Chapter 9: The Winter War Begins

A few days after the rest everyone took with the rejuvenating waters created by the Hogyoku, it was finally time. Today was the start of the Winter War and both sides were preparing for the battle. Ichigo was restless as she continued to pace back and forth in the espada meeting room. She had been doing this for quite some time now and showed no indication of stopping. The thought of failure kept flying in and out of her mind ever since she woke up. True, she was reassured by Sosuke multiple times to calm down and relax, but this was her first time getting prepared for a war with the people she thought of as friends not too long ago. It was jarring to her, no matter how hard Sosuke had told her everything would be alright.

As Ichigo paced in the empty room, her thoughts were broken when she heard an all too familiar voice from the shadows.

"Well Ichigo." Gin started as he walked over to her. She was still pacing despite him standing there, and he could easily tell that she was very worried. Teasing her wasn't going to work in a time like this. "You look like you're worried. Why don't you stop pacing for five seconds and tell old Gin what's got you so worried."

He sat down in one of the chairs and watched as she stopped and looked at him for several seconds before sighing. She went over to a seat across from him and leaned back a bit before explaining.

"You know just as well as everyone who knows me well know that I just can't allow people I care about die, Gin." She started with a sigh.

"You're a protector." Gin started in a serious tone. This caught Ichigo's attention since Gin never sounds serious. "You've always been a protector since you lost Masaki. You think that since you have the strength and will to act that you have to protect and defend everyone. It's just who you are Ichigo, but I can assure you, that no one here needs you to protect them. They're ready for whatever happens today, and need you to be strong for them." Gin stood up and walked off, but before he did, he stopped at the chair and placed his hand on Ichigo's shoulder. She looked up at him and saw him with his eyes open and a genuine smile on his face, an absolute first for her. "You're the Alpha Espada Ichigo. Everyone looks up to you for strength and courage, not a shield for themselves. They need you to show no weakness. Especially Aizen."

Ichigo felt his words hit her hard and had to ask him. "Is that how everyone feels towards me Gin? Even you?"

Gin gave her his usual smile and patted her shoulder before removing it and walking towards the door. As he reached it, he stopped and turned to her. "I did just say everyone Ichigo, so yep, that includes me too."

With that, Gin left her to her thoughts. Everyone here needed her to be strong. If they were to see her like this, then the morale would drop and her worst fears of losing her friends and comrades would become a reality. When she thought of that, Ichigo knew that she had to push those thoughts aside. She was the Alpha, and her friends need her to be strong for them. With a breath of determination and power behind it, Ichigo followed Gin to start the Winter War.

Throne Room, Minutes Before The Winter War

Aizen looked around the large room and saw everyone preparing themselves. He knew that this was going to be the toughest battle of most of their lives, and knew that if this were to all go south, that most if not all of them would not return. That thought didn't bore well with him, as he had spent the better part of a century setting all of this up. Gaining the trust of the hollow's, helping each grow in strength, increasing the number of arrancar's with the help of the Hogyoku, and getting Ichigo to join him. Out of all of his steps and planning, that last one was the only one that made him completely nervous both before, during and especially after he went to her. She was his everything now, his reason for doing this. Ever since Masaki died, he made his vow not only to protect her with his life if need be, but to make sure she never cries like the way she did all those years ago.

Everyone who wasn't preparing themselves could see the distress in Aizen's eyes. He was considerably worried about all of this, but most likely more for Ichigo than anything else. Everybody knew how he felt towards her. It's beyond obvious that the two are meant for each other, and only a fool would try anything to those two. It was very obvious though that he was concerned for her and that was not a good sign for everyone else.

That doubt and anxiety all washed away when Ichigo and Gin walked into the throne room together. Everyone looked over to the two and could see the look of power and strength in her eyes as she walked over to where Aizen was. The power and strength in those eyes ignited the sparks that lit up the army of hollows along with the humans and rouge soul reapers. Even Tousen could feel how her strength had started to change everyone there, and that caused him to smirk at the Alpha. Aizen saw how she looked and smiled. That's the look he's been wanting to see since the day started.

Ichigo stood to the side of Aizen's throne and smiled to him before turning to the others. She could see them all, her allies and friends all ready to do battle with the soul society. Their doubts and fears washed away just by seeing her. Gin really was right all along, everyone did look to her for strength and courage, and now she sees that.

"Now that we have Ichigo here." Aizen started as he stood up, getting everyone's undivided attention. "We move forward to face our enemy within the soul society. From what we were able to gather from our anonymous source, the soul reapers have gathered all of their forces to defend their old ways of life. They think that there can never be any peace between their way of life and hollow's way of life. They are blinded by this old way and would rather see all of us eradicated then to change. That is where we all come in. We shall provide change to their world, and one day they will see that we can coexist." Aizen finished his speech and was met by a loud cheer from the majority of arrancar in the room. Even Stark was motivated to fight, and that was a hard task to do.

When the uproar of cheers died down, Aizen turned to Ichigo and nodded. She int turn nodded back and walked forward to speak.

"You all have your assigned areas." She started in a bold tone. "Espada's ten through seven will stay here along with the Exequias and Privaron Espada. Several other arrancar have also been assigned to defend Hueco Mundo from any threat. You're our only defense, so don't let our home fall. Understood?" There was a mass of 'Yes' and 'Understood lady Kurosaki' around the room from said arrancar's. "Everyone else is with us to face and defeat the soul reapers. The remaining espada have already been assigned a captain and possible Vizard to fight, should they intervene. Wonderweiss will bring extra reinforcements when the time comes. The rest of you will deal with the lieutenants and keep anyone else at bay until Wonderweiss gets there. My father and Ao Shun will join us, but only when Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihoin intervene." The room got a little chilly from her next words. "Under no circumstances will any of you attack those two. Understood?" She was met by nods of approval and other motions of understanding. "Unless your opponent doesn't yield in the very end, none of you are allowed to kill any of the soul reapers. Now let's get going."

Everyone was ready and motivated now. They all were finished preparing and were now anxious to leave for battle. The group assigned to defend Hueco Mundo watched as the mass group started to go through their respective garganta's and make their way to the soul society. Before Ichigo and Aizen left, Ichigo was stopped by her friends. She turned to them and saw Orihime in her new arrancar based outfit, Chad in one of his new clothes, and Uryu in his Quincy uniform.

"Ichigo." Orihime started. "Thank you."

"For what exactly guys?" Ichigo asked as her friends bowed to her slightly.

"For showing us that peace is truly possible between everyone." Orihime said with a smile.

"For helping us become stronger and keep our promises." Chad said as he looked over and saw Mila Rose standing with her sisters and Halibel as they prepared to leave.

"And for telling us the truth." Uryu finished. He held out his hand to her and Ichigo shook it. "I'm truly honored to call you a friend, Ichigo."

"I'm honored to have friends like you guys with me." Ichigo started with a smile. "Now lets go. We have a war to win."

With that, Orihime went over to where Ulquiorra was waiting for her and joined him. Chad went over to Mila Rose and joined her and her company to leave. Uryu joined Stark and Lilinette and left with them after he waved to Cirucci. Ichigo stood in the garganta with Sosuke and Gin. Tousen had stayed with Wonderweiss for the time being.

"Ichigo." Sosuke started, getting her attention.

Before she could even say two words, Sosuke had wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her close to kiss her. The passion behind his kiss was sending chills up Ichigo's spine as she leaned into him. They broke for air when they reached the end of the garganta and looked deep into the other's eyes.

"No matter what happens Ichigo." Sosuke whispered to her. "I love you."

"I'll see when this over Sosuke." She said to him. "One way, or the other. I'll always love you."

They reached the end of the garganta and were all standing in the air above a fake Karakura Town. They were all met by the full bulk of the soul reapers, all of the captains and lieutenants, and the head captain himself.

"Sosuke Aizen!" The head captain bellowed loudly. "I see that you have arrived as expected. I will only say this once: surrender and be executed, or die where you stand. Your choice boy."

Aizen smirked at him, much to the old man's annoyance. "That's not going to happen, but what will happen is that everything will change. And all of you will either change with it, or perish."

I'm Excited For These Next Few Chapters. I'm Gonna Have These Next Couple Of Chapters Be Short For The Sake Of Time And They'll All Be Fights Between Everyone There. Some OC's Will Be In The Next Couple Of Chapters.

Hope You Guys Have Been Patient, I'm Back In School Now, So My Schedule Is A Bit Weird Now. Bare With Me Okay. LOL.

I'm Posting A New Story After This One Goes Up, That One's Also based Off Of Another Bleach Fic I Read, So I Hope Ya'll Enjoy It.

Follow/Fav, Review And PM. You Guys Are Awesome, And As Always,

Stay Sexy Out There, PEACE!