A/n: -Waves arms frantically- OH GOD I'M SO SORRY! -Whines- Good lord, I'm SO very sorry to all my fans. ;_; I have been on mega writers block and my muse went hiatus. D: So, to make up for all the waiting, I'm posting a long as hell chapter. I made it nice and long and I'll make the next one nice and long too. 10,373 words (Good god I had no idea I could write so damn much. ._.) In this chapter, we'll see Kineeeen and she'll irritate everyone with her, 'I'm telling you important shit you need to know in a cryptic way just to irritate you'. xD I love Kinen. She's just so damn funny. Also, pay attention to EVERYTHING she says down below, except with the central 46... -_- Stuck up bastards. Anyways, pay special attention to her speech to all the Captains. When she prophesizes to people, she'll add in her own puns only she can understand because she's seen it. Most understand after the event has already happened the pun in it. See if you can make sense of her prophecy and send me a message telling me what you understood.
Warnings: Violence, Language, Ikkaku and Yumichika (xD They finally come iiiin), Kinen messing with people's minds.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach. Yadda, yadda, yadda. I do own Kinen though.
Ichigo and Ganju yelled at each other in vigor, arguing still about nothing. Kukaku had launched them into the sky, and while Ganju was supposed to control the orb, he messed up his incantation, which he claimed to be Ichigo's fault. The group soon enough had to just pour in all their spirit energy to keep the orb around them solid. They soon entered through the barrier around the seireitei, but the debris caught up around them and the group was split into four sections. Ichigo and Ganju in one, Orihime and Uryu in another, Chad off alone as he had pushed Uryu back to Orihime, and Yoruichi ended up alone.
Down below, the Soul Reapers were all on high alert and were scattered about, ready to take on what was coming. All the captains watched as whatever had entered has broken through the barrier. Orders flew about as the beam split into four. Many of the captains rushed off to begin searching for any signs as to what had happened.
Rukia watched from the Senzaikyu Shi-Shinro, or the repentance palace four deep cell, where she was staying until her execution took place. She eyes were narrowed in sadness as she stared out at the sky. Her eyes widened lightly as the sky began to glow. She stared out curiously, wondering what was going on out there. Rukia's eyes widened once more as she heard her voice in her head again. 'I'll be there soon, Rukia. Hold on.'
---
Shouts filled the large meeting room of the Central 46. They were yelling and arguing once more with each other about the problem of the ryoka. They couldn't understand how it was possible that mere ryoka had managed to infiltrate the Soul Society. It was merely impossible. They then began to argue over what should be done with these ryoka after their capture. They of course shouldn't be allowed to live after this.
"You all never seem to listen."
Most of the eyes of those among the council adverted to the far wall where their oldest advisor, the seer of all things, stood silently. Why she still bothered to help the old fools, no one knew. Kinen herself knew they would never take heed to her warnings, yet she still tried to warn them all the same. Thus was the way it always was. She tried to relay what was going to happen but not a soul ever believed her. She had come to expect it over the thousands of years of being alive. People never listened, nor did they ever learn. It was a way of life.
"I told you this would happen." Each word was punctuated as slow steps were taken towards the many old men and women around the room.
The seer's hair was pulled into its normal braid, resting over her left shoulder. She was donned in her normal white kimono with beautiful silver designs and black accents around it. Her patient smile was on her lips as usual as she stared at the council. Her withered face seemed to show her tiredness as she stepped over to where the council sat.
"You ignored me when I told you about this", she said calmly, "You ignored me when I told you about losing eight captains and lieutenants to a maniacal bastard-"
"Hold your tongue, old woman!"
"You dare defy us!"
"What right do you have?!"
"SILENCE!"
One of the council members stood up after he shouted for silence. He was rather old now, you could tell he was quite a few centuries old. He stared coldly down at the others with a frown. "Shut up, all of you", he said in annoyance, "She's had more experience with this type of thing than any of you, now be quiet and listen to her... She is right. We did not heed the warning she gave us. And now, we have ryoka on the loose here in the seireitei." He turned to Kinen with a softened expression. "What shall we do, Kinen-sama?"
Kinen smiled at the old man. He was the only one to ever defend her when she came here, so she was very grateful to him. "Right now, keep the seireitei on lockdown", she said wisely, "Do not let anyone in or out. Keep constant patrols of the streets. And most importantly..." She smiled coldly. "Don't die."
Most of those in the central 46 glared at the old woman. Unbeknownst to them, she had just given them their death warrant. When the time came, she already knew they would all die. And that time would now be soon.
Kinen turned on her heel, leaving the room of the Central 46 and stepping back out onto the streets of the seireitei. She walked slowly at a steady pace. Her lips twitched up into a smile. "No matter how quick of a shunpo you have, or how silently you move as you walk, you still have horrible skills of keeping hidden when following someone, Byakuya", the old woman said in amusement.
Something akin to a snort was heard as the black haired man shunpoed beside her. His face was smoothed out into a neutral expression. Everything about him was clean, and not a single hair was out of place. His hair clips where in place, his scarf tied securely around his neck, and his uniform perfectly clean. "Kinen-sama", the noble said respectfully with a nod.
Kinen smiled in light amusement. "Nothing was going on in there", she clarified, "Those old fools are bickering again... Can't listen to good advice so they blame all their problems on me... Such a shame, really." Byakuya simply stared ahead as if he didn't hear her, though she knew he was listening intently. He had always been a curious one, even though he tended not to show it. "Don't you think you're being a bit hard on her, Byakuya-kun?"
Byakuya's eyes traveled to the side and landed on Kinen. "She committed an act of treason against the Soul Society", he stated in a cold tone, "I'm not being harsh enough... She should be disowned..."
"But you can't do that, now can you", Kinen said with a smile, "Because of her sister..." Byakuya stopped and stared coldly at the seer. "You can't run from the truth for much longer Byakuya-kun", Kinen said shaking her head, "The sooner you realize that, the better." She turned and began to walk away. "And Byakuya-kun", Kinen said, turning her head to look at the noble, "You know... All Rukia wants is to be recognized by you... To have you proud of her... Remember that, Kuchiki-sama."
Byakuya stared at the seer's backside as she trudged onwards to the first company office. His brows furrowed in annoyance. While the seer was someone he was used to, he still hated when she spoke so cryptically. Especially when those clues normally lead to a later event. He shook his head in annoyance, turning and walking silently back towards his office.
---
Ichigo sat up from the pit of sand Ganju had created in the ground to soften their fall. Both of them were now spitting out sand and coughing violently. As Ganju continued to cough, Ichigo kicked him in the back to help clear his lungs faster. As Ganju began to shout at her to be nice to him since he had saved her, or his as Ganju still thought, life, Ichigo shouted back at him to shut up and that was her way of saying thank you. Ichigo continued to glare at Ganju in irritation before she began to feel someone watching them.
"Ha, ha, lucky me," a voice said from above, causing Ichigo and Ganju both to turn and look at the newcomers in surprise.
Two figures jumped down from on of the roof and landed in front of the two. Both wore the natural shinigami shihakusho, their uniform. One of them was bald with what looked liked red tattoos underneath each eye. He had his sword inside its sheath and he carried it propped up against his shoulder. He had a slightly excited look on his face. The other one- was it a man or woman?- had short dark purple hair, and violet eyes. Attached to his, or her, right eyelashes and eyebrow were red and yellow feathers. Around his or her neck was an orange neck protector like thing with a small range like rope attaching to a matching wrist guard.
The bald one stepped up and smirked in amusement at the Ichigo and Ganju, his eyes alight with a hidden anxiousness and excitement. "We were hiding out here because we didn't feel like being deployed," he drawled, "And the intruders fell right into our laps! Luck, lucky me! It's my lucky day!" The bald man seemed to be standing on his own toes. "But not so lucky", he added with a growing dark smirk as he gained a dark amusement in his eyes, "For you."
Ichigo blinked in confusion as she stood up fully. She'd seen this man's face before, in a few of her dreams. She remembered one where she was fighting him, and figured that specific dream was about to become true once more. Her eyes narrowed at the coming challenge and she tensed from sensing the bloodlust and eagerness pouring off the man in waves. There was something about this man, she knew she wouldn't like for right now, but would come to admire later.
---
Elsewhere...
Shinigami everywhere dashed around as they attempted to find the new ryoka. A group of them stumbled across a giant crater in the ground. After they stared at it for a few moments, one started to bark out orders to find the new intruders, and ran off.
Chad watched solemnly from his place perched in a tree. He watched the shinigami go and sighed softly to himself. "Now what", he asked himself softly.
---
In another part of the Soul Society...
Orihime laid on the ground, passed out. Uryu was tending to her shoulder, wrapping it after she had hurt herself in the fall. He stared down at her as her face began to contort to one of confusion. She began mumbling things in her sleep, saying random things odd things. "No, no Mr. Spud, you can't sit next to Mr. Mint", she mumbled to herself, "You're supposed to sit next to Miss Fan. No, no pickles!" She said that last bit as she sat up abruptly, knocking heads with Uryu who had started to try and shake her awake. She sat up, blinking in confusion. "Oh, Uryu-kun", she said brightly, "You're oka- Ouch!" She grabbed onto her wounded shoulder, jabs of pain shooting up her arm.
Uryu rubbed his head gingerly. "Be careful, you hurt your shoulder when you fell", he said calmly as he started at her, "I wrapped it up with the bandages I carry around, just in case. Are you alright?"
Orihime looked over at him with a bright smile, nodding. "Yes, I'm okay, Uryu-kun", she said enthusiastically, "Thank you for patching me up. Ichigo would've bopped me upside the head if she'd found out I was hurt again and nobody had helped me patch myself up. She worries about me too much." She gave a wistful smile. "Anyways, where are we", she asked curiously.
"I'm not entirely sure", Uryu said with a light frown, "But, we need to get out of here quickly, just in case anyone saw where we ended up." He started to stand up, holding a hand out to Orihime to help her up.
Orihime nodded swiftly and let Uryu help her up. She smiled brightly again. "Thank you very much., Uryu-kun", she said with a kind look sparkling in her large brown eyes.
Uryu nodded, looking away with a light blush on his cheeks. "It's no problem", he said in a lightly flustered tone before tugging on her wrist, "Let's go!"
---
Both Ichigo and Ganju stared at the bald headed man with identical deadpan looks on their faces as he danced around on his toes, singing badly off key about being "lucky." The air was silent after he finished, with a light breeze making the only noise around them as Ichigo and Ganju continued to stare dumbly at the bald man and his antics.
The bald man noticed they weren't moving and veins began to pulse and pop out on his forehead. "What the hell are you two waiting for", he screamed at the two still staring dumbly at him, "I was dancing the Luh-luh-luh-Lucky dance to give you time to crawl out of there! Don't just stand there gaping like idiots! Don't you recognize generosity of spirit when you see it?!" The bald man continued to rant, pointing his sword sheath at the two to make his point across.
Ichigo blinked a few times. "Who the fuck is this guy", she asked, having snapped out of her stupor. She couldn't help but wonder what sane man could do what this guy just did. 'Then again', Ichigo thought, 'Most of the people we've met so far since arriving in the Soul society are frigging insane. Why not add one more to the bunch? And what the hell is with the baldness? Was he a monk in a past life?' Ichigo finally stopped her train of thoughts as she felt a hard nudge to her back and turned slightly to look behind herself at Ganju. She whispered a quiet 'what?'
"What the hell do you think, dandelion", Ganju hissed quietly at the orange haired teen in annoyance, "Let's high-tail it out of here! Like, NOW." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder.
"Run", Ichigo hissed quietly back at him in annoyance, "Are you freaking nuts?! We're on a rescue mission for a fucking REASON." She pointed her finger at his chest at the last bit for emphasis. She was slowly getting more and more irritated and Ganju was NOT helping the slightest bit.
"You IDIOT", Ganju hissed back quietly, "You mean you can't frigging tell?! Kami, you are dense as hell and stupid as FUCK." He paused in time to block and on coming punch thrown at his face. "These guys have too much spiritual energy for an amateur like you, obviously!" Oh how Ganju WISHED the stupid shinigami would pay attention for a change and know when to back down. The two were too strong, and Ganju knew that. He was actually trying to help the bastard and what did he get in return? Getting bitched at, that's what.
Ichigo opened her mouth to retort angrily before the bald man interrupted once more. "What are you two talking about", the bald man asked nosily with a smirk of amusement leaning down towards them, "Well, take all the time you want to argue, but it won't make you any luckier!" There was a distinct gleam of satisfaction and triumph in his eyes.
The purple headed one besides him spoke up finally. "But if we wait, the others will show up and we'll have to share credit with them", he said with a sigh and a shake of his head.
As the bald one commented and grunted in response, Ichigo studied the two. 'So the purple headed one is in fact male', she thought, 'I figured as much... Doesn't explain the gayness at all though... I remember seeing him a few times too... I think he's the vain one... Yes, he's the one wrapped up with his appearance.'
"Alright", the bald man said with an amused smile as he held up his sheath and sword once more above him, "You have until I finish my dance!" He almost continued before Ganju said something about 'fighting on your own' and high tailing it away from there. The bald man looked at the purple headed man besides him and nodded at him as he said the name Yumichika, the purple headed one nodding in return and chasing after Ganju. After they left, the bald headed man stared down at Ichigo with a curious look. "So, did you have a quarrel", he asked.
Ichigo snorted, climbing up out of the sand pit thing and shaking the sand out of her shoes. "Something like that", she muttered darkly. She dusted herself and stood up straight once more.
The bald man once again regarded her with a smile of amusement, and a curious look. "So tell me", he asked, dancing around on his toes out of boredom as he waited for Ichigo to get ready, "Why didn't you run? Your friend sensed our powers were stronger, right? If ya' ask me, I think that was a smart move." His smile turned dark as he regarded the shinigami. The orange haired teen was odd, yet the bald man could feel that 'he' could put up a good fight. If he could survive this fight, his captain would most definitely become interested in the ryoka. The teen would surely have one hell of a fight then.
Ichigo stared at him a moment before giving a nonchalant shrug as she turned and looked sideways. "Well, if you're stronger than I am, then it'd be kinda' pointless to run", she said, still speaking in her male tone, "Cause I'm pretty sure you'd catch me." She paused for a moment as the bald headed man regarded her coolly with a level glance. "But, if your powers are less than mine", Ichigo began again as she reached back and grabbed onto the handle of her sword, sending the man before her a calm and level gaze, "Then I'll just have to beat you... That's how I see it." Her spiritual pressure around her picked up without her knowing it, spiraling around her.
The bald headed man gave a dark smirk, sword and sheath resting on his left shoulder once again. "I see," he stated coolly as he stared the orange haired teen down, "Then you're a fool!" In a matter of two seconds, the man was rushing forward and bringing his blade down where Ichigo was, only for his eyes to widen as the orange haired teen dodged out of the way and moved quickly to return an attack, only to be blocked by the bald man's scabbard.
Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise and she quickly shifted her body weight and used the scabbard for momentum as she kicked off into the air above the bald man's head before he could land a strike with his sword as he had been planning to. She spun her body mid air and swung out at the man as he did to her.
As blood dripped to the ground from the wound now over his right eye, the bald man smirked in amusement, an adrenaline rush flowing through his systems. This was the best fight he'd had in a long time. This ryoka was proving to be quite the challenge and the more he fought, the more excited he became. It was like heaven for the fighter, to finally have someone on equal grounds to fight. "Just in case", he said with a smirk of delight, "I'll ask your name."
Ichigo paused, panting lightly and hardly able to see out of her left eye due to the blood dripping into it, unsure of answering but figured she would, just to get it over with. "Ichigo Kurosaki", she said after a moment, waiting for the smartassed comment sure to follow.
Only the comment never came as the bald headed man reflected on the name for a few seconds. "Ichigo, eh", he asked with a light hum of appreciation, "That's a good name."
Ichigo blinked a few times in confusion. That was new. No one had ever had that reaction before now. "It is", she asked curiously with a raised eyebrow, "I've never been told that before."
"Yes", the bald man said with a growing excited smirk, "Men whose names begin with 'I' are usually good looking and talented."
Ichigo simply snorted at the bald man's words, no sure whether to take it as a compliment or something else. She wasn't really male, but she was doing well if people thought she was. She was slowly coming to respect the bald man more and more. She gripped her blade tightly, once again remembering the reason she was here. She was going to save Rukia, no doubts about it.
"I'm the third seat of the eleventh division, Ikkaku Madarame", the bald haired man said with a wide smirk as he held his sword and scabbard in a stance ready to fight once more, "Since our names begin with the same letter, we should be friends."
Ichigo couldn't help but snort in amusement, gaining a light smirk of her own. "I don't think that's going to happen", she said readying her sword for the attacks pending to come.
---
All the captains of the Gotei thirteen were assembled in the meeting room, lined up with all the evens on one side and all the odds on another. All the Captains were talking amongst themselves about the ryoka and what was to be done with them. As comments flew about the room and the captains spoke their mind, another figure made an appearance into the room. All the Captains paused mid-argument once they noticed the seer was with them as well and waited for her to speak.
Kinen stepped forward and stood beside Yamamoto, smiling a smile with hidden malice and promise of pain if someone interrupted her. "The Central forty-six has failed yet again to listen to my warnings", she said, staring at all of the captains, "As they always do... The senile old fools don't know their right from left at times... I warn them if something bad is going to happen and they ignore me and brush off my predictions of ill-contempt as paranoia. So, now we have three human Ryoka, one shinigami ryoka, a young resident of Rukongai, and a former shinigami here in the Seireitei now. So, do you all want to ignore me again?" All the captains remained silent. "I didn't think so", Kinen continued in a clipped but still polite voice, "Now, here is my next two warnings. The first is directed at both the Eleventh and Sixth divisions, Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya Kuchiki." She smiled lightly as Byakuya turned to look at her with an impassive face.
She noticed the other man in the opposite side looked her way as well. He was a tall gruff man, obviously a former resident of Rukongai in a rough district before entering the Seireitei. He was muscled and broad shouldered, emanating pure power just from his looks alone. His long black hair was pulled into long spikes from the back of his head with what looked to be bells on the ends of his hair. He had multiple scars running along his face. He looked bored with the conversation until his name was spoken.
"For what you think is weak will soon come to fruition and overcome all the boundaries thought possible", Kinen said cryptically with a guarded smile, "What was once weak will now be strong, and you will need to prepare for the battles that lie ahead. When crimson mixes with crimson on the ground will you begin to understand." She paused briefly. "Never underestimate your opponent", she continued with a cold smile, "When you think they are through, they are not. When you attempt to kill them, you cannot. They will not step down and will always fight to win. That is the way one protects someone who they care about."
Both captains nodded with slight looks of confusion on their faces, not entirely sure how to respond to the seer's message. While Kenpachi wondered what the fuck it meant, Byakuya reflected over it, wondering what were the hidden meanings in the message. The seer never failed to add her own jokes and puns into her messages. It was all the more amusing for her to add them in so only she understands the jokes behind them.
Kinen looked out over the captains, surveying all the faces, besides Yamamoto. She looked at the second division captain, Soi Fon, a small woman with a serious face that packed a giant punch that was in charge of the special ops and interrogation unit. She had short black hair that almost reached her shoulders with flipped ends, and two long, thin braids that went down to her knees. Her eyes turned to the silver haired man directly across from Soi Fon. Gin Ichimaru, the captain of the third division of course with his permanent smile etched onto his face like always. Her eyes darted to the woman beside Soi Fon, the captain of the fourth division, Retsu Unohana, one of the oldest captains in charge of the medical unit. She had long black hair pulled into a braid in front of herself, and normally a calm demeanor about her. Across from her was the Captain of the fifth division, Sosuke Aizen. His brown hair hung around his head and glasses adorned his smiling face. One of the smartest captains and the most deadly. Her eyes turned to Byakuya briefly once more, before turning to the giant across from him, Sajin Komamura, the Captain of the seventh division. The being was a giant, almost two feet taller than everyone else in the room. His head was covered by a kind of basket like thing with holes in it to see out of, but not in. She looked at the lazy man beside Byakuya now, the Captain of the Eighth division, Shunsui Kyouraku, another of the oldest captains. He was adorned... uniquely compared to the others. A pink robe over his captain's haori and a straw hat upon his head. His long, curly brown hair with pulled down into a low ponytail. Next, Kinen's eyes drifted to the ninth division captain across from Shunsui, Kaname Tousen, the seeker of justice. He was a black man that had long black hair down past his shoulders. A visor was wrapped over his eyes, as he could not see. He was the only shinigami without the sleeves to the uniform. After that, Kinen smiled lightly as she surveyed the youngest Captain in the History of the Soul Society, Toushiro Hitsugaya, the captain of the tenth division. He was very short and young, thought did not like to be told so, with hair a pure shade of white and turquoise eyes. His face was set into an aged frown of annoyance, not something a kid that young should have. Her eyes drifted briefly back to Kenpachi before rolling over the Captain of the Twelfth Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi. The man was a living creation himself. He had experimented so much on himself he was labeled as his own creation. The man had black and white body paint all over himself and a creepy smile attached to his face, looking at everyone as if they were an experiment. Kinen sighed softly as the spot that the thirteenth division Captain normally stood in was empty yet again. Juushirou Ukitake, the final of the four oldest captains, was also the most sickly. His body, being extremely weak as it is, doesn't allow him to stay healthy very long before he gets sick again, so it's no wonder the long white haired captain was missing.
Kinen smiled at all the Captains once more before addressing them again. "Gotei Thirteen Captains", she said softly, "My second warning is to all of you. It is a repeated speech I gave exactly one hundred years ago in this very room. Kyouraku-san, Ukitake-san, Yamamoto-san, and Unohana-san were still captains then and heard this speech. Kuchiki-san and Aizen-san might remember this speech as well, since you were also present at the time I gave it per my order. I will repeat the speech I gave the night before we lost eight Captains and Lieutenants to... experimentation. And three others banned to exile." She paused and watched as Kyouraku winced at the remembrance as did Yamamoto. Unohana bowed her head in silent recognition and Soi Fon looked down at the ground with narrowed, hurt filled eyes. Mayuri's eyes closed as he remembered that time which he was still not yet a Captain. Tousen bowed his head lightly, also remembering the time he was not a captain. Aizen bowed his head silently, as did Gin, though Kinen knew it not to be for those who were lost, but in a silent victory.
"When the moon passes over the night sky, six shinigami will run to find two commrades only to realize they are too late", she began, "When they realize what is happening, it will already be too late for them as well. When two others attempt to see what is happening, they come across a scene unlike their wildest dreams only to be framed and wrongly accused. One man's failure, is another's triumph. When the sun rises over the horizon, it will be done. One banished, one locked away, but a third comes and takes them away."
Kinen paused once more in her speech. "But one hundred years later, when they are sure that evil that had done so wrong is gone, it is still there, lurking within the shadows of the Soul Society, always hidden in illusions", Kinen said with a dark smile, "The evil waits to take what it needs from the body of its victim before the Seireitei will have three captains less. But the same time this evil shows itself, a savior also blossoms before us. What was once an enemy becomes a friend and a strong friend that will be. A child born a secret will now be found and that child's life will be the one held most dear to the war on the horizon. When war breaks that child will triumph over the greatest evil the three worlds have ever known. But one can never win by oneself. A second soul, one opposite to the other in every way, will stand beside the first and defeat this evil. The second comes from within the side of the white and stands up to the great evil in the last moments. Like a panther, waiting to strike down on its prey." Her smirk deepened. "The warrior in white will not make their presence known", she began again, "For they will seem like an enemy to the eyes of the unknowing when in fact their savior... The Black warrior however, will easily be seen as the hero. But think not that you know everything of this hero, for even the most obvious things are enigmatic and mysterious. You cannot always believe what you see, because looks can be deceiving." Another pause. "When the war in the cold ends, a peaceful age begins", she said softly, "The evil now dead, the warriors take their place and reign over the new Age of Peace. Worlds once enemies will ally themselves and things will finally settle for a well deserved break."
All the captains stared at her in surprise for a long time. None could respond, for they did not know how to. All looked at each other to understand the cryptic message. Aizen in particular thought long and hard about the message. His eyes closed as he began to reflect over the message and its contents. Once again, he heard the speech that predicted his rise and fall of power. He would have to store the information for later use.
"These warriors", the second division captain, Soi Fon, began hesitantly as she looked over at Kinen with a confused yet guarded look, "How... exactly will they defeat this so called evil... And what exactly do you mean when you say opposite in every way?"
Kinen smiled lightly at the woman. "That, dear girl, will come in time", she said with a smile, "When the two finally meet, things will fall into place... Bonds will be made and destinies set. They cannot defeat the evil alone... They will rally help on either side when the time is right..." She paused with a smile as Soi Fon nodded slowly, braids swishing around her gently as she moved. "As for their opposing natures", she said softly with a smile of pure amusement as she closed her eyes, "Their interests and thoughts oppose each other... In the beginning, they won't be able to help but continuously argue. While opposing in most ways, they also can't help but compliment each other..." She smiled once more. "Opposing interests, genders, and thoughts may vary in the two, but they'll grow into their roles soon enough."
"And become the greatest rulers these worlds have ever known", Aizen finished with a warm smile.
Kinen met the brown haired man's gaze and nodded with a smile. "Yes", she said softly, "They'll unite the worlds and bring on the longest reign of peace..." Her smile softened considerably. "Well, I believe that is all I wished to tell you."
Yamamoto nodded lightly, beginning his own speech of safety precautions and such before dismissing everyone. All the captains soon stepped out of the meeting room. Gin stayed behind and was one of the last few to leave along with Aizen. Both stepped out only to be met by Kinen on their way to their offices.
That cold smile was back on her face. "I do hope you know what you're doing, Sosuke", she commented idly, "Be careful as you proceed with your plan... And remember what I just prophesized in there... You'll need it for later reference."
"It has already been done, Kinen-san", Aizen said with a smile lacking its normal warmth, now only filled with dark intent, "I know what must be done... And I will most certainly remember..."
"Be careful not to overlook what you may have heard", Kinen said idly as she turned and sauntered off slowly, "You'll regret it once you do..." She disappeared off down the street.
Aizen's eyes narrowed and Gin tutted. "Th' ol' woman always makes things s' difficult", the silver haired man with a shake of his head, "Never can give a person a straight answer. What did ya' think 'bout the prophecy though, Sosuke?"
Aizen's face neutralized and his warm smile returned. "I think it is interesting", he commented softly, "It is obvious that our known Hero will be this new.. Ryoka... Ichigo Kurosaki, you said?"
Gin nodded with a dark smile. "Yessum", he said with a scary smile, "Ichigo... 'What was once an enemy becomes a friend and a strong friend that will be.' Yes... This kid will be our downfall... We'll have to watch this one... Shall I kill 'im?"
"Not yet, Gin", Aizen said softly with a dark smile, "When the time comes, I'll let you kill him... That time is not yet... Yet I wonder, who will join him? I assume it will be one of my soldiers referred to as 'The being from the side of the white'... We will keep watch and find her..." With that, the two rejoined their separate divisions and went back to their normal captains duties.
---
Ikkaku and Ichigo stood their ground opposite to each other, the only sound around them of the wind picking up and blowing around the dust and dirt that littered the ground they stood upon. After a moment, Ichigo took one hand away from the hilt of Zangetsu and wiped at the blood pouring into her left eye, obscuring her vision. The effort was futile, at the very least, as blood continued to flow easily from the wound as it did with all head wounds.
Ikkaku was silent for a moment as he scrutinized the orange haired teen with a careful look. "I don't understand", he said, voicing his confusion of the teen's novice like actions, "At this range, only a novice would take a hand away from his hilt." He studied the teen once more, a growing smile of amusement coming to his face again. This kid was just full of surprises.
Ichigo glared over at the bald man in annoyance at his comment. "Oi, shut up", she barked at him in irritation as she gripped her blade with both hands again, "I can't fight if blood gets in my eyes, now can I? I had to do something, or it was just going to keep irritating me!" The more time spent around the bald man, the weirder he became. Ichigo was beginning to wonder if he was even sane or not.
Ikkaku shook his head with a smirk. "Even shallow wounds above the eyes bleed profusely", he commented idly and he took off the cap on the end of his sword and held his sword to where the blade pointed down and the hilt faced upwards. He dipped his finger into the salve that was inside the hollowed-out hilt and swiped it over the wound over his right eye. "Wiping it away is a poor remedy", he said with a smirk, "Better to apply a styptic."
Ichigo stared in surprise before she gained an annoyed look once more. "Oi, that stuff stops the bleeding", she barked at him in annoyance, "That ain't fair!"
"It is so fair", Ikkaku said, eyes bulging with a vein on his forehead pulsing in equal annoyance, "It's called be prepared! You should applaud my professionalism!" At this Ichigo snorted lightly in annoyance. Ikkaku studied the teen once again before chuckling to himself. "You really are a strange one", he said in amusement, "You behave like a novice... No offense, but you don't look like a warrior to me, really." Ichigo's mouth opened for a nasty retort before Ikkaku continued. "And yet... your reactions are first rate... Your swing is powerful. And as for your movements..." He pointed to himself with a slightly haughty look. "They're not far from my own."
"What", Ichigo asked in irritating, a vein pulsing rapidly in her forehead as her temper started flaring up dangerously. She was slowly getting irritated with the bald man, not knowing whether to take his comments as compliments or insults. Her patience was slowly wearing thin as the more time passed.
Ikkaku smirked lightly. "Don't look so offended", he said easily, "I'm giving you a compliment." He changed his stance and his look turned more serious. "What I'm saying is", he began with narrowed eyes, "That you're too good to be written off as a battle crazed novice... Who is your master, Ichigo?"
Ichigo paused for a moment and stared at the bald man. "He only trained me for about ten days", she said quietly and calmly, "So, I don't know if I can call him my master, but... Someone did teach me how to fight..." At the customary response of who from the bald haired man, Ichigo paused again and stared at Ikkaku with a steady, level gaze.
"Kisuke Urahara."
The bald headed man's eyes widened of their own accord at that man's name. So it was Him. He was the one who taught the ryoka how to fight. No wonder the teen was that powerful. Ikkaku's stance changed and he bowed his head for a second as he adjusted the grip on his sword and scabbard. "I see", he commented evenly before looking the teen dead in the eyes with a fierce look, "So he is your master. Then... It would be disrespectful to slay you the easy way." He jammed the tip of the hilt of his blade to the opening of his scabbard in one fluid motion. "Extend, Hozukimaru!"
Ichigo's eyes narrowed as she took in details about the bald man's sword's new form. It was now a long pole with a blade on the end of it, like a spear, or a Naginata. Something like red tuffs of hair sat on the end of the blade. As Ikkaku pointed the blade at the teen, she unconsciously shifted her stance to prepare for defense. As he yelled not to misjudging his blade, Ichigo shifted to the side. Her eyes narrowed as she thought out strategies in her mind, and also wondered what she wasn't supposed to miscalculate. She knew it wasn't the reach of the blade, for that would be far too easy. There was more to it than that, she knew, as she continuously blocked the sharp jabs of the end of the spear at her. As she commented idly about the long reach of the sword, she noticed the shift in the bald man's eyes and quickly brought up Zangetsu in time to take the brunt of the attack and her eyes widened as the shout of break sounded and her arm was cut up brutally as the spear broke apart.
Ikkaku reigned in Hozukimaru and let it rest around his shoulders. "That's what I thought you'd misjudge", he said with a growing smirk of amusement, "Hozukimaru isn't a spear. It's a bladed Sansetsu-kon." Afterwards, Ikkaku began on another long speech about how Ichigo was finished and probably couldn't hold a sword at this point.
During said speech, Ichigo observed her arm carefully with a critical eye. It hurt, but she'd felt worse pain. Besides, she had bandages to spare at the moment. She then looked at the bandages on Zangetsu's hilt and studied them for a moment. Soon, she began to wrap the bandages around her arm where the wound was. She tied it off with her mouth as Ikkaku's speech slowed. "Okay", she said with a nod. Before Ikkaku could process what was happening, she was jumping forward and blasted a large hole in the wall close to the spot where the bald man once stood.
Ikkaku, who had ducked to the side at the last minute, stared at the wall and then the teen with wide eyes. "What in the", he began in surprise. How the hell had the kid managed that? And furthermore, how was he still holding a sword?! His arm should have been useless now, but the kid and wrapped the bandages of his hilt around his arm and tied off the wound so he could continue. The kid was smarter than what Ikkaku had originally thought, and much more tactical than he expected.
"This fight ain't over yet, Captain no-hair", Ichigo began calmly as she faced the large hole she had created in the wall, "I haven't showed you what my sword can do yet..." She turned her head to face him. "We're just getting started Ikkaku", she said calmly gazing at him levelly, "In a minute, it's you who won't be able to hold up your weapon."
Ikkaku stared at the teen, a smirk forming on his face slowly. He began chuckling deeply. "I won't be able to hold my weapon", he said with amusement as he rested Hozukimaru against his shoulder, "You talk big, Ichigo... But what is the basis for your confidence?"
Ichigo listened as he spoke, once again moving unconsciously to grip her sword better. She sensed Ikkaku's next move as his spiritual pressure shifted around him. She deflected the jab of the spear at her head with her own sword. Ikkaku commented on her being slow before rushing forward and striking the end of his spear at her as it came apart. While she deflected it, she turned and quickly struck down on it, trying to break the damn thing and be done with it. As two ends of it reformed underneath the pressure of her sword, she brought her arm up as the third part struck towards her head and she deflected the end of it with her hand but was sent backwards roughly landing on her back.
Ikkaku smirked down at the orange haired teen's form, spinning the end of his sword expertly. "What's wrong", he asked with a smirk, "Maybe you were all talk... Hozukimaru's attacks are difficult to read... they can confound a novice like yourself." He thought this kid was done for, and that he was in for another win. After a few seconds, Ichigo slowly got up and told him wrong, dropping the end bits of Hozukimaru in his hands to the ground. Ikkaku's eyes widened considerably and he looked to the end of his sword, only to find part of it missing. 'What', he thought in panic, 'My Hozukimaru?! With his bare hand?!' He quickly put up his spear as he looked up and saw Ichigo descending from an above attack.
"I'll say this again, Ikkaku", she yelled down to him, "It's you who won't be able to hold your weapon!" She sliced downwards, cutting him down his chest and his spear in half.
He stood stock still for a moment as blood dripped from the deep wound on his chest, in shock that the kid could attack with such force. He panted deeply and regained his breath, his teeth gritting as he stood there. No... He couldn't lose to this kid. His eyes narrowed dangerously at the orange haired teen, a hard resolve settling in his eyes. He threw the bottom half of his spear behind him on the ground and separated the two top pieces, holding the broken end piece and the chain connecting the pieces. "Finished already", he called arrogantly, "Unfortunately for you... I can still... hold my weapon!" He began spinning the end with the blade on it above himself. "If you don't want me to hold a weapon", he called out in his psychotic voice, "You better cut off my arms!"
Ichigo stared at the bald man with a level, calm gaze. She knew he was upset at losing and wasn't going to accept it. "Put that thing away", she said, and when he refused, her teeth gritted and she took a step forward, "I said put it away! This fight's over! You know it! You've lost!"
Ikkaku stared at the teen hard. "Stop wasting your breath", he scoffed as blood continued to drip to the ground, "This is a battle. It will only end when one of us is dead. Ikkaku Madarame was not born... a coward that he would surrender to escape death!" At the last part of his second small speech, he rushed forward with the intent to kill.
Ichigo stared as he rushed forward. For a brief second, she could see Urahara and how he rushed at her with intent to kill her while they trained. As Ikkaku moved his spear to strike her she brought up Zangetsu. "You're too slow!" She brought her sword up the bald man's arm, slicing into his skin and destroying the sleeve of his shihakusho and broke then rest of Hozukimaru.
Ikkaku fell to his knees on the ground, looking down at the ground. "You're good", he said quietly, "Hmph... So unlucky." As he fell onto the ground in a pool of his own blood, the last thought that ran through his mind was the respect for the brat had grown ten-fold and he was glad to have gone out in a fight so good. As his eyes slipped shut, his battle lust was content for the first time in a long time.
Ichigo stared down at his prone form. Her eyes softened lightly, not being able to hold back her sympathy for the bald headed man. "We're both unlucky", she said softly in her female voice, holding up her right arm, which was bleeding through Zangetsu's bandaging. She removed them from around her arm and took out her own bandaging. She then noticed that by Ikkaku, his sword had gone back to its previous form. She stepped over and picked it up, gaining an idea as she popped off the end of hilt and applied the styptic to her arm and wrapped bandages around it. She looked down at Ikkaku and at the styptic before making up her mind.
--
Ikkaku's eyes slowly shifted open. He stared at the sky and his eyes opened fully as he realized he was still in the Seireitei. "What the", he began, "Why aren't I dead?" He looked around, only to turn his head and look upside down as he heard the familiar voice of the ryoka.
"Ah, you're awake." As Ikkaku's eyes shifted to look at the orange haired teen sitting perched on a bunch of rubble, she gave a light wave. "Yo", she said.
Ikkaku blinked a few times in confusion. "Ichigo, why are you still here", he asked in confusion.
Ichigo was quiet for a moment. "I didn't know", she began as she held up Hozukimaru in its sheath once more, "That a zanpakuto goes back to normal when its owner passes out."
Ikkaku's eyes widened. "Hozukimaru", he said in light panic, "Give it back!"
"Relax", Ichigo said rolling her eyes as she looked into the hollow hilt, "I'm not going to steal it. I just needed the styptic stuff that was in it... But, I used it all up. The stuff works great." She held up his sword.
Ikkaku looked down at where his wound was, only to find it slathered in the styptic along with his arm. Annoyance at the teen grew in his chest and he started shouting at the idiot shinigami. "You", he began, "Do you know what you've done?! Arg, dammit, I knew something was wrong! That wound should've killed me! By saving my life, you've shamed me... If I could move, I'd kill you right now." He looked off to the side, muttering obscene things under his breath at the teen.
A vein began to pulse in Ichigo's forehead as she glanced over at the bald man in annoyance. "Well excuse me", she said in a sarcastic voice as she propped her elbow on her knee and placed her cheek in her hand, "If I knew you were gonna' be a jerk about it, I would've let you die, jackass." She hopped down from her perch and landed on the ground. "But, I don't really care how you feel", she said as she walked over to him, "I just want some answers to some of my questions..."
"Of course you do", Ikkaku answered in annoyance as his eyes narrowed, "That's just my luck... What do you want to know? My birthday?" He would irritate the teen a little bit since the fucker had the nerve to keep him alive. Then again, he mused, maybe stayed alive is a good thing. Maybe then Yumichika wouldn't scream his head off at Ikkaku for dying.
Ichigo looked down at him seriously. "Where's Rukia Kuchiki", she asked with a calm look.
Ikkaku looked at the teen in surprise. "Kuchiki, the prisoner", he asked incredulously, "What do you want with that thing?" Of all the things the kid was here for, it was the prisoner? Why? Why was the teen here for her of all people?
Ichigo was silent for a moment. "I came here to save her", she said seriously.
"What", Ikkaku screeched up at the teen once more, looking up at him like he was an idiot, "Save her?! How big is your team?! Seven, eight people?"
"Five and a cat", Ichigo answered with her brow furrowing.
"A cat", Ikkaku asked, "Are you fucking INSANE?!"
"Maybe", Ichigo responded with a straight face.
By this point, Ikkaku was laughing so hard at the teen. He couldn't believe this kid. "You don't have a prayer", he said laughing, "You're an idiot! OW!" He stopped laughing as some of his wounds became reopened. "I laughed so hard my wounds reopened."
Ichigo stared blankly at his form on the ground. "Now who's the idiot", she asked in irritation.
Ikkaku's laughter soon subsided. "Very well", he said seriously, "Go straight south from here and you'll come to the barracks of the thirteen court guard companies."
"Wh-what", Ichigo asked in light surprise, "Why are you telling me this?! That was too easy." Really, why was the man telling her what she needed to know? They were enemies... and it was far to simple to convince him to tell her.
"Shut up and be quiet or I won't tell you", Ikkaku said in annoyance before continuing his explanation from before, "There's a white tower at the end of the barracks... You'll find her within." At the teen's insistent asked of whether or not its true, a vein twitched in his forehead. "Don't you believe me?!" He closed his eyes with a heavy sigh. This kid truly wore him out. "She means nothing to me. If you want to save her, go and do it! Hurry before the others find you! Go!"
Ichigo nodded and began walking off in the direction she was supposed to go. "Alright, see you", she called to him, "I owe you one, Ikkaku."
"Don't make me vomit", Ikkaku said in annoyance, irritation growing. Before the teen could get too far away, he stopped him. "Ichigo!" When the teen paused and turned around, he spoke again. "May I ask you a question? Of all in your group... who is the strongest?"
Ichigo thought for a moment, looking up before looking back down at Ikkaku. "I guess that's me", she said quietly.
Ikkaku stared at the teen. "I see", he said, "Then beware my captain. He'll ignore the weaker ones. If you are indeed the strongest... he'll certainly go after you."
Ichigo stared down at the bald headed man with narrowed eyes. "He's tough, I guess", she asked quietly.
"You'll find out", Ikkaku said seriously, "If you're alive long enough to face him."
Ichigo felt the energy around her tense. She didn't like the sound of this. Not one bit. "What's his name", she asked.
Ikkaku was silent for a moment before looking up at the teen. "Kenpachi Zaraki", he answered.
Ichigo paused as the events of her dreams came back to her. She remembered one man in particular that terrified her. He was a giant man, broad shouldered, covered in scars, and wearing an eye patch. He had radiated so much power it had terrified her. She looked over at Ikkaku and let out a shaky breath. "Does he wear an eye patch", she asked quietly.
Ikkaku blinked in surprise at the question. "Yeah", he answered slowly, "How did you know?"
Ichigo placed a hand over her left eye and shut both of them. "I see everything that will happen in my life in my dreams", she said quietly, "I've seen you, your friend, your captain, that red headed pineapple Renji, the stuck up asshole Byakuya... I've seen you all in my dreams, whether it be from fights or our meeting... That's why I recognized you... This fight I've seen a few times, especially last night... That's why I knew I'd meet you today..." Her eyes opened slowly. "That's also why I know about your captain. I've seen my fight with him. Part of it at least." She dropped her hand from over her eye. A thought occurred to her and she walked back over close to Ikkaku. "That reminds me", she said before digging her foot into his stomach.
Ikkaku yelled out in annoyance at the pain. He glared up at the teen who was scowling down at him in annoyance. "What the FUCK was THAT for", he asked in irritation.
"That was for being an idiot", Ichigo said in annoyance, her eyes narrowed, "While you probably didn't think of it, I don't take well to insult..."
Ikkaku stared at the teen with a look of irritation for another moment before his lips twitched upwards into a smirk. "You're one of a kid, boy", he said shaking his head before yelping in pain when that heel was dug into his stomach again, "OI! That hurts, you bastard!"
"That's another thing", Ichigo said in annoyance. When the bald headed man gave her a confused look she sighed softly and let out a breath. She closed her eyes and relaxed herself for a moment before opening her eyes again and looking down at Ikkaku with her arms crossed over her chest.
"I'm not male."
Ikkaku's eyes widened at the strange feminine tone and he was speechless for a good few minutes before he pointed at her, halfway sitting up. "The fuck", he screeched at her, to which Ichigo closed her eyes in annoyance.
Ichigo opened one eye and stared at the bald man, mouth gaping. So, he hadn't caught on that she was a girl. That was a good thing, she supposed as both eyes opened. She smiled sarcastically at him and sneered. "Yes, shocking, I know", she answered once more in her female tone, "I'm a woman that can fight... Gonna' make a smartass remark about it too?"
Ikkaku blinked quite a few times. "But... why... are you pretending to be a guy", he asked in confusion, not understanding this at all. He could grasp the fact the teen was really female, in fact he felt quite stupid he hadn't picked it up before, but he didn't understand her purpose of pretending to be a boy.
Ichigo glared down at him. "Do you really think any women can get respect from men when fighting", she asked in irritation, "Women aren't taken seriously in today's world and they never have been in the first place... If people don't know I'm a woman, then they won't treat me any differently... Would you have fought differently had you known I was really a woman?" Silence was her reply. "Thought as much... I'll do what it takes to prove a woman is just as good as a man at anything..."
Ikkaku stared up at her in light shock at her words. A smile twitched at his lips. "You have my respect as a comrade, Ichigo Kurosaki", he said after a moment.
Ichigo opened her mouth to retort a nasty comment before processing what he said with a surprised look on her face. "What", she asked in surprise.
Ikkaku stared at her. "You truly are different", he said with a light smirk, "You've worked harder than any man ever could to attain goals no one ever thought possible... You work to earn your respect by doing what is right... For that, you have my respect as a comrade..."
Ichigo stared down at the bald headed man in shock for a moment before nodding lightly, a genuine smile gracing her lips for the briefest of moments. "Thank you, Ikkaku Madarame", she said softly as she kneeled down and pressed her lips lightly to his forehead for a brief second before pulling away. Ikkaku stared up at her in light surprise before raising an eyebrow at her. Ichigo shrugged nonchalantly. "I figured it could be a way of thanks", she said softly, "But just the forehead, as I don't want Yumichika-san coming after me for it..."
Ikkaku snorted in amusement, looking off to the side. "Yeah, suppose that's true", he said before looking back at the teen in surprise at what she just implied, "Wait, what!?!"
Ichigo laughed softly at his expression. "I'm not stupid", she said in amusement, "I pay attention to detail... Besides, from my dreams alone, I could tell you two were together..." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Wouldn't have expected it if I hadn't already known", she commented idly.
Ikkaku glared up at her in annoyance. "Yeah, well don't go sayin' anything to anyone", he said in annoyance, "I don't exactly like my personal life broadcasted to the Seireitei or my division, thank you..."
"So long as you never tell a soul I'm female", Ichigo said with a light smirk as she held a hand out to him, "Deal?"
Ikkaku stared up at the orange haired girl and smirked in amusement before taking her hand with his. "Deal", he said shaking her hand.
Ichigo nodded before standing and brushing herself off. "Well, I'm off", she said, reverting back to using her male tone, "Hope we meet again sometime... Maybe if we do, I'll spar with you... Or maybe have a rematch."
"I look forward to it, Kurosaki", Ikkaku said with a smirk, closing his eyes and she walked away, "So don't go die, ya' hear?"
"Yeah, yeah", Ichigo said waving over her shoulder at the man still sprawled out on the ground, "You too, Madarame." And with that, she took off in pursuit of the white tower that held Rukia. 'Hold on, Rukia... I'll be there soon', she thought to the young woman as she ran, '... Wait, where did Ganju go?'
Oh silly Ichigo, did you JUST remember he was missing still? Silly girl.
Anyways, there you have it. Originally, the last part was NOT going to be here, where Ikkaku finds out about Ichigo... Buuut, it ended up flowing, so I went with it. It was originally going to be much later, like after the winter war was already over, but I figured since that's WAY too long, I'd put it here now. Sooo, he finds out and reacts quite beautifully, don't you think?
Oh, and one more thing, tell me if anyone can find the puns in the prophecy toward Kenpachi and Byakuya. I want to know if anyone can pick it up. Anyways, that's all I think.
Read and review dears.