Chapter 8: Kageroza Strikes

It was hectic on the surface of the Seireitei right now. Ichigo had returned to the soul society with his powers back and he had brought two powerful arrancar's with him. To say that the man in the yellow robe in the underground lab was more than a little frustrated was an understatement. He was annoyed earlier when he was told the mission to retrieve Nozomi had been a bust, but now he was seething at the news that Ichigo had his powers back. He was even told by Blue Soi-Fon that he somehow was able to take and use Blue Toshiro's zanpakuto. Blue Soi-Fon told him that Ichigo destroyed Blue Toshiro with ease after he did that. The man couldn't believe it when he heard that. Then the alert that a garganta had opened up and Ichigo along with a few soul reapers and two arrancar's appeared to confirm her words to him.

The man stood up from his chair and got everyone's present attention in doing so. Everyone there watched as he went to a console and slammed both his hands onto it.

"HOW DID HE GET HIS POWERS BACK!" He shouted out, surprising everyone there at the moment.

The man was clearly angered at this news and didn't even pay attention when Blue Nemu walked over to him.

"Master Kageroza?" She started to try and get his attention. When that failed, Blue Kenpachi stepped up.

"I say we just go in and start wreaking havoc right now." He said, getting everyone's attention. "I'm itching to fight this Ichigo now."

"No." Blue Byakuya started as he approached the brute. "If you were to attack Ichigo Kurosaki, then all of this would be for not. We would be hunted down before we could do anything."

"Tch." Blue Kenpachi started. He was about to say something else before he was interrupted by Kageroza.

"What we need right now is a distraction." He started as he left the console. "Something within the Seireitei that draws people of importance away from here. A way to infiltrate their ranks without too much trouble."

"I think I may have something to get that job done." A familiar voice said from the shadows in a sinister tone.

Kageroza looked over to the shadows to see Blue Mayuri step out of it with a sinister grin to his clown face. Immediately, Kageroza knew that whatever his creation of the demented captain had planned, that Ichigo Kurosaki would be taken care of sooner rather than later.

Captain's Meeting, 10 Minutes Later

Ichigo stood in front of all the captains and lieutenants inside the captain's meeting room. All eyes were on him and his new look as well as his feeling his new spiritual pressure. It was entirely different than before. Back then his energy was pretty straightforward, just nothing but pure power and brute force like Kenpachi in a sense. Now, it was layered and felt like many things. Confusing, cold, mysterious, almost out of place really. His power felt familiar, yet foreign at the same time. Almost as if it was someone else's that he was now using. Everyone in the room aside from Ichigo's girls were more than a little cautious or nervous around this new power that Ichigo had now. Except Kenpachi who was relishing at the chance to face Ichigo once again and with those new powers of his to boot.

Among the crowd of captains and lieutenants were Yoruichi and Orihime standing next to Rangiku. Standing behind Ichigo were Halibel and Neliel. It was a tense situation beforehand when two espada-level arrancar just dropped in with a returning Ichigo, and word spread fast about it all too. Out of respect for Ichigo and all the things he's done for the soul society, the head captain allowed the two to stay and not be harmed by anyone. Ichigo appreciated that and waited patiently as this meeting was almost underway.

"Ichigo Kurosaki." The head captain started while banging his cane on the ground. "This is an unexpected turn of events. None of us were aware of these-" he paused while examining the teens energy once more, "powers you were able to obtain. How exactly were you able to get your soul reaper powers back?"

Ichigo did some quick glances to everyone in the room. He knew most of them, especially Shinji and the other visoreds, wouldn't like the answer. As much as he would like nothing more than to just lie to them, that wasn't the type of person he was, and everyone in this room knew it. With a deep sigh, Ichigo decided to explain by unsheathing a zanpakuto that everyone would've loved to have been lost forever, Kyoka Suigetsu. There was a bit of an uproar as some thought that this could be an illusion and Aizen somehow escaped the Muken. Others thought that maybe Ichigo was doing a very sick kind of joke. Others wanted to rip that zanpakuto apart, mainly Shinji and Mayuri for study. Even the head captain was at a loss for words as he saw the blade in the orange haired teens hand.

"Ichigo," Byakuya started in his usual stoic voice. "What is the meaning of this? Why do you have that traitors sword?"

That question practically quieted the whole room as everyone waited for an answer from the teen. Ichigo sighed again and started to explain as best as he could.

"Not too long ago, I was walking around and got lost in the mountains close to where I fought Aizen." Ichigo started. "While I was there I heard Kyoka crying out in pain, begging someone to save her. It took me a bit to really help her since she was Aizen's zanpakuto, but then a thought occurred to me that Aizen had used her like he had used everyone else. She didn't choose to do all the things that Aizen made her do, so I helped her."

"As touching as that is Ichigo," Kyoraku started while tipping his hat up. "That really doesn't answer the question. How did you get your powers back?"

Ichigo shrugged and sheathed his blade. "I honestly don't know. I just grabbed her handle and then she was just a part of my soul. I really have no idea how this is even possible, but now I have pretty much all the knowledge and skill that Aizen had, even kido."

That news had almost everyone in the room tense. Ichigo was far too calm and collected when he explained himself to them. Not only has he done the impossible, but he also has the same skill and knowledge as that traitor Aizen. That could mean bad news for everyone if Ichigo was corrupted by that power like Aizen was.

There was an uproar among the captains after Ichigo explained himself to them. Many having the same idea that Ichigo would turn into someone like Aizen or even worse than that man. The girls couldn't really believe that everyone was so quick to judge Ichigo and question him and his trust. Ichigo didn't know how to react to this whole thing except doing the only thing he could do. He held his left hand out in front of him, once again the room was quiet for him, and he summoned his Hyorinmaru. The room was deathly silent as eyes went to both Ichigo and Toshiro. The young captain jaw dropped at seeing his own zanpakuto in Ichigo's hand. How was that even possible? Toshiro hadn't had any contact with Ichigo since the end of the Winter War over a year ago. So how was this possible? Before anyone, especially the head captain, could voice a question, Ichigo summoned both his zanpakuto spirits on his left and right. Everyone was truly shocked and surprised by what they were seeing the teen do.

"Before any of you ask," Ichigo started as he looked to Toshiro. "Before we got here, something attacked my home to get this girl I was housing. That person was Toshiro Hitsugaya, but some kind of clone or importer of some sort. A fake with the exact same power as the original."

"You mean to tell us that someone's been making fake copies of people all to find some girl?" Soi-Fon asked the teen in a slightly irritated tone. "And no one decided to report this earlier." She was looking mainly at Rukia and Rangiku who just looked down at that point.

A few people were not very pleased to see the manifestation of their troubles standing there like none of that mattered. Kyoka could feel the hateful eyes staring straight at her, hoping that she would catch on fire and burn to death for all they cared. She kept her composure and stood strong next to her new master, trying not to lose her cool.

A few more people voiced their concerns, but that all stopped when an explosion was heard coming from outside. Everyone in the room quickly rushed out to see what was going on. Ichigo brought back his spirits and joined them. They all saw what looked like some kind of barrier of dark energy surrounding the department of research and development. The barrier was starting to expand and take buildings and people with it at an alarming rate. This was a strange sight, but it didn't stop any of the captains and lieutenants from springing into action. Even Orihime went to help as best she could. Ichigo was about to join in, until he felt some kind of energy behind him. He turned only to see a man in a yellow coat and holding a cane standing next to the head captains chair. Suddenly a barrier surrounded the room and trapped Ichigo inside of it along with this man and another familiar reiatsu behind the man.

"So, you're Ichigo Kurosaki in the flesh." The man started as he slowly approached the teen. "I must say that this is quite unexpected." He said those word with a hidden anger behind them as he stood a few feet away from the readied teen.

"And just who in the hell are you?" Ichigo asked as he was preparing to reach for Kyoka.

The man grinned a mad-like grin and brought out a sword from his cane. Ichigo was a little surprised, but then again he's seen Kisuke do the same thing. The man muttered something to his blade and it turned into his shikai, a duel bladed spear with some sort of circle in the middle that he held onto. Ichigo drew out Kyoka fast before the man could make a move and went in to strike the man, but that was when he was stopped by another fake. This time though, it was two of them as one blocked his blade and another had tried to strike at his exposed left side. Ichigo had quickly brought out Hyorinmaru to block his attacker. He looked on in shock as the two just so happened to be-

I'm Gonna Stop It Right There And Ask You Guys Who You Would Like To See Face Ichigo? I Probably Will Have A Poll For This One So Here Are Your Choices, Cause I Have A Few In Mind, But I Don't Know Which To Do In Particular.

1: Byakuya And Renji.

2: Kyoraku And Ukitake.

3: Kenpachi And Komamura.

4: Soi-Fon And Hisagi.

5: Rukia And Mayuri.

Those Are The Choices That I Can Make Stuff For In The Next Chapter, So I Really Hope That I Get Some Good Feedback, Unless Someone Gives Me A Good Pair Who Should Fight Him.

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You Guys Are Awesome, And As Always,

Stay Sexy Out There, PEACE!