Evolution Of A Vengeful Protector - Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Aizen had just been sealed away and Ichigo and one of the most, if not the most brilliant mind in all of Soul Society, Urahara Kisuke, were standing side by side, looking at the aftermath of Ichigo's epic battle with Aizen.
"Ichigo."
Ichigo looked at the man next to him who had a serious face for once. He knew the question he was going to be asked before it even came out of Kisuke's mouth.
"Where's the Hogyoku?"
The teen extended his arm and opened it revealing the Hogyoku in all its glory. "Please give it to me, so I can seal it away or destroy it if the first option doesn't work. I have to make sure this weapon doesn't get in the wrong hands again."
Ichigo said nothing but nodded and Kisuke took it from him and put it in his pocket. He then looked at his student and saw that he was still looking at the seal that has imprisoned the man responsible for basically EVERYTHING that has happened in his life and frowned.
'I am suprised that Aizen did not tell you. He just hid the truth from you. All the way until the end. I wonder why?'
"You are still contemplating the loss of your powers, aren't you? Believe it or not, I understand how you feel. You sacrificed everything to save us, but the price to pay was your powers." Kisuke's expression softened. "I'm truly sorry for dragging you into this. How do you feel?"
Ichigo immediately looked at the man who has helped him out of sticky situations so many times but was still shady as fuck and he was about to answer when all of a sudden all the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13 appeared in front of the two men. Ichigo frowned when he saw that they were seriously hurt, particularly Toshiro, but they were alive.
Barely.
Captain Commander Yamamoto looked at him and felt no spiritual pressure coming from the boy.
'Hm, it would seem that Kurosaki has lost his powers. This will make things easier."
The old dragon almost felt sorry for the young man for what he was about to do. Almost. Orders were still orders at the end of the day and if it meant that he had to sacrifice the life of the man who saved countless lives in order to preserve the peace in the Seiretei, then he would gladly do it, over and over again.
"Kisuke Urahara, you are to immediately return to your shop and find a way to seal the Hogyoku so that it cannot be used for evil ever again." The old man said with his gruff and deep voice. Kisuke nodded and flashstepped out of view. Then Yamamoto looked at Ichigo, whose expression was impassive. "We of the Gotei 13 extend our gratitude to you Kuro-"
"Whatever old man."
Ichigo interrupted the old man, with his brown eyes still fixated on Aizen. Everyone except the old man, Byakuya Kuchiki, Kenpachi Zaraki, Shunsui Kyoraku and Juushiro Ukitake was shocked. No one ever interrupted the Dragon when he expressed his gratitude, and walked away with their own two legs, unscathed.The five men simply just shook their heads. They knew that Ichigo wasn't one for formalities. A simple "thank you" was enough for the young man and they knew it.
Ichigo continued, "You don't have to thank me. It's in my nature to protect those I care about. That's all there is to it." Upon hearing this, everyone except Yamamoto, Zaraki, Soi Fon and Mayuri looked down, a movement that Ichigo immediately noticed, whether from guilt or fear, he couldn't really tell.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Genryuusai took a deep breath, opened his eyes and said, "Alas, Kurosaki Ichigo, I bare terrible news. It seems there is one more threat we have to take care of."
Ichigo was really confused right there. He thought every single Arrancar and Espada who invaded Fake Karakura had been defeated, including the three rogue captains. So who was the old man talking about?
"Okay, so who is it?"
Not even a second after he asked that question, he suddenly felt immense pain everywhere on his body.
He looked down and saw that every captain had penetrated his body with their zanpakuto, and he knew that almost every vital organ in his bruised, beat up body has been punctured. He didn't cry out in pain, he would not allow myself to do that, he just looked at Unohana and Isane, who did not participate in the assassination, and they did not meet his gaze, choosing to look down in shame. Ichigo then looked at Rukia, who stabbed him in his heart, and had tears falling down her face. Ichigo then asked one simple question as he slowly fell to the ground:
"Why?"
"Kurosaki Ichigo, by the law and order of Central 46, and for the safety and security of the Seiretei and Soul Society as a whole, we the Thirteen Court Guard Squads have deemed you a potential threat and must be put down. Rukia Kuchiki, 3rd seat of Squad 13, as the one who is the closest to young Kurosaki, it is you who shall deliver the final blow." the old man ordered.
Ichigo struggled to his knees while glaring at everyone he thought he could trust that would stop Yamamoto's order with disdain and rage that he never knew he had:
Rukia
Byakuya
Renji
Toshiro
Rangiku
Zaraki
Yachiru
Ikkaku
Yumichika
Ichigo knew that Mayuri, Sui-Feng, Ukitake, Kyoraku and Unohana were loyal to the old fart, so if orders were given, they would follow them.
But those people were not important right now. What was important right then and there was the small figure in front of him
The woman he had saved time and time again.
The woman he really cared deeply about.
The woman he loved.
Kuchiki Rukia.
Rukia looked at Ichigo and immediately took a step back. The look she saw in his eyes was haunting, he could tell. So many emotions on Ichigo's two eyes: Rage, hate, betrayal. But only one emotion remained: sadness.
"Ichigo, I didn't mean for any of this t-"
"Rukia."
He interrupted her with his voice barely a whisper.
"Don't listen to them. Don't do it. Please."
Tears of blood ran down his face. He knew that because when he looked down for an instance, he saw blood travelling from the corner of his eyes to his chin.
He didn't even feel pain anymore.
Rukia looked down, tears running down her face, clutching Sode No Shirayuki and shaking.
"Please, Rukia! You don't have to do this! You can't do this! After everything we have been through, are you really going to turn your back on me?"
He then looked at Byakuya and Renji, who did not meet his look. Well, Renji looked down while Byakuya closed his eyes.
"Byakuya! Renji!"
Renji seemed hesitant to answer. He finally did, "I'm sorry, Ichigo, but it is the Captain Commander's and Central 46's orders. We have to follow them."
The stoic man however, was not so hesitant. He monotoned, "When we met on Sokyoku Hill, I told you that as the head of the Kuchiki clan, I will always uphold the law of the Soul Society."
Byakuya then opened his eyes, and for the first time since he invaded the Sereitei, he saw the merciless killer who would execute his own sister because 'the damn law said so.'
"And you are no exception, Kurosaki Ichigo."
He then looked at Zaraki and Yachiru. The big man spoke before Ichigo, "Sorry, Ichigo. Orders are orders, Even I, Kenpachi Zaraki, follow orders."
The orange head then looked at Yamamoto's students in desperation.
"Guys, talk to him! Don't let him do this to me! Don't listen to him!"
Ukitake looked down while Kyoraku just lowered his hat to cover his eyes. Kyoraku, in an uncharacteristic somber tone, spoke, "I am truly sorry, kid, I really am. But Yama-jii's and 46's words are final."
Ichigo Kurosaki could not believe what he was hearing. He had defeated Aizen, Ulquiorra and Grimmjow, and this is the thanks he got? This is his repayment?! The same people he fought for just stabbed him in the back!
He then turned his head to look at Rukia, who had an impassive look as she stood tall and raised her zanpakuto in the air.
Then she brought down Sode no Shirayuki.
Crimson red flew as Rukia struck Ichigo, giving him two nasty deep cuts that went from his right shoulder to his hip, and vice versa, creating an X shape on his torso. Ichigo looked at his wounds, and then he looked at Rukia. Her face was unreadable.
Sui Feng however was annoyed that the orange head was still breathing, even though she clearly saw the Kuchiki girl deliver slashes that should have ended his life.
She decided to take matters into her own hands.
Using Shunpo to appear in front of Ichigo, she then unsheathed her zanpakuto, Suzumebashi and proceeded to slice Ichigo's throat.
Swiftly and with great precision.
Ichigo didn't make a sound. He didn't choke or try to stop the bleeding. He just fell on his front and didn't move. 'Finally, the boy is dead!' thought Sui Feng as she watched him for a couple more seconds. She never liked the Ryoka in front of her. Never had, never will. She had begrudging respect for him for all he had done, but she had NEVER liked him. Sui Feng thought Ichigo was an abomination that needed to be put down sooner before he turned on them and destroyed the Soul Society. She then turned to walk away, thinking Ichigo was not surviving that.
Then the impossible happened.
Sui Feng felt a hand grab her ankle. She turned her head to look at what grabbed her. Her eyes grew wide.
'That is impossible! How the hell did he manage to survive that?!Although Captain Kuchiki did warn us that this boy would be excrutiatingly difficult to get rid of.'
Sui Feng then forcefully removed her leg from Ichigo's hand, with anger and disgust on her face. Meanwhile, Captain Commander Yamamoto reached into his pocket, pulled out an average amount of hollow bait and then crushed it.
Immediately, multiple Gargantas appeared and hundreds of hollows came through and made a beeline for the Shinigami down below.
Yamamoto opened his eyes to at Ichigo one more time and said, "The Thirteen Court Guard Squads will forever be grateful for what you have done for us, it is truly saddening to see you like this, my boy. On behalf of the entirety of the Soul Society, we thank you, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Then they all left in Shunpo (Zaraki holding onto Yumichika) as a large group of hollows went for Ichigo, who was lying face down on the ground, utterly defenseless and quickly losing consciousness as hollows swarmed him.
(Silbern)
In another dimension, sitting on a throne in a dark room was a middle aged looking man with long black hair, a thick moustache and he was wearing Quincy clothing covered by a black cloak.
This was the progenator of the Quincy, Yhwach.
He was watching the assassination of Kurosaki Ichigo using devices to watch the Shinigami from the shadows, quite literally, and frowned. He did not know how to feel about this sudden turn of events.
On the one side, he was furious about Ichigo now no longer being able to be a Special War Potential and about not having the chance to talk to 'his son borne in the darkness'. He was also furious that he could not gain his powers.
On the other hand though, he was somewhat relieved that the Gotei 13 were still somewhat merciless and it eliminated one of, if not, the most dangerous obstacle to their plans.
He then thought back to the first generation of the Gotei 13. He respected and feared them because they were merciless, brutal and ruthless thugs and killers who were willing to do anything to win, even go as far as sacrificing their own FAMILY members.
He then looked the current generation of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads with disdain and disgust. He hated this version. Even though it made his plans a lot easier, he still dispised weakness, especially from the following members:
An old man who sits and does nothing for so long, he becomes rusty.
A bloodthirsty maniac who loves fighting and made himself weaker in the process.
A kind woman who hides her dark past very well.
A sadistic and immoral scientist who spends all his time in a lab and uses poisons to win battles.
A child prodigy whose power is too immature.
A captain who disowned his own clan just because of how he looks.
Thinking he had seen enough of Ichigo's assassination and due to the fact that he did not want to see what happens when you get devoured by a Hollow, he turned off the monitor. He then turned his head to the right and looked at another monitor which had the list of potential threats, also known as the Special War Powers. He then changed the entire list because of the recent events that transpired, and for some unknown reason, he had a gut feeling to not underestimate the Shinigami that look weak.
The original list was as followed:
Ichigo Kurosaki
War Power: Latent Abilities
Ichibe Hyosube
War Power: Wisdom
Kenpachi Zaraki
War Power: Instincts/Impulsiveness
Sosuke Aizen
War Power: Reiatsu
Kisuke Urahara
War Power: Resourcefulness
The list now looks as follows:
Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto
War Power: Power
Ichibe Hyosube
War Power: Wisdom
Kenpachi Zaraki
War Power: Instincts/Impulsiveness
Sosuke Aizen
War Power: Reiatsu
Kisuke Urahara
War Power: Resourcefulness
Yoruichi Shihoin
War Power: Speed
Mayuri Kurotsuchi
War Power: Unpredictability
The moment he finished updating the list, a tall man with blonde hair entered the room. This was Sternritter B, Jugram Haschwalth, second-in-command of the Wandenreich and Yhwach's 'other half'.
Haschwalth bowed his head, "Your Majesty."
Yhwach grunted, "Haschwalth, I have updated the list of the potential War Powers. Memorise this new list and tell the other Sternritter."
Haschwalth went over the list. He then tilted his head in confusion. He asked, "Your Majesty, if I may, why is Ichigo Kurosaki not on this new list?"
"He is dead."
The leader of the Sternritter looked at his leader in shock.
"What?"
Yhwach narrowed his eyes, "Yes, killed by the very people he saved. I must admit, I was suprised when it happened. He even pleaded for mercy, but they gave none to him. It is good to see they have some remnants of the first generation in them."
The blonde man quickly got out of his stapor and calmly stated, "But thanks to them, Your Majesty, they just helped us a lot by eliminating Kurosaki, even if they do not know it yet."
The Quincy King smiled.
"My thoughts exactly. Which reminds me, why are you here?"
"I have come to tell you that we have found his location, Your Majesty."
Yhwach grinned.
"Good. Bring him to me."
A/N - I apologize in advance for the way I made Ichigo. I know he most likely would never plead for mercy, but I had to do this in order to build his character.
I also hid a WWE reference in here. It is your job to find it.