Welcome back to another installment in the BotS series. Yes that is how I am going to call this fanfic. Try to stop me. (Crosses arms)
Anyways we have some comments to respond to.
merendinoemiliano: I am humbled by your words and I will show you the extent of Keigo's power later on. Thank you for always being on top of each chapter and commenting what you think, it is greatly appreciated.
ssj3gohan007: The groups got mixed up so some are going to be the same and you are onto something with that train of thought. I'm debating whether or not to kill Mayuri, I guess we'll have to find out when the time comes wont we?
Speaking of dead captains, I am starting a poll on which captains should die because I feel they have gotten it too easy. I already have an idea on who is going to die but I want your opinion. Yes you, the one reading this. I need your vote in this, only current captains not the outcasts or the Visoreds. Anyways, let us get onto our feature presentation.
There were alarms blaring as the intruders had crashed into the barrier. Silence reigned a hall as the 12 most powerful shinigami gathered in the large building. An elderly man made his way to the head of the unorthodox group. The Soutaichou stood tall before the shinigami as he pounds his cane on the ground.
"I hereby bring this meeting to order. You are all aware that we have intruders that have seen fit to invade our great sanctum. They must be apprehended at all costs. Captain Ichimaru, you claim to have encountered them on their first attempt to enter, report." The captain of squad 3 stepped forward with his eyes paper-thin. A grin ever-present on his snake-face.
"Indeed I have Sir. The intruders managed to defeat the guardian of the west gate, Jidanbo. After defeating him the guardian opened the gate and I prevented their entrance through the use of my Shikai. I aimed to kill them but a girl in shinigami attire managed to block my Shinso." Yamamoto nodded to the report as Gin stepped back into line with the rest of the captains. The room filled with worried murmurs. Gin leered at the captain of the 5th as the surrounding captains went into an uproar. The look didn't go unnoticed though as the 10 division captain filed the information away.
The volume of the hall grew until Yamamoto pounded his cane on the ground and slightly opened his eyes to quell the chaos.
"Quiet you brats. Each of you will go to your division as we do not fully understand their intentions. If your divisions are attacked then you will be permitted to send your lieutenant, you, however, will not attack unless provoked directly." A low chuckle escaped the 11th division captain.
"If they beat Jidanbo then they might pose a worthy challenge. I'll have to see for myself the strength of this group." Most of the captains sighed at the unquenchable bloodthirst of their fellow captain before watching him run out of the hall in search of the invading Ryoka. That wasn't much of a surprise but the head captain leveled a glare at the remaining lot.
"I believe we should detain only Sir. They may not be attacking the Seireitei directly as they appear to be friends of Ichigo Kurosaki." Murmurs spread through the hall at the 5th captain's request.
"I'll take your request into consideration, however, if any of you are attacked with malicious intent then don't hold back. The main priority during this time is the protection of the Seireitei, not the protection of the invaders." Leaving the rest of that order unsaid. They all knew what the Soutaichou meant.
"Is that all you called us here for? What a waste of my time."
"You would best mind your tongue when speaking to the Soutaichou." Soi Fon responded to the captain of squad 12. Mayuri just scoffed in return as the captain of squad 8 chuckled under his breath. He shared a look with his old friend, the captain of squad 13 as they quietly awaited dissolve into chaos that this argument would bring.
"It is you who should hold your tongue assassin. This meeting is of no use to me. I have gotten a report that at least one is a Quincy and at least one shinigami among them but the other 4 are unknown. It would be interesting to see how they received their powers and what they entail." Yamamoto banged his cane on the ground again.
"If there is nothing else to report, you have your orders. Be mindful of yourselves, think of this as a test of readiness for your squads and take this seriously. We will not be caught off guard. Dismissed!" He banged his cane again as the captains started to fill out of the meeting hall.
Aizen and Gin passed each other on their way out. The snake gave a grin to the other as he leaned in close.
"You should watch your back Captain Aizen, these invaders might just prove you wrong." With that Gin left Aizen to his thoughts. Everything was falling into place and with Ichigo on his way back from Karakura he would have solidified his loyalty. He just needed a few more moves and he could finish his plan.
Mizuiro, Orihime and Yoruichi had landed in an empty storehouse. It was filled with folded up boxes and barrels of, sake? The smell was right. Dusting themselves off, Mizuiro peeked out through some of the cracks.
"I'm going to be taking Orihime to a safe location, can you handle yourself kid?" Mizuiro nodded to Yoruichi. She could trust him, he wouldn't die if they were where she thought they were and it might just give them the edge even if the kid did lose. "This is going to take my true form so go ahead and I'll catch up to you when we're settled." Mizuiro gave a curt nod and slipped out the door in search of his designated location.
Yoruichi released a small portion of her spiritual power to transform into her human form and faced Orihime.
"You ready princess?" Orihime pursed her lips and nodded, determined. She had been promised training so that she could fight alongside her friends. She was the most devastated after Ichigo had gone Hollow and actually frowned. It was unusual for the normally bubbly girl but it seemed fitting at the moment. It wasn't a happy time for anyone who had been told. She wasn't going to sit by idly and let everyone else fight the battle in Ichigo's name, she would be useful in more than just healing. She would fight.
Mizuiro was lost, he had gone down several twists and turns and couldn't, for the life of him, figure out the pattern to this place. It was bass ackwards in every way. He eventually came across a large open area with a massive building standing at the far back. A large banner bearing the number 8 hung above the structure.
"So that's where I am," Mizuiro recalled the map Isshin had hastily drawn out for them as he calculated a path to the 6th. It wasn't too far away.
"And here is where you'll stay." Mizuiro was about to turn and leave when the voice reached his ears. He blinked and suddenly dozens of pink flower petals started to float to the ground. A powerful presence made itself known as a man fell down and landed with his coat surrounding him, blocking the raven-haired teen from seeing his opponent. The man slowly sat back and grinned with a cup of some liquid and two small cups.
"Stay for some tea that is." The teen didn't know how to react but it would be best not to allow himself to be stalled by this shinigami.
"I'm afraid I can't, from your coat it would appear you are a captain. Would you be willing to move out of my way?" Kyoraku shook his head. A sad smile playing at his lips.
"I'm afraid not Ryoka. I suggest you join me and you might be able to survive as only a captive. Trust me when I say that it is luck that you met me and not another of my associates." Mizuiro mulled the words over for a moment. He couldn't face Ichigo unless he gave his all and he couldn't, in his right mind, not at least attempt to resist. He knew he had no chance against a captain at his level, not from what Isshin had said about their power level. The teen grit his teeth as he summoned his circuit-esc armor and twin disks. A black biker helmet covered his face. It had bright blue accents and Mizuiro sped towards Kyoraku, spinning as he jumped to put maximum force into his throw as he launched the disks at the captain.
Shunsui hadn't wanted to fight but he could admire the kid for attempting. He couldn't feel any hostile intent behind the disks as he bat the weak attack away from him. Mizuiro summoned more disks and launched them before drawing a glowing blue blade. It held the shape of a claymore. This was enough. The captain vanished and reappeared behind Mizuiro as blood erupted from the teen's body. Kyoraku tipped his hat as he frowned.
"I'm sorry but I had to end that before any more collateral damage was caused. Nanao, can you take him away to a holding cell, seal his reiatsu and let him recover on his own, I need to report this to the Soutaichou." Nanao nodded before vanishing with the downed body of Mizuiro.