Chapter 18

Second Battle for Karakura

By Demon-of-Cats

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, the Tite does. I own my OC's and OOC's

Warnings: This is AU and has some spoilers.

No Flames please, but constructive criticism is welcome.

Ichigo lifted his head and looked up. He saw the rip in the sky before he sensed them. Arrancar.

The Captains he sensed before he saw. They appeared along with many other seated officers of the court guard squads.

The Arrancar that appeared were new and were the head team for Aizen and Gin.

"Well," Isshin said, "Seems that the Captains are here now. Shall we go meet with them Ichigo?"

Ichigo turned and looked at his father and saw him in a soul reaper uniform. He didn't know what to think.

"Well?"

"You're a soul reaper?"

"Yes," Isshin said, "So is your grandfather. We'll probably see him later. Let's go join the fun."

Ichigo nodded and then placed the pill that held Kon in his mouth. He blasted out of his body and left Kon behind telling him to keep an eye on Karin and Yuzu.

He was met by Tôsen.

"Ichigo," Tôsen said and looked at him. He frowned for a second and then asked, "Who is that with you?"

"My dad," Ichigo said.

"Then you're a Shinketsu?" Tôsen said, surprised.

"A wha?"

Isshin spoke then, "A Shinketsu is a true blood, someone of soul reaper lineage. Which, in that case, Ichigo is definitely a Shinketsu."

Tôsen blinked in surprise and then turned back toward where the Espada were appearing, "That explains so much."

Isshin chuckled and the readied himself. He saw the rip appear and Aizen himself stepped forward. The portal closed behind him and Tôsen frowned.

"Aizen," Yamamoto yelled, "So we meet again."

Aizen laughed and said, "So we do."

Tôsen frowned, it was indeed Aizen, so why wasn't Yamamoto attacking.

"HEY!" called a voice suddenly.

A man wearing a pharaoh like hollow mask rushed Aizen who blocked to the best of his abilities.

"Remember me?" Shinji said, "You tore my family apart. I'm here for a little payback."

Moria gasped as she saw her brother for the first time in 100 years.

Then the other Visoreds appeared. Each had their zanpaku-tô drawn and ready. All of them were glaring at Aizen.

Just as Urahara and Yoruichi arrived there was a loud ping. It reverberated in the air for a moment and then the surroundings began to change. It changed from a sunny afternoon outside to a cool and well lit chamber with windows that gave sight of stars.

Just as the transition stopped the Espada were instantly confined and removed by some unknown power. This left Aizen and Gin alone.

Behind Aizen there were two thrones. In the larger of the thrones there was a man and in the other a woman. The man was Reiô and he wore the mask that he had when he greeted the Captains along with his formal garb. The woman also wore a mask similar to Reiô's, though glimpses of black hair could be seen under the fabric.

"Well Aizen," Reiô said, "You are here in the king's dimension. Didn't you want to kill me?"

"How did we get here?" Gin asked as he looked around.

"I gave a seal to Genryûsai and told him to drop it to the ground once Aizen was on the battle field," Reiô said and stood. He drew a blade from its sheath and then said, "Attack me Aizen, injure me if you can."

"I know that I can," Aizen said, "Shatter . . . Kyôkasuigetsu."

As he finished releasing his zanpaku-tô Aizen began to walk toward Reiô, knowing that none could see his movements, except for Tôsen but that only took a little high level kidô to fix that problem.

What Aizen didn't expect was for Gin to suddenly stand in front of him.

"Sorry," Gin said, "I can't let you kill him, Aizen."

Aizen's eyes narrowed at Gin and he asked, "Why?"

"You used your hypnosis on me," Gin said, "And I nearly killed Rangiku because of it. I told you that I wanted her and you let me attack her. You let me see her as another soul reaper that I hated. I won't forgive that."

Aizen shook his head and then when Gin tried to assault him he slashed the blade across Gin's chest, forcing the other away. He then continued on toward Reiô.

As he was about to strike, a bell attached to the hilt of the king's blade rang. Reiô's blade lashed out and struck Aizen twice in the chest.

"Destroying the soul chain and soul sleep of a Captain or former Captain is illegal for anyone but myself. Not even the 46 were allowed to do such a thing. They could seal a Captain's abilities but could not destroy them. Sealing can be reversed, what I just did to you can't," Reiô said and kicked Aizen away from him. He then returned to his throne and sat down, touching the hand of his wife, "Can you heal Gin my love? He attempted to protect me."

The queen stood and walked over to Gin in plain sight of the other soul reapers. She touched the gaping wound on his chest and rubbed her hand across it several times. The wound vanished after several seconds and Gin rose to his feet slowly. Then the queen returned to her throne.

The soul reapers and the Visoreds all stared at Reiô for a long moment before dropping to their knees before him.

However, when Ichigo began to do the same Isshin grabbed the back of his uniform and said, loud enough for the entire room to hear, "Ichigo, you will not bow to your grandfather as I will not bow to my father."

All faces turned and stared at Ichigo and Isshin with wide eyes, then glanced back at Reiô who was removing his mask. His spiritual pressure spiked slightly as the mask separated from his face and then the orange hair beneath the fabric could be seen. Once the mask was completely removed, everyone stared, dumbfounded.

Ichigo blinked for a moment and then looked from Byakuya, who was wearing a look of complete disbelief, to his father to his grandfather. A grin spread across his face as he asked, "Does that mean that I can send all that nobility stuff that Byakuya said to me right back at him?"

The tension audibly broke as several people burst out laughing all at once.

Kai "Reiô" Kurosaki laughed and said, "If you want to, I suppose you could considering that your blood is so noble that it makes the great noble families seem like peasants."

Ichigo nodded, "I'll remember that."

Kai chuckled and then cocked his head at his grandson, noticing a black tint appearing in the right eye and Ichigo covering it with his hand. His eyes narrowed as Ichigo rubbed his head as if having a headache.

"What's wrong Ichigo?" Isshin asked.

"Nothing," Ichigo mumbled.

"I'm sure," Kai said and appeared next to his grandson, "Aura my love, could you escort everyone, including Isshin, to the dining hall. I need to speak with Ichigo alone for a while."

Aura stood from her throne and appeared next to her husband. Her mask was gone and you could see the fine structure of her face. Her deep brown eyes, which were the same shape and color as Ichigo's, met with her husband's and she nodded.

She took Isshin's arm and said, "Now if you will all follow me please. Dinner will be served within the next few hours. I'm sure that you would like the chance to relax a bit before dinner. Come Isshin, Kai wants to talk to Ichigo alone. That means without you as well."

Isshin scratched his head and then said, "I'll go mother, just a second. Let me grab Aizen and drag his sorry ass out of here too."

"Leave him," Kai growled.

Isshin jumped slightly and then nodded to his father and then allowed his mother to drag him out of the room followed by the other soul reapers. Gin lingered for a moment though.

"Why don't you leave, Gin?" Kai asked.

Gin lowered his head slightly, "They will kill me if I go in there with them. I don't wish to die."

"You fear death?" Kai asked.

"I still have a few things unfinished," Gin said. He looked down the long hall and noticed the retreating figure of Matsumoto instantly.

He didn't notice when Kai flash stepped behind him to see who he was looking at. Kai spotted Matsumoto and then chuckled, "You like her don't you?"

Gin blushed.

"Guard," Kai called. A man came forward quickly, "Take Gin here to room 214. Then bring Miss Matsumoto there as well and leave them to sort through their dilemma, please."

"Yes sir," the guard said and motioned for Gin to follow.

"Thank you," Kai said and then reentered the throne room. He faced Ichigo and then said, "Well it is time for some training. That second hollow form you have must be controlled. If it is not you could hurt someone you love."

"You know about my hollow form?" Ichigo asked.

Kai chuckled slightly and then the doors slammed shut behind him. He lifted one hand to his forehead and acted as if he were pulling something down. A hollow mask similar to Ichigo's appeared but Kai's eyes didn't go black, "I have a hollow form."

He was in front of Ichigo so suddenly that it caught Ichigo off guard. His hand went in front of Ichigo's face and grabbed at the air. Ichigo's hollow mask began to appear and he lost all control.

End Chapter 18