Well, here's the next chapter…hope it doesn't seem too short or hurried, but I'm really bust lately.
Expect an update soon, hope you're enjoying this storyline…it's going to get as varied and as exciting as I can make it, there will be many surprises, and I'm going to try my best to be original and not monotonous.
And big props to people reviewing. Of course I don't mind long or chatty reviews, I embrace all reviews.
To a writer they're emboldening. At times there're downers and you figure that maybe absolutely no one is actually reading your fanfic or enjoying it.
It's always great to get reviews, any kind of reviews, just any sort of response that validates your writing and encourages you to keep on writing. Not because the people praised you, but just because you know they actually read it.
Call it pathetic, but this morning I didn't have any plans to update until say, Monday. Then I noticed a bunch of reviews, and I suddenly got back in the mood. I was excited to see how people would react to the next parts of the story and I felt like updating immediately. Dumb, I know, but that's just how my mind works.
So, do carry on, and I shall as well! Good luck to this story.
Enjoy this arc!
Enjoy yourselves!
Let's get this started!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters, settings, etc.. Did you really need me to tell you that?
Kaworu found himself flash stepped as he flashed backwards, Ichigo keeping up with his speed almost effortlessly through the massive spirals of dust they were kicking up.
Fast! Who the hell is this bastard?! I can barely keep up with his bankai in my shikai form! Ridiculous…I won't give this idiot the honor of seeing Inazuma in full glory…but at this rate…I'll have to do something…
Ichigo Kurosaki appeared behind Kaworu again, making the older Shinigami snarl and spin around with his long cross spear slamming down like a hammer at Ichigo.
Ichigo nimbly dodged it backwards, grounding his feet, and then charging forward like a man possessed, his Zangetsu slashing and thrusting wildly at Kaworu.
Kaworu grunted angrily, just barely dodging the slashes, a few of them even managing to land small nicks and cuts on his robes and chest.
Yamamoto-Genryūsai grit his teeth, dodging another slash. He decided he would up the ante a bit…why not go to…
Ten percent…
"INFERIOR WELP!"
Ichigo barely managed to flash step away in time as a massive influx of spiritual presence began to emanate from Kaworu. Evidently the former Shinigami Captain was getting annoyed.
Kurosaki leapt up in the air just in time to dodge the wide swing of Inazuma nipping at his legs, then flash stepped away just as Kaworu's fist brushed his cheek just barely missing.
He got…faster?! I can…still…keep up…
Ichigo snarled, slamming down onto the ground and then hurtling forward at Kaworu, his first sword thrust singing straight at Kaworu's open chest.
It was intercepted by Kaworu's arm twisting around Ichigo's sword arm in a lock and Kaworu's other arm impacting elbow first into Ichigo's face.
Ichigo fell backwards in what seemed like slow motion to him, realizing he had a busted nose and Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai had just taken his zanpakutō.
All in a matter of seconds…
Oh shit…
Lieutenants Izuru Kira and Isane Kotetsu backed away slowly, their zanpakutōs drawn and raised as they eyed the old man standing placidly in front of them.
Kira spoke up, staring coldly at Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
"I don't understand what business you have here, or what's going on…but you're coming with us."
Isane nodded in firm agreement, steeling her will as she strode up alongside Kira.
Gendo simply sighed, shaking his head.
"Why…why must the young strive to die in such a cold and bitter place? Why I ask, with my tears and your blood upon my face…"
He grunted as he raised his small jitte in the air, smiling sadly.
"I suppose I have no choice…if you two insist, then I will dispatch you both. Worry not, it will be clean and prudent. Kara, Tokikaze!"
The jitte slowly warped and grew into another shape, wrapping and melding around the hand that held it until it resembled a metal glove with spikes on the wrist and a long blade connect to the back of the hand.
Gendo lifted up the hand and spread the palm wide towards the Lieutenants, revealing the fact that the kanji for "fate" was scrawled onto the palm.
"I am sorry, Lieutenants, but your lives end here."
"You…uhhh…had me worried for a…huh…few seconds…huh."
Kaworu panted as he delivered a hard punch into Ichigo's gut every few seconds after every few words he spoke.
He had easily disarmed and beaten this poor fellow by simply raising his spiritual presence and speed a bit and then devastating him with some simple hand-to-hand shunpo moves.
Pathetic!
Ichigo gasped, toppling face first onto the unforgiving ground.
Kaworu shrugged, turning his back to Ichigo and beginning to walk away.
"I don't take the time to crush flies. Later."
What Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai could not see with his back to Ichigo Kurosaki's tired body was the murky darkness slowly growing inside of Ichigo's eyes.
Hahahahahaha, Ichigo! PATHETIC! DO YOU THINK I'M JUST GOING TO SIT BY AND WATCH YOU DIE, YOU WEAKLING! You don't deserve this body! HERE I COME!
Ichigo Kurosaki found himself in that void of darkness again, slowly opening his eyes and seeing himself in that queer world where he had seen Zangetsu. The buildings at their sides…everything…off.
He could see his pale Hollow counterpart sneering at him with fierce eyes and then laughing.
"Stay asleep, ICHIGO! You don't have A CHANCE AGAINST THIS OPPONENT!"
Ichigo fell to his knees, gasping for air as Hollow Ichigo burst into wild laughter.
"No…no…for Rukia…for…my friends…I won't let…you dominate…again!"
Long time no see…land of the damned…
Kisuke Urahara stood before the gates of Seireitei and sighed.
The presence of the three dragons here, alive…it threatens all…they are far too destructive, and so is he…
Kisuke clenched a fist.
Kaworu…if you are alive…then…I have no choice but to kill you myself. Sins of the past, memories of pain, irrelevant…you're…far too dangerous to be allowed alive. Soul Society would be split asunder.
Don't worry, Yoruichi…I'm coming.
A gruff snort behind him, and Kisuke turned to see Renji Abarai slowly strolled lazily towards him with his blade balanced on his shoulder.
"Eh? You wanted me to sneak out here, huh? What the hell is going on? What's wrong with Rukia and what the hell are those explosions in Seireitei?"
Kisuke only smiled, tapping the cane that was Benihime.
"You'll find out in time, Renji…for now I have no choice but to return from exile…Think they'll be happy about it? I'm thinking a welcoming party, maybe some ice cream cake."
Kisuke smirked.
Renji gave a wry snort.
"Yeah, if Captain Kuchiki doesn't slice you in half first."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya sighed, slowly making his way down the ivory stairs.
The captain's meeting had been brief and vague, Captain Yamamoto-Genryūsai only telling them to be cautious regarding the queer spiritual presence trackings and explosions that had been around Seireitei lately.
Having gazed at the old man's wistful face, Hitsugaya could've sworn he'd detected something…hidden…
Could the old man not be telling us everything? Why?
"A curious meeting was it not, Captain Hitsugaya?"
Tōshirō turned to see Captain Soifon walking alongside him down the long stairs, a bit surprised. She never really interacted much with the other Captains.
But…she does her job well, so…no matter.
"Yes…I suppose it was, Captain Soifon…is there something on your mind?"
"Captain Kuchiki wasn't at the meeting…and I haven't seen Yoruichi anywhere…and those explosions…There is someone here…destruction is occurring."
"And you wonder why the divisions haven't been fully mobilized, spread out and put on general alert yet?"
"Yes, well I-"
Suddenly Hitsugaya felt the earth shake around them from a terrible explosion that seemed to come from deep in Seireitei and cut off the female captain's words. He and Soifon fell across each other in a terrible mess as the ground shook them about.
Grunting in annoyance, Hitsugaya got up and helped Captain Soifon back up with an apology and helping hand.
However, she seemed to be staring intently at his person and he felt rather uncomfortable.
She was always a kind of…weird sort of person…
"Uh…Captain Soifon? Is there something the matter?"
"Captain Hitsugaya…Why…is your zanpakutō trembling like that?!"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya's eyes widened and he slowly drew his blade.
Hyōrinmaru was shaking violently in his grasp, and to his surprise, he found himself independently trembling in trepidation.
What…what is the meaning of this?! What's going on? What are you hiding from us, old man? And why?
Yoruichi grunted in annoyance as she flash stepped from rooftop to rooftop. Every few seconds she could feel a massive spiritual presence blink in and out of existence.
Is that you, my love?
She grit her teeth.
It had been wise of the old man not to send all on general alert. In the back of her head, with a certain bit of fear, Yoruichi contemplated that this was perhaps because the old man realized that Kaworu would slaughter anything his father sent his way by the hundreds.
And she also realized this meant one thing… Captain Yamamoto-Genryūsai was containing this; keeping this under wraps…it was obvious. He depended on her to take care of his son again.
There were no orders this time around, it was just implied.
She and Ichigo…Even now she could feel two distinct spiritual presences racing about Seireitei and clashing every few seconds. One however, was slowly decreasing in strength as every minute passed by.
No…Ichigo…stay in there…Ichigo shouldn't have even been involved…DON'T DIE! DON'T DIE! I'M COMING!
Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai barely had time to turn around and receive the terrible slash dealt to him by the manically grinning Ichigo Kurosaki.
Zangetsu tore across his chest, dealing a painful blow that while not serious still sent a thick shower of dark blood splattering on the ground.
"What?!"
"Hahahahahahahahahahhahaah! DIE!"
Kaworu flash stepped away just in time as this new Ichigo slammed his Zangetsu down onto the ground and sent a massive wave of dark energy tearing across the battered battlefield.
"Getsuga tenshō!"
A mask had materialized halfway across Ichigo's now wild face…a Hollow mask…and it was dripping and trying to cover all of his face.
Is this…a Hollow form?! What is this? How is this possible? What is this fool? Who is he?
Hollow Ichigo had meanwhile grabbed the cloth wrappings around the handle and sent it spinning down waywardly at Kaworu like a flail.
Kaworu barely managed to dodge, still feeling the blood dripping from the wound on his chest.
What the hell is-
"Hahahahaha! Look the other way and I'll slice you in half!"
Ichigo had maneuvered directly behind him in a flash, grabbing Zangetsu and swinging it downwards hard towards Kaworu's right shoulder.
Kaworu grunted, raising his spiritual presence and blocking the blade with the point of his cross spear Inazuma, slowly pushing Hollow Ichigo back.
In fact, something odd seemed to be occurring to Ichigo despite his initial victorious blows.
Kaworu noticed that his spiritual presence was dropping significantly, and in a matter of seconds Kaworu had sent the young Shinigami flying back away from his offensive position.
Ichigo fell to his knees, screaming and groaning as he grabbed the mask forming around his face with both hands and ripped it away with a grunt.
Ichigo gasped for air, slowly rising, seemingly normal again, taking in long breaths of air.
Kaworu eyed him warily, pointing Inazuma at him with a slowly growing internal rage.
"I've had…just…about…enough…of…these…games…You really piss me off, you know that? I'm going to grind you into dust and scatter your remains in every corner of this cursed land."
Ichigo only hissed, still feeling the stress from coming back into his normal bankai mode and pushing the Hollow within away. It was hard enough to fight let alone suppress his inner Hollow.
"Enough talk old man!"
"Little bastard…"
Kaworu grabbed Inazuma with both hands firmly, giving Ichigo a stare so fierce it seemed to bore straight through him.
"Bankai! Totatsu Tatsu Ouu!"
Ichigo's eyes widened.
Bankai?! Oh…shi-
Ichigo barely had time to react or glimpse Kaworu and his bankai as he was blown away like a leaf up into the air by the most powerful spiritual presence he had ever felt in his life.
For the first time in a long time since he could remember, Ichigo Kurosaki genuinely felt a terrible fear for his life and a distinct inkling that he was fighting a battle that could definitely end in his death and the death of his friends. The braggadocio was gone.
Kira took a step backwards, urging Isane to move closer to him.
"Lieutenant Kotetsu…I think it would be prudent if we responded."
"R-Right…"
Isane Kotetsu nodded to herself, trying to steel her will. She had no idea why she was so terrified by this old man before them.
And neither did Lieutenant Izuru Kira, which is why he grasped Isane's shoulder tightly when he sensed her wavering will.
"Don't worry, Lieutenant…Let's face him together…
Isane bit her lip in shame.
They always make fun of me for being a Lieutenant in 4th Division…always jeering at me…calling me the weakest Lieutenant behind my back…or just patronizing me like this…I…I don't need your pity.
Kira's eyes widened as Isane shoved him away and raised her zanpakutō in the air.
"Hashire, Itegumo!"
Gendo smirked and Kira stared on in surprise as Isane's blade changed, two smaller blades protruding from Itegumo's hilt at 45° angles.
Hmmm…come to think of it…I've never seen Lieutenant Kotetsu in action really…but she's being a bit reckless since we don't know our opponent…He seems to be just an old man without much obvious spiritual presence I can detect…maybe the level of a seated officer, that's all.
Kira shrugged as Gendo watched on, figuring he would have to give support if Kotetsu got reckless.
"Omote wo agero, Wabis-"
Kira was interrupted before he could fully release Wabiksuke, staring in confusion at the snowflake that had landed on his nose, making his eyes cross.
"W-W-What?!"
If he had turned to Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu, he would've noticed the smile on her face as she stared down Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai and as snowflakes began to fall all around them.
Let them pity 4th Division now…I'll give you men a show of power alright…Isn't that so, Itegumo?
Yeah, anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter…
A bit on the shorter side, but it's just a buildup for the next chapter. Get ready!
BANKAI!