Chapter Eleven: Rematch

As they surged over the gates of the Soul Society, it was only then that Aizen understood. As he soared over the rooftops of the soul society, Aizen realized he would have to face with enemy alone. 'Kaname,' he said, 'I believe I should face Kyoka Suigetsu alone. Were you to defeat it; then it would resort to sword form. To restore it we would need to enlist the department of research and development. Once the true nature of my zanpakto became apparent, all might be lost.'

'You called your zanpakto it.' mused Kaname.

'Kyoka Suigetsu doesn't have a gender.' said Aizen. 'It is merely a sword. Our enemy used some unknown technique to manifest my inner doubts and frustrations. It is not what one could consider a real person.' He paused. 'Why weren't you affected?'

'My zanpakto is not mine, but rather was entrusted to me.' said Kaname. 'Do you believe our enemy might be of use?'

'No,' said Aizen, 'whatever his agenda his ability is too powerful to be allowed to exist. This may well wreck all if we are not swift. Now let us speak no more of this; someone is coming.'

'Ginrei Kuchiki,' said Tosen, who had always been better at sensing people who were trying not to be seen.

Aizen and Tosen halted and saw Ginrei Kuchiki approaching them, clad all in black. He nodded to both of them. 'Captain Aizen and Tosen, I take by your presence that you are pursuing our enemy.'

'Yes,' said Aizen, 'I'm afraid my zanpakto has betrayed me. We were going to retrieve it.' He paused, realizing his ignorance. 'Tell me, do you know anything about what has happened?'

'Our enemy is a zanpakto known as Muramasa.' said Ginrei Kuchiki. 'He once belonged to a member of my household, Kouga Kuchiki.' There was a shifting of Tosen's manner which Aizen instantly picked up on. Ginrei, however, did not notice or at least did not show it. 'The exact details are unimportant. What is essential is that he be slain before he can release Kouga from his imprisonment.'

'This Kouga,' said Aizen, 'would he be behind the war which has been stricken from the record?'

'That information was kept highly secret.' said Kuchiki. 'How do you know it?'

'There was a period where a murderer was wandering the Rukongai.' said Aizen 'No one knew who it was, but I had a run in with him. He nearly killed me actually, but I escaped with… difficulty.' He had first manifested Kyoka Suigetsu in that fight. 'I observed you and Yamamoto following after him. Then later I heard that the murderer had been sealed away.

When I went to the Soul Society I choose to look into the matter. Yet I found no record that the man had ever existed. However, I there were a number of disappearances before he appeared in the Rukongai.'

'You are very perceptive Aizen.' said Kuchiki. 'The matter was considered a stain on the honor of the Soul Society, and it was intended that it be forgotten. Perhaps that was an error.'

'It was.' said Tosen, an edge in his tone. 'Forgetting the past does not change it.'

'Whatever the case,' said Ginrei, 'the location of Kouga Kuchiki's seal is known to only two people. Myself and the Captain Commander. I believe that when Yamamoto became aware of Muramasa's presence, he left the Seretei. To ensure the rogue sword would not be able to access his mind, or, worse still, corrupt Ryujin Jakka.'

Aizen suppressed a shudder at the thought. This was more serious than he imagined. 'So that is why you are here.' he said. 'You don't want Muramasa to find you, is that it?'

'Yes,' said Ginrei, 'I had originally intended to bring my sword to the Seretei's defense. But the situation seems to be calming down without my assistance. With that in mind, I have chosen to deny Muramasa any idea of where I might be.'

'Very well,' said Aizen, 'we will tell no one. Come Kaname; we'd best keep moving.'

As soon as they were out of sight, Aizen looked to Tosen. 'Don't even consider it, Kaname.'

'Lord Aizen-' began Tosen.

'I am well aware of the reason why you choose to turn against the Soul Society for my side.' said Aizen. 'And I am aware of your desire for vengeance. However, Kouga Kuchiki is an unknown quantity. This situation has spiraled out of control. We must not allow our indignation cloud our judgment.

'When all this is done with, I will arrange for you to have your chance at vengeance. For now, we will attend to the matter at hand.'

'Yes Lord Aizen.' said Tosen.

Sajin Kommamura sped through the Seretei, heading for Squad 4. As he did so he walked through many winding passages and came out before the building. Lieutenant Isane was taking a moment to rest as he approached. She looked up only as his shadow passed over her. 'Captain Kommamura, are you injured?'

'No,' said Kommamura, 'I am here on behalf of Captain Aizen to inquire after his Lieutenant Gin. Is he here?'

'Yes.' said Isane. 'He was pretty badly injured by the 1st Lieutenant, but he'll make a full recovery. Why? Do you want to speak with him.'

'No.' said Kommamura. 'I must find my lost zanpakto. Tell him that Captain Aizen asked after him and hopes he is well.'

'I will.' said Isane.

Then another shadow passed over them both. Kommamura turned around and saw towering over him Tenken Muyo, blade in hand. At once his sword was out, but Tenken made no move against him. Silence passed between them.

'Let us fight elsewhere.' said Kommamura. 'Away from others.'

'No.' said Tenken. 'You have hidden long enough.'

'I'm afraid I must agree with Captain Kommamura,' said a fourth voice, 'this is most inappropriate.' They looked up and saw Captain Unohana approaching. 'We are currently near a great many wounded who are unable to fight. As such, I must insist you take this elsewhere.'

Tenken held her gaze for a moment, then turned to Kommamura. 'Very well, we will do as you ask.'

Captain and Zanpakto flash stepped away over the Seretei. At last, they came to a deserted building top. From here they could see stretching out before them the whole Seretei. It dawned on Kommamura how empty the heart of heaven was. Here there were endless expanses of buildings. They hadn't been used for hundreds of years. Little by little the soul reapers had dwindled. Yet the hollows had not.

'It is not as it once was.' said Kommamura.

'And never will be again.' agreed Tenken. 'Face me, Kommamura. Remove that rag from your eyes. Too long have you cowered, hiding your true face for fear that others might reject you.'

Kommamura turned round. 'Very well, Tenken. I will do as you ask.' Then gripping his hiyori, he dragged it away from his head and threw it to the wind. He looked at his reflection in his sword. Beneath was the face of an orange-furred canine, with eyes of yellow. For so long others had been in terror of him, that he scarcely noticed wearing a mask. It had become second nature. 'I know now why you turned against me. You want me to face the world as my true self, not hide away from it.'

'Yes.' said Tenken. 'Now-'

And then there was an explosion of golden light. Maniacal laughter could be heard as a long black haired maniac with many scars came right out of nowhere. He attacked Kommamura. The dog-faced canine parried a flurry of sword blows which each struck with massive force. Driven back to the edge, he stepped aside and slashed his enemy across the side.

Yet that only seemed to encourage him as a massive smile came onto his face. He turned around, bursting with yellow energy. 'Alright! Finally, someone who can cut me!'

'Uh… we were in the middle of a fight here…' began Tenken.

His enemy redoubled his strokes, and Kommamura matched him. Every wound he dealt was ignored, however. The sheer raw power which his enemy had was crushing him underfoot. They clashed again and again, as Tenken watched.

'Okay, you're not listening.' said Tenken, obviously annoyed. 'I'm just going to kill you both. BANKAI!'

And Tenken's full power was unleashed.

Byakuya and Senbonzakura looked up to see Kommamura's bankai. It cleaved a building in two. Turning they rushed towards it. As they did they saw two figures in the wreckage of the building fighting each other. One of them beat down the other, then turned to slash Kommamura's bankai with an arc of yellow energy. The slash left a huge gash in the giant, which reeled back before bringing its sword round to level a row of buildings.

'Senbonzakura,' said Byakuya, 'we must deal with this.'

'As you command, Master.' said Senbonzakura.

They surged forward to the wreckage and found Kommamura lying on the ground, stunned. Byakuya kneeled down by him. 'Are you alright?'

'Yes,' said Kommamura, rising again, 'I can still fight. An unknown enemy attacked me while I was facing Tenken. He is monstrously powerful.'

Maniacal laughter could be heard. Byakuya looked up to see a one-armed maniac fighting with Tenken. Already he had inflicted several wounds, though he had great wounds himself. 'I know that man. I fought him once before. He has grown in power since.'

'Yay! Kenny's happy!' cried a pink haired little girl clad in rags.

Byakuya stared at her. 'Who are you, child?'

'I'm Yachiru,' said the girl, 'Kenny is always looking for a good fight and Stoney is giving him one.'

'How did you even get into the Seretei?' asked Byakuya.

'We walked in silly.' said Yachiru. 'See first Kenny found this guard guy blocking his way. So he beat him up and made him open the gate. Then he walked in to go find a good fight. But then we got lost in the maze because he wouldn't listen to my expert directions.

'Then we saw Bow Wow and Stoney fighting and went in that direction.'

At this moment Tenken brought down one hand in a crushing blow which smashed the maniac into the ground. With three more strikes, he deepened the crater. Kommamura arose as Tenken leaned on his blade and fell to his knees. Gradually the bankai faded away, and Tenken returned to his humanoid form.

'So he is beaten.' said Tenken. 'Now perhaps we can-'

'Are you kidding?!' asked the maniac as he got out of the crater. 'We're just getting started!'

He rushed at Tenken, blade in his one good hand. Yet Kommamura stepped between them and blocked the stroke. After a flurry of blows, Kommamura was raked across the chest and staggered back. Several more blows injured him further, before he fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

Byakuya took action and surged towards the maniac, coming up behind him. Drawing up his blade, he prepared to remove his powers with one precise blow. Yet even as the blade fell, the maniac somehow turned around to parry it.

'I remember you,' he said, 'I always wanted to fight you again.'

A massive surge of yellow energy was unleashed, and Byakuya was thrown back by it. He was fast pursued and fended off a series of strikes. Finally, he halted, and leaped over the maniac and slashed downward. At the same moment, the maniacs jagged sword went upward and their blades flashed in the sunlight.

Byakuya felt the pain on his shoulder as he landed on his feet. Blood was dripping down his chest, yet his enemy was also wounded. And here he came, as unstoppable and impervious as ever.

'Master, this isn't working.' said Senbonzakura. 'If Sajin was unable to defeat him in direct combat, what chance do we have.'

It was a just objection. As his enemy came towards him, Byakuya flash stepped away some twenty feet behind him. Then he fired a kido which scorched his enemies back.

'Running away are we?!' roared the maniac, before charging again.

Byakuya flash stepped away and fired another shot which scorched the maniacs shoulder. Growling the maniac charged again, with a similar result. 'Stop running away! This kind of hit and run crap is no way for true warriors to behave!'

'Believe what you will.' said Byakuya with a flash step.

Byakuya shot him again. And again.

'Fine!' roared the maniac. 'Be that way! I'll improvise!' Then swinging his sword he sent a massive beam of yellow energy towards Byakuya.

Byakuya who barely stepped aside, and as he did he felt the heat of the attack burning his skin. The wave obliterated the ruins of a nearby building it hit. His ears were ringing, and his hands were shaking. Then he saw his enemy bore down on him, blade seeking his neck.

Byakuya raised his blade on pure reflex and rushed forward and they passed each other by.

Halting a moment later, Byakuya fell to one knee as blood dripped from his chest. A massive wound had been inflicted upon him. He glanced back to see the maniac standing tall, his jagged blade propped up on one shoulder. He glanced back, a smile on his face. Then he collapsed onto the ground, still smiling.

Byakuya shuddered and then fell forward to land on the ground, his vision fading to black.

Heineko made her way through the streets of the Soul Society as quietly and as quickly as she could manage. The zanpakto rebellion was falling to pieces. Most of the most powerful swords had been subdued by now, and it was thus only a matter of time before they came after her.

Heineko did not want to be subdued.

She slipped into a nearby building to avoid the eyes of a patrol of soul reapers, then sat down and sighed. 'This totally sucks, I only just got free of that old woman, and now I'll have to go back at this rate.'

A blade was set to her throat. She looked up, and terror was struck in her heart by what she saw.

'That is the least of your worries.' said Captain Soi Fon. 'I assure you.'

Authors Note:

Okay, this took a while to get out, didn't it? From the looks of things, the zanpakto arc is winding down. Just for the record, I've only focused on plot relevant fights for the most part. Shunsui and Ukitake beat their zanpaktos offscreen. The same for anyone else I might have missed.

Oh, and if Byakuya had had a chance to use his bankai he would have won. He is a little below where he was during the Soul Society arc here. The maniac for all his power is entirely untrained. Also, the madman had just finished fighting Kommamura, and Tenken who gave better than they got. So yeah, there is always that.