on the Olympian, as if he was privy to a secret Amagai wasn't.

There was a tingle in the air of hellish pressure. Inclining his head a minor tad, Ares indifferently mumbled, "It appears we company."

"Hmm," a blue-tinted brow peeked on Amagai, his spiritual sensory receptors having missed the rise in demonic and spiritual power, owing to being locked in his own head, replaying memories of his lost father that made him glum. "What are you-"

*Bang*

The deafening noise was akin to a canon and made Amagai's muscles tense and bones clench. He swiftly sprung to his feet and spun around to face the direction the noise had come. There was the part-demon boy, standing steadfast and proud with his coat and hair whipping in the high-altitude wind. The snowy-haired teen had his left arm extended out, holding what could only be described as a double-barrelled hand-canon revolver that was as large as his forearm, said barrels smoking.

But what really made Amagai disconcerted was the over inch long and thick twin bullets hovering in mid-air, right where his head had just been while seated. One bullet clearly designed to pierce pierce armour and the second. a more hollow-point-like bullet, meant to capitalise on the first bullet and deal series internal damage. Amagai had no doubt if the bullets had hit him, at best he'd of been knocked out cold, or at worst his head would have burst like a balloon of chunky soup.

"Surprise, motherfuckers," Nero taunted with a cocky grin.

"Hoping you'd get a through-and-through shot on us both? Honestly, how rude. Attempting to kill us without even announcing your presence. Yoruichi Shihoin's previous life as an assassin must be rubbing off on you," Ares had to practically yell to be heard over the howling wind that dominated all the men's ears that you'd expect when travelling at great speed at such high altitude.

Posed as he was, head cocked back, smiling fearlessly, gun still aimed at the two mean all while his coat billowed out behind him like a cape, Nero would be lying if he didn't hope he looked like some cool badass action hero in those cheesy movies Dante watched. Not that he'd ever admit that, of course, he had an image to maintain. "Yoruichi always tells me I waste too much time joking with my enemies when I should just stab them from behind. And as every man in a healthy relationship knows, you always just agree with what your woman says and admit she knows best. She was right about your 'magnet powers' after all."

His bullets freezing in place just before impacting Amagai's skull and still lingering in place was proof enough.

"Demons. Part-demons. All the same. Love butting into other peoples business." With a flick of his finger, Ares sent the bullets off the side of Dragon like trash. "Demons, creatures of chaos and destruction that feed off the agony of others."

Animosity ebbed off Nero's form. "Big talk form someone like you. I know what you're after. Phineas told us. You talk a big game but in the end you're just after the Temple so you can free this 'army' of yours and use it to conquer every world there is. You're no different than Aizen or Arkham. Spill as much innocent blood as needed all to satisfy your ego and lust for power."

A condensing visage crossed over Ares, as he rebuffed, "Oh-ho. Is that what you think? How simple minded and naive you are, boy. I'm not out to 'conquer and enslave' my fellow mortals. I seek to protect the people of this universe. To save them, not slay them."

"Uuhh…?" The lowering of Nero's gun matched the lowering of his confused tone as Ares spoke for the second time about 'saving mortals'. "What are you talking about?"

Ares' expression hardened and he became very serious. "Three thousand years ago the demons brought a war unlike any other to us mortals. The only reason we managed to survive was by banding together, and only with Sparda's aid did we ascertain victory. Well Sparda's long since dead so why can't rely on him to save us the next time. We must unite as one as we did back then if we hope to survive the next time," Ares said with a passion Nero had never heard before.

All the while Amagai stood beside the Olympian with his hand grasping his Zanpakuto, ready to attack the part-demon freak when necessary.

"Next time?" Parroted Nero, giving the Olympian a queer frown, "What "next time"? The demons are trapped in Hell. That 'dimensional wall' stops them from crossing over to this realm."

"And how long will that last, hmm?" Ares pressed the platinum blonde, his devotion to his cause clear as day. "Millennia ago we thought the same thing. Then Mundus shattered the 'wall' and over half of all mortals perished because of our arrogance. When Sparda defeated the Prince of Darkness and drove the legions of Hell back and rebuilt the 'wall', instead of seeing it as a lesson, every mortal saw it as a nightmare. A nightmare of the past. Over and done with. What mortals did remain went back to their worlds and viewed Ragnarok as little more than a tragic bygone era. Those here in the Torinitiwarudo even had their memories erased of the event. Every mortal, all across the universe, went back to their mundane lives as if the war never happened." His features softened in sombre reminiscing, before hardening with anger, "But not me. I could never forget. I lost everything back then. And unlike everyone else, I wasn't foolish enough to believe it was over and done with. Demons hold grudges. Temen-ni-gru was just the beginning. A wakeup call needed for all mortals to see. Mark my words, boy. The demons will return. Our only hope of survival is to unite as one as we did then!"

The Olympians eyes were heavy with time, and Nero could tell this passion of his wasn't an act. He genuinely believed what he said. But Nero had no sympathy for his cause. "Lemme guess," gauged Nero cynically, "The one to lead everyone is you? Tch. You can dress your words up as fancy as you like. In the end. You're just another megalomaniac lookin' to crown himself 'King'. Just another Arkham with more hair, another Aizen without hair gel."

Ares gave a breezy, perhaps slightly disappointed, shake of his head. "Think what you will of me. Your opinion doesn't matter. After all, I'm not out to kill my fellow mortals. Only demons." His gaze locked onto the scaly appendage that was the teens right arm. Its red scales and blue glow eliciting anger and disgust from both Ares and Amagai. "Of course, being part-demon yourself. That includes you."

A veneer of confidence and cockyness was on Nero who derided the 'God of War'. "Talking is silver but silence is golden. How 'bout you try and put your money where you mouth is." He cocked the hammer of Blue Rose which he'd still kept aimed at the men, its 'clicking' noise letting his foes know he meant business.

A single humourless chuckle escaped Ares. His Reiatsu steadily rising as he gave the Devil Hunter a warning, yet equally goading look. "Please. You're a few thousand years shy to think you can play on my level. We Olympians live far longer than even Shinigami or Hollows. Not even the feared Yamamoto has as much experience in battle as myself. I earned the title 'God of War' for a reason."

Nero reciprocated by raising his own spiritual and demonic power, a light blue aura coating his body. Clucking his tongue in a jeering fashion, "What's a 'God' to a non-believer."

Quick as silver, Nero fired thee consecutive shots at Ares from his beloved baby. All six bullets being frozen in place before they could impact the Olympian via his magnetic abilities. As Ares went to derive the teen for such a pointless move which he had to know was useless on him, a tingle in the air sent a chill down Ares spine who dropped his constant 'in control' exterior for the first time, as the fourth set of bullets Nero fired at him were laced in the same blue colour that blanketed his body. Ares used the Omplyian's version of Shunpo to narrowly avoid the bullets which moved at speeds multiple times faster than the standard, non-spiritual-demonic enhanced ones.

'He dodged instead of forcing them to stop. So he can't control metal that's coated in spiritual or demonic power.' With his hypothesis proven correct, Nero holstered Blue Rose and pulled out Red Queen, aiming its tip at the two men and enveloping the metal blade with his power as he did when firing off his Overdrive attacks, but now kept that condensed power around the sword like a coat. "C'mon, you fuckin' scum."

Combining Shunpo and Trickster, Nero closed the gap between himself and the two men. He aimed an overhead slash at Ares but spikes from Olympian's golden armour protruded out and took the brunt of the attack, which earned a grunt from Ares due to how hard the hit was.

Hoping to take advantage of having the part-demon freaks back to him as he focused on Ares, Amagai thrust his Zanpakuto toward the boys back. His overestimation of his skills and understanding Nero's cost him. For Nero wasn't dumb enough to leave his back wide open to attack and just before the tip of Amagai's blade pierced his spine, Nero swung out his leg and buried his combat boot into the ex-Shinigami's gut.

"Urrgghh!" Amgai was sent careening back a few feet from the kick that bruised, if not cracked, his ribs.

"Sorry, pal," taunted Nero to Amagai as he kept his focus on Ares whom dodged another of his strikes, "but it takes two to tango. This party don't need no third-wheel." He grit his teeth as he roared at the still calm form of Ares, "Hope you brought the mash-mellows, 'cause I'm brining the fire!"

Showing off his prowess in agility, the Devil Hunter jumped into the air and manoeuvred himself to be directly overhead Ares. Gunning the throttle, Nero revved Red Queen. The Exceed System generating flames that erupted out the exhaust of the blade which was still coated in his natural power. The sword now a canvas of red, orange and blue. In a display of his Zanjutsu skill, Nero brought the heavy sword down in a vertical trajectory, with enough force behind it that Ares, and even his Dragon, might very well be cleaved in half from were they not careful.

An impassive Ares, wearing that ever present hubristic grin, raised his right arm and clenched a semi-closed fist. His fist was enveloped in the same fiery red aura that Nero had seen during their encounter in the factory and Yoruichi at the construction site. A strange tingle of that unique Olympian Reiatsu reverberated in the air and set Nero's neck hair to stand to attention.

Out of nowhere, the visible Reiatsu in Ares' hand protracted out and gave birth to a longsword which Ares used to block the incoming sword strike on himself. The sword was gold, just as the armour. The sunlight reflecting off its shining surface.

When their swords collided, Ares was forced to clasp his other hand around his hilt as the force behind Nero's strike sent his muscles straining from the intensity and he couldn't maintain his defence with just one arm against such power, or else he'd lose that arm. His hubris expression briefly faltering into one of caution before returning back to its arrogant shape.

Though Ares held strong, the Dragon gave a pained grunt as the force of Nero's hit forced Ares to press his armoured boots down on the beasts back to keep balance, and the shock-wave of Nero's strike coursed along the winged monster.

"Impressive," praised Ares. The Devil Hunters face now inches from his, separated only by their locked blades which sparks kissed. "Not bad. Not bad indeed. For a child your powers are frightening. If this is your strength now, I dread to think what level you could achieve in but a few decades. Sparda's blood truly does have no equal."

"Aw, stop. You'll make me blush." The two were stuck in a tug-of-war, each trying to break the others guard as their swords ground against the other, sounding like nails on a chalkboard. "A friend of mine, ginger hair, got a sense of heroic gallantry and justice that would make Ghandi groan, says that he can get a 'feel of someone' just by clashing swords with them. Think I must've picked up his trick, 'cause right now I can see right through you and know just the type of person you are, Ares…" Ichigo may offer some profound insight to his foe, Urahara a detailed synopsis on their strengths and weakness. Nero was not so elegant. "A bitch!"

"How civilised you are," sardonically commented Ares. "Despite how stimulating you are to converse with, I've grown tired of pointless chatter."

"Big talk when- Uh!" Alarm bells rang in Nero's head as his spiritual sensors and demonic sixth sense picked up on incoming danger.

"Sever! Raika!"

Nero pirouetted around and was able to slash the fireballs sent from Amagai's Zanpakuto before they hit him. But this left him open and Ares took advantage. The Olympian's sword somehow morphed shape into a mace, and with one hefty swing, Ares buried the mace into the Devil Hunters side. Nero let out a groan of pain. The force behind the swing was enough that Nero was knocked right off the Dragons back and into the open sky. He tried to reach out with his Devil Bringer to pull himself back but Amagai sent more fireballs his way that forced Nero to punch them out with his spectral arm, and soon enough the Dragon was out his reach. Leaving Nero helpless as he plummeted thousands of feet to the dense forests below the clouds.

He tried to create footholds through Reishi manipulation as Shinigami and Hollows could, but failed. And recalled how Yoruichi mentioned that like the Seireitei, other places in Soul Society made it impossible to form footholds. These ancestral lands of her families being one such place.

Leaving Nero to just wait until he inevitably crashed into the trees and ground below.

"Ah shit. This is gonna hurt."

---

'The others weren't kidding. This place really is a 'Wildlands'.' Using Shunpo, Ichigo was rapidly moving through the Wildlands. Or rather, moving in the path of the giant beast flying through the sky overhead. 'I can have a meltdown on how there's a freaking dragon here later. Right now I should keep following it. Ain't no way this isn't connected to what's going on.'

As Ichigo continued to follow the path the Dragon was flying in, he discerned something that seemed to fall off the beast. So far up was it, Ichigo couldn't make it out. But he could see that whatever this shape was that fell off the Dragon was moving closer and closer to the ground. Closer and closer… to him!

"Whoa!" Ichigo dug his sandals into the ground and was able to skid to a halt before whatever was plunging to the ground landed atop him.

When the figure impacted the trees and muddy ground, a small crater was formed and debris catapulted into the sky. A cloud of dirt and dust blanketing the surroundings.

Ichigo used his hands as a shield to stop any debris from entering his eyes, and once everything settled, he wafted out his hands for better visibility. He slowly walked towards the impact crater and through the smoke saw the silhouette of a figure rising. He went to grab his Zanpakuto but halted himself when he heard a familiar voice full of exasperation yell out.

"Son of a bitch! That's the second time that assholes sent me flying and made an escape." A sulking Nero moaned as he popped his broken and shattered bones back into place, curtesy of his healing factor which was the only reason he'd survived a fall from such height. "At least no one was here to see-… Err… Is that… Ichigo?"

Ichigo blinked with an animated face of perplexity. "Errm… Nero..? Where did you come from?"

Nero opened his mouth then quickly shut it and turned away grumbling, "That- That doesn't matter." He'd already been mocked for letting Ares get the best of him in their first meeting, he wasn't about to let Ichigo know it happened again. "Never mind me. What are you doing here?"

"Kisuke called. He told me everything and sent me to the Seireitei. There I ran into Rukia, Renji and Captain Ukitake. They know everything too about what Ares is up to and sent me on ahead while the Gotei readies their forces. On my way here to the Wildlands I ran into that Doll-, er, Devil Arm, dog thing, of yours. He directed me this way then headed toward the Seireitei." Ichigo scanned the area but came up empty. "Where's Yoruichi? The dog, Baskerville was it? Said you were together."

"She went after her brother who that dick Amagai threw-" Nero shook his head. "Look, I don't have time to explain. The longer we stay and chat the more time Ares has to do whatever it is he's up to."

Though he wanted answers as to Yoruichi's whereabouts, Ichigo agreed with Nero's sentiments. "Right. The Gotei 13 are heading this way too. They should get here soon enough."

Nero nodded gruffly. "Good. 'Cause I got a feeling shits really about to hit the fan."

---

I wanted to display a side of Yoruichi we've never seen before. Throughout all the manga, anime and novels, she's always cool, calm and collected. But never before has her little brother been in danger (sure Askin knocked him out and was a bit rough with him, but even then Askin made it clear he had no intension of harming or killing the kid unless forced to). So it was quite challenging writing her like this. As I didn't want her to be her usual calm self since it wouldn't make sense when her brothers life is on the line, but also didn't want to make her a nervous wreck that breaks down into a balling mess since I felt that wouldn't fit her character. Hope I did her justice here.

I hope you guys enjoy the new lore I create with this story as much as I enjoy making it. For as much as I love Bleach, you can't deny Kubo left a lot of blank areas, and areas so vague they offer more questions than answers. For instance, Yoruichi is named the 22nd Head of the Shihoin Clan, but in Can't Fear Your Own World (which Kubo has pretty much confirmed is canon) it mentions the Soul Society's history dates back several million years and the then Five, now Four Great Noble Families have been ruling the Soul Society all that time. If we low-ball that and say the Great Noble Families have been ruling for just one million years exactly (it's most likely longer but we're low-balling here) and if Yoruichi is the 22nd Head. Then divide one million by 22 and that means on average each Shihoin Head has ruled the clan for 45,000 years! (I know Souls live longer than humans but even Yamamoto is nowhere near that age!).

Maybe I focused on the wrong thing but when I read this in the light novel I couldn't help but think how it made no sense. Most likely Kubo and the novels author forget Kubo gave both Yoruichi and Byakuya numbers as to how many Heads of their clans there had been before them. So in order to make sense of this, I've made it so the Four Great Noble Families have era's. Yoruichi is the 22nd Head of the current Seireitei Era of Shihoin's (since the family moved to the Seireitei), but there have been WAY more than 22 Heads of her clan in total. Just from previous era's, like the Five Kingdom's Era.

Burn The Witch finally makes an appearance in the story... sort of. For those who don't know, Burn The Witch is a manga/anime made by Kubo a few years after he finished Bleach. The series is set in the Bleach universe many years after the final chapter but is its own thing, not just some lazy cash grab spin-off. If you haven't checked out Burn The Witch I highly recommend it. Dragons are the main enemy in the series but the difference between Dragons and Hollows is never explained, but I have my own explanation in mind I'll share soon enough for this fic.

Be sure to review the chapter, any and all feedback is appreciated. Till next time.