Welcime back everyone! I have made a full recovery from my viral infection. Unfortunately, my laptop decided to rebel and now refuses to load my memory stick. I had to do this on a library PC then upload it from my phone. In any case, enjoy!

Zanpakto rebellion

Bonus:

Ryuujin Jakka

Ichigo was in bankai, stood alongside the other captains and their zanpakto, all of them trapped within the fiery prison of head captain Yamamoto's zanpakto, Ryuujin Jakka. Muramasa had taken his leave for Karakura town to unseal his wielder.

Seeing a gap in the air above, Ichigo kicked off the ground and flew upwards, racing towards the possible escape. Unfortunately, the surrounding fires surged and shot in his direction to intercept him. The substitute quickly brought Tensa Zangetsu up to defend himself as he was struck and sent back down.

"The head captain's zanpakto is the ultimate of the fire types," stated Hyorinmaru when Ichigo touched down mostly undamaged. "Escaping this fiery prison will not be so simple."

"We still have to try," Ichigo countered firmly. "Muramasa needs to be stopped, I won't allow him to bring harm to my hometown!"

"I understand how you feel Ichigo," said Suzumebachi as she floated in front of his face. "Heck, I think we're all pretty annoyed with that jerk for lying to and manipulating us like that. But, being reckless won't get you out of this."

Sogyo no Kotowari stood on either side of their wielder. Both twins were staring at the raging inferno. "Ryuujin's real angry," observed Sogyo. "I wonder if there's a way to calm him down?"

"Maybe we could try talking to him?" suggested Kotowari.

Toshiro glanced around, then shook his head. "Unlikely. We could try attacking all at once. That should create an opening that lasts long enough for Ichigo to get through and escape."

Ichigo held up his free hand. "Wait. We could try talking to him first. It's worked out pretty well for me so far with all the other zanpakto."

"I doubt that will work," said Yamamoto. "Ryuujin Jakka will not consider conversing with you Ichigo Kurosaki, especially in the state that he is in now thanks to Muramasa."

The orange-haired soul reaper's brow slightly furrowed. "You'll never know unless you try old man."

Ichigo slowly walked closer to the edge of the flaming circle. The fires grew wilder as he drew nearer to them, as if preparing to lash out. He stopped a couple of metres away, feeling the intense heat washing over him in continuous waves. He raised his own spiritual power to make things a little more comfortable.

The teen drew in a deep breath. "Hey, Ryuujin Jakka!" he called loudly. "Why the hell are you still following Muramasa!? You heard him didn't you, when he said that we were nothing more than pawns to him?" The flames turned almost violently turbulent. Ichigo continued undeterred, raising his voice. "Aren't you meant to be the head captain's zanpakto, the strongest of all fire elemental zanpaktos? Why are letting yourself be used like some worthless tool?!"

A copious quantity of fire coalesced in front of Ichigo, eventually forming an ethereal, flaming dragon. It had a long, serpentine body like an eastern dragon, but the rough and dangerous features of a western dragon, particularly the crested head with its five backwards facing horns. Two massive wings sprouted out from the upper back, framing a line of spines that ran all the way to the tip of the tail. It was staring down at Ichigo with an angry glare.

Ichigo felt a sudden rush of fright, but suppressed it and didn't let anything show on his scowling face. Yamamoto was watching in a mixture of surprise and alarm. Kyoraku, Ukitake and Toshiro were staring in open shock, their eyes wide, as were the zanpakto spirits amongst them.

Ryuujin Jakka growled dangerously at the orange-haired soul reaper.

"What, you don't like me calling you that?" Ichigo retorted. "Maybe I wouldn't if you stopped following Muramasa like a moron." Ruujin opened its jaws, unleashing a blazing torrent towards him. Ichigo launched a black getsuga tensho at it in response. Both attacks collided and teared into one another before cancelling out. However, a small amount of flames still remained and travelled on to hit the teen, singing his bankai attire.

"Know your place boy!" the dragon bellowed, its voice deep and resounding, very much like the flames composing it. "Care nothing for that fool Muramasa or his plans!"

Ichigo lowered his guard to once again regard the spirit. "Then why are you keeping us trapped here?"

"Because you are all pathetic!" Ryuujin roared in response. "The seireitei was thrown into absolute disarray just from the action of Muramasa releasing the zanpakto and manipulating them. The thirteen court guard squads could hardly even fight back against power that they were accustomed to and used themselves. The soul reapers have stagnated." The dragon's head turned toward the head captain, who was observing intently with a sharp look in his old eyes. "Especially you Genryuusai."

"Maybe you haven't realised since you and the old man were sealed up," began Ichigo, shouldering Tensa Zangetsu. "But the thirteen court guard squads have got the situation back under control. Many of the soul reapers fought against and defeated their rogue zanpakto. That creep Mayuri's even working on a way to restore the broken ones. The head captain managed to keep Muramasa from getting to you all by himself. How the heck does any of that point to stagnation you overgrown lizard! Are you stupid or what?!" Absolute silence fell after Ichigo's callous insult. Yamamoto's eyes were practically the size of dinner plates, wondering whether the boy was suicidal.

Suzumebachi flew over into Ichigo's vision. "Are you crazy?! Why'd you call him that?! I don't want you to get killed off like that, you're my friend and we still need to hang out after all this!"

Sogyo no Kotowari rushed into Ryuujin Jakka's immediate line of sight. "Please forgive him Ryuujin-sama!" they pleaded together. "Ichi-nii didn't mean it, he just got a little hot-headed!"

"I can't see this ending well," remarked Katen with a worried frown. Kyokotsu was staring in concern.

Hyorinmaru had a troubled expression. "Master?"

Toshiro closed his open mouth and shook his head. "Stay back. None of us wants to be caught in the head captain's zanpakto's fury. We'll try to keep him alive, but we can't be reckless."

Ryuujin Jakka lowered his head till it was level with Ichigo's body, scaring Suzumebachi away. "Do you have a death wish boy?"

Ichigo didn't even flinch. Maintaining his glare, he glowered right into the dragon's large red eyes. "No I don't, but my hometown is in danger from Muramasa. I'll do whatever it takes to defend it. If that means I have to kick your obnoxious ass to escape and get there, then so be it." The teen's brown eyes gained a slight blue shimmer from both his resolve and building spiritual power. Everyone tensed, preparing for the backlash and intense battle that would follow.

A snort came from Ryuujin Jakka. A second later, he threw his head back into the air and gave a loud, roaring laugh. "Hahaha! That fire I can see in your eyes is good, Ichigo Kurosaki! You're fearless and meant every word! Perhaps I was too hasty with my judgement of the current generation." The ring of fire trapping them vanished. "Keep your resolve burning strong young one, it will carry you further in your growth as a warrior. Now go, defend your home from the rogue and show him what the substitute soul reaper of Karakura is capable of!"

Ichgio's mouth formed a confident smirk. "You bet I will. I have a score to settle with that guy, from me and Zangetsu as well as all of soul society."

The flaming dragon gave a small nod. He turned to face his wielder. "You made a good choice in recognising this one as an ally Genryuusai." His form broke down into multiple streams of fire that streaked into Yamamoto's staff.

"Sorry to be so sudden," said Ichigo. "But I have a home to protect and an enemy to take care of." Kicking off, he sped away at high speed.

The senior captains glanced at their mentor. Kyoraku chuckled and tipped his straw hat. "What a surprising turn of events eh Gramps?"

The aged head captain regarded his staff with an unreadable expression. "First he holds back the Sogyoku with but a single zanpakto, he achieved bankai in only three days, and now he actually talked down my zanpakto. That boy continues to achieve what we all thought to be impossible. What could come next I wonder…"

As usual, review to let me know your thoughts. Due to popular demand, the next bonus will feature a part 2 of Sogyoku. Until then, bue!