My apologies for the late chapter. I've had a lot on my mind lately, and it limited my imagination. To make up for it, this chapter is longer than normal.

Chapter 9

The Mirror Crack'd

"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws. Hado 33, Sokatsui!"

The spell flew from Yosuke's hand, and collided with the target, destroying it. Behind him, Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba raised his hands.

"Excellent work, Yosuke! Your kido power is incredible!" He looked over at Nanao Ise, who was talking with Rise. "What do you think of that, Nanao?"

Nanao looked rather unimpressed, and adjusted her glasses. "It's fine, if all you can do is destroy. Then again, I'd expect nothing else from your student, Iba."

She turned back to Rise, who had her eyes closed in concentration. "Now then, Rise. Show us what you can do."

Rise nodded. "Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Bakudo 61, Rikujokoro!" The spell struck the dummy, the six rods of light holding it in place. Nanao nodded approvingly while Rise clapped at what she did.

Iba clapped Yosuke on the shoulder. "Yeah? Well real men rely on power."

Yosuke rolled his eyes at Rise. Apparently, there was a long-standing feud between the two of them. As Iba and Nanao began to argue about which form of kido was more effective, Yosuke tapped Rise on the shoulder. "What do you say we get out of here while they're still going at it?"

Rise nodded, looking at Nanao, concerned. Then she followed Yosuke out onto the main street.

As they walked, they saw Naoto running down the street, her zanpakuto in her hand. She didn't even spare them a glance. "What was that about?"

Yosuke's brow creased. "Let's go see what's going on."

Rise looked worried, but nodded, and the two of them followed after her.

Naoto flash stepped to Captain Soi Fon's office, and knocked. "Enter."

She walked into the office, and knelt before her captain. "You summoned me, Captain?"

"Yes," Soi Fon said from behind her desk. "I need you to investigate a reported disappearance from the Kusanagi Clan. According to the report, Aisha Kusanagi and her two bodyguards went for a walk, and then never returned."

Naoto nodded. "I understand, Captain."

"I want you to handle this yourself, Shirogane. Consider this your first real test."

"As you wish Captain. I shall leave immediately."

Naoto arrived at the last point they were seen, and began to look around. Behind some bushes, knelt and saw several footprints, overlapping each other. "Someone was here," she murmured to herself. "And for a while based on the overlap."

Moving to a position just behind the prints, Naoto saw that the location gave a perfect view of the area, leading around the corner. "Someone standing here could see anyone coming from around the corner, giving them time to prepare an ambush."

Needing more information, Naoto flash stepped to the Kusanagi Manor, where she found a servant willing to talk to her.

"Did Lady Aisha walk the same way every time she went out?"

The servant rubbed his head. "I believe so. She always liked to look at the fish in the koi pond."

Naoto tipped her hat to him. "Thank you for your help."

The servant raised a hand to stop her. "Please, find Lady Aisha. None of us could bear it if anything happened to her."

"I will," Naoto assured him. "I will find her."

Naoto returned to the site again, and went to look at the footprints again. But, she was shocked to see that they were gone, wiped clean. Her eyes immediately started to look around, trying to see what happened.

It was a stick that saved her life. She whirled at the sound of a stick snapping to find a cloaked figure with a sword raised, poised to strike her down. She quickly flashed behind the assassin, and kicked him in the back of the knee, bringing him down. Then, she slammed the pommel of her zanpakuto into his neck, taking him down.

A quick search revealed a piece of paper with what appeared to be his orders.

This shinigami has gotten too close. Eliminate the evidence, and deal with her if she returns. Then return to the training grounds to guard the girl.

Naoto crumpled the note, and called a Hell Butterfly, informing Soi Fon about the assassin so he could be taken into custody.

Training grounds? Naoto thought, trying to remember what she learned about the area. "We're near the Squad Five barracks," she said to herself. "Could it be their training grounds?"

Not willing to waste any time, Naoto flash stepped over to Squad Five, and found Lieutenant Momo Hinamori. "Excuse me, lieutenant. I need to investigate something in your training grounds."

"Oh, okay," she said, confused.

Naoto tilted her hat to her. "Thank you, Lieutenant Hinamori."

Entering the building, she began to look around, but nothing looked out of place. But as she checked a corner, she saw a drop of what looked like blood. But it was nowhere near where anyone would have been bleeding during training.

She started knocking on the wall, and heard what she wanted. She drew her sword, and stabbed into the spot, tearing out a section of the fake wall. "Found you."

As she ran through, she found a tunnel leading down to some kind of lab. This must be the lab of the traitor, Sosuke Aizen. She stumbled across two bodies, clearly those of Lady Aisha's bodyguards. Then she saw a light, and heard a voice.

"Sanji hasn't returned. Do you think she got him, do you?" This voice sounded nervous.

A more confident voice answered. "Even if she did, she can't find us here. Now get the girl ready, so we can begin." There was a muffled scream in response to the statement.

Naoto drew her zanpakuto and walked around the corner. She saw Lady Aisha on the ground, bound wrist and ankle, and a cloth over her mouth. In front of her were two men, both dressed as shinigami. One of them had long brown hair down his back, and the other had spiky blonde hair.

"You will step away from her, right now."

The two turned, and looked at her. The blonde looked afraid, while the other was calm. "So you found us, huh?"

Naoto raised her zanpakuto slightly. "You are under arrest. Drop your weapons."

The confident one sneered, and jerked his head at the blonde. "You heard her, Shino."

Shino nodded, and put a hand on his sword. Then, with a flash, he was swinging at Naoto, forcing her to block. "I'm impressed you were fast enough to block my draw. But it won't be enough to stop me." He forced her back, and held out his sword. "Dance, Ryurai!" The blade transformed into what looked like a rapier, with electricity running along the blade.

The other one picked up Aisha, and tucked her under his arm. "Deal with her, Shino, and meet me at the pit."

"Of course, Hanzo."

As Hanzo ran past, Naoto tried to stop him, but a streak of lightning stopped her. "If you want him, you'll have to stop me, first." Shino's voice became more confident as he walked closer to her.

Naoto ran for him, slashing upward. Shino blocked with Ryurai, and a charge ran through her zanpakuto, stinging her hands. Only training kept her sword in her hand.

Then Naoto tried flash stepping behind, and going for his back, but another arc of lightning stopped her. "You can't attack me, girl."

Unwilling to surrender, Naoto tried again, going for his side. A slash she blocked pushed her back, slamming into a machine, whirring it to life.

"Die," he said quietly, his blade arcing with power. Then, the lightning suddenly pulled away, striking the machine. Taking only a split second, Naoto stabbed Shino in the arm, forcing him to release his zanpakuto. Then she whirled to her feet, slamming the flat of her blade to his head, dropping him like a stone.

"Stay here until they come for you," she said to his unconscious body, and released another butterfly to Soi Fon.

Running out of the lab, she ran into Hinamori, who had come to investigate the noise. "Lieutenant, is there any kind of pit around here?"

At her confused expression, Naoto explained. "The last suspect I'm chasing mentioned he was going to a 'pit' with his hostage. I need to know where to go."

Hinamori rubbed her chin, then snapped her fingers. "There's an old execution pit about a mile west of here. But no one's used it in years."

Naoto thanked her, and took off at a run, her zanpakuto still in her hand. She was so focused on where she was going, she didn't even see Yosuke and Rise watching her run by, concerned.

Naoto came to a stop at a large, square hole in the ground. Barely audible sounds drifted up from beneath. "Well, here goes nothing," she said, and jumped.

Naoto used her reiatsu to slow her fall, and landed silently on her feet. As she looked around, she heard Hanzo's voice.

"Bakudo 9, Geki!"

Naoto found herself paralyzed, unable to move. Then, a light appeared, and Naoto found herself surrounded by caged Hollows, and Aisha strapped to a chair.

"I see that neither Sanji nor Shino could stop you. No matter. Once I'm finished, I'll deal with you myself."

"What are you planning?" Naoto asked, fighting against the kido.

Hanzo motioned to the Hollows. "I will evolve. With Aizen's research, and the power of these Hollows, I will surpass a shinigami, and become more."

"So why need Lady Aisha?"

Hanzo looked at her, still struggling slightly in the chair. "The Kusanagis are guardians of an ancient power known as Mukou Kaihou."

The term confused Naoto. "Beyond Release?"

Hanzo nodded. "Indeed. With this power, I can bond myself with these Hollows, and become powerful enough to overthrow even Old Man Yamamoto."

Naoto doubled her struggle against the binding kido. "I won't let you."

Hanzo's smile was mocking. "How will you stop me?"

He turned his back on her, and walked to Aisha, hand extended.

"Whirl, Susano'o!"

Naoto heard the familiar voice, and something spun through the air, and hit right in front of Hanzo, blocking his access to Aisha. The object was a large, circular saw, and looked familiar to Naoto.

Then, a figure dropped, and slammed a shoulder into Hanzo forcing him back. As it rose, Naoto saw that it was Yosuke. He grabbed the saw, and swung it around him, poised to attack.

"Are you okay, Naoto?" Rise said from behind her, and she felt the kido vanish, allowing her to move. Naoto nodded in response.

"Who are you?" Hanzo asked, eyeing Yosuke.

"We're Naoto friends," Yosuke answered. He looked past Hanzo to Naoto. "Who is this guy?"

"He is the kidnapper of Lady Aisha Kusanagi. It's my mission to arrest him. Rise, could you please release Lady Aisha?"

Rise nodded, and ran around to the chair Aisha was in, trying to release the straps holding her.

Hanzo tired to get to her, but Yosuke was in his way, hand tight on his zanpakuto. "You want her, you have to go through me."

Hanzo looked around at the three, as if gauging his odds. Then, he leapt up, using his reiatsu to run on the air, and got out of the pit.

"Rise, look after Lady Aisha. Youske, with me," Naoto ordered, and the other two nodded. She and Yosuke ran up the pit, hoping to catch Hanzo before he got away.

As they emerged in the bright sunlight, they saw Hanzo standing away from the edge, as if waiting for them. The smile on his face worried Naoto, as if was unconcerned with them being there.

"How nice of you two to walk into my trap." He raised his zanpakuto, light reflecting off of it. "Reflect, Kyotansen"

Light shined from the blade, and when it dimmed he was holding a long, thin blade attacked to a large, round mirror over his arm.

Yosuke quickly spun, swinging Susano'o, and throwing it at Hanzo. The blade collided with the mirror, and spun against it, sparks flying. Hanzo sneered with contempt, and swung, knocking he blade aside.

Yosuke ran after it, and Hanzo moved to go after him before he retrieved it.

Naoto pointed her sword in front of her, hand on her arm. "Shoot, Yamato-Takeru!"

Naoto's sword transformed into what looked like a long-barreled rifle, a bar of energy at the shoulder. "Hitoe Tama," she said, and fired an energy bullet, which Hanzo blocked with his mirror.

This gave Yosuke the time to grab Susano'o, and he swung at Hanzo, which he blocked with the blade. Then Youske held up his hand. "Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws. Hado 33, Sokatsui!"

The kido hit Hanzo in the stomach, forcing him back. "Enough!" he shouted, and held up his sword, sun reflecting off of the mirror. "Kyobunshin!" Light emerged from the mirror, and from it came a copy of Hanzo.

That's why he wanted to get out of the pit. He must use light for his abilities, Naoto thought. "Yosuke, take the copy. The original is mine." She reaimed for him. "Kinkou Tama." She fired, and a larger blast went to Hanzo, who braced behind the mirror, taking the shot.

I've got half of my ammo left, she thought, glancing at the energy bar. I need to make my shots count.

He thought was interrupted as the copy screamed, and Susano'o slice through it, turning it back into light.

"Now what will you do?" she asked him.

"This," he said simply, and raised his sword again. "Hyaku Kyobunshin"

Naoto and Yosuke found themselves surrounded by a hundred copies of Hanzo, the original hidden among them. "Now what will you do?" the hundred voices mocked.

"They can rely on me," Rise voice rang out, and she was at the edge of the pit, Aisha standing proud beside her. She placed the tip of her zanpakuto on the ground, and rested a hand on the pommel. "Discover, Kanzeon."

Rise zanpakuto transformed into what looked like a satellite dish, which Rise slid onto her arm. "Show me the truth," she declared, and he zanpakuto shined. She focused on it, then pointed to one located behind Yosuke. "That's the real one."

Wasting no time, Naoto whirled. "Omoi Tama!" The barrel glowed with power, and Yosuke flash stepped away, right before she fired.

The massive blast struck Hanzo's mirror, shattering it, and all of the copies vanished. A stunned Hanzo didn't react as Yosuke punched him in the stomach, dropping him to his knees.

The three of them resealed their zanpakutos, and Naoto walked over to Hanzo, who was gasping for breath. "Squad Five Tenth Seat Hanzo Hirashi, you are hereby under arrest for kidnapping."

Applause caught their attention, and Soi Fon walked around a corner, Lieutenant Hinamori behind her, confused and worried.

Rise stayed by Lady Aisha, watching as Captain Soi Fon congratulated Naoto on her investigation. She looked over as Lieutenant Hinamori came over to them. "Lady Aisha, are you well?"

Aisha nodded. "Yes. Ms. Kujikawa here released me, and destroyed several Hollows as we tried to leave. Her kido is quite excellent."

Hinamori nodded, and looked over at Rise. "So, you're skilled in kido, are you?" She nodded and Hinamori held out a hand. "It's nice to know that there are kido experts among your group. It makes you a much more balanced team."

Rise took her hand, and the world stopped and she heard a chime.

Thou art I...And I am thou...Thou hast established a new bond.

It brings thee closer to the truth.

Thou shalt be empowered when fighting with allies of the Strength arcana.

Wow, that's a lot of zanpakutos. First off, Susano'o looks like the buzzsaw that surrounds Yosuke's Susano'o persona.

As described, Kanzeon is a shield in the form of a satellite dish. It serves the same function as her persona, to a certain degree.

Yamato-Takeru is a rifle that looks like an elongated form of Naoto's persona. It has an energy gauge that only allows a certain number of shots. She has three shots(Hitoe/Single, Kinkou/Balance, and Omoi/Heavy) that take increasingly more energy to fire. Ex. The Omoi Tama can only be fired twice.

Kyotansen(Mirror Edge) was based on the bakkoto Saiga, but has a larger mirror. Ryurai(Dragon Thunder) is a rapier that has a lightning rod for a blade.

Yosuke and Rise are my kido experts, who specialize in hado and bakudo respectively.

"Kyobunshin"-"Mirror Clone"

"Hyaku Kyobunshin"-"Hundred Mirror Clone"

Now, for my faithful readership, I have to recommendations:

10 Foolproof Ways to Piss Off Bleach Characters by Kuso Shroan and infinityphoenix. I guarantee you will laugh your pants off reading it.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Bleached Phoenix by Eradona. This Bleach/Harry Potter crossover is one of the best stories I have ever read, and it comes HIGHLY recommended.

Please read review. Either praise or criticism, constructive or otherwise, is accepted