Chapter Five - Welcome to the 13 Court Guard Squads…?


Cloud awoke in pain. His stomach felt like shrapnel had torn it inside an out and then his guts put back inside. His head pounded like a hundred drums and the rest of his body felt heavy. He noticed that his chest was bandaged and saw what looked like weights were holding his arms down. He tried heaving on them to get free, but ended up gasping and heaving in pain. Cloud moaned out loud, then he saw some nurses come in followed by a strange looking Captain. His face was painted and had golden ear covers and one chin extension that looked like a golden goatee, and his hat was pointed to his left into a twin spiked way.

The Captain looked ecstatic as he neared Cloud, gloves snapping around his fingers as he came nearer. Cloud just tried not to look terrified as he could guess what the Captain was going to do with him. He then tried to usher a spell, the air becoming hot and heavy around them and the nurses screamed as they backed away from a burning aura that surrounded Cloud's hands.

"Let, me, OUT OF HERE! You sick bastards!" Cloud shouted as he burned at his restraints, whining and popping in protest to the immediate heat. In the wake of this, the Captain only grew more excited of the display of power.

"Impressive! It seems that you not only absorb the reiti in the air at an accelerated rate but also transform the elements around you at your own will. Fascinating," the mad man babbled. Cloud then roared a mighty cry, breaking his chains off, an excess of power shock waving around himself, knocking back any nurses still present but only ruffling the man in Captain's garbs around.

"Nemu! Finish the boy off so I can finish studying him!" Yelled the mad doctor Captain, when an attractive girl came into the room softly, garbed in the standard soul reaper garbs.

"As you wish, Mayuri," she said and then she was upon him, a swift punch clocking him in the face. Spit and blood spun in the air as Cloud flew into the wall farthest from the girl. After gasping in pain, she was standing right in front of him.

"Surrender, we don't want to hurt you as much as needed," she said in a blank monotone. 'This guy lobotomize his people too?' Cloud thought to himself as he mustered another plan of attack. She clamped a vice grip around his shirt collar before lifting him off the ground into the air, suffocating him slowly.

"Please don't resist," she asked in a soft soothing voice. Suddenly a voice cried out to him, images swirled around his eyes at what seemed at light speed. Denzel, Zach, Takashi, Vincent…

"t-ti-tifa," he gasped as he suddenly saw her standing there in front of him. He remembered her being cradled in his arms. Her soft smile, her caring touch, her eyes. Suddenly all disappearing when he saw a targeting laser crawling up her head. How it changed when he grabbed hold of her and pulled her away as a unforgettable explosion ripped apart his body.

"TIFAAAAAAA!" Cloud screamed out loud, his eyes alight with killing intent for the murderer responsible taking him away from her. The girl in front of him turned pale at the sudden change, feeling a more powerful vice grip around her face.

"BURN!" suddenly Cloud emitted a roaring torrent of flame ripping across her face ushering a bloodcurdling scream. Within moments her grip faded, spasmed along with her body as it struggled against the attack. With cold eyes, Cloud finished the attack with a fireball, blasting her across the room like a rocket, through the wall of the lab. The Captain looked nervously as he saw his 'daughter' disposed of so easily. He noticed the alterations of his pupils and rapid eye movement as it was happening.

'A flashback? What horrible death did this boy have that could cause such anger?' he thought to himself but quickly stood at the defensive as Cloud looked at him, his body now a swirl of blue energy, heavy spiritual pressure weighing down on even him.

"If you think you best me so easily as my subordinate, think again!" the Captain let loose his own spiritual pressure as he felt his power rising.

"I am Mayuri Kurosutchi, Captain of the 12 Division and head of the Research And Development Agency! If you think a mere soul like you has the chance of…!"

"SHOCK!" Cloud yelled as a rippling current of lightning struck the Captain in the chest, making a searing hole while electrocuting him.

The Captain laughed after coughing up blood, "If you think this is all that takes me down…eh?" Mayuri was surprised as Cloud zipped right in front of him, a hand coursing with fire landing into his body.

"FIRAGA!" Suddenly the Captain was lit aflame, screaming a high pitched scream as the burning fist enveloped him in a burning cyclone. After what seemed like hours was moments and it was over. Captain Mayuri went down without even drawing his sword. Cloud humorlessly chuckled as he counted one less Captain in his way. Just 12 to go.

"It seems like Mayuri's restrainment of the boy has failed," announced Kommomura, Captain of the 7th Division and the only one with the head of a fox.

"It seems to me the more violent approaches are seeming to agitate the boy, and it seems only to increase his strength," Uohana, Captain of the 4th Division in charge of the Medical Corps.

"Maybe we should cut the kid a break? See who he is and what he is in a more civil matter," suggested Shunsui Kyoraku, Captain of the 8th Division, wearing a boisterous Kimono of pink and many other colors over his Haori.

"What are you talking about? He just flattened a Captain and his Vice Captain, and he stood up to Captain Kenpachi! Do you think, 'talking' to him is going to change his disposition?" Argued Toshiro Hitsugya, Captain of the 10th Division, a boy aged white haired prodigy with his Zanpakuto strapped across his back almost as long as he was, scowled at Kyoraku.

"I think Shunsui has an excellent point. This whole thing started because we underestimated his capabilities of fighting back and assured ourselves that forced custody was the best course. We have one, now two Vice Captains in Medical, a discovered ex-Vice Captain who supposed to be dead and a Captain was burned to near crisp. I don't think this is the best course of action," concurred Ukitake, Captain of the 13th Division, the white haired often ill health man who was always a voice of reason.

"I think eliminating him immediately would be the best course of action to ensure the safety of the Soul Society from a loose cannon," Concluded Byakuya Kuchiki, a tall regal man of the Noble house Kuchiki, his long hair braided and his face neutral.

"Only if I'm the one doing it!" Said Kenpachi Zarake, Captain of the 11th Division and the biggest man there with a fresh scar where Cloud's sword blasted through his body, now covered by his usual bandages that cover his lower chest.

"ENOUGH!" Shouted Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto of the first Division and Head Captain of all of the 13 Court Guard Squads, an old man with a beard as long as his cane, his Haori draped over his shoulders but wasn't worn through the sleeves. "This has been debated long enough! I am going to send Captains Shunsui, Ukitake, and Hitsugya to bring in the renegade Cloud to me in this court. DISMISSED!" With a smash of the cane, the Captains' Meeting was adjourned and the decision made.

The three appointed Captains then whisked away with Flash Step while everyone else walked reverently out of the Court Hall, wondering how it was going to turn out.

Cloud moved swiftly from building to building, hiding in the shadows, trying desperately not to be noticed. Heavy breathing and panting exuded from the young blond boy. He hurled not too long ago when he remembered what he did to that girl. Cloud had to knock clobber at least two dozen Soul Reaper guards on the way out, and five more trying to stop him.

"Tifa! Where are you?" Cloud yelled as he kept searching house to house for a place to hide. A place no one would ever find him. Somewhere he can shut out the world around him. He had no purpose anymore. No goal. He just, is. No reason to live at all yet here he was in this bizarre afterlife, no life stream, no peace but war and cruelty.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Cloud whirled to see a short girl, ebbing with maturity and wisdom, the girl had a bang over face while the rest was frayed around her head.

"Keep, keep back! Stay away," Cloud said putting his hands up in protest.

"You don't have the garb of a soul reaper, and your reiti is off…what are you?" she demanded authoritative, her hand drawing her Zanpakuto.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Cloud suddenly burst into a burst of reiti overload, his aura a bright turquoise as he reached out his hands chanting, "THUNDARA!" A great bolt of lightning shot out from his hands, striking where girl was standing, blasting away the ground into electric scrap pile. She suddenly appeared behind him she had her sword drawn pointed at his neck, capable of ending it right there. Cloud wanted it to end, more than anything, but he had to know what happened. For his own sake, and his life depended on it.

"I warned you…" Cloud said, still covered by his aura as he grabbed her Zanpakuto with one hand, "TO STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Cloud then began to chant again but this time, the girl was only momentarily phased as she shouted a chant.

"Bakudo #4, Crawling Rope!" Suddenly a yellow ribbon of constricting energy crawled up her sword and tied his arm to it.

"What the…?"

"Bakudo #1, Restrain!" She shouted again, this time his whole body convulsed as his arms constrain itself behind his back. Cloud began to swear more than ever did in his life, as felt the Zanpakuto slip away from his grasp, the rope now tied around his wrists.

"I will ask again, who are you?" Cloud felt himself at first boil with hate for being defeated so easily. But then, he saw kindness in her eyes, truly trying to understand what he was doing here. He felt awful, pathetic, and weak, for breaking down like this. He felt bad for all the people he hurt or maybe killed. He began to weep bitterly, as a confused Rukia Kuchiki, bent down next to him shushing him. Eventually his aura passed away and he felt really tired.

As he passed out in Rukia's arms, suddenly the three Captains, Ukitake, Shunsui, and Toshiro, Flash Stepped in front of Rukia.

"Captains? Were you sent by Head Captain for this boy?" the Captains felt mixture of being impressed, embarrassed, or ticked off that Rukia was the one to get him.


Takashi was standing before the Head Captain, bound by restraints that inhibited his Spiritual Pressure, and his Zanpakuto sitting on a table mere feet away, more of insult than a precaution. Cloud was brought in bound by level 60 Kido and his swords taken from him also put on a table not too far away from himself. Cloud regardless, could hardly speak let alone move, given the fact that the six rods of light Kido restricted any movement other than speech. Cloud felt pissed and tired, yet he still felt energy slowly returning to him even as he lay there, bound by Kido.

One by the one, the Captains entered, each presented themselves to the prisoners than the other. Mayuri ignored Takashi altogether and was twitting his fingers and smiling sadistically, thinking how he was going to dissect him slowly and painfully. Zaraki looked at Cloud like a predator, knowing he would put up a good fight. Ukitake and Shunsui looked at them both with interest before taking their positions. Captain Hitsugya, the white haired boy prodigy remarked them with worried glances. Uohana smiled at them both as she took her place, a creepy sinister aura surrounding her. Captain Soi-Fon

then entered giving Takashi a worried glance and a cold stare at Cloud. Cloud shivered under her gaze. Then the beast Captain Komomura, stomped in staring at them both for a moment before taking his place across from Soi-Fon. Then a revered looking man with braided black hair came in known as Byakuya Kuchiki, a revered master of his Zanpakuto, Kido, and a Flash Step Master that rivals of the former Flash Goddess. His cold indifference made Cloud pissed and Takashi intimidated. Then a mighty knocking of wood on stone floor came about, causing the air to silence and the mutterings to cease. A superior air was felt around the Head Captain Yamamato, the leader of the Soul Reapers and their Captains. The old man's eyes looked shut but it barely opened to peer at Cloud, with piercing observant eyes.

Cloud felt as if the man was looking into his very being, being pierced by a lance that had an anchor attached and was being hauled back up from the bottom out.

"Let the trial begin!" The Head Captain said, knocking his cane against the floor as he got the trial started.

The Head Captain pointed at Takashi first, "Takeshi Tsuba, you have accused of desertion, assisting a rouge Ryoka, and being a traitor for resisting against the 13 Court Guard Squads!" Takashi felt shamed as the Head Captain pointed at him with cold accusing eyes. Takashi looked over to Soi-Fon who simply gave him a sad pleading look for no stupid actions and looked back at the Head Captain.

The Head Captain then pointed at Cloud via piercing glare, "You! Cloud Strife, unknown entity that's invaded our home, attacked our Captains, and injuring their subordinates!" Cloud looked stunned at the Head Captain for accusing him so for these things when they were trying to take him captive and experiment on him.

Cloud managed to yell out against him, "Now just a minute here! You guys gave me no quarter or safe haven when I have arrived here! I was alone, confused, lost, and I don't even know I came the wrong way…but this man," Cloud said motioning his head to Takashi, "gave me warm bedding, fed me, talked to me, and protected me with his life against you hostile bastards! How dare you point fingers at people you don't even know, and respond with physical force and feudal thinking! You-!"

The Head Captain smashed his cane against the ground with unspoken fury, "Enough! Speak no more, Cloud Strife!" The air then became deadly still, as the Head Captain began to think, all of the Captains' eyes were on him for his decision.

Suddenly the Head Captain gave a hearty laugh, making even Zaraki and Byakuya give second glance. "You've got nerve to call me out, Cloud Strife! I could easily have you killed for speaking back to an authority figure of the Soul Society," Cloud felt his heart stiffen at the thought of just being killed right there and then Head Captain raised his hand, "however, this is an unusual predicament that got out of hand from the start. We may actually require your assistance in the not too distant future due to similar circumstances such as this."

Cloud looked blankly at the Head Captain not understanding what he meant. Suddenly, Mayuri was the first to speak, speaking in his unusually creepy voice, "What the Head Captain means is that there were several recorded instances that happened simultaneously the same time you arrived! From the probes I left in Hueco Mundo, there were several arrivals there, and one was known to happen to land in Karakura Town, in the World of the Living!" Cloud was still confused. 'Others beside me? Who could they have been? Please let it not be her, please,' Cloud begged silently to himself. Then the Head Commander pointed his wrinkled hand at him,

"You, Cloud Strife, will be under protective custody and supervised with training by Shunsui and Kenpachi. While this is taking place, Soi-Fon will take Takeshi Tsuba in her Division as personal subordinate to find these strange sightings."

Takeshi's (formely Takashi) eyes bulged as he heard the Head Captain's words. Soi-Fon felt herself blush unintentionally after just what happened earlier and immediately objected.

"Head Captain! This man was a traitor and fought against the 13 Squads! He should be locked away-!"

"Those are my orders, Captain Soi-Fon! That is the end of it!" Soi-Fon flinched from the scolding and bowed her head apologetically while silencing herself, refusing to look at Takeshi.

After grunting contently, the Head Captain continued, "The rest of you, remain on active alert status! I want you ready to deploy yourselves and your squads when the time demands it! Dismissed!" With a smash of his cane, the meeting was concluded. As a stunned Takeshi was dragged out with his Zanpakuto in tow by Soi-Fon muttering to herself bitterly, the Kido on Cloud was released and his swords returned to him.

Zaraki gleamed madly with Shunsui coming next to Cloud and placed a hand gently on Cloud's shoulder.

"Well, I guess you're going to be with us for a while. This should be interesting," Shunsui remarked, almost lazily.

Kenpachi was still gleaming madly as he spoke, "Kid! You got potential! I like that! Maybe we should fight more often, eh? HAHAHAAHAHA!" He laughed maniacally as Cloud laughed nervously. Cloud knew that he just fell out of the frying pan and into the fire being teamed with a psycho and a lazy bum.


A/N: Okay...for the record, I'm doing Cloud OOC because I never liked him In-Character. This way, I hope to give him more real emotion, and maybe, eventually, his OOC will BE his character, so I apologize if I disappoint you guys in not making him emo enough for you lol!

Yes, Takashi *or should I say, Takeshi* is going to be seen later in the story, but I won't center it on him, considering he was just used as plot filling. You will see Cloud doing a lot more fighting and progression of power, so yay for madness and carnage! XD

One last thing...I am diverging from the trend of Cloud's side of the story for a bit and going with a new character to this whacked out story...I'll give you 3 guesses as to who he is...xD

NEXT TIME: Chapter 6, "I'm not in Midgar anymore..."