Hello everyone, we are here with another chapter. The distraction has arrived and things are moving quickly (more quickly than the anime it feels like). I estimate there will probably be about 1 or 2 more chapters after this one, I know it's a bit shorter than the other two parts, but you can only write so many battle scenes. Anyways, read on and enjoy!
X
"Need some help kid?"
Love asked as he stepped through the Garganta holding his zanpaktou over his shoulder as beside him Rose, Byakuya Kuchiki, Kenpachi, and the Captain of the Twelfth stepped forward; it was an impressive sight against the empty backdrop of Hueco Mundo. Ichigo grinned relieved and thankful for the perfect timing and tilted his head with a nod at the approaching Espada.
"Help would be nice."
"It would be wise of you to return to the mortal world as soon as possible."
Captain Kuchiki cautioned with a tilt of his head at Orihime, his grey eyes narrowed and Ichigo wondered if he could feel Rukia or maybe that was just him looking cool. Ichigo nodded, ignoring the chill of the desert air as he replied, "The others are still inside Los Noches, fighting some of the Espada."
"You all have your cellphones no?"
Rose asked and Ichigo nodded pulling out his phone only to pause and glance down at Nel who was still glowing, her mask was almost completely healed. It seemed the Espada had noticed the same thing as he was charging forward.
"That one's mine."
Kenpachi called out grinningly terrifyingly at Ichigo as he unsheathed his katana, Ichigo winced searching for the man's spirit but hearing only the sound of childish laughter; where was the tiny lieutenant? Love rolled his eyes and glanced at Los Noches for a long moment before he turned to Ichigo and stated, "Find Shinji, tell him to take you kids back. Aizen's making a move in Karakura town and Kisuke thinks you'll be safer there than here."
Ichigo doubted that and obviously so did Love.
Still, he nodded glancing at his arm where the wound was a raised scar, Orihime beside him frowned and they both glanced at Nel who had been completely enfolded in light. Grimmjow on the ground looked unhappy with the proceedings and Ichigo knew the dude was trying to find and escape route as soon as possible. The other Captains disappeared in a burst of shunpo and Ichigo watched the Captain of the Twelfth with narrowed eyes praying Uryu would be able to avoid him.
Suddenly, Orihime's barrier snapped with a sharp crack at the same time as the Espada clashed with Kenpachi and Nel finished glowing. Ichigo wrapped and arm around Orihime and sunk Zangetsu into the sand as a gust of reaitsu blew through the air.
As the sand settled Ichigo gaped at the figure standing in a veritable crater, she had long blue hair, a mask on her head, and the same raggedy green cloth as Nel, though it was certainly stretched. Nel smiled at Ichigo, and he knew it was her just an adult now, somehow; he was confused. She said, "Thank you for healing me Orihime-san, and thank you for looking after me Ichigo. I will deal with Nnoitra, he caused this after all."
Ichigo was honestly still kind of stunned, maybe he should have seen this coming. At this rate Aizen was secretly going to be a butterfly the whole time.
An explosion rocketed through Los Noches and Ichigo glanced at the building with wide eyes as a whole section of wall was suddenly engulfed in flames and debris went flying everywhere. Out of the wreckage stumbled… something, it was huge, not towering like a Menos, long, but gigantic nonetheless. If Ichigo squinted he could see tiny figures attacking the large Hollow.
Kenpachi must have noticed as he turned to Nel and said, "You can have him. He's weak."
The Espada, Nnoitra looked furious but Kenpachi obviously didn't care as with a burst of reaitsu he was gone charging in the direction of the rampaging Hollow. Nel stepped forward before Nnoitra could follow and Ichigo saw genuine fear flash across the Hollow's face. He was pretty sure Nel would be fine.
"Come on Orihime we need to find the others," Ichigo stated and she looked unsure but as Nel clashed with Nnoitra her face hardened in determination. Ichigo glanced down at Grimmjow and continued, "I would leave now if I were you, come back when its all over if we survive and stake your claim then, the Menos forest is a decent spot to hide."
"I'm not a coward."
Grimmjow replied teeth bared but Ichigo could see he was considering the idea, for all that the Espada ran on instinct Ichigo got the sense he was smarter than he let on. Nodding, Ichigo turned and as Nel and Nnoitra clashed they started to walk back towards Los Noches (and maybe just maybe Ichigo turned his head and saw Grimmjow fighting beside Nel).
He glanced at his phone but only Uryu had replied to state that the distraction didn't have to include Goddamn Mayuri Kurotsuchi but that they were on the way to the meeting place. Which was on the other side of Hueco Mundo, great. Ichigo sighed and glanced at Orihime wishing that maybe the day could be over already and they could go home; it was turning out to be the no good, very bad, terrible, horrible sort of day.
Fate wasn't so kind.
They picked their way to the hole Ichigo and Grimmjow's fight had blown in the wall earlier, farther away from the battle against the gigantic centipede Hollow. Ichigo tightened his grip on Zangetsu as in the entrance stood Ulquiorra his sword drawn.
Ichigo was tempted to just turn around, maybe come back later.
"We need to go inside."
Ichigo stated quietly pleading silently for the Espada to just let them pass or even tell them to go around. But all Ichigo could see was the emptiness of the Espada's eyes, the blankness of the sand around them staring back at him as the Espada replied, "I cannot let you do that. "
Zangetsu snapped up nearly a split second too late as Ichigo caught the Espada's blade on his own, the sand around them was whipped into the air and Ichigo's ankles sunk into the sand as his arms shook against the Espada's strength.
He couldn't win, he already knew this.
"Orihime go find the others."
Ichigo said as he blocked an overhead strike and casted a Shakkahō, the attack harmless against the Espada's Hierro. Zangetsu shifted into Shikai quietly and Ichigo released a Getsuga Tensho pumping as much power in it as he dared as he darted to stand back in front of Orihime.
"I can't leave you alone Ichigo. I'm not some damsel in distress."
She protested and Ichigo knew that, had seen her ruthlessly destroy a Hollow after it hurt Tatsuki. But they had come to save her and Ichigo sure as Hell wasn't letting Ulquiorra get his hands on her again.
"I know. But even you and I can't handle this Espada alone. Get the others and find me, we might have a chance then."
Ichigo stated panting for breath as he watched the sand began to clear and Ulquiorra walked forward without a scratch. He didn't have the heart to tell Orihime that he probably wouldn't survive this battle with or without her help. The only option was to make sure the others got home. They would protect his family. That or drag it out long enough for some form of help to arrive; stay positive.
Orihime was crying as she nodded and Ichigo knew what to do as he rocketed forward and clashed with Ulquiorra giving Orihime the time to sneak back into the wreck of Los Noches; she would have an easier time finding the others in any case.
They skidded apart and Ichigo stared at the Espada with narrowed eyes blood dripping from the gash in his arm onto the sand.
"You know you can't win and yet still you fight. Why?"
"I have to protect them."
Ichigo replied and watched as Ulquiorra blinked and tilted his head, with a burst of Sonido that Ichigo couldn't see, the Espada appeared in front of him and stated, "You humans are such peculiar creatures. I don't understand you."
"You could learn to."
Ichigo replied hesitantly studying the Hollow and thinking of being nine again and utterly alone. The Espada shook his head and their blades clashed once more and Ichigo inhaled and focused his reaitsu every moment tight with the threat of failure and death with one wrong move.
With a crack Ichigo crashed back the Espada's katana burrowed in his abdomen. Ichigo gritted his teeth and pulled the sword out stabbing it into the sand as blood gushed from the wound, he casted a Shakkahō and a lingering healing kido.
When he glanced at the Espada's features they were creased slightly in shock and Ichigo grinned a bloody grin even as Zangetsu whispered to him what they both already knew. Inhaling, Ichigo reached out and with a sharp tug pulled the mask over his features.
The shock on Ulquiorra's features shifted, grew, but Ichigo didn't give the Espada, the Fourth if the number was any indication, a chance to process it as he shot forward. Their blades cracked against each other with a burst of reaitsu that sent the sand around them flying.
They shot back and forth and for every cut that pierced Ulquiorra's Hierro it was healed a minute later, but Ichigo gained no new injuries as their blades danced with each other. The Espada sprung back and stated, "Consider this an honour, Imprison Murcielago."
A torrent of green and black reaitsu crackled through the air and fell like a shower around them as through the mist the Espada stepped forward. Fuck. Ulquiorra had two great big black wings draping from his back onto the sand, they seemed to consume the light around them, his hair was longer (was there like a correlation between hair and power that Ichigo was missing?) and his mask now extended over his head.
Fuck.
Ichigo prayed that Orihime had found the others, already he could feel the limit of his ability to maintain the mask and the injuries were their own limitation. He inhaled and tightened his grip on Zangetsu's hilts as he remembered, he was doing this for Yuzu, Karin, for his friends. He would survive. He needed to survive.
Ulquiorra disappeared. That was the best way to describe it as Ichigo whirled around instinct guiding his movements as he caught the Espada's blade against Zangetsu. Reaitsu thickened the air and Ichigo released a wordless Getsuga Tensho. The attack did nothing, absolutely, utterly nothing.
Ichigo cursed but couldn't spare a moment for distraction as Ulquiorra's blade slammed into his. Ichigo grit his teeth and released one Getsuga Tensho from the larger blade and followed with another one from the smaller blade as he whipped around.
"Gran Ray Cero."
Ulquiorra intoned and Ichigo hurriedly crossed Zangetsu in front of his chest and summoned his blut vein. It didn't work. Ichigo cried out as the cero slammed into him burning everything it touched, he reached out for his reaitsu and it clicked together as he suffused his skin with it.
Oh, Ichigo realised, this was Hierro.
Could he use other Hollow techniques?
The Cero melted away and Ichigo rose to his feet gasping for breath as his control over the mask threatened to shatter. Ulquiorra walked slowly towards Ichigo, unharmed, and with his wings dragging into the night sky behind him. Ichigo felt despair settle inside his chest like an old friend as he raised his blades.
He knew it was hopeless. But he couldn't give up. He would keep moving.
If he could draw it out till Shinji arrived it would be enough. It had to be.
Ichigo furrowed his brow watching as Ulquiorra thrust his hand out and reaitsu began to gather in a swirl of green around his hand. Ichigo pressed at the Hollow part of his reaitsu and began to gather it around his own hand, tucked out of sight behind his back.
Before Ulquiorra could release his Cero, Ichigo released the reaitsu burning his fingers, it shot forward in a blast of red and Ichigo caught the flash of Ulquiorra's surprise before the Espada's cero crashed into him. Ichigo pulled on his Hierro, instincts screaming as he whipped around only to cry out as Ulquiorra's blade drove through his chest a cero following through the motion leaving a gaping hole.
Ichigo's fingers grasped at his chest, slick with blood around the blade as he coughed the copper taste filling his mouth.
"It's over Ichigo Kurosaki. I expected more."
Ulquiorra stated and stepped back the blade sliding through Ichigo's chest with the movement, the sound heavy as Ichigo struggled to breathe in the distance he swore he could hear his friends calling his name but the world was going dark around the edges.
He had to. He needed to live. Had to Protect his family. He couldn't Protect his sisters if he was dead. They would be so hurt if he died. It couldn't be over couldn't it? He had to Protect them.
Something lurched and slid to the side, Ichigo wasn't sure what it was, he could barely feel anything as he settled on the glass of his Inner World staring at the sky. He glanced dully at his wrist where the cut from Grimmjow had been, the skin was paper white and around his wrist red tufts of fur sprouted.
"Zangetsu?"
Ichigo questioned as he glanced down at his chest and the hole there still sluggishly leaking blood; it didn't hurt. Numbly he searched for his spirit but the world was empty, there was no rain, no signs of life, the sky had become a washed out grey.
"Ichigo."
He tilted his head and glanced at Ossan, who was walking slowly towards him, his great cloak trailed in lazy wisps behind him and his blue eyes behind the yellow of his glasses were sad where they were locked onto Ichigo.
"You need to wake up Ichigo."
"Why?"
Ichigo asked confused as he felt something dully cut into his arm, felt blood spurt into the air.
"Zangetsu is keeping you alive. But you need to wake up, the Hollow aspect of your powers is in control now. Pure instinct."
"Pure instinct?"
Ichigo questioned feeling like a young child again. Ossan settled beside Ichigo crossing his legs his hand hovered over the long strands of Ichigo's hair as he explained, "The instinct to fight and kill and protect. Everything else falls away. It is dangerous not only to yourself but to others. You need to wake up Ichigo, if you wait you will die."
"Okay."
Ichigo replied, he couldn't die he had made a promise, and struggled to his feet. Ichigo turned and stared at the mirror version of himself that had appeared, long orange hair, red tufts, paper white skin, and a Hollow mask with streaks of red and horns that curled into the air.
"I'm sorry, it's okay now."
Ichigo whispered pressing his hand over the mirror version's heart, where the hole was. The Hollow tilted its head staring at Ichigo with acrid yellow eyes for a long moment and faded away.
Consciousness reasserted itself with a snap along with a rush of sense and memories, the mask, rising, fighting Ulquiorra's second release (which was honestly kind of cool), his friends trying to stop Ulquiorra and failing, he almost killed Uryu, oh God. He had died.
Ichigo glanced at his surroundings, Ulquiorra stood across from him, he was missing an arm and it wasn't regenerating. Ichigo could see his friends standing in the distance, Orihime's barrier was up and he could see that they were all there except for Rukia and Renji.
He was so tired.
Was the battle over yet?
He glanced at Ulquiorra who took a step forward and collapsed, if Ichigo moved he felt the result would be the same.
"Ichigo!"
He turned his head as Orihime rushed forward and launched herself at him; he didn't have the strength to remain standing and collapsed to the ground. Chad was there in the next moment carefully helping him sit up with warm hands that brushed over his chest searching for reassurance. Uryu was scowling and white in the face while Tatsuki was crying.
"You are such an idiotic, harebrained, stubborn, brave, idiot Ichigo."
Tatsuki stated hitting him lightly on the arm, Ichigo groaned and coughed as he weakly replied, "I'm sorry. Knew we needed to get home."
"That doesn't mean you die on us Kurosaki."
Uryu snapped and his eyes were suspiciously watery. Ichigo chose not to think about the fact that he had died at least for a little while. Shinji appeared a moment later as Orihime rose to her feet and marched over to Ulquiorra.
"Please don't do that again."
Shinji requested and it sounded light but Ichigo could hear the shake in his voice. Ichigo pressed his lips together and with a nod said, "I'll try."
He watched as if through a window as Orihime healed the Espada enough that he wouldn't die before she turned away with narrowed eyes and marched back to the group summoning her healing barrier once more around Ichigo.
"We need to get moving."
Ichigo stated glancing around the desert, in the distance he could feel the reaitsu of the Captains and that of the Espada they were fighting. Shinji nodded face grim as he replied, "Yeah and you need to replenish your energy before you can even think of fighting Aizen."
He opened his mouth to protest but felt particularly dizzy so he conceded the point.
"Orihime keep healing Ichigo while we go through the Garganta, Kisuke gave me something that should help when we get back to Karakura. And when we get back be careful, Aizen's there and he brought the top three Espada, the Head Captain is confronting him there."
Shinji stated and ignored Ichigo's protests as he scooped him into his arms; Ichigo wasn't blushing it was just the blood loss or something. The Garganta ripped open with a crack and in the back of his brain Ichigo understood suddenly how it was done.
In grim silence they walked through the Garganta.
X
"Drink this."
Shinji commanded as they exited the Garganta with a sharp crack and a burst of light. Ichigo blinked blearily at the man, who was holding a bottle of disturbingly bright red liquid that sloshed with every shake of his hand.
"What is it exactly?"
Ichigo questioned as he struggled to his feet patting Chad on the arm in thanks (he had made eye contact with Chad about half-way through the Garganta pleading for him to help and Chad had taken that to mean that he should carry Ichigo, he wasn't protesting). He still felt exhausted, the sort of exhausted only fighting a couple Espada and being terrified for his life could provide but the wounds were all healed so at least there was that.
Orihime looked pale but otherwise fine where she was leaning against Tatsuki, who refused to let go of Orihime, and Uryu was okay though he had been usually quiet throughout the trip and Ichigo was worried but couldn't even address it with the fact that there was a war happening. God, he wanted a moment to just breathe.
"It's supposed to replenish your reaitsu or something."
"Kisuke gave it to you?"
Ichigo asked dubiously eyeing the bottle once more. Shinji frowned staring at Ichigo for a long moment like he was contemplating forcing it down Ichigo's throat himself before he nodded. With a sigh, Ichigo reached out and wrapped his hand around the bottle, the lid twisted off and Ichigo with a prayer chugged the strange liquid; if he hadn't known Kisuke for as long as he had, there was no way in Hell he would have taken it.
It surprisingly didn't taste like blood, but sure as Hell tasted disgusting like leftover coffee or maybe like the desert itself, sand and dry air.
Ichigo choked on the thick drink but dutifully swallowed and finished with a glare at Shinji as he passed the bottle back; the others were looking at Ichigo equally horrified or concerned. With a cough he choked out, "That was disgusting. Have you tried it?"
"Nope and I'm not going to."
Shinji replied with a pat on Ichigo's shoulder before his eyes sharpened and he glanced at their surroundings. Ichigo was more exhausted than he had thought if he only now noticed the intense concentration of reaitsu somewhere downtown Karakura.
"What's happening?"
Tatsuki asked crossing her arms over her chest with a frown, the frightening image was somewhat disturbed by the way she was clinging to Orihime's arm still. Shinji unsheathed Sakande, eyes gold in the afternoon sunlight as he replied, "Aizen has brought the war to Karakura," Shinji paused and observed them for a long moment before he continued, "Kisuke probably would have wanted you all to wait in Hueco Mundo until this was all over but he asked for you guys to come back. I sure as Hell don't want you to be fighting the likes of Aizen. But I don't have a choice in the matter, do I?"
He directed the last part at Ichigo with a raised brow something sad hiding behind the amused drawl. Ichigo nodded and replied, "We can't just sit back and watch as Aizen tries to destroy our town."
The others around him nodded and Shinji sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face before he replied, "Alright follow me. Y'all need to stick together no matter what happens that's your only chance of surviving this mess. And let the adults handle it if possible."
Ichigo decided to ignore the implication of Shinji's words, also when had the adults ever handled it (?) and manifested Zangetsu's blade. He could feel his reaitsu returning, like an adrenaline burst, or an expresso, a liquid warmth thrumming through his veins.
He reached out towards Zangetsu and felt the silent press of his spirit but nothing else. It was okay.
Shinji stared at them all for a moment longer, committing them to memory Ichigo guessed, before he turned and with a burst of shunpo darted towards the epicentre of reaitsu. Ichigo glanced at the others, Orihime was standing on her own now, Tatsuki a solid presence beside her, Uryu had his bow manifested with a grim expression, and Chad has his Hollow powers manifested, reaitsu sharp on the air around them.
The journey to the city centre was quiet but for the brush of wind against his shihakusho. It was strange to see Karakura so quiet, empty, a ghost town but Kisuke had planned for all outcomes, and when Ichigo's uncle planned for something it was to the last contingency.
Shinji was paused on the roof of a low building right downtown and they alighted beside him silently staring at the battle that was about to commence. Ichigo could see the Captains of Soul Society, all of them except the ones who were in Hueco Mundo, along with their lieutenants, facing the traitor Captains, Aizen, and the top three Espada.
"This is bad."
Uryu understated mildly and Ichigo couldn't help but agree, even if there wasn't anyone home any of the battles would decimate Karakura, much less the rest of Japan. Ichigo tightened his grasp on Zangetsu's hilt and forced himself to wait. As nice as it was to think that he could stop the war alone it was impossible. They just had to tip the odds in their favour as soon as possible.
Ichigo paused where he was studying their opponents and paused on the top three Espada, one was an old man with a crown, another was a woman with bright blond hair and icy blue eyes, and finally someone who was familiar. Ichigo squinted trying to jog his memory as to where he had seen the Espada before. At Los Noches? No. Earlier.
Then the Espada's Fracción paused to talk to him, short and with almost blond hair Ichigo suddenly remembered where had seen the two Hollows. Almost eight years ago in the sands of Hueco Mundo, while he had been on the run from Aizen's forces he had stumbled onto the two of them.
How strange that they met again on opposite sides. Or maybe that was just fate being a bitch again.
"What's the plan?"
Ichigo asked Shinji as they watched the Soutaicho speak to Aizen, they couldn't hear anything but Ichigo could almost feel the rising tension. Shinji frowned and stated, "Wait till either side makes a move, no point engaging before we know how it's going to go down."
He could wait. Ichigo tried to reassure himself but everything in him was itching to fight already or maybe just to be up there and he was sure it wasn't only the lingering Hollow instinct vibrating through his bones. Don't think about it. Ichigo reminded himself as they watched a ring of fire surround Aizen, Tōsen, and Gin. They watched as one of the Hollows consumed the fires of Ryūjin Jakka and the Soutaicho lost an arm, the only thing that stopped Ichigo from moving was Chad's hand on his shoulder heavy and grounding enough that Ichigo could suck in a breath and force himself to wait.
Then the battles began, the Captains dividing to fight the Espada (and Tōsen too). Ichigo glanced once at Shinji who nodded with a roll of his eyes and Ichigo grinned as he stated, "I have business with an old friend just wait a minute and I'll be back."
The others looked like they might protest for a moment but then Chad shook his head and it was enough for Ichigo to shoot forward in a burst of shunpo. He appeared a moment later in front of Ukitake-taicho and Kyroraku-taicho, facing Starrk and Lilynette.
"Sorry to interrupt Ukitake-taicho, Kyroraku-taicho I need to speak with Starrk."
"You know each other?"
Ukitake-taicho asked kindly in that mild tone of his and when Ichigo glanced over his shoulder at the two captains they didn't seem to mind the interruption; they didn't strike him as particularly battle-hungry though.
"Yeah we met a long time ago."
Ichigo replied and turned to face Starrk and Lilynette once more. Starrk was grinning what could only be described as a wolfish grin and Lilynette was staring at him with wide eyes her hands clenched into fists at her side as she asked, "Ichigo?"
"It's been a while Lilynette."
She rounded on Starrk and with a pout began to hit him as she yelled, "Ichigo was here and you didn't tell me!"
"He was in Los Noches too."
Starrk replied, the slow drawl of his voice still familiar to Ichigo's ears. Up-close he studied the two Hollows they looked better than they had alone in the desert and yet Ichigo really couldn't get behind the all-white outfits.
"So, you're with Aizen now?"
Ichigo asked lightly trying not to sound hurt or even accusing. Stark sighed, the motion slow, and replied, "He offered us a chance to be with other Hollows that wouldn't die just from being in our presence."
"And how did that turn out?"
Ichigo asked like they were talking about the weather and not you know working for a megalomaniac. Starrk scrunched his nose and glanced at Lilynette who was glancing between the two of them with narrowed eyes as he replied, "A hassle, we have to do work."
"And he's just using you?"
"That too."
Starrk agreed mildly and then added, "I'd rather go and take a nap."
Lilynette looked upset at the suggestion of a nap and Ichigo knew this was as much of an opportunity as he was going to get to save his friends' lives and maybe make sure they could meet again. Maybe something good could come out of the war.
"You could leave, go back to Hueco Mundo."
Ichigo suggested and dematerialized Zangetsu. Starrk's eyes opened slightly and he raised a brow and asked, "Why? What if Aizen wins?"
"He won't."
Ichigo replied jutting his chin out and starring into Starrk's eyes. The Espada tilted his head and asked, "Are you going to personally assure that Ichigo?"
"He isn't going to win this war; I'm not going to let him destroy Karakura or anything else."
"You could barely challenge Grimmjow."
Starrk cautioned but the words weren't meant to hurt, they still did a little bit in the way only honest things did, Ichigo could almost see concern in Starrk's eyes. Lilynette glanced between the two of them with narrowed eyes and Ichigo wondered why Starrk was being so obstinate, even if Aizen won he would turn around and kill them; they both knew it.
"I know, but I'll win. And after, you can visit the Mortal World."
"And you'll visit Hueco Mundo?"
Starrk questioned with a raised brow as in the distance the cacophony of fighting rose to a crescendo. Ichigo didn't need to think about it because he knew that no matter how powerful Starrk and Lilynette were they wouldn't be able to defeat the two Captains behind him. He wanted them to live.
"Yeah."
For a long moment there was silence before Starrk nodded once and replied, "I'll hold you to that Ichigo."
Ichigo nodded and watched as Starrk turned and with a wave of his hand a Garganta crackled into existence. Lilynette was pouting and staring at Ichigo with pleading eyes as Starrk called out, "Come Lilynette. We'll see Ichigo later, he promised after all."
And Ichigo didn't break a promise.
Lilynette turned slowly and followed Starrk into the Garganta which snapped shut with a crack.
"Sorry."
Ichigo apologized rubbing at his head as he turned to face Ukitake-taicho and Kyroraku-taicho. Ukitake-taicho smiled, it was a nice smile but Ichigo got the sense that it hid more than a few things; his spirits were testament enough to that.
"We should be thanking you Ichigo."
"Ma, Jushiro is right the less enemies we need to fight the better."
Kyroraku-taicho added with a tilt of his head, the older spirit of his pair wrapped her arms around his shoulders, the spirals of her hair bouncing with the motion as she rolled her eyes at her wielder. Ichigo grinned and replied, "There will be enough bloodshed, what I can prevent I will."
Ukitake-taicho and Kyroraku-taicho shared a glance, something heavy to Ukitake-taicho's expression before he shook his head and it was gone. Kyroraku-taicho turned to Ichigo and with a tilt of his head stated, "Ma you should head back to your friends. Things are just heating up."
That was a pun wasn't it. Ichigo narrowed his eyes at the Captain before he nodded and with a burst of shunpo reappeared on the rooftop beside his friends. Immediately, Orihime wrapped her arms around him in a sudden tackle-hug. Over her shoulder, Ichigo could see Uryu frowning (as per usual), Tatsuki rolling her eyes, and Chad standing nearby.
Shinji was standing at the edge of the building watching the battles over head with narrowed eyes. Ichigo followed his gaze and watched as Toshiro fought the female Espada, a couple of the other Captains were fighting Tōsen, and Ukitake-taicho and Kyroraku-taicho had gone to fight the older Espada.
"Good job Ichigo."
Shinji stated as Ichigo pried himself free of Orihime's death grip. Ichigo nodded in thanks and Shinji glanced over his shoulder at the group as with a tilt of his head he announced, "The cavalry has arrived."
Over the sky a Garganta opened up.
X
So, Aizen had figured out the whole fake Karakura bit. Great. Ichigo still thought his plan for a pocket-sized dimension would have worked better but nonetheless the point was Aizen was going to head towards Soul Society to destroy Karakura and create the King's Key. Excellent, superb, fan-fucking-tastic.
Ichigo watched as Yoruichi attacked Aizen, he could see his father standing in a shihakusho and his spirit was completely solid beside him. Ichigo wasn't sure if he felt hurt or relieved that his dad decided to show up now of all times, but at least he had showed up. He settled for irritation as it was a familiar enough emotion in conjunction with his father.
After the other Captains had arrived from Hueco Mundo the tide had quickly turned but that hadn't stopped Aizen from looking calculating and smug as fuck even as the other two Espada were defeated along with Tōsen. Shinji had shrugged and replied, "We've all seen his Shikai, as we are now even if we defeat his army, he can leave any time. That might not even be him there."
"It is."
Ichigo replied certain in the knowledge. Maybe it was because he had watched the Soutaicho succumb to an illusion, watched from the outside, or maybe it was some other sort of knowledge. Regardless, Ichigo was certain Aizen was in front of him effortlessly fending off Yoruichi and Soi-fong.
"That's why we need you Ichigo. You haven't seen his Shikai yet, you and your friends are perhaps the only ones."
No pressure.
The point was Aizen had both sides of the Hogyoku (he had stolen it from under Kisuke's nose while he had been distracted by Ichigo in Soul Society praying on what Kisuke had dubbed an obvious weakness), and even without his Shikai the Captains couldn't hold a candle to him. They might win the battles but, in the end, if they couldn't stop Aizen the war would still fall to him.
Ichigo materialized Zangetsu and shifted silently into his Shikai as he watched Shinji use his Shikai on Aizen, it did practically nothing, even though Shinji had refused to use it outside of the base determined to surprise Aizen.
Inhaling, Ichigo pushed aside the fear, he was fucking terrified, the traitorous thoughts about what he could possibly do when Shinigami generations older than him were failing filling his head, and pulled his mask on. He had made a promise, multiple promises, and he would protect his family even if it would cost him his life; he had to believe he could survive.
As Kisuke took Shinji's place, Ichigo shot forward knowing their best chance was to work together, Ichigo had been training with Kisuke practically his whole life there was no one who he worked better with; it was their best shot.
It itched at the back of his mind that the other Captains weren't fighting Aizen, that they were handicapped by Aizen's Shikai. Surely if they all fought him, they could defeat Aizen? Maybe he was just being naïve.
A blade clashed against his and Ichigo stared into Ichimaru Gin's icy blue eyes. The ex-Captain grinned at Ichigo, a long narrow smile that he had definitely honed under Shinji when he had been a Captain (Shinji could be very creepy when he wanted).
"Ah if it isn't Kurosaki-kun. You can't stand against Aizen if you can't even get through me."
Ichigo frowned at the jovial tone as in the periphery of his sight he could see Kisuke had pulled out his Shikai, Aizen was a problem but Ichigo doubted his Uncle would pull out his Bankai unless everything else had failed. That was what contingencies were for.
Ichigo sprung back and Gin followed, their blades clashed against each other with a shriek of metal. Ichimaru was fast, it was the very nature of his zanpaktou according to Rangiku. Ichigo frowned he would just have to be faster.
"You're in quite the position kid, ya touched Aizen's blade."
"So?"
Ichigo questioned as his feet dug into the concrete and he recalled the feel of Kyoka Suigetsu biting into his hands; a thought occurred that he hadn't even seen a flash of the spirit since Sokyoku Hill and it unsettled him.
Ichimaru grinned and pushed the offensive as in the distance Aizen ruthlessly cut down the others.
"That's the weakness to his Shikai, touch his blade and the illusions won't work on ya. Course, that's not gonna help ya against the Hogyoku. You're still too weak."
Ichigo flinched back as Ichimaru's blade bit into his stomach, he pressed his hand to the wound and began a lingering healing kido, with Zangetsu's larger blade he cast a Getsuga Tensho. Ichimaru effortlessly dodged the attack and appeared in front of Ichigo slamming the pommel of his blade into Ichigo's stomach he leaned close and whispered.
"I want Aizen dead as much as the rest of y'all. Right now, ya don't stand a chance kid."
Ichigo cried out and crumpled as Ichimaru with a grin retreated to stand beside Aizen who had defeated everyone and was grinning, God Ichigo hated that grin. Aizen surveyed the area with a bored stare before his eyes honed in on Ichigo and he raised a brow.
"If I heard correctly you made a promise to defeat me Kurosaki-san. See you in Karakura."
There was something beneath the silky enunciation of Aizen's words but Ichigo could barely parse it as he rose shakily to his feet, forcing more reaitsu into the healing kido; it was familiar is all Ichigo could ascertain. The air split in front of Aizen and with a snap he and Gin were gone.
"We have to go after him."
Ichigo stated as he turned to face Kisuke who had a grim expression, lips pressed into a thin line as his eyes darted from Isshin to Ichigo. He nodded and stepped closer for a moment as he whispered, "The Kido is set, you just have to distract him long enough for it to take effect."
"I can do it."
"I know."
Kisuke replied clapping his hand on Ichigo's shoulder just as Isshin's voice broke through the heavy silence of the battlefield, "Come with me son, I have something to teach you on the way."
Ichigo was tempted to bite something back but he glanced at Kisuke who nodded and added, "The Dangai will give you time to train," Kisuke's eyes darted down to Zangetsu and Ichigo abruptly understood; it was now or never, maybe literally.
He turned to his study his friends who had been spared from most of the fighting and were talking to Shinji as Unohana healed him, they would be fine. Part of Ichigo wanted them by his side but he knew it was safer this way. With an inhale Ichigo turned and followed his father, watching as the shoji doors appeared and slid open.
As Ichigo followed his father he glanced over his shoulder at his family. To protect them he could do this. He had to.
X
Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter it moved pretty quickly but that is the nature of this arc, the next chapter will cover the final battle and there may be one chapter after that to wrap everything up. Reviews/comments are always appreciated, till next time!