Few hours before
Byakuya Kuchiki was a man of many faces. For the elders and people who didn't know him, he was an arrogant and powerful man ready to do everything for Soul Society. Only few closest to him knew his true nature. After betrayal of Aizen Sousuke, Tousen Kaname and Ichimaru Gin, he promised himself to never let someone hurt his true source of pride.
His adopted sister, Rukia Kuchiki.
He still remembered the painful stab in his chest when he saw what Aizen wanted to do with her (and almost did).
"Is something wrong, Nii-sama?" She asked him when he didn't answer her question.
"No, could you repeat your question please?" She blushed uncontrollably, still not used to his gentler side.
"What do you think of that…" She searched for the right words. "Quincy boy? I guess his name is Ichigo?" Byakuya sighed and closed his eyes. He definitely remembered his first and last encounter with this man.
"I did not know someone could be even more stubborn than Abarai." She laughed slightly. Then stopped.
"He reminds me of Kaien." Rukia admitted quietly and grabbed the cup of tea. "If it's true that Yhwach is coming and he's as powerful as they say he is…"
"Rukia." She looked at him surprised. "The past is in the past and the future is an unknown path. Dwelling on the past will stop anyone from getting stronger. And the winners of the incoming fight will be the ones that are stronger. As a noble family our job is to do everything to save those under us."
"I understand, Nii-sama." Even though she didn't understand the weird emotions that were currently stuck in her heart.
She didn't want to talk to the new kid however, she felt the need to, something was pulling her in his direction. She didn't know if it was like her brother said, because of her memories or if there was something more to it. Ever since fighting him, she felt something was wrong.
When he showed her his bow she felt something that she hadn't felt in a long time.
Fear.
That feel of utter dread in her body, almost unable to move.
After excusing herself, she went to her room, her mind still stuck on that fight.
"I knew I had to be careful," she thought to herself. "However, when I saw him, the only emotions I felt were sadness and pity. I could hear other Soul Reapers laughing, joking about his looks and him being Quincy. When he grabbed the bow…" She unconsciously rubbed her arms and sat down on her bed. "I wonder if all Quincies are like that. No, that's not true. If Quincies were in Soul Society, they would try to kill us all. We and them are natural enemies. They are wrong, we are right, right? Right…? But Kenpachi and Mayuri burned the village he came like it was nothing. So, are we truly doing the right thing?" She narrowed her eyes. "Could they even protect themselves from us…?"
"You look like you saw a ghost." She jumped and looked at the newcomer.
"Renji, you can't do that!" She yelled at him while blushing. "You should knock like a normal person would!"
"Are you thinking about the kid again?" He asked and sat in the chair in front of her. "Why do you care so much about just a weird Quincy kiddo?"
"Renji," She started and she looked serious now. "Are we ready to fight Quincies? From what we saw-."
"What's that face?!" He throw a pillow at her. "Of course we are! We defeated Aizen and he was almost godlike! Why we wouldn't be able to fight them off, huh?!" He huffed.
"I know that! But…" She sighed and shook her head.
"If you're so worried, we still can train, we have time."
"But how much…?"
Meanwhile, Byakuya went to the small shrine in his garden. It was the only place where nobody could disturb him. He sat down near it and closed his eyes. He frowned when he heard yelling coming from his house. He sighed when he recognised Renji's voice.
It's been a while since the fight with Aizen took place. As much as he hated to admit it, they almost lost to that madman. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He was greeted by his wife's calm smile. Even if it was a few hundred years, he still had a place in his heart for her.
Present events
Like a calm before the storm, the silence of the night was broken by Sternritters with Yhwach in the centre. Some Soldat were looking in disgust, some in excitement.
"It's the end, Soul Society." Yhwach said and pointed a finger at 1st Division's barracks.
Like a thunderstorm, Soldat and Sternritters came and started destroying Soul Society. The smell of blood, cries of help and amazements filled the sky.
But Yhwach didn't mind the bloodshed. No, it was necessary to purge this world. It was necessary to kill all of them in order to bring one special man in.
His son born in the darkness.
He's been waiting for this day for hundreds of years. He couldn't help but smile as he looked at angry flames of Ryujin Jakka.
"Yhwach!" He smirked at Yamamoto.
"Look what you did to Gotei 13, how weak they became!" Yhwach said while grabbing his own sword. "I will make sure to show you how you destroyed any chances of stopping me!"
The closer Ichigo was to the raging battlefield, the more worried he became. His heart was aching every time he heard blood splashing to the ground, cries of help or laugher. But at the same time, he felt… joy?
"Are you surprised? Me and ol' man of course are going to enjoy idiots dyin'! They deserve it all they way and-."
"Shut up!" He yelled at his other spirit and added quietly thinking about how his village was destroyed in a similar way. "Nobody deserves to die like that…"
"Ichigo," The representation of his Quincy power started. "What are you planning to do?"
"I want-, no, I need to save them!" He stated with finality in his voice.
"Oh, really? Are you really tha' stupid? You want to save Soul Reapers? So they can laugh at you again?" Hollow cackled. "Or maybe you enjoyed that?"
"I said shut up!" As much as he hated to admit it, he wanted to leave and run away, leave them like he was left behind. But he couldn't. "Of course there are bad people among them but what about that dude with goatee, huh?! And the white haired guy? Do you want them to die?!"
"Ichigo," Older spirit said. "You must understand-."
"Shut up both of you or-!" Ichigo quickly dodged the arrow that was shoot at him. Some man in Quincy uniform was sitting on a tree above him.
"Oh, I thought you wouldn't dodge it." The newcomer said. "Now I have to fight with you." Ichigo quickly grabbed his own bow. "Oh, so you know a thing or two about fighting, that's not good. My name is Driscoll Berci and it'll be the last thing you hear before you're dead!"
"Mouthful." Ichigo huffed and stared at him.
"Listen, as much as I would fight you, I have to go." Ichigo stated and took a step back. "Nothing personal man."
"I don't think I can do that." Quincy said but before he was able to do anything, there was a wave of heat in the air, Ichigo's enemy started coughing and yelled. "What the hell is that?!" He looked at the end of the forest but Ichigo already knew what it was.
It was the Head Captain, he could feel his anger.
"What do we have here, bunch of weaklings?!" Ichigo quickly looked on his right but before he knew what happened there was a lot of smoke so he didn't wasted the opportunity that Kenpachi gave him and he hurried to the main battle.
"You know Yhwach is there, right?" Hollow asked seriously. "Are you ready to face him after-?"
"You're talking like I have a choice now!" Ichigo narrowed his eyes, he was almost there. "I told you both, I'm going to fight and neither of you is going to stop me!"
"Farewell, Shigekuni Yamamoto." Yhwach said and slashed Yamamoto in half. His body slowly fell to the ground but he still grabbed Yhwach's clothes. Quincy's King took his sword above his head in order to smash his enemy's last will of fight but a dark arrow stopped him. "So you decided to finally come out of your hiding," Yhwach smirked. "Ichigo."