"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. Prepare to die," the black clothed figure said. His hand tightened around the black and red hilt of his sword as he rose his own monstrous spiritual pressure. Without another second to waste, Ichigo rushed forward to attack the eight division captain.
Kyoraku dodged to the left after having just enough time to register that the teenager had even moved to gathered his lieutenant in his arms bridal style, much to her objection to it. From just looking at the mask, he knew that Ichigo or whoever that man was, he was going to kill them.
"Nanao, go find Ukitake once I set you down. Tell him everything you know and wait for his judgment," he ordered while dodging the the multiple black Getsuga Tensho Ichigo was firing at them. When the teen seemed to have stopped in rapidly firing them, Kyoraku took the opportunity to set the young girl about thirty feet away from Ichigo. She nodded and disappeared from his sight in a couple of Flash Steps.
"Now, who exactly are you and why are you here?" the wise captain asked without turning his back. From behind, Ichigo appeared with his mask still on.
"I already told you my name. And I am here to kill you," the teen answered.
"Yes, but I would like to see your face, seeing how it's polite in a battle to know who your killer's face. It has been a while since I saw the youthful face of Ukitake's lieutenant too. So please take off that mask, Ichigo Kurosaki," Kyoraku ordered, turning around in a graceful step. Then, as if predicting the future, the eighth division captain jumped aside and landed softly back onto the ground twenty feet away from the teen. He pulled out his katana and prepared himself for a fight.
The Hollow-like reiatsu of Ichigo rose as the two of them prepared for battle. They stood still, preparing themselves for the first move. Kyoraku smirked motioning that he was ready to fight and the two of them vanished from sight. The two of them began battling at captain speed, only appearing when a strike was to be made. It was obvious that both were holding back but for different reasons.
The elder captain didn't want to endanger the child anymore that needed for the fact that he was still a child. Though why the Hollowfied Ichigo was objecting in using all of his strength was a mystery. Ten more minutes of the endless striking of swords, the two of them came to a stop. Neither were too heavily wounded but they weren't in the best shape either.
"You're holding back," the teen observed. His voice sounded like it was watered down, as if the mask was some kind of toy that modifies your voice.
"As are you. But I'm only refraining from using my Shikai because you're still only sixteen as of now," the captain answered. "But I suppose I might go and use it if you remove that mask, just for you"
The orange haired lieutenant didn't answer and flashed step away from view once more. Kyoraku's katana zanpaktou rose to meet with the unusual black blade of Ichigo's. Ukitake had told him before that his lieutenant had achieved Bankai long before any of this had every happen. The only reason why he wasn't a captain yet was because there was no need for another captain. So it had been a secret between the two captains and few friends of Ichigo.
But it was the first time he had ever seen the high school student's Bankai in person. The black blade was obviously condensed in size and spiritual pressure so that the wielder could move at faster speed. Not to mentioned, it was a way to have the element of surprise. No ordinary person would think that after wielding such a heavy sword for so long Ichigo would instantly get used to fighting with just and ordinary katana.
Like he needs more speed and other advantages. He's like a Yachiru hyped on sugar combined with the Old Man Yama's strength. Kyoraku thought to himself and dodged another Getsuga Tensho.
But that mask is obviously boosting his strength too. If I were to just able to break it...
From the side, Ichigo came with his black reiatsu covering the blade of his zanpaktou.
"Hmp," Kyoraku smiled and brought out his wakizashi and pierce the bone white mask in to pieces while holding the katana to block Zangetsu's attack. For a second, time seemed to have slowed down. The eighth squad captain smiled as he saw the young lieutenant's face come into view. The amber eyes were full of grief and sadness holding back tears that shouldn't shed. The pieces of the mask fell down to the ground, but faded away as they fell. Threads of orange hair flew in the wind. The gray eyes of the eight squad captain dropped down to his stomach.
He had lost.
Zangetsu had stabbed him all the way through. He could feel unconsciousness creeping towards his mind. His eyes began to become droopy, as if he had just taken another swing of sake. The last sight he saw was the broken look in the young boy's eyes. If he had the strength, he could see that the orange haired child was holding back tears. The wise captain closed his eyes. He didn't have the strength nor the will to continue. After all, fighting a child was against his principles.
Ichigo stared at the unmoving captain in front of him. He brought up his hand and summoned his mask once more. He flared his spiritual pressure to make sure that any that came here knew that he had done it. It wouldn't be long before a captain came to take him away. According to the modified plans Aizen had told him, it should be Soi Fon, Byakuya, or Tousen that should be coming. If the worst possible scenario happens, then he would just have to injury Kenpachi to show that he was a serious threat to Soul Society.
"Ichigo Kurosaki," Tousen it is then. The teenager turned around to see the blind man standing in the archway. He turned to look at the unconscious captain once more and disappeared to face the ninth division captain.
"Traitor to Soul Society and major threat to the officers here. As the captain of ninth division, I order you to surrender your zanpaktou and allow me to bring you into justice that the Gotei holds," Tousen commanded. Ichigo wanted to laugh at the irony of that order. He was more of a traitor Ichigo would ever be in ten life times. But without resistance, the "traitor" dropped his weapon onto the ground and allowed himself to have his reiatsu restrained with the familiar handcuffs.
In the far distance, he could feel the spiritual pressure of his friends slowly becoming stronger in the Fourth Division barracks. But knowing Aizen, he probably will make sure they won't tell the truth. Near there, he could feel his dad running around like an idiot. Ganju and Yoruichi were with him. But his mother was no where to be found around them.
"Tousen,"
"As the traitor, I order you to call me by my title," Ichigo could tell that the blind man was enjoying this.
"Captain of ninth division, where is my mom?"
The blind man didn't answer immediately.
"Aizen-sama has no plans to hurt any of your family members or friends intentionally anymore. It will be because of their own actions if they were to get hurt in this fight. But do not worry. Judgment will be pass on you tomorrow. And then, these worries of your family and friends will disappear," Tousen answered and continued to guide the captive into the Main Assembly Hall. The doors were open and immediately came into view the remaining ten captains.
Ukitake closed his eyes disappointment. He couldn't bare see a young child be brought to his death sentence.
Mayuri smiled in curiously. The captain could only hope that the Captain Commander had the heart to let his examine the strange Shinigami more closely.
Kenpachi frowned upon seeing the teenager in handcuffs. It definitely meant that they wouldn't be able to get another sparing match in.
Toshiro narrowed his eyes. It was a rare sight to see someone like Ichigo, who was full of potential, become lost in crimes such as these.
Komamura sighed in relief in seeing his old friend in good condition and without a scratch. But saw no justice in seeing that the young traitor Ichigo Kurosaki behind him and restrained.
Byakuya serious look never left his face. He had only heard for his sister that the orange haired teenager was a warrior with valor and never lost his resolve. But by just judging the look on his face, she was wrong.
Retsu remained indifferent. She knew the boy very well (seeing how often he visited her with scratches head to toe) , and was surprised to hear that he had gone traitor. Something was wrong here...
Gin didn't let his smile disappear, but inside, he wished he could just be in Ichigo's place and not worry about betraying everyone he cared about.
Soi Fon grabbed for her zanpaktou in case he were to make any type of attack.
Yamamoto stomped the ground with his staff and the captain turned to hear the judgment about to be passed.
"Ichigo Kurosaki. Do you accept the crimes you have committed? Including almost killing the eight division captain?" the Captain Commander asked. Had times been different, Ichigo would have wondered how news passed on so quickly if the technology here was so primitive.
The oldest Kurosaki sibling looked at all of the captains in the eyes, almost expecting someone to speak for him. No one did.
"Yes," he answered simply.
"Then so it is passed. Tomorrow, Ichigo will be executed by the Sokyoku at noon exactly. All captains will be required to attend. Take the traitor to the Senzaikyu and restrict of any use of spiritual powers and zanpaktou," Captain Yamamoto ordered.
Several guards from the first division came and followed the orders of their captains. Ichigo made no struggle and willingly left the meeting room. Those who knew him well that something was very wrong. But it wouldn't matter. Once judgment was passed, nothing could be done to change it.
"Once the execution is over, I want you to find the family of Kurosaki Ichigo and anyone else allied with him. It will be then will I discuss their punishment with the Central Forty-Six. You all are dismissed."
"Is she here yet?"
"No,"
Isshin growled impatiently. Somewhere along the journey to where Masaki was last seen he found Yoruichi and Ganju just wandering around the street aimlessly. They decided it was best that Yoruichi in her cat form to search for the Kurosaki wife. But it had been half an hour since the decision and Isshin was beginning to regret it.
Once again, he was pacing around like an idiot he knew he looked.
"Stop pacing around. She's going to be here any minute," Ganju ordered. The Shiba clansman was currently laying on the ground watching the doctor walk back and forth.
"Eh? When did you learn that Yoruichi was a girl?" Isshin asked, suddenly forgetting that his wife had disappeared and was no where to be found.
"Uh... That's not important! Look, she's here now!" the Shiba brother replied with a faint blush on his cheeks. Isshin felt the mood lighten as he thought about the first time he saw the truth of the she-cat.
The two men got up to meet with the tan woman fully clothed this time. Ganju let out a huge sigh of relief and continued into the room to hear the news. Isshin laughed while coming in and sat down to listen to what the Flash Step Goddess had to say. But from the look on her face, the normally hyperactive father turned stoic.
"Ichigo gone traitor," she said.
"Wha-What! He co-couldn't! He's not like that!" Ganju stammered.
"The execution time?" Isshin asked.
"Tomorrow at noon. There's no doubt that he's going to make his move by then. Masaki will have to wait, Isshin," Yoruichi explained. The father of three only clenched his fists at the thought for leaving his wife alone like that.
"Huh? Who are you talking about?" Ganju asked.
"Three of the thirteen captains of the Gotei are going to turn traitor tomorrow at noon. One of them are going to cause some real trouble for us. The other two shouldn't be too much of a big deal. All we have to do is focus on the nerdy one. Bring him down, and the other two should come down without a fight," Yoruichi explained and brought out a map of Seireitei.
"We are here. And Ichigo is going to be here by noon. We have about five minutes to reach him and destroy the Sokyoku before it kills him. Isshin is going to be the lead in this. He's going to retrieve Ichigo and make sure Aizen doesn't continue his plans. I'm going to make sure that Soi Fon and the other captains don't reach him. Ganju, I need you to find Rukia and any other friends Ichigo has. They're going to try to make sure that any other officers don't get near here. By then, I expect this to be over and Aizen should be done for," the noble princess explained.
"What about Masaki? She's not the type to just stay put and watch us. If she comes, she might just ruin this plan," Isshin added.
"If she does come, then you're going to have to find her and tell her about our plan. Then the two of you should rescue Ichigo," Yoruichi replied and closed her map.
The three of them asked and answered questions for about an hour before everything was set straight with all of them.
"Rest now. We have a big day tomorrow," she smiled and left in a final attempt to search to the lost housewife.
Isshin, for the first time in a long time, prayed for the safety of his wife.
Stupid Isshin. Stupid worried father. Stupid Goat-face. It's his fault I'm lost like this. Masaki thought as she ran through the streets of Seireitei. Night was coming and there was no doubt that there would guards at that hour too. She either had to find her husband or anyone else that she knew or find Ichigo and hoped that he knew his way around better than her husband.
"Hey, have you heard? That Kurosaki kid is going to be executed tomorrow at noon." Masaki stopped at a nearby corner stunned that they had already captured her son. She peeked out her head and listen carefully to the conversation.
"Really? Geez, and I thought they'll never catch him. Big waste though. He was some kid. Strong and fast. Especially after he disappeared that one night. They don't call him the 'Resurrected Shinigami' for nothing," a guard laughed.
That must have been after his Hollowfication. Masaki observed.
"Hey, don't talk about that kid like that. He could probably whip both of ya' in ten seconds flat if he wasn't such a wimp right now," another officer said. The other two guards straightened up as the bald man walked passed them.
"Ikkaku-san, do you think that they're really going to kill him?" one guard asked.
"Yeah. I didn't think that Kurosaki would go down without a fight," the other added.
"Che. That kid's nothing anymore. He has no will to fight. I doubt that he even has the resolve to even spar with me and Captain Zaraki. I just know something happened with, and I want to know what," Ikkaku spat out and walked on towards Masaki's direction. The caramel haired woman disappeared into the corner again.
That was close. She thought and got back onto her feet to search for one of her friends or family members.
"Hey, lady. You're the one they keep calling Ichigo's mother, right?" The bald man and another man appeared from behind her.
"Ah!" Out of instinct, Masaki brought out her charm and prepared to attack. Though she did not expect the reaction she got.
"Such a beautiful charm! And a beautiful woman to match. Though you're not as beautiful as I. I am, after all, the most beautiful Shinigami in Soul Society," the egotistical officer boasted and tried to grab the charm to examine it more.
"Don't worry about him. And we're not after you. You're not wanted until tomorrow after the execution. What I want to know is what is up with your kid," Ikkaku said.
"What are you talking about? I haven't seen him since I came here," Masaki replied, wondering if her son's strange behavior had anything to do with Aizen or his Hollowfication.
"Hey Ikkaku, who are you talking to over there? Don't tell me that you found a pretty girl that actually likes you," a guard joked.
The bald officer hid Masaki behind his back from the guard.
"Che. Like I ever settle for a lady. I only love fighting and that's all I need. Later, Rookies," he smirked and walked away with Masaki following them while hiding in the shadows.
"We're going to the eleventh division barracks. You're going to tell me everything you know. And then, we're going to save that punk from execution,"
The mother began to breath easy now. She now knew that they didn't mean any harm and would help her get to her son. If only she could find her husband now.
"Okaa-san,"
Masaki turned around, half-expecting Yuzu to peer out from the corner wanting a cup of water. But when she did, no one was there. She sighed, feeling a little home sick herself. She could only hope that whoever Isshin thought of to babysit her daughters was a caring person. But, after all, he was the one who allowed her to be kidnapped and caused this whole entire mess.
"Hey woman! You better hurry up or else we're leaving you!" the eleventh division officer threatened. She ran back to the bald man. She was probably just hearing things. But she couldn't help but think that someone needed her.