Well now, what do we have here? I know what it is, another chapter! However, before i go on, I want to sincerely thank every single one of you who left us a review. Thanks to you guys, we managed to shoot far past my expected goal of 800! We're at 817 as of now, and i couldn't be more happier.
My next goal is to try to get over 900 by the end of soul society, but regardless of that, I want to take a moment to thank Skarabog, The Last Kenpachi, Evan deivant, wolfdude16, Elrosh, harlequin320, Darkverger1, Alternet RedSkys, kekkeigenkai95, Black Magic99, Sage of Wind Dragons Docron, G3r1k, snickermoon814, Angella1012, BlackFeath, BlackFeath, , sodan64, Vibrolux61, No Fanfic No Life,, ijpowers92, alexc123, The Coke-aholic EVA-Saiyajin and all of our guest reviewers.
I really cant thank you guys enough for this. It really helped cheer me up. Here's hopping we get even more reviews and reach my new goal!
Anyways, I think ive delayed you guys enough. Enjoy the new chapter.
Thanks once again to Greatkingrat88 (for writing) and jcampbellohten (for being our Beta)
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and weekly shounen magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun.
Ichigo felt equal parts nervous and determined as he stood face-to-face with the manifestation of Zangetsu. The spirit stared at him with an infuriated scowl on its face, wielding a blade just like the one Ichigo usually held. They stood in the most expansive part of the cave, brightly lit, the ground mostly even, but broken off by cliffs and rocks here and there.
After a refreshing dip in the cave's hot spring, which conveniently had healed all of his remaining injuries, Ichigo had stabbed his blade into a man-sized, featureless doll that Yoruichi had provided. Soon after, Zangetsu had manifested, and now they stood staring each other down.
It was an odd thing, he reflected. A few months ago, the idea of almost dying, being cut up by some sword-wielding psycho, and chasing after people who were trying to kill him would have terrified him. In a very short time, he had gone from being a fairly normal teenager to being... something more. The oddest thing of all was how little fear he had left. Except... the fear of losing himself. He had looked a demon in the face. He had been cut down and nearly died. He had faced down Kuchiki Byakuya and fought him evenly, and what's more, he was determined to do it again. Ghosts. Death gods. Conspiracies. An afterlife run by tyrannical oligarchs, a mystical and fantastical setting characterized as much by magic and otherworldliness as it was by politics. Objectively speaking, it was all kind of insane.
But, down in the rabbit hole, where everyone was a little mad, everything made perfect sense to Ichigo. Risk his sword, maybe his life, on a test to gain more power quickly? He was ready.
"You have some nerve, Ichigo," said Zangetsu, staring at him coldly.
"It is what it is, old man," Ichigo shot back.
"You think to gain my full strength through such a petty shortcut," Zangetsu sneered, "without seeking my approval? Without getting to know me, without bonding as a blade and its master should? You dare offend me, the reflection of your soul, with such crass ambition?"
"I don't have a choice, old man," Ichigo said. Inwardly, he felt a little remorseful- Zangetsu was his own person, and Ichigo knew there was a way zanpakutou expected things to work. This was most assuredly going against that. Even so... "Do you accept this challenge?"
"I do not have a choice," Zangetsu said, echoing Ichigo's words, "but do not expect me to forget this slight easily."
Ichigo nodded. "So... we just fight?"
"Not as simply as that, no," Zangetsu said. The spirit looked around him, made a sweeping gesture, and in an instant the landscape around them was filled with black blades, each one similar to Zangetsu's normal form, but still distinct. Some were jagged, some were smooth; some were thick, some were slim; some were shorter and some were longer, and no two were alike.
"Just like the first test, huh?" Ichigo said, remembering that time when first he had gained his own powers. It had not been long, he knew, but it felt like a lifetime ago.
"A thousand of myself, spread around the cave. Only the truest form can defeat me. You have your three days to do so- but if you fail, know there will be consequences. My forgiveness will not be easily bought."
Ichigo nodded, and grabbed one blade which had manifested next to him, thick and jagged.
"All right, then."
"Trust not only the testimony of your eyes nor the sound caught by your ears. This test may seem simple, but to succeed... will demand far more than merely being stubborn."
"Gotcha," Ichigo said. Delaying no further, he surged forward, slamming his sword down on Zangetsu's. With just a simple movement of the hand, wielding the massive sword as if it had the weight of a feather, the spirit shattered Ichigo's blade. Letting out a curse, Ichigo jumped back and grabbed a new sword. This wasn't going to be easy...
He wasn't asleep. Even with so little to do, Aizen would have resented sleeping just to pass the time; he was a productive soul and spent only as much time on sleep as was necessary. But, the land around him certainly was rather like a most beautiful dreamscape. He hadn't visited for quite a long time, but now was as good a time as any.
Around him was splendour, true splendour. A white city stretched out as far as the eye could see, made of marble and lined with silver. Through the roads, servantfolk went about their business, each one moving with the purpose of serving his or her master. Sitting on a tasteful throne, made of firm granite and tastefully lined with gold, he could see it all so well, even that which was leagues and leagues away. This was utopia. This was a kingdom united under a superior vision, free of meddling and free of ignorance, free of the hindrances of mediocrity and idiocy. This was the nameless city, the vision he strove to emulate in reality, the home of Kyoka Suigetsu.
"Milord has not visited for quite some time. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Her form floated through the air, levitating smoothly, legs crossed. She had neither hands nor feet, but she didn't need them. She had no eyes, and kept her eyelids always closed. She could not walk, could not touch, could not see, yet she knew everything, saw everything, and had absolute control over everything in this realm- and the next.
She was quite beautiful, as was appropriate for a zanpakutou of a man as magnificent as himself. She had high, well defined cheek bones, long blond hair, and white flowing robes, inscribed with glyphs made of purple thread, the gilded symbol of a watchful eye on her chest and forehead. Golden bracelets wrapped around her ankles and wrists, along with a circlet around her forehead; he had made those especially to symbolize her submission to him. This throne was hers, and he had taken it from her a long time ago. She belonged to him; she was his most valuable tool, and she knew her place. Nobody could be relied upon better than she, his greatest servant.
"I hope you do not mind that I made myself at home," he said, and smiled.
She put one arm to her chest, and bowed. "Milord is the master of all that is here. Milord, I suspect, knows this very well. We are not the normal playthings milord surrounds himself with. We know milord's thoughts, as he knows ours. There is no need to be coy, for we see right through it."
"Then you would already know why I came, no?"
"It is only polite to ask," said Kyoka Suigetsu, and though she had no eyes, Aizen knew she was staring at him quite intently.
"Why am I here?"
"Milord is bored. Impatient. Milord feels rather like a schoolboy waiting for the bell to ring, we suspect."
Aizen let himself laugh, heartily and openly. There was a freedom here, no need to ever conceal his emotions or feelings, and that had its place.
"You have not lost your spirit, Kyoka Suigetsu," he said, this time with a genuine smile.
"We are submissive, not spineless," said the spirit. She cocked her head. "This impatience... Milord has been patient for so long. Why now? To a zanpakutou, shinigami can seem so illogical."
"It is right within my grasp, this future," Aizen said, leaning forward, contently clasping his hands together, "I can almost touch it, taste it, savour it. It both frustrates and overjoys me."
"Milord will build a world as grand as this," she reassured him, her handless arm gesturing toward the resplendent city. "Well... almost. Together, milord and I are invincible."
"We are," Aizen said, nodding. She was a reflection of him, and though not identical in personality, she too was grandly ambitious, was proud, and wanted nothing but the best.
"Yet milord hesitates."
Aizen furrowed his brows. "Pray tell, how have I hesitated?"
"You felt sympathy for the petty little girl who served you. When you sensed she survived, you were relieved."
"I..." Aizen said, hesitating. Had anyone else dared to question him so personally, he would have killed them. She alone had that privilege, that insight into his mind. "I did."
"Milord must explain why."
"I... am not sure," Aizen said, realizing it was true, "I suppose she became a little dear to me. Like a cat, or a pet bird."
Kyoka Suigetsu shook her head. "What's more, you desire that other woman."
"I have no such lusts," Aizen said dismissively.
"It may not involve your loins, milord, but you still desire her. You wish she were your subject."
"I... do," Aizen said. This was why he didn't come too often. Kyoka Suigetsu was the only being who could criticize him, and she was not afraid to do so. She wanted perfection out of him- which was only natural. But to have to face his own imperfections... to face that he even had them, it made him uneasy.
"Milord must tread carefully," Kyoka Suigetsu said. "Milord must remember that there can be no hesitations. There can be no ties to anything but The Vision. There can be nothing standing in the way of our dominion. We must stand at the very top. When milord rules the Soul Society, milord may well have countless courtesans to serve his every whim... but until victory is complete, there can be no obstructions, no loss of focus."
"They are but momentary distractions," Aizen said dismissively, "ponderings brought about by tremendous boredom. For so long I have been forced to hide the full extent of my potential. Very soon I will put it to full use, and when I do... I will have no use for sentimentality. It is amusement at the most."
She gave him a scrutinizing look, staring into his very soul.
"Milord believes it to be true... almost entirely," she said strictly. "We are satisfied. This gladdens us. We would not have wanted to invoke the contract."
Aizen nearly flinched. She hadn't mentioned that for centuries. Her full submission had come at a price, an added caveat. She could ask some things of him, and he could not deny her, or else...
"It will not come to that, my subject," he said warmly, "it will not even come close to it. Perhaps one day, Erza Scarlet will be my courtesan. Perhaps one day, I will kill her. Perhaps nothing will come of her at all. It matters not to me. It would be the smallest of sacrifices."
She nodded, seeming satisfied.
"Victory is within milord's grasp. Milord will accomplish it, or milord will die. That is the fate to which we are tied."
"We will not die," Aizen said assuredly. "Really, Kyoka Suigetsu, need you test me so? Have I not done all I said I would?"
"Milord is right," she said, and smiled back. "Still..."
"Still?"
"We wonder how you will deal with the failure of your underling."
Aizen laughed again. "Gin amuses me. His humiliation will bring me mirth for many years to come. I will kill him- but later, and on my terms."
"As milord says, so shall it be done."
Aizen leaned back on the throne, staring out at the unending utopian kingdom. Soon, within a few centuries or so, he would make it reality.
Erza had dared to sneak outside, leaving Ichigo to his training. Her venture outside the previous night, although successful in that it had saved Momo's life, had not accomplished her actual goal: to locate Orihime and Tatsuki, and to bring them back to the cave, where they would all recuperate, regroup, and plan their next move. The area just outside the cave, where she was quietly sneaking, was surrounded by trees, but the winding city streets were not far.
Momo... the previous night had been more than a little hectic, and the stone-cold fury that had filled Erza when she saw Gin over Momo had consumed most of her reason. Now in the daylight, with time to reflect as she carefully moved, it made her heart speed up a little. Knowing that somebody had kept faith, that somebody had had that same boundless fire of companionship that had characterized Fairy Tail...
"Hey."
Erza let out an undignified yelp, stumbled, and nearly fell over. Quickly she regained her balance, reaching for her sword, before it registered in her mind that she knew that voice.
"And you actually infiltrated the Gotei, like that?" said Rod, sitting on a tree branch, leaned against the trunk. "We're really incompetent not to have caught you yet."
"Rod!" Erza said, not taking her hand off the hilt just yet. Rod had helped her escape long ago, but she couldn't be too careful.
"Oh, relax," he said, giving her a dismissive wave. He jumped down from his branch, landing with the smooth, quiet ease of a cat. "I'm here to talk. I'm all alone. Take it easy."
"I... Long time, no see," Erza mumbled a bit embarrassedly, lamely taking her hand off the sword. "How, uh, how'd you find me?"
He shrugged. "Been keeping an eye out. Got a lot of useful reports last nights. I tracked you about this far before I lost you. So, I came here at the crack of dawn for a good old stake-out, and lo and behold..." He pointed at her sardonically with his right arm. "Don't worry, nobody else knows. I made sure-"
He was interrupted by Erza all but tacking him, catching him in a bear hug.
"It's been so long," she said emotionally, holding him close, "and you're still looking out for me?"
Rod let out a muffled grumble, snapping his fingers loudly, and Erza realized she had forgotten that she was a good bit taller than her old friend; she had pushed his face right into her chest. Hastily, she let go.
Rod drew in a deep breath, and coughed. "For goodness' sake, woman," he grumbled, "I don't care how much that would be any man's dream normally, I'd rather not choke to death!"
"S-sorry," Erza said awkwardly. She took a good look at him, "but look at you! You made vice-captain!"
"Well, yes, not much of an achievement considering who I replaced," he grumbled, but a smile crept across his face as he looked back at her.
"So, how have you been?" Erza said, forgetting for a moment where she was, where she was going. Seeing another friendly face of old had quite an effect on her.
"Didn't come here to chit-chat, I'm afraid," Rod said, and fished up a cigarette from his pocket.
"Oh. Right."
"Here's the thing," he said, striking a light and drawing a puff of smoke, "I've been organizing a bit of... well, I think my captain would call it 'high treason', but I'd prefer to call it 'resistance'. The plucky, bold, daring and morally justified kind."
"Rod..." Erza said. This went beyond her expectations.
"First things first: we got those two girls secure. Nothing to be done about the big fella and the quincy, though- I can do a lot, but making two prisoners vanish is a bit much even for me. The girls, though, they're in a safe place. They could be moved if you need them to, but it's safest not to."
"Thank goodness," Erza said, letting out a breath of relief.
"Secondly, my resistance... so far, we've got Lisanna Strauss, Abarai Renji, Matsumoto Rangiku, and Kujo Nozomi on our side. We're working on potentially securing Kira Izuru and Hisagi Shuhei-"
"Don't!" Erza said quickly, "I mean, er, continue."
Rod gave her an odd look. "...At any rate, there's also Hinamori Momo, but she was deemed something of a liability. The people we've got are working in your favour- been throwing around whatever we can to make things easier for you. Normally it wouldn't be easy, but the chaos works in our favour, and my captain really got her feathers rustled the other day."
"Momo," Erza said, "um... I think I messed that one up, then. I told her the whole truth yesterday."
Rod sighed. "I'll approach her, then. Still, the whole truth?" He raised a curious eyebrow. "Because I noticed a few things were off- I noticed somebody is probably manipulating the Gotei as a whole, for ends that are probably nefarious- but I don't know a whole lot."
Quickly, Erza recounted what she had told the others: Aizen's true nature, a brief history of her past with him, how and why she had been imprisoned, and why she had returned.
"Holy shit..." Rod said, the cigarette having fallen from his lips as his jaw dropped a little, "Aizen? Aizen? The guy's cleaner than a fresh, white napkin."
"Just the way he wants it. He still lives, and he's planning something big- what exactly I can't be sure, but it will involve the fall of the Gotei."
Rod shook his head rapidly, as if to shake off dizziness. "If anyone else had told me that, I'd have told them to fuck off. I'm still not sure I won't."
"Believe it if you want, reject it if you want. But, you believed in me enough to help me escape, enough to build a whole movement to help me. You risked everything for me, and I deeply appreciate that. With all that, do you think I'd lie to you?"
"I... I guess not," Rod said hesitantly. "Still, that's... that's a helluva thing."
"Makes sense, doesn't it? You saw the tracks, but there was never anything substantial because his power is perfect illusion."
"That... would explain a lot, actually," he muttered. "I'll be fucked, though..."
"I know," Erza said, nodding, "I know."
He shook his head again. "Well... guess we better adapt then. Aizen Sousuke. Ichimaru Gin. Tosen Kaname. All hostiles. Tactical disadvantage: absurd. If we had any choice, if this was a normal operation, I'd say this was a complete no-go."
"But we're still going to try."
"Yes, that is what you do," Rod grumbled. "I'll spread the word, see what I can do. When do we act?"
"When Rukia is meant to be executed."
"Why wait?" Rod said, frowning. "Just have Shihoin snag her. Escape."
Erza shook her head. "I can't see it being that easy. We already tried once, and who knows what safeguards Aizen will have put up? As for why we wait... one of the kids I brought is learning bankai."
"...I shouldn't even be surprised," Rod said, scratching his head, "I won't even ask how- I'll just take your word for it, you madwoman. In three days?"
"In three days," Erza said firmly. "Then, when the time comes, we storm the hill. One of us grabs Rukia and runs."
"That is simple. Stupidly simple. Then again, simple plans usually work best," he said. He sighed. "How do you propose we deal with, oh, just about every single captain in our way?"
"I'll leave strategy to you, won't I?" Erza said cheekily. "You're the expert, after all."
"I..." Rod said, trailing off. "You changed a bit, didn't you?"
"Maybe a little. Anyhow... keep in touch. I've got training to oversee."
"Sure," Rod said. "Keep low. I'll keep you posted. We'll work on this. We'll probably all die, but hey, we should at least try, right?"
"Yes," Erza said. She looked him in the eye. "And, Rod?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you so much." She broke into a smile.
"...Yeah, yeah, whatever," he grumbled. He had changed, just a little, as had she- but at heart, he was still his same grumpy self, and at heart, she was still Erza Scarlet.
There was light. There had been light on and off for the last... well, he had actually lost concept of time. He had lost track of how long he had been here, but he felt like it had been quite some time- too much of it, actually.
As Zaraki Kenpachi opened his eyes, the light blinded him, and he blinked as his eyes slowly adjusted. He ached, was the first thing he realized. His limbs were stiff, and he could remember... pain, far greater than the petty aches he felt now.
Then, it all flooded back into his memory. The thrill of battle. Swords clashing, blood flowing, a symphony of pain and joy. A buxom, red-headed woman with power, skill, and strength to match his own, with a force of will great enough to best even him. The greatest battle he had had in centuries; a high greater than that of any drug, a pleasure greater than any orgasm, the ruthless, brutal violence that gave his life purpose fulfilled in a sense so complete he had forgotten what it felt like.
Rapidly he sat up, and pain shot through his body. Kenpachi ignored it. Pain was like an old friend to him, and so little of it could not even make him flinch. There were bandages wrapped around most of his body, he could see. For the first time getting a view of his surroundings, there could be no mistaking it. White walls, white sheets, and a comfortable bed- this was fourth division, all right. Well, that explained why he'd felt all doped up.
"Lie down, please."
Anyone else Kenpachi would probably have told to fuck off, quite possibly with a slap to boot. But the gentle, kind, and polite voice was unmistakable, and impossible to refuse entirely. Standing up from a chair to his side, and walking toward him, was Captain Unohana Retsu.
Some thought it akin to the legend of how a beauty could soothe the beast with her charms, but those old enough to remember knew better. It was a pecking order, and she was the only one Kenpachi truly respected. She was his fellow demon, the first one to ever beat him. He looked at her with a grin.
"Yes'm," he said, slowly sinking back. Normally he would resent being told what to do, even by her, but the joyous memories of battle were still flooding his mind, like nectar for the soul.
"You seem to be in good spirits for a man who nearly died," Unohana said, meticulously checking his bandages, gently correcting them in a few places where they had come off.
"I'da died a happy man, me," Kenpachi said cheerily. "Fuck me, Retsu, I ain't been through a proper thrashing like that in- well, can't think of a better beatin' I took since back then, actually."
"You're impossible, as usual," she said softly, finishing the bandages, "I had to operate on you for well over seven hours to ensure a full recovery, I hope you realize. Not to mention the follow-up treatments."
"I fuck shit up, you patch shit up. 'S what we do," Kenpachi said, and shrugged. "'S how you wanted it to be, ain't it?"
"I suppose so, yes," Unohana said, and shot him a cheeky smile. "So, how was she?"
"Like fuckin' nobody else, and ya better believe it. 'Cept you, of course." His grin was wide, and though frightening, quite sincere.
"I heard reports she lifted you over her head, on her sword, before bringing you down to slam your head," Unohana said, and although Kenpachi was not one for social subtleties, he could sense a hint of curiosity.
"Oh, that. Fuck, I forgot about that. Yeah, she sure did. Hell of a thing to do after the beating she took. I think I'm in love."
"Somehow, I'm not sure she'll agree to dates involving swordplay."
Kenpachi laughed, ignoring the small jabs of pain from his chest. "Soon as I'm patched up, I'm going back out there. Ain't nobody given me a thrashing like that in ages, an' I want another go. Maybe I win this time. Maybe I don't."
"You sound like some mad cultist worshipping a blood god," Unohana said with a smile.
"Hey, skulls for the skull throne," Kenpachi said with a shrug, still grinning. "Still... you know me, Retsu. When my blood gets pumpin'..."
"You might just get back here soon, I know."
Kenpachi shook his head, still a little awed. "Somethin' else, she was, somethin' else... Stood up to me like I wasn't, well, me. Like she weren't afraid of nothing. Slammed into her like a tidal wave, and I broke like I hit a rock. Damned good showing."
Unohana rolled her eyes. "I think she'll end up regretting beating you, then, when you turn into some sort of lovesick, particularly homicidal puppy."
"When do I get out?" Kenpachi said, ignoring her little jab.
"This afternoon," Unohana said, and sighed. "I want to tell you to take it easy, but we both know you won't. Your injuries are for the most part healed, your reiatsu is recovered, and your wounds will leave some nasty scars for a few weeks, before they heal. Unless you make new ones, that is."
"Great," was all he said, already imagining their next battle. He visualized it, her fighting style, that vicious form, that big bag of tricks, the resilience... He had thrown everything he had at her, and she had endured. Lying back, staring into the roof, he reimagined it all, one blow after another. He had excellent memory, albeit in a fairly selective sense. A battle... a battle so grand only one more compared. Maybe another to come, soon. This had to be how a drunk man felt, Kenpachi thought, when he was at his happiest.
Having left Kenpachi to his own devices, Unohana made her way back to do some actual work. She had prioritized his treatment, which had left her with less time to do something she knew the captain-commander would consider much more important: the autopsy of Aizen Sousuke.
Without rushing, she walked to her personal lab, taking the time to pour herself a fresh cup of coffee- she was no stranger to work-induced sleepless nights, and a well-rested body was important when one was burning the midnight oil.
After taking a few sips, she put the mug aside, slipped a couple of slim-fitting plastic gloves on, and walked down to the cooling cell where he- it- was being kept. With little effort, she hauled out the corpse and placed it on a table nearby, put there for this exact purpose. Fourth division did have a mortuary, with all the necessary facilities for an autopsy, but this had demanded her personal attention.
The corpse lay naked on the table, covered from the waist down in a simple length of cloth, and Unohana got out her tools. Scalpel in hand, she started to examine the body more closely. She had had the time to do some preliminary work earlier, and everything had looked as one might expect. Multiple lacerations to the torso, undoubtedly caused by some sharp stabbing implement. One primary injury, wider and deeper than any of the rest, running through the aorta, with a noticeable fracture to the spine.
Although investigations into shinigami deaths were rare, let alone one of this magnitude, Unohana Retsu had more than a little experience in dissecting dead bodies across the centuries for which she had run her division. She was not only a doctor, but also proficient in medical and forensic science, and she knew the insides of a shinigami like the back of her own hand. By and large they were the same as that of a human, with the same vital organs and the same functions. Of course, being made of spiritual energy, they were far more resilient, and far more capable of regenerating themselves. It was a strange thing, when one thought about it- there was no actual need for a mass of reiatsu to behave this way; it was as if it formed itself that way as part of some subconscious process upon materializing after death.
But, however interesting that was scientifically, that was not the point at the moment. Unohana was experienced in these matters; she had done it a hundred times before, and though the idea of a fellow captain being dead was disconcerting, it did not bother her here, in the clinical conditions of a lab and with a job to do in front of her.
Looking at it closely, everything told her that Aizen Sousuke had died violently and quickly. There were no signs of resistance, no cuts or bruises on his arms, and his sword had still been in its sheath when he had been brought in. But, somehow, she couldn't shake the thought that something was... off. That was the frustrating thing; something felt wrong, but every time she looked more closely, the sensation would escape, only to come back a minute later.
With a simple incision, she opened up his abdomen. There was the slight odour one would expect from a corpse in a state of decay, and already there were signs of his reiatsu breaking down, the energy dispersing into the air and becoming one with the Soul Society.
Reaching in with a pipette, she drained a small sample of blood, and walked over to the device she kept for DNA recognition. Inserting a small drip into the machine, she took a step back while she waited for it to do its work. All officers of a sufficiently high rank were recorded by DNA, and Aizen would have been no different. This would also tell her if he had been poisoned, before or during the battle.
Why was she even doing it? It was silly. He was obviously right there, dead. There could be no mistaking it. But even so... she would confirm everything. She couldn't be too thorough.
The entire situation was odd. Aizen Sousuke was not known for martial prowess; he was more of a leader and administrator than a battlefield commander, but even so he had been a captain, part of an exclusive elite with unrivalled and awesome power. He could have been out-fought by a sufficiently powerful adversary, yes, but a captain blind-sided and killed so quickly that he couldn't even defend himself? Stabbed so viciously that just that one wound was enough to kill him?
In theory, shinigami were vulnerable to damage in the same ways as human beings. They had vital weaknesses just like the lesser forms they were spawned from. But in practice...
The core difference was the power. Reishi, the spiritual atoms that composed all matter in the afterlife, was stubborn, and once it had attached itself to a particular source, it tended to stick. It powered its user, literally, more vital by far than the blood and chemicals flowing through a soul's form. To kill a captain in a single blow was... possible, but almost nobody was capable. Shihoin Yoruichi? Unohana was old enough to remember the girl; she had been a carefree, kind-hearted (as far as an assassin could be) young woman, tremendously skilled, but...
Personality aside- that could change, particularly with such radical circumstances in effect- her fighting style had been based around speed, precision, about dealing fatal injuries in as few motions as possible. Furrowing her brows, Unohana walked back to the body, scrutinizing the injuries. Carefully, she measured their length using her index finger and thumb. These had to have been made by at least a medium-sized blade, a standard zanpakutou or larger, and Shihoin Yoruichi carried only a very small blade. Furthermore, there were too many injuries- repeated attacks like those spoke either to clumsiness and inexperience- unlikely, if one had the strength to kill a captain- or some personal grudge. An assassin would have tried to accomplish their goal with just a single attack. If that had been defended... then it would have failed. But, there were no signs of a struggle.
Erza Scarlet, then? Far more likely, considering the evidence, but she was extremely unlikely to have been in fighting shape at the time, and would definitely not have been even close to the scene.
Reports were inconclusive, but by and large there appeared to be only one, maybe two more fighters in the group of ryoka who were at all capable of attacking and killing a captain. That a man of Aizen's character would have let himself be caught unaware by such a beginner... implausible.
There was a beep, as the machine finished its work. Her curiosity piqued, Unohana hastily walked over to examine the results, displaying on a data screen. Quickly, she eyed through it.
No toxins detected. Blood values normal, consistent with the chemical and spiritual composition she had seen during his latest medical check-up. DNA: conclusive as belonging to Aizen Sousuke. It was all very, very neat. Except...
Looking more closely, she began scrolling through the unveiled data; there were thousands upon thousands of characters to go through. Genetic information was a deeply complex matter. It all looked the same, except...
Had Unohana paid a smidgen less attention, she would have scrolled past it, continued her observation, and finished her work with little more than an uneasy sensation following her for the next couple of days. But, Unohana Retsu was the best at what she did.
There! Just the smallest point of data, the smallest variable out of the ordinary. A small sequence of information, of data points, that... diverged.
For a second she could see them, and then suddenly they were gone. Surprised, she blinked, and focused more carefully. There they were again, a set of numbers and letters symbolizing the information of his DNA. She could see them for a few seconds before they blurred out of vision again. What... what on Earth was going on? Was the machine malfunctioning?
Quickly she went back to the body, to draw another sample. Something was wrong here.
It was an old memory that had taken her there, so old that it seemed to have come from another life, long forgotten. Soifon stared up at the rock complex before her, smoothly making her way through the woods.
That morning, she had remembered. She had remembered the kinship her lady had had with that despicable man, how the two would sneak away to be by themselves every so often. She had remembered how, no matter how she tried, she could never stop her lady from slipping away if her lady so wanted, no matter how alert she was. She had remembered how one day, after paying particular attention, she had tracked her lady, managing to follow her... here.
The Seireitei was a vast place, and although most of it was made up of streets and tightly packed buildings, there were places like this. A wild garden of sorts, a small piece of forest kept unmolested for centuries. The land was owned by a small family indebted to the Shihoin, she knew. Here, over a hundred and thirty years ago, she had lost track of Lady Shihoin. She had seen her and Urahara Kisuke make her way to the mouth of a cave opening, but when she had gotten there, they had vanished without a trace.
This was a lead, said the part of her that was still very much the commander of the Stealth Corps, an investigator bent on finding justice according to due process. You shouldn't be here alone, that part told her, because this is a lead chasing a dangerous criminal. You should have alerted every nearby division, sent out messages to all captains, and come here with a force of your strongest, most senior stealth operatives.
But, Soifon had done none of this. If she was going to justify it, she would say that this was most likely a wild goose chase, most likely nothing, that the resources of the Stealth Corps could not be wasted in such trying times.
But, being honest with herself- something she was slowly starting to do- she knew this wasn't true. This was still personal, deeply personal, and if it was still nothing... well, no harm done. Whatever turned up here, she would face it by herself. It was foolish and unprofessional, she knew that...
Quietly, Soifon made her way up to that one cave entrance. Inside it, she knew, there lay a network of caves, of pits and tunnels and darkness, something that could take all day to search through- maybe weeks, for all she knew. It was not a mountain, but it was large enough.
Erza could not believe her eyes when she saw the small captain approach the entrance, having decided to stand guard while Ichigo trained. She was well hidden, having positioned herself in the dark, which was as much luck as this situation offered her.
Soifon. The chief assassin of the Gotei. The one who had once arrested and imprisoned Erza. If she found this cave...
A set of possibilities quickly raced through Erza's mind. Soifon didn't seem to know where she was going. The entrance was protected by a simple illusory spell, and if one didn't know how to get inside, it would be easy to get lost. She could very easily just walk past, and find nothing.
Then again, if she had come here, she must have suspected something, and would not give up easily. Who knew what she would find if she kept going?
At the moment, she was moving slowly, taking her time to stare into the gloom of the short passage leading into the cave, looking almost... distracted. If Erza chose to attack, it would be the best opportunity she could have. On the other hand, she could let Soifon pass, alert Yoruichi, and run.
Quietly, Erza made the decision that made the most sense to her, and put a hand on her sword.
Soifon only barely reacted in time, narrowly dodging under a swift, vicious horizontal sword swing. Reacting immediately, she put her palms to the ground and kicked up with both feet, slamming them into the face of her assailant. Inwardly she cursed; she had let her mind wander, thinking of things long past. Normally, there was nobody who could have gotten the drop on her like this.
Not relenting, she smoothly flipped back, landing on her feet with the agility of a cat. Her assailant- Erza Scarlet, judging by the red hair- was reeling back, but was already making ready for another attack. In the blink of an eye, Soifon closed the gap, and Erza's attack did not come soon enough; with both hands, Soifon grabbed the larger shinigami by the wrist, before delivering a vicious kick to the ryoka's knee. Erza winced, and pushed back, trying to pull herself free.
Rather than wrestling with her opponent, who was clearly more physically powerful than her, Soifon let go, giving her wrist a little shove in the direction Erza was pulling, momentarily unbalancing her. Soifon went in closer, knowing full well that the sword would be useless in a fist-ranged fight, and jabbed Erza's solar plexus with a quick, powerful punch. In a moment's time, she had unleashed a dozen strikes, lightning fast; fist after fist thrown at her chest, her neck, her gut. To her surprise, however, Erza used one hand to deflect several of them, however pushed back she was. It was as if she knew Soifon's style of fighting...
Immediately, Soifon went low and, balancing herself on her hands once more, let her leg arc out in a sweeping kick, slamming into Erza's already hurting knee. The kick knocked Erza off her feet, and Soifon quickly jumped on top of her, grabbing Erza's right wrist- the only one still holding onto her sword- while reaching for Suzumebachi, pulling the blade out in one swift motion. Suddenly, Erza found herself with a razor-sharp blade pressed against her neck, staring down at a focused, seemingly unemotional Soifon.
What happened next, however, was not what Erza had expected.
"I could have killed you already," Soifon said through gritted teeth, Suzumebachi still pressed against Erza's neck. "My zanpakutou could kill you in two hits if I so wished. So, ask yourself why I haven't."
"If you think I'm going to talk..." Erza said stubbornly.
"I'm not here for you!" Soifon sneered.
"No. You aren't, are you?"
The voice was soft, and immediately upon hearing it, Soifon's grip slackened. She stood up, letting go of Erza, and slowly sheathed her zanpakutou.
Standing some ten yards away, there was Yoruichi. A bit taken aback, Erza stood herself up.
"Uh..." she started.
"I sensed a commotion," said Yoruichi, "and a familiar energy."
Her voice was sombre, quiet and sober, unlike the easy-going, jocular tone Erza knew she would keep.
"So, what is it to be, Soifon? Another round?"
Soifon shook her head. "Not this time. Not... yet, at least."
"So, what, then?" said Yoruichi.
"I... don't know," Soifon said, balling her fists.
"Should I, uh... give you some privacy?" said Erza.
Yoruichi nodded at Soifon. "This way."
She left in a flash, and Soifon was hot on her heels. The journey was short, taking them only a bit further into the cave, away from the others.
There were rocks all around, the light was shining down on them, but it couldn't have mattered less to either one of them. Both were overtaken by a sense of dread, like a deeply rooted angst that had stayed hidden too long only to resurface with a vengeance.
"So..." Yoruichi started, "I suppose the first question is... what you want. You haven't come to arrest me, or you would have brought more people. Or, are there reinforcements coming?"
"I came alone," Soifon said, her voice little more than a breath, "it's not like the stealth corps, even if I brought all of it, would help. It's not like I could hope to defeat you myself.
"What do you want, then?"
"What do I want? Answers, Yoruichi-sama!"
The suffix had slipped out, that old token of respect and subservience, without her even thinking about it. Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.
"About... about that time, I guess?" she said lamely.
"About the time you left me," Soifon said mercilessly, "about the time I lost everything, yes. What else?"
"It was... a long time ago," Yoruichi said evasively.
"I wanted to die," Soifon said indignantly, and suddenly, it all welled out, like a dam finally bursting, like a boil lanced. It was painful, but it felt good, too, and Soifon couldn't stop herself. "I had everything, Yoruichi-sama! I was raised to serve, that was my purpose in life, and I was given to the greatest master imaginable! I served you, and just serving you would have made my life complete, but you cared! You treated me like a person; even when everyone else, everyone I knew had taught me that I was a tool, you made me think I was something more! That I had worth. That I mattered to somebody. Yes, it was a long time ago, but I feel it still! Like it were yesterday!"
"Soifon..." Yoruichi said, sounding unsure of herself.
"I had everything I could ever want from life, and you took that from me," Soifon continued, "so don't you tell me it 'was a long time ago', because I'm not having it!"
Yoruichi let out a long sigh, buried her face in her hands for a moment, and groaned.
"I took that from you, huh," she muttered. "Yes, I... I guess that's how you'd see it."
"Tell me how I was wrong," Soifon snapped, "because I'm not seeing it any other way right now."
She was fuming, angrier than she could ever remember being. Part of her felt wrong, felt like she should be composed, professional. Another part of her, small and long forgotten, felt like she shouldn't be yelling at Yoruichi-sama, the great and venerable lady Shihoin. All that was shoved aside by her anger, bright and righteous.
"It's a long story. Actually... no, it's not that long," Yoruichi said uneasily, "Kisuke, my best friend since childhood, was going to be executed for something he was innocent of. A powerful and evil man framed him, and nobody but me could help. I had a choice to make, and I made it. I wish I didn't have to, but... I did. I grabbed him and I ran."
"Him, but not me," Soifon said bitterly.
"I... I didn't want that sort of life for you."
Soifon balled her fists. "That 'sort of life'? I would have died for you! I would have done it with a smile on my face! There is no suffering or indignity I would not have endured for you back then. If I believed it helped you, I would have endured being tortured, raped, humiliated, killed a thousand times. Compared to that, a life on the run is nothing."
Yoruichi looked at her, standing quiet for a bit. "If I tell you the whole truth... will that satisfy you?"
"That depends on the truth," Soifon spat.
Yoruichi took a deep breath. Briefly and quickly she recounted the truth of that night; the hollow experiments, how Kisuke had tried to save them, how Aizen Sousuke was to blame, how he had planned all of this all along, how he sought the destruction of the Gotei. Soifon's anger was marred by disbelief, shaking her head slowly as her former mentor spoke.
"...we ran, because we were afraid. Because there was nowhere else to go," Yoruichi said at last, "because we couldn't come back. Because of him. Because of the power he wields. I... didn't want to leave you behind, and I am sorry I did. But, there was no choice. We didn't dare come back."
"That is just awfully convenient, isn't it?" Soifon said skeptically. "A captain who happens to be dead is magically behind all of this, and that's why you left. Nobody that can verify this. No proof. Am I supposed to believe this?"
"I can't make you believe anything," Yoruichi said, shaking her head. "All I can tell you is that I'm sorry, and I missed you."
Soifon's hands trembled a little. She wouldn't cry. Not again.
"You think that makes it okay?" she said, her voice trembling a little. "You think you can just say that and all those years are just... gone?"
"No," Yoruichi said, shaking her head. "No, I don't."
"I wanted to die. Then, I wanted you to die. All this time, everything I did, I did wanting to one day find you and make you pay. I told myself it was all about justice, but it wasn't. I hated you and I wanted you to hurt like I hurt. You think a bit of petty guilt is anything close to what I went through? Back then, I didn't just have a reason to live- I had complete fulfilment. If I was still your servant, I'd still be happy, on the run or not. If I threw away this damned coat-" she tugged at her captain's haori, "and had no rank at all, no place in life but as your servant, then I'd still be happy. Instead..."
"Instead you grew up, and became a captain, and probably a better stealth force commander than I ever was," Yoruichi retorted, "Soifon... just look at you. All grown up, strong on your own. You never needed me to succeed."
Soifon gave her a furious glare. "Were you listening at all? I don't care about success! I don't care about the stealth force! I-"
She stopped herself. What was she saying? Her service to the corps was her life. It had become her reason for being. Of course she cared. Why... why had she said that? "I..."
"I hurt you," Yoruichi said plainly, "and I don't think any apology is going to be enough. If it helps, like I said, I didn't want to, but I had to act fast and... Well, after that things were the way they were."
Soifon bitterly shook her head. She felt nauseous, emotion welling up that had been deeply buried under layers of subconscious scar tissue.
"More importantly," Yoruichi continued, "what will you do next?"
"I..."
Soifon hadn't considered that. The answer should be obvious. Report this to the authorities. Bring reinforcements. Arrest all ryoka and see to it they face justice.
"Because I still have a mission. You know as well as I do how important one's mission is."
Soifon nodded. That was Stealth Force doctrine- accomplish the mission whenever possible, at whatever cost. "And, I know about you now."
Yoruichi nodded. Soifon felt a sinking feeling.
"Are you going to kill me, Yoruichi-sama?"
The notion didn't fill her with dread; she had no fear of death. It didn't fill her with anger or a desire to fight back. She couldn't, she realized. It just filled her with a deep sense of disappointment.
"I would try very hard not to. I would prefer imprisoning you temporarily, if it came down to that," Yoruichi said. "Of course, it comes down to what you choose to do now that you know."
"Even if I said I'd leave you be, could you possibly trust me?" Soifon said incredulously.
"That depends. Can I?"
It felt somewhat bizarre. Nothing made sense right now, and life in this very moment was an emotional roller-coaster, a stormy sea of feelings. To Soifon, who was used to steady ground under her feet, it was enough to make her sea-sick.
"What are you even doing here?" she said, pushing the answer aside for the time being.
"Planning," Yoruichi said cryptically, "and I can tell you this much: give us three days, and everything will become clear. If you leave here, and leave us alone, then in three days I swear I'll give myself up."
"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Soifon said tiredly.
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Soifon took a breath. Betrayal or not, Yoruichi had never... lied, as such. Not in any significant way.
But, she was a traitor. She was the object of Soifon's hatred. She was a criminal, and criminals could not be trusted.
Yet, despite all the logical reasons, which were sound, rational, and sensible, Soifon found she didn't want to doubt. Something in her just wanted to believe in The Right and Honourable Lady Yoruichi. Something in her just... wished for the old days. She balled her fists.
"Three days. You expect me to keep this secret for three days."
"If you want a better reason, three days- Kuchiki Rukia's execution- is when Aizen is bound to reveal himself. That's when we will strike, and believe me, that will be in the Gotei's best interest. In three days, things will change like never before."
Soifon shook her head. "You really should just beat me down," she muttered. "I'm a terrible Stealth Force operative. I'm... compromised."
"That's not such a bad thing, Soifon," Yoruichi said, her tone a little friendlier. "We're people, not machines. If we didn't break down sometimes, then what would be the point of being?"
Soifon stood quietly for a couple of minutes, looking miserable. Yoruichi simply looked at her, unsure of what to say.
"Three days," Soifon mumbled at last. "Three days, and you... swear. Swear you'll give yourself up. To me."
"On my heart and soul," Yoruichi said quickly.
"I'm going to regret this," Soifon said flatly. "If you lie to me... this time I really will kill you."
Without another word, she turned around, and slipped into a shunpo, quickly making her way out of the cave. Yoruichi watched her leave. A minute or so later, Erza walked up to her.
"So?" she said urgently.
"You had a lot of friends here that didn't believe in you, and you still trusted them. I've decided to trust one of my own," Yoruichi said, and shrugged.
"Are you crazy?" Erza burst out, "that was the chief of their police force!"
"What can I say? You must have rubbed off on me," Yoruichi said teasingly, her smirk returning to her lips.
"And when the entire Stealth Force shows up an hour from now?"
Yoruichi rolled her eyes. "I may be going soft, but I'm not stupid. There are safeguards. I'll make sure to set up sentry wards and alarms. If they come, there are escape routes. But that considered... I don't think we'll need it."
Erza shook her head. "I really hope you're right."
"I think I am," Yoruichi said, staring toward the mouth of the cave where her little bee had left.
Sweat dripped down his chin. His breathing was ragged. He felt an urge to stop, to quit, and it was only willpower that forced his arms to rise again, holding his crooked black sword up against the relentless assault of his zanpakutou.
Ichigo hopped back, taking a second to catch his breath. Yoruichi hadn't been kidding when she had called it 'the hardest thing' he'd ever done. The only thing comparable was the training he had received from Erza at its most intense, but the zanpakutou wasn't nearly as concerned with his health. Zangetsu had attacked him non-stop, seeming entirely unhindered by something as petty as fatigue. Ichigo had kept up, so far, but the notion of three more days of this...
No hesitation. No weakness, or he would lose. No weakness, or Rukia would die. Stubbornly, he met another assault from his zanpakutou, blocking a wide slash. A quick feint toward his feet came next, but Ichigo saw through it, moving his sword up to meet a swift stab. Zangetsu's blade clanged against Ichigo's, missing his midsection by a millimetre, and not a second later it was followed up by another attack, and another, seemingly ad infinitum.
"What is the matter, Ichigo?" said Zangetsu fiercely, continuing his assault. "Are you ready to surrender yet? Are you ready to bow down to your knees and beg my forgiveness?!"
"No!" Ichigo snarled, catching the spirit's blade, and shoving him back. "Not until I get your power!"
"You dare force my hand like so, and you have the audacity to speak of bankai, with such shoddy form? Is your lust for power that large?" The zanpakutou all but shouted the words, looking furiously at Ichigo.
"I do this, or Rukia dies! That's how I choose to see it!" Ichigo shot back, and parried another attack. His sword began to crack under the blow; it would not last much longer.
"Your mother and aunt are capable, are they not? Why do they need you to carry their burdens for them? What folly is that not for a young and foolish pup, drunk with power he has not earned?"
"I have a chance," Ichigo said, skipping back a few paces, readying himself for another attack, "and if I don't take it, if Rukia dies and I can't tell myself I did everything to save her, I won't be able to go on!"
"Youngster's folly!" sneered Zangetsu, and charged. The impact of his blow shattered Ichigo's blade, and Ichigo quickly dodged under the cut as it followed through, somersaulting back. With desperate speed, he grabbed a new blade, a chopper-looking hunk of metal, just barely in time to face Zangetsu's next attack.
"People die all the time! Souls, humans, hollows, they all die, every day and every second!" the spirit said harshly. "Each day, across the Earth, thousands of children die. Their parents may pray for them, may wish for them to live, but they still die! If it is Kuchiki Rukia's fate to die, in this society, this world of her own that you are not part of, how is that any of your business? What right do you have to interfere? She rejected your offer, and yet you stubbornly persist!"
"She doesn't know what's good for her!" Ichigo snapped, parrying a blow and counter-attacking, slamming the blade's pommel into Zangetsu's chest. The spirit let out a grunt and staggered back. Ichigo seized the opportunity, driving Zangetsu back with a series of wide, heavy swings.
"People die all the time, sure!" he cried angrily. "Maybe thousands die each day, and that's shit. I can't do anything about that. But if I just shrug and say 'it's meant to be' when she's going to be executed over nothing, then I'm dirt! Less than dirt! Maybe people die all the time, but if you can do something about it, even if it's just an iota, a drop in the sea, that's still worth doing. That's why I have to do this!"
Catching his blade, the zanpakutou broke Ichigo's assault, disarming him with a quick twist. Before the blade had hit the ground, he had cut it in two. He stared intensely at Ichigo, still scowling. Ichigo swallowed; he was without a weapon now, against a ruthless enemy, and the closest blade was a few yards away.
"Take up a weapon."
"R-really?" Ichigo stuttered, "you were all... angry and-"
"I will not repeat myself!" the zanpakutou said firmly, "I was summoned and I set the conditions. Until the end, Ichigo, under the terms I set. You may not be selfish in this, but you are still foolish."
"Right," Ichigo said, quickly grabbing another blade. No sooner had he got a hold of it than Zangetsu charged again, Ichigo only barely parrying his next attack.
"Until the end!"
"Until the end!" Ichigo shouted back, stubbornly pushing against Zangetsu's powerful blade.
Until the end. He just hoped that wasn't as final a destination as it sounded.
The stack of papers wasn't nearly as difficult to tackle now as it had been before. Where Momo had found herself unable to concentrate before, she now needed a distraction. Filling in reports, responding to missives from other divisions, and the million and one forms and messages sent in these hectic times had provided plenty of that. She had been hard at work all through the night, and it was with some surprise she had noticed the grey of dawn, and later the shining daylight. Her mind was burning, burning with an explosion of emotion and knowledge, more of it than she could handle all at once. It was like a sensory overload, like eating a mouthful of a much too strong chili dish, or walking right into a really loud night club. It was overwhelming, and she found herself longing for a respite.
Eventually, when she had emptied three inkwells, it occurred to her that maybe she needed to slow down and think.
As focused as she had been out of necessity alone, the events of the previous night were burned in her mind, inescapable and dominant.
She had found Erza. Or, rather, Erza had found her- saving her from that monster Gin, of all things. No princess could have asked for a better rescue; all that was missing was a white horse and some gleaming armour. After all this time, after all the time she had spent studying, improving herself, trying to find ways to prove her friend's innocence, she had finally come face-to-face with her.
In retrospect, it was every bit as magical as Momo had imagined it to be, considering the violent circumstances.
The second thing was... the veracity of what Erza had told her: that Captain Aizen was still alive. That Captain Aizen, as she knew him, had in fact never existed, being but a front for a cruel, manipulative monster aiming for the destruction of the Gotei.
The very thought was impossible. There were many impressive leaders in the Gotei, but few of them were warm-hearted, approachable, and caring like he had been. Only Ukitake Jushiro compared, except Captain Aizen wasn't chronically ill.
For all of Momo's career, he had seemed a wonderful and kind man, the kind who cared for the lives of the men and women under his command, who never treated anyone as expendable, who remembered names and acted in the interest of the Gotei and in the interest of his soldiers as well. Everything Momo ever knew had told her that Aizen Sousuke was the ideal leader, kind and righteous, the best man anyone could serve.
Now, that was all turned on his head, all because of a few words from Erza. It was like having her skin turned inside out, like walking with her hands or smelling with her eyes.
On the one hand, it was... inconceivable. He was a good man. Nobody was better. The way he had run the division had not been fake, had not been low-effort, had never been bad for morale or efficiency. To think that all of it had been just a ruse...
On the other hand, Erza would never lie to her. Erza was honesty incarnate, and Momo wasn't sure she could lie. In theory it was possible she could be mistaken... but that would be one hell of a mistake, and Erza wasn't delusional.
It felt nearly impossible to wrap her mind around. Why? For what end? Even Erza hadn't seemed entirely sure of that, although it did involve conquering and destroying the Gotei. That he... would want to do that...
It felt impossible.
This was why she had sought out the paperwork. Just thinking about it, she felt torn; torn between two lovely, trustworthy people whom she had never had any cause to think poorly of. Both were admirable, strong of character and honest, in Momo's experience. Now, though, one of them was telling her the other was... evil.
Momo took a deep breath. At the end of the day, it was a question of who was more important. For whom had she lived these last twenty years? For what purpose had she sought power and knowledge? What was all that for?
It was for Erza. It always had been. For Erza, and nobody else. When it came down to it, when she asked herself the question... if she had to choose between her captain and Erza, then she would choose Erza. She was almost ashamed of how easily she knew the answer to that. She should have been torn, it shouldn't have been an easy choice... but somehow, it was.
Tiredly, Momo stared into the distance. She was going to help Erza, somehow. Three days... in three days, they would try to save Rukia. That gave her a location, and more importantly, time. She would find a way to help. When the time came, Momo would be there, and she would throw her lot in with Erza, consequences be damned. She might be executed if it went poorly, but compared to letting Erza slip away again, that was an easy choice.
It almost scared her, how easily she decided that she could very well die if she needed to. But, that was the case, and Momo was ready to throw the dice even if the stakes were higher than anything she had ever seen before. Three days... three days, and then they would meet again. Then, no matter how it went, they'd never be separated again.
We're rapidly approaching the day of Rukia's execution. How close? Only one more chapter to go until we get to it, that's how close we are!
I really hope you all enjoyed the scene with Aizen and Kyouka Suigetsu. I've always wanted to see what Aizens inner world could look like and his zanpaktou spirit, and I think that Greatkingrat88 gave us a really good representation as to how that could have been.
Ichigo's bankai training is just beginning, and I promise you all a satisfying conclusion to it. Rod and Lisanna continue to plan for a way to help out Erza, as is Momo. You can all rest assured I plan on these having satisfying pay off.
But What about Soifon? What will she do next? Will she make all of our main characters plans all for nothing? You'll have to just wait and see!
Also as to why Erza lost her battle with soifon, its really quite simple. Soifon is just a poor match for Erza. She's more experienced a than Erza is and has far better speed than Erza dose without her armors. Its not like both of them had a chance to really fight all out. Besides, she still hasn't quite healed from her battle with Kenpachi 100% yet. She's not quite ready to fight someone on her level just yet. So it makes sense, to me at least.
As for the Kenpachi scene, don't worry, you'll get some good pay off there as well.
But that's it for this chapter. I really hope that you all enjoyed it, and I cant wait to see what you have to say about it in your reiews. Im really looking forward to it!