Bleach 530: Allies
Scene opens up high upon a rooftop somewhere overlooking soul society. Wairudo and 6 members of the the Zero squad are there. Three of them are still unconscious with Shizen heavily bandaged. Wairudo and the other three members of Zero squad stand around them. They are all still fully masked apart from Shizen whose mask lies broken next to her.
Wairudo: Shizen is still in critical condition but I think she should be able to pull through. What is the condition of the other two Zenmaru?
Zenmaru: I'm not too sure, they seem like they've just been knocked out but they have been unconscious for quite some time.
Wairudo: hmmm, fine, we'll leave them here for the moment. They should be secure enough this far away whilst we-
Suddenly far below four massive explosions occur simultaneously. Pillars of reiatsu rise high into the Sky from each location. The explosions are soo large that they can be seen clearly from where the zero squad are standing.
Zero Squad: ?!
Zenmaru: what the-
Wairudo: so it seems the rest of them aren't wasting anytime.
Zenmaru: what do you mean?
Wairudo: Mine and your perception isn't as good as Ginrei's, especially at this distance. He noticed 4 other similar presences from where that other one was fighting.
Zenmaru:…
Ginrei: They left just before the fight, I believe their intent is to draw us out and face off with us here.
Wairudo: I doubt it's HIS intent
Ginrei: indeed, Bach probably just wishes to keep us from joining the fight in Hueco Mundo and use up any energy fighting here before he comes.
Wairudo: Either way he forces our hand, we can't leave them be here, left unchecked they could reduce everything to dust.
Zenmaru: There's only be three of us if we send Kantaro back to report, we'll have to leave one unchecked.
Wairudo:… No it seems like that won't be necessary, one of them has already been engaged.
Zenmaru:?
Wairudo: Kantaro, take these three over to our safe house to heal and send up a report. Stay with them until they're up. Forward me any updates from the king.
Kantaro: Yes!
Wairudo: Go!
Zenmaru and Kantaro flash stepaway, with the unconscious members ado disappearing, however both Wairudo and Ginrei stay where they are. Wairudo turns his head slightly to look towards Ginrei.
Wairudo: So you're staying then Ginrei?
Ginrei:…
Wairudo: Do you plan on defending him?
Ginrei: I would never ask you to break the rules captain.
Wairudo:… No… you wouldn't would you, fine I'll hear what he has to say.
Ginrei: Thank you.
Suddenly Byakuya flash steps before the both of them. He's facing away from them and is down on one knee. He is holding a person in either arm. He rises and begins to turn around. As he turns you see that the person in his right arm is Hanatoro, as he turns around fully you see that the other person in his left arm is Orihime. He lets go of both of them letting them stand on their own. They both look a little worried and unsure, looking around as if wondering where they are.
Wairudo: The human girl?!
Byakuya:…
Wairudo: …So that's how you've managed to rise so quickly from your deathbed. How did you bring her here? All exits in and out are being watched, it would be impossible for her to come through one of them unscathed!
Byakuya:…
Ginrei: I think I may be able to answer that question.
Byakuya:?!
Ginrei: Since I am no longer the head of the Kuchiki clan I am no longer bound by the rules forbidding the mention of a small private portal located deep within the Kuchiki Mansion which leads to the human world. It can only be used by the clan head or with the permission of the clan head and only in great need.
Byakuya:…
Wairudo: I see...as obvious as your intentions are, out of respect for Ginrei I have decided to hear what you have to say. Hurry up and say what you have to say so that we can clean up your mess.
Byakuya looks at Wairudo for a moment, he then takes a step forwad and gets down on one knee bowing his head in front of Wairudo.
Wairudo:?!
Byakuya: Captain Wairudo of the Zero Squad, I have come seeking your permission to perform Harakiri.
Wairudo:!
Scene Change to Ryuken
Ryuken stands amongst the rubble of the battleground with a cigarette in his mouth. Dust and smoke still trail the air from the battle.
Ryuken: (refusing to use your hollow powers to the end, I'll give you this much, you at least fought with the heart of a Quincy).
Uryuu appears a little way off looking at the destruction around him.
Ryuken: I thought I told you to go.
Uryuu:…I wasn't sure if you would be ok…I didn't think that you would win so easily.
Ryuken: You'll realise it yourself once you fight them, they're nothing more than grunts.
Uryuu: How can you say that?! These grunts took down the whole of soul society!
Ryuken: After they neutralised their bankai!
Uryuu:…
Ryuken: Their tactics and battle strategy may have been perfect but do you think it would have been that easy for them if the captains could have utilised their bankai?
Uryuu:…
Ryuken: in terms of battle experience and skill alone this one would not have even made it into the espada.
Uryuu: …well if this is all they're capable of then why do you look so worried? This means we stand a better chance of defeating them.
Ryuken: no…it doesn't.
Uryuu:?
Ryuken suddenly senses something and looks off into the distance.
Ryuken: damn, he's already started.
Uryuu: Do you think he's going to be ok on his own?
Ryuken:…he's not had to fight for quite some time so he's still pretty rusty. Hurry up and find the medallion amongst that charred rubble so we can go and help him.
Scene change to Byakuya
Wairudo stares down at the kneeling Kuchiki Byakuya in surprise and shock.
Wairudo: What the hell are you talking about?!
Byakuya: Thus far, all that I have done is to have brought disgrace the Kuchiki name.
Wairudo:…
Byakuya: I as the head of the house was unable to protect them from the enemy and even allowed Senbonzakura to be stolen…all I have done so far is to shame and disgrace the name of house Kuchiki…and now you have left me with no other option but to disgrace it further therefore-
Wairudo: I have?!
Byakuya: You as the Zero squad now stand as highest ranking authority within soul society.
Wairudo:…
Byakuya: You have forbidden us to engage the enemy under any circumstance, you have ordered us to go away and hide and let you deal with this…mess.
Wairudo:…
Byakuya: I may not be able wipe away the shame I've brought to the Kuchiki name but I am now unable to try and atone for it as well. If I attempt to fight the enemy and recover Senbonzakura I will be disobeying orders and acting as a rebel no better than the vermin attacking us and shaming the Kuchiki clan further… and if I cower behind your protection after all this…
Wairudo stares down at Byakuya, his face now no longer surprised but hard and stern.
Wairudo: So… you would rather I grant you an easy way out by allowing you a honourable death or do you foolishly believe that this pathetic act will make me change my mind and let you fight!
Byakuya stays silent and still, still kneeling and head bowed in front of Wairudo. Ginrei takes a few steps forward and now stands to one side of Wairudo.
Ginrei: Captain, please do not mistake the intentions of the man bowed before you.
Wairudo: hmph
Ginrei: Please, look carefully captain, look carefully at the man who has his head bowed and kneels here before you.
Wairudo:…
Ginrei: The man pleading before you is not a captain of the Gotei 13.
Wairudo:? What do you-
Ginrei: Kneeling, pleading before you is the 28th head of the Kuchiki clan, Kuchiki Byakuya.
Wairudo:?!
Scene Change to Hueco Mundo
Aizen: Let eternity itself be scarred! *Hado 90: Kurohitsugi, Hado: 97: Sekei no dibaida!*
Around ichigo's prison on all sides the blackish purple boxes of energy rise. They do not touch his prison but are no more than a foot away as they rise up from all four sides covering it completely. You see Ichigo looking impassively up towards Aizen as they finally envelope the last few inches .
Aizen turns sideways slightly bringing his left arm forward, he extends it moving it away from the rest of his body, aiming it straight down towards where Ichigo was. His arm is beginning glow blue, the intensity increasing by the second until his arm can no longer be distinguished. Energy bursts out like raging torrent from his shoulder area shooting backwards, the blinding energy surrounding his arm begins to swirl travelling down towards his hands and forming into a point. Below him Kurohitsugi is stretching and contracting as it distorts the time and space inside itself. Aizen's arm sways as the energy builds into that small point, the effort clearly showing on his face as he struggles to control it. With a great roar he tries to bring it back into line as laser beam shoots out striking the ground about 15 feet away from Kurohitsugi. It moves towards it, meeting not in the centre but to one side, slicing through it in one single effortless sweep. The whole of Kurohitsugi explodes in one momentous burst of energy bigger than anything we've seen before.
Everyone around it jumps as far away as possible as the energy expels itself rushing outwards in every direction. The only person still stationary is Aizen who is high above it looking completely drained. As the wave of energy surrounds him and carries him away with it you see that his left arm is completely gone all the way up to the shoulder.
Joushiro appears a safe distance away from the explosion.
Jousiro: Ichigo!
Ichigo also appears next to him looking a little singed but relatively unhurt.
Joushiro: ! Ichigo, how did you manage to-
Ichigo: We had an idea as to what he was planning so waited for the crack to appear in Sankt Zwinger Kui to instantly flash step out of there. How about Kyoraku san he-
Shunsui appears beside them at that moment. His clothes look battered and torn and he has a few cuts but still seems ok.
Shunsui: I'm fine Kurosaki san, I just had to play dead for a little while for our ploy to work.
Jousiro: Aizen sure planned it well, whatever else you say about him his genius has few equals.
Shunsui stares at the energy from the explosion still spreading out, his face all serious and thoughtful.
Shunsui: Aye, and his skill. I never thought I'd ever again see someone that could control Sekei no dibaida.
Ichigo:…
Shunsui: I wonder what you could have said to him Ichigo kun to make him risk and sacrifice so much.
Ichigo looks down towards the ground. Amongst all the devastation and rubble his gaze rests on the battered body of Aizen.
Ichigo: ...He's still alive. He would have been aware that Inoue would be able to heal his arm and any injuries if he survived.
Shunsui:…
Joushiro: Ichigo, I think you're mistaking what Kyoraku means.
Ichigo:?
Jousiro: The Hado's 90 and above are all forbidden due to the danger they pose either to the user or to others. Essentially they are considered too dangerous to be used under any circumstance and so forbidden.
Shunsui: Hado 97 is one of the most dangerous because of the risk it poses to both the user AND to everyone else.
Jousiro: It's called the *Divider of worlds* because it doesn't simply destroy anything it touches, it completely removes it from existence.
Ichigo:!
Joushiro: and the force it requires to be controlled is... well to understate it immense, most would end up going out of control destroying everything around them until it completely obliterated them.
Ichigo:…
Shunsui: You misunderstood my meaning of sacrifice too Ichigo san, I was not just referring to his arm. This Hado requires a sacrifice to be used… or more accurately it converts the sacrifice and uses it to compound it's power.
Ichigo:…
Shunsui: The sacrifice it requires is a part of your soul.
Ichigo:?!
Shunsui: it curses a part of your soul, in this case it would be the amount that forms up his arm… I do not doubt that Inoue san may be able to regenerate his arm, but I'm afraid that that part of his soul that has been cursed is gone forever... He will forever have to bear the pain of his soul being torn apart
Joushiro:… and his health and stamina will never be the same too.
Shunsui:…
Ichigo:…
Bach: I SEE!
The loud voice carries over the noise of the still crumbling palace. They all turn their head to see Bach watching and listening to them from afar. His arm is still bloodied but he seems to have avoided the blast completely and even though he has been injured he grins widely.
Bach: Even though I knew of that Hado I never knew it carried such risks, though I suppose that was due to my tutelage being cut short when I was with Shikeguni Yamamoto.
He meets Ichigo's eyes, his grin turning hard and eyes menacing.
Bach: So what do you think you can accomplish now Kurosaki Ichigo, has your early release been worthy of the price that's had to be paid.
Ichigo stares at him, his gaze still expressionless. He speaks softly
Ichigo: Kyoraku san, Ukitake san, please stay back and cover me
Jousiro: but kuro-
Ichigo speeds straight towards Bach, his sword raised in a striking motion.
Ichigo: Getsuga!
Bach: (it doesn't matter if your power increases tenfold Kurosaki Ichigo, you still remain a child easily led).
Ichigo: EN-
Ichigo disappears less than 20 feet away from Bach and appears about the same distance away diagonally behind him.
Ichigo: -JO!
Bach:?!
A blazing arc of black flames is released from Ichigo's blade, heading towards Bach, as he slashes down. As it explodes the whole area around them is covered by white smoke. Ichigo tries to peer through the smoke to see what remains of Bach, as he does he wipes his face as the smoke stings his skin. A look of surprise crosses his face and he glances at his hand as he pulls it away.
Ichigo: This isn't smoke. Its mist?!
Bach: ha ha, did you really think that it would be that easy Kurosaki Ichigo?!
As the mist clears Ichigo sees Bach standing perfectly relaxed smiling whilst in front of him, in her released form, with her blade drawn, stands Tier Harribel.
Ichigo:?!
Next Week: Bleach 531: The Lines Drawn: