Finally on the tail end of my semester. I haven't been able to write nearly as much as I would have liked this year. Between work, rugby, and school I have been absolutely slammed. But now that things are winding down, I hope to get back to updating more often! I'm a little rusty, so please bear with me. I'll be back in the swing of things before you know it! So, enjoy the seventh entry in the Great Titan War!
I do not own bleach – this is a nonprofit fan fiction.
A cloud seems to hang over Ichigo as he shuffles away from the cells. His mind spins as he tries to digest the madness that has taken place in the last few hours. He is so distraught that he barely notices someone impeding his path. He looks up to find a somber figure slowly approaching on silent cat feet. "Byakuya, what are you?..."
"I understand you talked to our captive," Byakuya states, interrupting Ichigo before he can finish his question.
"Uh, yea I just…"
Again, Byakuya interjects, "What information have you gathered?"
Ichigo is taken aback by the bombardment of questions, and takes a few seconds to compose himself before answering. "He seems to be pretty familiar with the…thing our scout team went up against."
The Shinigami approaches Ichigo as he presses further. "What do you mean by thing? What exactly did they go up against?"
"According to Josiah's report… a man, well, more beast than man, from a long-gone age…, it's hard to explain…" Ichigo struggles to find an answer that would satisfy the brooding Captain.
"A beast you say? Well then, we shall serve as the huntsmen."
The Captain Commander looks to find Byakuya staring ominously into the distance, a whirlwind of emotion pouring outward from his reiatsu. Though his face remains stoic, the energy pouring from him reveals his true emotion. Ichigo stays silent as he lets Byakuya speak.
He clenches the hilt of his zanpakuto as he decrees, "If he is truly a beast, then we will have to deal with him as such. Before we ultimately defeat him, we will force him to heel at the feet of royalty. The fact that he would dare soil the reputation of my family through his actions is beyond inexcusable. He has committed a personal offense against the Kuchiki clan, and has racked himself a monuments debt. A debt that can only be repaid in the currency of life." His grip tightens until his knuckles turn white, yet his voice does not rise, and his expression does not change. "A Kuchiki blade will be the tool used to collect this debt, no one else's. Is that clear, Ichigo?"
Ichigo feels an odd culmination of sadness and discomfort brew in his stomach. He can feel the rage and conviction pouring from Byakuya's words. Ichigo understands the captains suffering. He is not only watching a family member suffer, but a pupil. Someone he has trained and tutored for decades. To decline his request would be almost criminal, So Ichigo does as he must, and agrees. He rubs the back of his neck as he states "I would rather not put another two members of the same family at risk, but I understand your feelings. I grant you and Rukia point in this upcoming operation. However, if one of you go down, I demand the other grabs them and retreats. I get where you're coming from, but I refuse to allow more needless suffering for your family."
Byakuya furrows his brow at the remark. "You truly believe that man has any chance of killing us. Do not be so naive Ichigo."
"Don't be too overconfident, Byakuya," Ichigo retorts as he places himself inches from his comrade. "Keep your emotions in check. Usually, I wouldn't have to worry about you staying level headed, but you put yourself in bad situations for family. I don't care what happens, you stick to the plan. Got it?" Ichigo's amber eyes flash with intensity as he challenges Byakuya's icy gaze.
"Understood." Byakuya bows slightly as he backs away from the Captain Commander in a show of acceptance. As he turns to depart, he looks up at the auburn sky. "We must prepare Ichigo, I believe this will inevitably lead to war."
Ichigo's jaw tightens at his words, but he knows he is correct. "If it means war so be it. It's like you said, they're gonna pay in blood for what they did to our friends.
A smirk tugs at the edge of Kuchiki's lips as he flash steps away. Ichigo trudges along as he was before, molding over possible strategies. Ultimately, he knows he needs one thing against a creature such as Remus, firepower. Slowly but surely, he travels to his home, all the while adding and moving possible members of the strike force in his mind.
'We already have three captains, including myself, demanding a spot for this mission so another is out of the question. The fact Renji, Ikkaku and Hisagi were felled doesn't make this much easier. In terms of combat strength, there aren't many left outside the Captains who can match them….' Just as Ichigo slides the door open to his home, realization strikes him. 'Maybe, we don't just need firepower, but deception. Kido! If we get the jump on the beast, restraining him with Kido, if only for a moment, would give us the edge we need!' Immediately, a name bursts into his thoughts, and a plan forms within minutes. He spins on his heels, and nearly tears his door asunder as he storms from his home, flash stepping across Seirietei at a break neck pace. He launches himself from rooftop to rooftop, guiding himself to a small home just outside squad 5's barracks. His chest heaves as he lands before the door of the home. 'Fuck… I'm out of shape.' He scolds himself for slacking on his training, before knocking on the doorframe. He waits patiently for a few moments, breathing heavily through his nose in an attempt to catch his breath. Just as he composes himself the door slides open to reveal the short brunette he had hoped to see.
"I…Ichigo? What on earth are you doing here this time of night?" Momo questions, genuine confusion contorting her features.
"I apologize, I hope I didn't wake you," Ichigo states more as a courtesy than an actual apology. "May I come in?" he requests.
"Of course, Captain Commander! Please excuse the mess, I have been quite busy in the past few days and haven't gotten around to cleaning the place."
"Your place looks fine Momo, that's the least of my worries right now."
Momo immediately senses the tension in Ichigo's voice, and puts a hand on the Head Captains shoulder. "I heard about what happened. Are they…going to be okay?"
Ichigo sighs as he uses his index finger and thumb to rub the lids of his eyes. "As of now they're stable…" A deep scowl darkens the Head Captains features as he switches subjects in an instant. "But their condition is not the reason I am here. Momo, I need you for the strike force for this upcoming mission."
Fear flashes across Momo's features as thoughts of what had happen to Renji, Ikkaku and Hisagi shake her to her core. "Me?! But…why? I am not nearly as talented in combat as those you sent on the scout team, and look what happened to them! I…"
Ichigo takes Momo by the hand and squeezes it firmly to grab her attention. She immediately meets the fiery gaze of her Captain Commander. An incredible pressure crashes down as the intensity of Ichigo's expression seizes her. She loses her ability to find words as Ichigo begins his explanation.
"I don't need you to fight, I just need you to restrain him. I need your abilities in Kido. Please, if you come with us I promise I will personally protect you. Your help could mean the difference between victory and defeat."
Momo lowers her head for a moment, her bangs falling forward covering her features. With a shaky breath, she agrees. Her hands tremble in Ichigo's grasp as she reluctantly says, "if I can help, then I will do what I can."
Ichigo's gaze softens as he releases Momo's hands. She smiles weakly up at him, but her worry is all too obvious. "What, you don't trust me to keep you safe?" Ichigo barbs as he starts to take his leave.
Momo smiles at this, stating, "I don't need your help, I can protect myself thank you." Her words carry no bite, but the fact she said them at all gives Ichigo confidence that she will be ready. She is a warrior after all, risking her life is nothing new.
"Alright then, I'll be in touch. Get some sleep Momo, its late."
Momo nods and slowly closes the door as Ichigo takes his leave. As he walks away from the home, he finds himself staring up at the night sky, taking in odd color of the moon. The stars surrounding it shimmer with their usual brilliance, but the moon seems to carry a different tone. Tonight, it seems to carry a hint of red in its tone. Ichigo finds it fitting; a blood red moon hanging in the ebony sky. Even the heavens know that a great war is upon the horizon.