Chapter 3: Rebellion

Jinosuke ran as hard as he could. He had just been deployed. He was quite humble in his healing powers, but he knew that if he was called out to the field, it must have been extreme.

Coming around the corner, he saw shinigamis strewn all over the place. A few here, a few there, most looked to be beyond healing. Other 4th squad troops had arrived before him, and they were attending to those who could be saved. Jinosuke walked over to one of the men, who had a massive cut across his chest and was being patched up.

"Who did this?" he asked. He motioned the previous healer away, and began to work on the man himself.

"I don't know…I don't know who he was. But he was powerful. Ah.." the man yelped as Jinosuke tightly wrapped bandages around his wounds.

"He did all of this by himself? What squad are you?"

"We're 5th squad. We were sent to investigate when one of the gate keepers was killed."
"One of the gate keepers? The Southern Gate?" Jinosuke's face showed fear. The Southern Gate was guarded by Fudoumyouou Hayashida. He was supposed to be immovable.

"Yeah…he was found dead late this morning. We got here and we found a man standing on top of Fudoumyouou."

"And then he attacked?" Jinosuke finished wrapping up the man's wounds. He began to use his healing spells.

"I…I don't remember. All I remember is feeling drained of all my reiatsu."

OOOOOOOOOOO

Shosuke knelt before the fresh grave. The majority of the 8th squad was behind him, some weeping. He placed Ayame's zanpaku-to onto the tombstone.

Miko and Koji stood beside him. Miko, still scared, held loosely onto Koji. She felt so weak compared to these men. They had fought to protect Ayame. Her sister was dead now…because she wasn't strong enough to stop her own captain…

Koji looked on to the grave. He felt responsible…because he had the chance to stop Dosu when he first found him harassing Ayame. He wasn't strong enough.

Shosuke bowed his head, and began to weep. Why hadn't he gotten there sooner? Why did he hesitate? The instant he felt Dosu and Ayame's reiatsus that close together he should have ran. He arrived too late…and now he'd never see her again. He pounded his fist into the ground. "Why couldn't I save her!" he screamed. The rest of the 8th squad backed up, sensing their captain was enraged.

"Captain Shosuke…it wasn't your fault." said Koji. "None of us knew what Captain Dosu was going to do."

Streams of tears began to flow down Miko's face. "It's my fault then."

Shosuke and Koji both looked at her. "What do you mean?" Shosuke asked.

"I knew…everything. I knew why Captain Dosu was after Ayame…and I know what he'll do next."

Shosuke stood up and walked over to Miko. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell anyone?" He was angry now. "Why Miko? Why didn't you tell anyone?"
Miko began to cry harder and clung tightly to Koji's robes. "He threatened me! He threatened her! I didn't think he'd actually kill her…" Shosuke reached and grabbed Miko by the shoulder.

"What's he planning? What is his purpose in killing her?" He gripped her other shoulder and pulled her away from Koji. "Why did he kill her, Miko?"

"Captain Shosuke!" Koji shouted as he removed Shosuke's hands from Miko. "Calm down. Miko is already scared enough."

"He wanted Ayame…" said Miko, choking on tears. "…but he couldn't have her because of you, Captain Shosuke. He told everything to me…he even used me to get close to her." She look up into Shosuke's eyes. "I didn't know he was going to kill her."

Shosuke turned back towards the grave. "I will avenge her. I swear it."

Koji stepped forward and looked down at the grave. "I swear it."

Miko stepped forward. She knelt down and placed her hand on her sister's grave. "I swear it."

OOOOOOOOOOO

Rin sat in his office in the 3rd squad building. It was now afternoon, and the events of the past night had reached the ears of everyone in the Court by now. Rin had just got done reading Captain Shosuke's report. He never liked Dosu anyway, and now all of the Court was looking for him. He had just sent out his 2nd team to investigate. Shosuke was to be court-martialed for releasing his ban-kai within the walls of the Court. Too many troubling things for Rin. He decided to take a nap. I'll just rest my eyes…

A knock at the door shook Rin back to reality.

"Captain!"

Rin sighed. Sutomaru, his lieutenant, had to be the most annoying person in all of Soul Society. He stayed quiet, hoping the disturbance would go away.

"Captain! Are you in your office, sir? Sir?" The knocking continued. Rin sighed.

"Okay Sutomaru, come in." he said, reluctantly.

The door slid open and a scrawny shinigami stepped into the office. He seemed frantic.

"Captain Tadokoro! I've just been informed that an unknown shinigami has infiltrated the Court!"

Rin sighed again. Great…just what we need, another idiot to deal with. "Where did you get this information, lieutenant?"

"Sir! My father, the captain of the 5th squad, informed me, sir! Shinigami of the 5th squad were investigating the death of the Southern Gate keeper and according to my father they were attacked by an unknown shinigami who drained their reiatsu. I think this is troubling, sir!"

"Thank you, Sutomaru. You may go now." Rin relaxed back into his chair. He didn't really want to deal with this. He'd let Captain Yukihime take care of it, after all it was his men who were attacked. The 5th squad was always getting in trouble. Rin never like them anyway.

"But sir! This means that an unidentified shinigami is somewhere here in the Court, and he is attacking innocent people! We have to do something!"

Rin's eyes began to close. He didn't really care all that much.

Sutomaru continued his rant. "Sir, I suggest we mobilize our 1st team to investigate and track down this killer. They could start on the northern side…" The words trailed off as Rin slowly slipped into a daydream. I wonder if I'll get to see that pretty girl in the 4th squad today…she's got one heck of a—

"Sir!" Rin snapped back to attention. "What do you think?"

Rin stared blankly at his lieutenant. "Uh…sure. Get right on that, lieutenant."

"Yes sir! I'll deploy the men at once, Captain Tadokoro!" Sutomaru saluted his captain and briskly stepped out of the office. Rin sighed. He really didn't like that boy. He closed his eyes again, hoping to finally catch a nap.

"You've got one helluva lieutenant, Rin."

The voice woke Rin up, again. "Can't a guy just get some sleep around here?" He opened his eyes. He saw a man in a dark cloak standing on the balcony adjacent to his office. He instantly recognized him.

"Hey, Cap'n. Long time no see." He pulled back the hood of his cloak.

"Ankashi."

"That's right, I'm back." Ankashi walked towards Rin's desk. Rin stood up. He didn't know whether to prepare himself for battle or not.

"What are you doing here, Ankashi? If the Court finds you they'll hang you for sure!"

"Ya see this face? Ya see a hint of 'I care' in this here face?" Ankashi drew his sword. "I figgered I'd drop in and see my old friends. That some kinda crime?"

"No, but slaughtering your own family is. You're a fugitive, Ankashi. Put your zanpaku-to down, you don't wanna fight me."

Ankashi's eyes glowed. "You're right, Cap'n. I don't wanna fight you. I'm'a kill you." He thrust his sword at Rin's chest.

Rin's eyes slowly opened. Another sword had deflected the thrust. He looked to his right. Seems Sutomaru was good for something after all.

"Captain! Who is this man and why is he attacking you?"

Rin sighed. "Sutomaru, remember that unidentified shinigami you were talking about? You can cancel the search team."

OOOOOOOOOOO

"Let the trial commence." Commander Kurosaki always was straight to business.

Four men sat in his office. Captain Shosuke, Captain Hiroshi, Captain Hisao, and Commander Kurosaki. Some trial… thought Shosuke.

"Captain Shosuke, you are charged with the unauthorized release of your zanpaku-to and bankai within the walls of the Court. How do you plead?"

"Guilty, sir. But I had my reasons."

Captain Hisao chimed in. "Regardless of your reasons, Captain Shosuke, the release of shikai or bankai within the Court is strictly prohibited. We're just thankful it was during the night so that no one was injured."

"Takemine, Dosu killed many of my men and my lieutenant, then attacked me. I believe I am justified. It's all in my report, which I hope you read." Shosuke was angry. Hisao Takemine always had it out for him.

"Izu, I felt the disturbance last night." Hiroshi recalled the event. He always tried to help Shosuke, ever since they were in the academy they had been friends. "According to your report you and Gennosuke went to blows at about four in the morning. Why were you up that late? What were you doing?"

"I woke up last night around midnight. I felt a disturbance and checked outside, finding my 5th seat injured and my 7th seat scared half to death. I went to the barracks and found at least a couple dozen of my men down, either injured or dead. One of them told me that Captain Dosu was the culprit, and that he had taken Ayame and headed off in the direction of the 13th squad district. I met them in the courtyard, and by that time Dosu had already killed Ayame."

Commander Kurosaki nodded. "That's when you released your shikai. At this point you should have detained Dosu and called for support."

"Commander Kurosaki, sir! I would have loved nothing more—"

A knock at the door caused all of the men to pause. "Commander! Commander Kurosaki!"

"Enter."

The door opened and a tall scrawny man entered.

"Captain Yukihime, what business do you have?" asked the Commander.

"Commander Kurosaki, sir! There has been an infiltration in the Court. An unidentified shinigami has killed the Southern Gate Keeper and attacked many of my men upon their investigation."

The men were taken aback. Captain Hisao was the first to talk. He stood, saying "We must take action immediately."

Just what we need… thought the Commander. "Very well, Shosuke. You're off the hook for now. Let us deal with the intruder. Captains, mobilize your men. We'll send search parties for both Dosu and this unidentified intruder."

Captains Shosuke, Hiroshi, Hisao and Yukihime all saluted their Commander and walked out of his office. Commander Kurosaki sat back down. "Man this is one crappy day."

OOOOOOOOOOO

"Rise, Shibito!" Sutomaru's sword began to glow brightly as it increased in size. The end of the blade rounded out and became flat. With it he swung hard at Ankashi, who blocked and was pushed back due to the force. Ankashi caught his balance near the balcony.

"You lil' brat. I'm'a kill you first."

"Just try it!" Sutomaru ran full force at Ankashi. He slammed his sword down onto Ankashi, who raised his blade to block.

"Look, kid. You don't know who yer dealin' with. Let me show you." Sutomaru pushed harder down. "Yer makin' this too easy. Whisper, Sanzoku."

Rin just looked on. Sutomaru's sword began to glow, and when the glowing stopped it had reverted back to it's normal state. Sutomaru looked confused.

"What…what have you done?"

"I told you that ya didn't have a clue what yer up against, kid!" Ankashi swung down hard. Sutomaru raised his sword to defend, but it shattered when Ankashi's connected with it, and blood spewed out as Ankashi's sword slashed across his chest. Sutomaru fell to his knees, and Ankashi kicked him aside like a rag doll.

Rin stood, unconcerned. He never liked Sutomaru anyway. "Well, well…you haven't changed a bit. Still leeching off of others, Ankashi?"

"Why'dn't you come over here and find out, Cap'n?" Ankashi raised his sword at Rin. Rin drew his sword. In a flash Rin disappeared. Ankashi instinctively swung his sword behind him to guard his back. The two swords clashed. Large amounts of reiatsu flowed, enough to rock the foundation of the balcony the two stood on. The balcony began to collapse, and both Rin and Ankashi jumped to the ground below. They now stood in the middle of the food court.

People all around got up and gasped, not sure what to make of their Captain with his sword drawn. Rin shouted at them.

"Get out of here, run as far away as you can!" They took the hint.

"Good…" sneered Ankashi. "Now it's just you and me, Cap'n."

"You know you can't beat me, Ankashi. Just calm down and I'll let you go. Leave the Court and I won't report you." Rin tried to sound friendly.

"It ain't that easy, Cap'n. Y'see, I'm not here just to kill you. I'm here to kill the entire Gotei 13." Rin's eyes widened. He never knew Ankashi was this crazy.

"So you're going to systematically go through every captain until you've killed us all? You're cracked, you know that? What will that get you?" Rin kept his sword readied, Ankashi was too unstable.

"It won't get me anythin' 'cept for the satisfaction of knowin' the corrupted people here have all been destroyed." Ankashi dashed towards Rin, thrusting his sword straight at his chest again. This time Rin wasn't there, though. He flash-stepped about twenty feet behind Ankashi.

"You fool. You still think that the Gotei 13 are responsible for your family's death, don't you? Stop lying to yourself, Ankashi."

Stop lying to yourself… Flashes of the horrible night ran through Ankashi's head. Why did everyone keep telling him to stop lying? It was they who lied!

"Accept responsibility for your actions!"

"SHUT UP! You don't know what happened that night! My family'd never attack me 'less they'd been brainwashed by you people!" Ankashi charged again. Swords clashed and reiatsu flowed.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Captain Hiroshi stood before his men.

"Men, there are two shinigamis somewhere in the Court. You are to find them. You are my 7th squad and I know you can do this. 1st through 3rd teams go north, 4th through 6th go south. Go!"

The group cried out in unison "Sir, yes sir!" and in a flash all of them were gone.

"Mankyou…" Hiroshi's sword glowed.

"Akeno?" Hiroshi relaxed his mind. When Akeno Kirahana spoke, he knew to listen.

"Mankyou…I sense it. It's here." Hiroshi drew the sword from it's sheath.

With sword in hand, Hiroshi chanted, "Echo the dim light of dusk, and vibrate by the sound of the earth, Akeno Kirahana." The blade glowed brightly, and curved slightly downward, becoming like a sickle. The base of the hilt grew into a large diamond and dropped, now attached by a long chain. Hiroshi raised his blade up in the air, and let the tip of the diamond touch the ground. "Show me the way, Akeno Kirahana."

The diamond began to vibrate, and lifted up off the ground towards the east.

Artimeas walked out of the 7th squad building. He saw his brother, zanpaku-to released, standing in the middle of their courtyard.

"Brother!" He ran towards Hiroshi. "Have you found the enemy's location, yet?"

"Yes, Artimeas. I'm going to find and eliminate it. You stay here, little brother."

"…Brother…Captain! You can't go alone." Artimeas drew his sword. "I can fight too!"

Hiroshi raised his voice. "No, Artimeas. You stay here and guard Suzu." He lowered his blade. The diamond retracted back into the hilt. He looked back towards his brother. "I'll be back." In an instant, Hiroshi was gone.

You'd better come back, brother. though Artimeas. I still have to show you that I'm strong. Like you.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Swords clashed as Rin swung down hard onto Ankashi. He knew not to let the blades touch for long, because Ankashi would use to that release his shikai. Ankashi blocked and tried to grab a hold of Rin's blade, but to no avail. Rin drew back and planted a firm kick to Ankashi's chest, springing him back to a safe distance.

Breathing heavily, Ankashi looked up at his former captain. "Yer still the same ol' same ol', Rin."

"Yeah well, you know how it is. Paper work, Captain's meetings, capturing intruders…it's a busy life." Rin raised his sword up, eye level with Ankashi. It began to glow.

"Heh…feel like being lazy, huh Cap'n?" Ankashi smiled.

"You bet. Roar, Shikujo." The blade of Rin's sword began to increase in width, and bent over, becoming perpendicular to the hilt. The hilt changed shape to match the grip of a gun, and a large opening at the bottom of the base of the blade opened up. The barrel was pointed directly at Ankashi.

"Shikujo, the zanpaku-to that changes into a gunblade. I've seen this thing a million times, but never pointed at me." Ankashi readied himself.

"Well, there's a first time for everything." With a loud blast Rin fired off a shot at Ankashi, who quickly side stepped, letting the shot fly past him into a building. Rin took the opportunity to charge his opponent, swinging with the blade. Ankashi blocked and parried, thrusting his blade towards Rin's face. Rin moved to the side just as the blade sliced his cheek, and kneed Ankashi in the stomach. Ankashi took the blow hard and hit the ground, rolling to get away. Rin aimed and fired. Ankashi had no time to evade.

The blast was loud. The dust caused from the impact was thick. But as it began to clear, Rin was surprised.

Ankashi began to stand up. The energy from the blast had smashed into his blade, and stayed suspended next to it. Ankashi smiled, and his sword glowed as the shot from Rin's gunblade was absorbed into it. "How's that? You didn't expect that, did you?" he said, smiling.

"Touché." Rin charged again, swinging his blade from the side. Ankashi ducked and blocked from a low angle, causing Rin's blade to be pushed up towards his own neck. Ankashi pressed in hard, locking their swords in place.

"Whisper, Sanzoku." The blades began to glow brightly. Rin knew his mistake.

After the glowing stopped, Ankashi pushed Rin backwards, causing him to fall over. When Rin got back up, his blade was normal shaped again. Ankashi pointed his blade at Rin. It was now shaped like a gunblade.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"Captain Hisao!" Tado Jira ran towards his captain. "Captain Hisao!"

Hisao kept walking. He didn't even acknowledge his lieutenant.

"Captain Hisao!" Jira ran and stopped in front of his Captain. "Captain Hisao, sir!"

Hisao sighed. "What is it, Lieutenant Tado?"

"Sir! Reports have confirmed that Captain Tadokoro is fighting with the unidentified shinigami."

"Good for him. I'm a little busy right now." Captain Hisao continued to walk.

"Sir? You…don't seem to care a whole lot."

"Good eye, there, Jira." Hisao smirked. "The way I see it, one of them will die. If it's the intruder, our problem is solved. If it's Tadokoro, that means I get to kill the intruder. Either way I win." He walked away and turned a corner, leaving Jira's sight.

Jira frowned. "Stuck up jerk."

Hisao's voice came from the distance. "Thanks."

OOOOOOOOOOO

A shot of energy blasted towards Rin, who easily dodged it.

"You might have stolen my blade, but you definitely have no clue how to use it."

A dozen or so craters surrounded Rin. He hadn't even broke a sweat.

Ankashi, angered, fired another blast. It missed entirely, smashing into a nearby building. The building already had about five massive holes in it, and it crumbled to the ground after one last shot hit it.

"Stop moving so I can kill ya!" Ankashi blasted another shot.

"Yeah, 'cause that's gonna happen." Rin dodged. "Enough of this. Back off before I do something the Commander will hate me for."

"You mean let yer bankai out?" Ankashi laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"You fool! I've stolen yer zanpaku-to! I've sapped it clean of reiatsu! You couldn't release your bankai if you tried!" Ankashi fired off another blast.

Rin flash-stepped out of the way, landing on the wall surrounding the area.

"You're the fool, Ankashi. You may have stolen my zanpaku-to's reiatsu, and even stole it's shikai form. But my bankai has nothing to do with reiatsu."

Ankashi was confused. "What do you mean? You're full of sh—"

"Let me educate you. There are many different types of bankai. Some bankai change the form of your zanpaku-to; those bankai are your weapon. Other bankai are kidoh type bankai, and merely support your weapon. Still others are like mine: Summoning type bankai." Rin raised his sword. "These are the kind that bring the true form of your zanpaku-to into our realm, and have them fight with you. Regardless of how much reiatsu you've stolen from them, they can still come out and fight."

"Yer full of crap!" Ankashi fired off another blast. The wall where Rin stood crumbled to the ground.

"You really need to work on your aim." Ankashi spun around, and saw Rin about thirty feet behind him. "Now, where was I? Oh yes...Ban-kai."