Disclaimer: I do not own the rights of BLEACH, or the other following in this fan fic. BLEACH is owned by Tite Kubo, Viz Media, Manga Entertainment and Shonen Jump.
Chapter 1: A grim victory
The Soul Society, it is a realm which the dead are believed to be sent to once their mortal life comes to a concluding end. Myths and legends would call it in various names depending of the human culture used in various mortal societies. The Elysium, Valhalla...Heaven, whatever mortal from either homeland call it in their primary culture, it is where they are sent so they can rest in piece in this afterlife.
And residing there are a race of spiritual entities who are duty bound in sending the wayward souls lingering in the veils of purgatory, the Soul Reapers, formally known as Shinigami to the departed souls of Japan in which the section of Soul Society known as Rukongai, where the said souls are sent to live in its 320 districts surrounding the walled capital of Seireitei, where the Soul Reapers live and work. True there are other regions of Soul Society with their own Spiritual Guardians to guide their own wayward souls, be they Angels of the White Palace of Paradiso, or the Valkyries of the Halls of Valhalla. But the major point of this story focuses on with the current issue on the Soul Reapers.
Treachery has occurred within the walls of the Seireitei, treachery and conspiracy plotted by a scheming soul reaper by the name of Sosuke Aizen. He has been plotting against the Soul Reapers within the mirage produced by the magic of his Zanpakuto to help him hide in the shadows and posing as a man which no one would expect of such treachery.
But the veil of deception was removed when an unexpected group of intruders which the Soul Reapers call "Ryoka" to arrive at the Rukon districts closer to the Seireitei's northern gates. Ryoka led by a teen in a Soul Reaper's Shikakusho and wielding a large blade on his back named Ichigo Kurosaki.
It's because of Ichigo's trespass, who came to Soul Society to rescue a condemned Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki from execution for her crimes of indirectly transferring her powers to Ichigo to save his family from an attack by a malevolent spirit called a "Hollow". And feeling responsible for this is why Ichigo came to Soul Society to save her, to pay her a debt for helping him, and for getting involved in the world of Soul Society.
Regardless, Aizen is exposed as a traitor, even his fake death which was used to spread disorder and acted as a distraction can no longer hide his true nature. But it didn't matter to him, for he was close to getting what he wanted, and how Rukia's halted execution is connected.
Rukia, without her knowledge was harbouring a very dangerous item which Aizen wanted, an orb with unimaginable powers which used correctly could grant everyone's deepest desires. Such concept of possessing this "wish-granting orb" is too dangerous if it goes to the wrong hands, that the one who created it feared it existence that tried to find ways of destroying it, but to no avail. So Rukia, who had her Soul Reaper Powers stolen, unintentionally by Ichigo, was used to as vessel to hide it. But Aizen is too clever to fall for it, thus her execution was issued.
By executing Rukia, Aizen would've taken the Hogyoku after her body breaks apart from her execution, Aizen would've claimed the discarded Hogyoku and leave the Soul Society with ease to forward his plans. But thanks to Ichigo's meddling and the suspicion of both Captain Hitsugaya and Captain Unohana, Aizen is exposed as a traitor and was forced to flee...but not empty handed.
He claimed the Hogyoku regardless and did enough damage on the Seireitei, and with the orb in his hands, he used it to build an army of Arrancar, Hollows with broken masks and powers that rival the Soul Reapers which he deceived and conspired against. The Gotei 13 uncovered the true plot of Aizen's plans for the Hogyoku, his desire to usurp the Ruler of Soul Society, the Soul King. But to do that, he needed access to the Soul Palace, and the only way to get there is with a key known as the OKen.
Since Aizen couldn't find a way to locate the O-ken, the only other option is to forge it, and the result of it's creation is catastrophic. For the O-ken requires 100'000 souls and an area which has a high level of Reiatsu, and Karakura Town is that area which Aizen needed to create the Oken.
After heading this, the Gotei 13 has declared war on Aizen so what they can prevent Aizen to perform this forbidden act, for it may upset the balance which they are honour bound to preserve for 1000 years. This also got Ichigo and his friends involved for it is their home that Aizen has threatened to destroy, so he kept on training his newfound powers improve control, but Aizen had other plans.
Thus, a war is occurred in winter, the time for Aizen has full control of the Hogyoku and produced an army to go against Soul Society.
And like in every war, casualties are expected...including Heroes.
Outskirts of Karakura Town
The winter war between the Soul Reapers of Soul Society and Sosuke Aizen's Arrancar Army is almost over. Despite the loss of many strong Espada, their Fraccion warriors and the manipulated Gillians who emerge through the many Gargantas. Both sides did suffer casualties, but the Gotei 13 remained standing...for a time until Aizen decided to fight them. The Captains and Lieutenants failed to subdue Aizen and Gin, but they managed to take down Tosen when he hollowfied into an Arrancar only to be slain by his own former Lieutenant Shusui Hisagi.
Even if the Gotei 13 managed to take down the Espadas, they failed to notice that the Espadas were only used to decimate and weaken the Gotei 13 so that they no longer have the strength to stop Aizen, which Aizen obviously wanted so that his plans to create the Oken with no interruptions.
But his plans didn't come to fruition, for he is once again interrupted by Ichigo when he left Hueco Mundo after saving Orihime and emerged to assist the Soul Reapers. Now we see him confronting Aizen in their final battle now at the outskirts of Soul Society, far away from the Town of Karakura so that the sleeping residences will not be harmed by the duos' overwhelming Reiatsu.
To insure that, Ichigo insisted to fight FAR away as possible, so he pushed Aizen away from the town and head toward the outskirts which comprised with canyons, a more suitable spot for their fight, with no one to be harmed by either of them.
Aizen was shocked by this and looked at Ichigo who is very calm about this, not fazed by the immense reaiatsu Aizen is resonating from his evolved body as mortals would cower and prostate upon. But not Ichigo, he stands there, calm and unafraid, even though he is facing a dangerous and near God-like man like Aizen.
Impossible, he pushed me afar from Karakura without using his Reiatsu, which I would resist, but instead he did with nothing but raw strength? Thought Aizen as he still looks at Ichigo with shock with his darkened hollow eyes. When Ichigo arrived at Karakura via dangai after their last battle back in the fake town, he noticed that he couldn't feel Ichigo's reiatsu, which confused Aizen at first.
Still confused at how Ichigo pushed him away from Karakura with using only his physical strength, with ease, the renegade is still trying to figure it out. He even wonders if this is the same boy that meddled in his plans back when he entered Soul Society to save Rukia, and at Hueco Mundo to save Orihime?
Ichigo is indeed an enigma, first he was an amusing curiosity, now he is nothing more than a nuisance.
"Aizen" Ichigo said which Aizen noticed new found strength in the tone. He examines his enemy carefully. "I'm gonna finish this with a blink of an eye."
Aizen was, for the first time, taken back by this. But suddenly he starts to realise something and smiled.
"I see now" said Aizen "Now I understand what happened"
Ichigo remains still and silent while Aizen continues to speak.
"The reason why I can't sense your Reiatsu" said Aizen "You didn't lose it, you discarded it. I don't know how you did it, but you converted your reiatsu into physical strength, which explained how you pushed me away from Karakura. I must admit, it was a surprise, but I'm afraid it will do you no good."
Aizen's smirk widened and his leer deepens upon Ichigo in evoke intimidation upon the teen. Suddenly, 6 pair of butterfly-like wings emerge from Aizen's back. He uses them to help him levitate a few feet off the ground. Ichigo remains unfazed by this and continues to watch him. Suddenly Aizen vanishes and reappear behind Ichigo, he raises his bladed arm to strike Ichigo.
CLANG
But Ichigo instantly blocked with no flaw, his face remains calm and strong while staring at Aizen face to face.
"Impressive, it seems that your strength isn't the only thing you gained by converting your Reiatsu" said Aizen as he then looks at the now sliced plateau behind Aizen. "If you hadn't evaded that attack; you would've died the moment my blade hits you."
Aizen then rear his sword back so strike again, but Ichigo continues to clash with it, blocking every block as if they are merely fighting a normal duel with no powers included. Ichigo is right now in par of Aizen's power, but Aizen would not accept this and tries to cut Ichigo down and remind him of his place.
But as Aizen found an opening to strike Ichigo, Ichigo did something unexpected to block the blade.
He caught the blade with his bare hand.
This shocked Aizen, especially when he remembered that he did the same when he and Ichigo met for the first time. The sense of irony fills the area when he stares at Ichigo's fingers calmly grip his Kyoka Suigetsu.
"You look surprised, Aizen" said Ichigo "Does it shock you to see me do the impossible, like you did the same to me when you grabbed my Zangetsu. It must've terrified you; your eyes show it."
Aizen snarled at Ichigo's mockery and leap back so that he can gain a distance.
"Don't think that you won, Ichigo!" said Aizen "You merely improved your speed and strength and nothing more! I'll just use my Kido on you so that miracle you pulled won't happen again."
Aizen then channels his Reiatsu and perform hand signs while he begins his kido incantation.
"Seep crest of turbidity, arrogant vessel of lunacy! Boil, forth, and deny, growing numb and flicker, disrupting sleep! Crawling queen of Iron, eventually self-destructing doll of mud! Unite, repulse, fill with soil and know your own powerlessness!" Aizen incants the verses of the Kido he is about to perform, he then aims his arms at Ichigo before he calls out the spell. "Hado No.90, Kurohitsugi!"
Aizen casts his strongest Kido at Ichigo, Ichigo noticed that area around him is slowly becoming encased by high black walls until he is completely trapped in a giant black box, or a black coffin as it were. Aizen chuckles with a smirk on his face as his spell is cast, especially when pitch place blades start to impale the black coffin to skewer the entrapped Ichigo.
"Not even you can withstand the immense gravity contained in this black coffin cast by the one who transcends both hollow and soul reaper." Said Aizen "This will be a fitting grave for you once your very soul is ground into dust. Farewell Ichigo Kurosaki."
Suddenly the black coffin shatters and Ichigo remains unharmed.
"It seems you failed to notice yet, my power is greater than yours" said Ichigo as he vanished for a second, only to reappear in front of Aizen. He then points at the sliced plateau. "Sorry to disappoint you, but your blade didn't do that, it was mine."
And before Aizen could speak, Ichigo swung his Tensa Zangetsu directly at Aizen's chest. The wound is deep, but not enough to kill Aizen as he leaped away and landed on one of the high rocks of the canyon. He pants as the adrenaline kicks in, this shocked him that he let fear save him from being killed by Ichigo.
Killed by Ichigo...destroyed his Kido...pushed him away with only his strength...the facts that fill Aizen's brain as he tries to compose himself. And those strong eyes staring at him, all calm and lacking of fear within them.
It infuriates him.
"You think you won just because you manage to break my spell, showed how strong you are and managed to cut me?" said Aizen, even though he is speaks in a calm tone. But in truth he is enrages, and sadly, he lefts it all out as he roars out. "DON'T GET COCKY!"
Sensing Aizen's anger and desire to win, the Hogyoku activates and causes Aizen to transform again. First, he gains a third eye now growing out of his forehead, then the bright pupil becomes slit, then the skin of his face starts to split in half and peel sideways to expose his darkened skull. Then his body changes into that of a hollow, but his chest starts to form 3 holes instead of the usual one which hollow have. His butterfly-like wings become thick and fleshy while having eye-less skulls on the top. His hands and feet darken and become clawed. Nothing human is left on Aizen, for he has transcended into that similar to demons in hell.
Shocked by this, Aizen suddenly starts to understand what just happened and looked ahead at Ichigo, who didn't even change his facial expressions.
"I see now" said Aizen, his voice has altered to match his new hollowfied form. "It would seem that the Hogyoku doesn't want me to lose to the likes of you. Losing to a mere human is considered insulting.
Aizen raise his left wing so that the skull on top can open its jaw and starts to fire a Cero at Ichigo, the Cero is launched and it heads directly at Ichigo.
BOOM
The impact exploded that almost identical to a nuclear blast, the blast is so large that it can be seen even by a certain awake in Karakura Town. The blast clears, only to see Ichigo still alive but not unscaved by the Cero blast. The damage it caused on Ichigo is a bad burn on his left arm, he winced slightly at the pain, but he is relieved that he survived the Cero when all would've died immediately from that blast.
It was a good thing he distanced himself away from Karakura to begin with.
"So, you managed to survive that attack, Ichigo Kurosaki" said Aizen as he flies toward Ichigo. However, it did a total to that arm of yours!"
Aizen reaches out and grabbed Ichigo and drags him down to the ground for a at least a mile. Ichigo doesn't grit his teeth in pain despite the situation he is in right now. Aizen then lifts him up and heaves Ichigo while the skulls on his wings stretch out and circle around the empowered substitute soul reaper. The skulls open their jaws so that they can charge their Cero point blank at Ichigo.
"Can you hear me, Ichigo?" said Aizen while his skulls charge up their Ceros, "You may have transcended beyond the boundaries of hollow and soul reaper, but that came with a price in the end for you. Without your powers, you are merely a shadow of your former self. In this stare now, you're not worthy to absorb and comprehend you."
"You will meet death at the hands of a transcended being, being obliterated by me will completely free you from your inferior existence as both a soul reaper and a hollow. This will be your end, Ichigo Kurosaki.
"...my end?" said Ichigo as he raise his head to stare calmly back at Aizen. "Cut the bullshit, Aizen. This is NOT the end."
Ichigo disrupted the Cero's charge by swinging his Tensa Zangetsu at Aizen's wings, forcing Aizen to let go of Ichigo.
"This is the end, Aizen" said Ichigo as he lift his zanpakuto up and spoke out. "Behold, my Final Getsuga Tensho"
Cometh the Hour Part 2: Playing
Suddenly Ichigo becomes engulfed in pitch black Reiatsu, the flow of the Reiatsu is so dense that not even darkness would by a comparison. Aizen could only do but stare as Ichigo goes under a transformation of his own. His shoulder length orange hair turns black and flows down to his feet. His Shikakusho turns remains intact but his body becomes wrapped around by dark grey wrapping, and the arm which he held his Tensa Zangetsu is now engulfed by black flame-like reishi.
"W-What is this?"
"This is the Final Getsuga, Aizen" said Ichigo as remains hovering in mid-air above the deep crate caused by Aizen's Cero. "To achieve this, I have to face my own Zanpakuto to learn it. Of course, Zangetsu refuses at first and turns to face me so that I can forget about it. But with this desperate time, with you threatening my friends and my home, what choice do I have?"
Ichigo looks at his empty hand, the hand that he once held Tensa Zangetsu but not anymore, he frowns sadly at this and sighs.
But in the end, I learned how to use the Final Getsuga, but there is a catch. In order to use it, I must become the Final Getsuga." Said Ichigo, this shocked Aizen. "And if I use this technique, I will no longer be a Soul Reaper.
Aizen is still shock as he is trying to figure how can Ichigo, a mere human could obtain this kind of power. But as he tries to figure it out, he is becoming agitated and refuse this to happen.
"ABSURD, THIS CANNOT BE!" Aizen exclaimed in pure rage. "THERE IS NO WAY A MERE HUMAN LIKE YOU COULD SURPASS ME! THAT CAN'T BE!"
Ichigo said nothing as he raises his blackened arm, and in his hand, a black ethereal sword appears which takes the form of Tensa Zangetsu. Ichigo closed his eyes and let the mental image of Zangetsu's spirit form in his mind.
Goodbye, Zangetsu, and thank you
Unaware of Ichigo, assuming that the old man in black is Zangetsu, the true Zangetsu, the white hollow version of Ichigo stands on top of the tilted skyscrapers in Ichigo's Soulscape. The true Zangetsu smiles sadly and looks up at the raining sky, symbolising Ichigo's sorrow.
I know I wasn't the friendliest of all Zanpakuto, but when you are born during the Hollowfication process, you do tend to go...mad and feral. But understand this, Ichigo, I did it so that you can grow strong and one day accept me instead of fear and hate me.
Tears seep out from Zangetsu's eyes and waits for the end, drawing near as Ichigo is about to launch the Final Getsuga Tensho at Aizen.
I...wish we met on... kinder circumstances, and perhaps become friends in the next life.
"Goodbye...My King"
Song ends
"Mugetsu" Ichigo said he used the Final Getsuga Tensho, known as Mugetsu on Aizen and defeated the renegade Soul Reaper for good. Although he didn't kill Aizen as intended due to the Hogyoku trying to keep it's host alive, it did weaken to the point that he reverted back into his previous hollow form, with his face covering his skull but his wings are no longer there. Aizen stood back on his feet after that attack Ichigo made on him, and it shook him to the point that he almost died, killed by the hands of a human.
But he is glad the Hogyoku hovering in his hollow hole remains intact and mend his lie-threatening wounds and turns to face his opponent, you see that Ichigo is down on his knees and his Mugetsu form breaking down.
My Soul Reaper powers.. are disappearing.. thought Ichigo until he heard Aizen chuckle.
"You lost, Ichigo" said Aizen in his usual calm and collective tone while he presents the now crumbling remains of his Zanpakuto Kyoka Suigetsu, "Observe, my Zanpakuto is fading away. You should know what that means."
Aizen then smirks at Ichigo, which made the orange haired teen uneasy.
"The Hogyoku has determined that I have on need to wield it!" the renegade soul reaper exclaimed with a wide triumphant grin. "Like you, I am now one with my Zanpakuto to the point that I can use its powers willingly without the blade itself. And now that you no longer possess that power, I am once again superior than all of the soul reapers."
Aizen chuckled, not only did he survive Ichigo's attempt to kill him, but also find the irony of Ichigo losing his powers while he gain so much more that he could possible surpass even a god or more.
"It's over, Ichigo. YOU LOSE!"
Suddenly a glow of red light starts to burst out from Aizen's chest, startling the renegade soul reaper and step back out of confusion.
Cometh the Hour Part 1: Playing
"W-What? Kido? But how?" said Aizen in shock as more lights of burst out to until they arrange in the form of a crucifix. "When was I attacked?"
"If finally took effect"
Aizen and Ichigo turn when they heard the familiar voice of Kisuke Urahara as he reached the outskirts, hatless and without his Zanpakuto Benihime, not that he would have any need of it now due to the current situation.
"You? When?"
"Just before you could transform, at you very weakest" said Urahara "I discreetly cast a sealing Kido and shot it in your body. I figured that when you fused the Hogyoku in you and start transforming, killing you is impossible. That Kido is of my design, I created it as an insurance should the Hogyoku get into the wrong hands, and was right. It's a shame it took me 100 years to use it against you, Aizen."
"I see, but I'm afraid it will be for naught, Urahara" said Aizen with a smug grin would pointing his broken zanpakuto at Urahara. "This Kido will not stop me, the Hogyoku has evolved me to the point of godhood!"
"If the Hogyoku wills it, of course" said Urahara when suddenly Aizen's evolution becomes undone, shocking the renegade.
"W-What?"
"Unfortunately for you, the Hogyoku no longer sees you as its master, the seal will take effect regardless" said Urahara. "And thanks to Ichigo, you lose this war."
"No! It can't me!" said Aizen as he can feel his evolution break apart until he revert back as a Soul Reaper. Suddenly he is impaled back red staves made of concentrated Reishi. Then, the sealing Kido starts to bind him when tendrils made of reishi coil around him until he is completely contained. "Damn you, Kisuke! Why would a man of great intellect like you do this? For that THING?"
"You mean the Soul King?" said Urahara in confusion on why would Aizen refer the king as Thing, then he realised something. "Now I understand, you saw it. The Soul King is crucial to the balance of life and death, Aizen. He is the lynchpin to this delicate balance. Without him, all will be brought to chaos. That's how it is, unfortunately...among other things."
"Only weak defeatists would believe that? Victors must always speak of the way the world should be, not as it is! I..."
Unfortunately for Aizen, he didn't' get the last word for the Kido as completely cast him in crystal, silencing him for good and imprisoning him to await his fate. Ichigo looked at awe at the end result of Urahara's sealing kido, seeing now a snowflake shaped crystal stand where Azien formerly was. He turned his head away and sighed for.
Song ends
It's finally over thought Ichigo, he looks now that his Shikakusho is starting to break away, he frowned sadly at this as he remembers on how it came to this.
Flashback: 1 hour ago (2000 hours in the Dangai)
Ichigo's Soulscape
Ichigo entered his own Soulscape, what was once a cityscape tilted in a 90-degree angle, now completely submerged in water due to never longing rain that caused this flooding. Rain which appears when Ichigo feels sorrow, and after dealing with fear and self-doubt caused by his encounter from arrancar over powering him, the fear of his Inner Hollow invading his spirit and becoming a monster, and the abduction of Orihime Inoue by the Espadas.
But now, after weeks of fighting his own Zanpakuto Spirit, Ichigo suddenly yields his and allows his own sword to strike him. By accepting Zangetsu, the zanpakuto spirit dreads seeing his inverted sword impale Ichigo, this saddens the spirit and has no choice now but to concedes to his master's demands, even if it means for the last time.
"So, it comes to this then...very well" said Tensa Zangetsu as he lower his head and close his eyes in defeat. "Alright, I'll tell you. You must understand why I refused from the start, it's because I wanted to protect you, I am you zanpakuto and you my master."
Ichigo noticed tears seeping out from his Zanpakuto spirit's eyes and was shocked by this.
"Why are you crying?" said Ichigo
"Because I will not like what I am about to say" said Tensa Zangetsu "There is a reason why the Final Getsuga is called by that name. In order to use the Final Getsuga...is to become it, with the cost of your Reiatsu and Zanpakuto, a price I am not happy with and did not wish for you to pay, Ichigo. So, I advise...no, implore you not to use it. But I know better, for you will use it against Aizen. So, I'll tell you the technique, but be warned. Once you use the Final Getsuga, you will lose your Soul Reaper powers."
End of Flashback
Ichigo frowns sadly at this, to make a great sacrifice like this to stop a mad man from destroying his hometown, his family, and his friends. Then again, it means saving them from Aizen's terror, then he'll be happy to trade the strength...but he'll no longer see his other friends in Soul Society, Rukia and Renji, even good acquaintances in the Gotei 13 like Captain Ukitake, Captain Hitsugaya, even Captain Unohana if you don't mind her discreet intimidation which put the rowdy louts in Squad 11 in their place.
It's gonna be strange living a normal life now thought Ichigo smiling sadly. Even though I did wish for a normal life, getting it wouldn't be normal since being a Soul Reaper is normal. Ironic.
He winces slightly in pain but brushes it off as believe to be from old wounds he gained from either Grimmjow, Nnoitora, and Ulquiorra.
Yep, I'm gonna be sore for a while, I hope Captain Unohana wouldn't mind give one last check-up before I say my goodbyes. Thought Ichigo while he turns to Urahara who is being uncharacteristically quiet right now. Normally Urahara is sassy and flamboyant, but quiet is unlike him. "Are you alright, Urahara-san. You're awfully quiet."
"Am I? I haven't noticed" said Urahara now acting his old flamboyant self for a while, causing Ichigo to sweatdropped.
"Sorry I asked" said Ichigo in a deadpanned expression.
"More importantly, what about you? It's not everyday you save the day, Ichigo" said Urahara with a genuine smile.
"Yeah well...I won't make a habit of it." Said Ichigo
"It's probably for the best, I did cause a lot of trouble from this" said Urahara rubbing the back of his head. "But at least I cleaned up that century old mess."
"Speaking of messes, what of Aizen, and Karakura" said Ichigo
"Aizen will be sent to the Seireitei where he'll be judged by the reinstated council of 43, and Karakura town will return back to were it was, as if nothing happened." Said Urahara with a smile. "Come, let's head back, no doubt your friends are there waiting for us."
"Hai" said Ichigo Urahara placed his hand on his shoulder so he can take Ichigo back to Karakura via shunpo. With Ichigo's Soul Reaper powers going, Urahara isn't sure if Ichigo can still use Shunpo or not. And for his sake, he doesn't want to risk it.
As Kisuke and Ichigo leave the outskirts, a suddenly change in the air has shifted when a large mouth like opening with teeth on top and bottom appears next to the sealed Aizen. Emerging from this Mouth, two hulking figures step out to reveal themselves. One is of athletic build, measuring at 7 feet in height and it's has a blue-grey complexion. But over its head, he wears a bleach white skull of a horse which a pair of glowing red eyes beam though the sockets and a pitch black mullet flowing down from the back of the skull and down it's long neck. The second figure is much bulkier and more monstrous, built for strength mostly, this figure is taller with 8 feet in height, its skin is an angry red, brown hairy legs with cloven hooves and over his face is a dirty skull of an ox which a pair of glowing red eyes beam out from the sockets.
Each of these figures are wearing nothing but a ragged black hakama similar to that of a soul reaper's Shikakusho and they wield menacing looking polearms which the spearheads look they were designed to rip through flesh and cause immense pain.
As they emerge though the mouth, the turn to face it and starts to kneel down to when a third figure starts to step out. Unlike the grovelling two, this one is beautiful woman, but she has a pale complexion, long black hair and a wears a royal kimono which the sleeves are tattered and torn, and a hooded cowl which is draped over her head so that the shadows inside it can conceal her upper face which leaves only her black lips and glowing silver eyes to be viewed.
She is also barefooted but when she sets foot on the ground, it becomes blighted and any plant-life from turfs of grass and weeds starts to wither and die. She looks around at the former battle field and gaze at awe at the wonton destruction which Ichigo and Aizen caused in the clash.
She approaches the seal which contains Aizen, she walks towards it about leaving a trail of death in her wake, she reaches out to the seal and curiously place her pale hand on it while crooking her head sideways in which her neck gave out a nasty cracking sound. Her black lips curl in amusement as she move her hand away.
"Oh how the mighty hath fallen" said the woman as her smile remains "I may not have the love for that cripple cased in crystal, but even I know that the Soul King is necessary."
"What now, your majesty" one with the horse skull said out of curiosity.
"Shall we haul this heathen to be punished" said the other in the Ox skull.
"No, let the foolish little Soul Reapers have their Justice, and besides" said the woman as she turns to the skulls figures and smiles wickedly at them for in her hands is a black nodachi with a long black chain on the pummel and a manji shaped guard. "I have a feeling that we'll be have an interesting quest in Jigoku very soon"
The black sword seems to be emanating a faint black aura and gives out a rather haunting and murderous presence, this causes the skull faced figures to shudder in a cold chill, but the pale woman mainly giggles by it as if it is tickling her. Nevertheless, she embraces this black sword like a baby in a bundle and heads back towards the open mouth that still floats around in mid-air. The one in the horse skull looks at his comrade in the ox skull and both nods before entering the mouth before to closes up.
End of Chapter