Well, here's the next chapter, hope you're enjoying the story so far.
For those who didn't quite understand the end of the last chapter (though all signs point to everyone understanding it, I just want to explain it again) with what happened to Kaworu's bankai, it is thus:
Kaworu underestimated Ichigo so much that when he declared his "bankai", all he really did was raise his energy to a level sufficient enough to beat Ichigo rather easily.
Then he underestimated Yoruichi and continued fighting on that level, but once Yoruichi used her bankai, Kaworu found himself in deep deep trouble and almost died.
He barely managed to get out of that killer blow she launched with her bankai, and now at the end of the last chapter he finally decided to use his bankai for real and his zanpaktou's appearance and even his appearance (the tattoos burnt onto his knuckles) changed.
Obviously it seems Kaworu's bent on not going all out until he finds the real object of his anger (possibly his father…and/or even Kisuke?).
And if you're wondering how quickly I update and such, there's two reasons.
One, because I truly enjoy and love writing this story.
Two, because I actually have this fanfic (as I often do with most of my fanfics) planned ahead. I'm usually like four chapters ahead with my plan. So I just bring it to the keyboard and usually add more stuff from the top of my head as I go into it.
Truly this fanfic, out of my many fanfics, even my Evangelion fanfics which I'm more known for, is my favorite to write and it's the fastest I've updated with the largest chapters.
Hope you're enjoying it, thank you all for reading and reviewing, I really get a great boost whenever I get reviews, so don't stop. It tells me that there are people reading my fanfic, which urges me to continue writing.
Feel free to add questions or anything in your reviews too, I always try to answer and read.
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?
Soul Society
Seireitei
Yoruichi just barely managed to dodge another massive swing of Kaworu's three-pronged spear, Inazuma's spiritual power cutting her a bit on the cheek regardless of her speed as she flash stepped away.This Yamamoto-Genryūsai was a whole different animal. From the very first swing onward, he had simply stopped talking at all whatsoever.
His body burned with an electrical rage and energy that she hadn't ever seen before, and his spiritual power seemed immense.
Yet at the same time…his eyes seemed…dead…hollow and empty, much like they had been when she had stabbed him.
Even his voice had changed, since she had heard him. Not drastically, but it seemed less alive, almost tired and emotionless.
It was a deep contrast to the massive energy Kaworu was throwing around with such deadly, yet reckless accuracy.
Yoruichi quickly tried to flash behind him, only to feel him already behind her, launching a swift punch.
She just barely managed to catch it with both hands inches away from her face, that much action taking so much effort and speed that he simply swatted her off him like a child and gave her hard boot to the stomach.
Grunting and spitting blood angrily, she leapt above him and sent a swift roundhouse kick zooming to his head.
Kaworu quickly brought up his spear, blocking her foot with its powerful length and then using it to push her entire body back.
She just barely managed to parry Inazuma with Hachimitsu's blade, grunting as she pressed her back once more and swung one end of the long spear against her foot.
Yoruichi jerked her right foot backwards just as the spear's other end smashed a hole into the ground, however she wasn't prepared for the uppercut that slammed into her chin.
Each thrust of his spear broke the ground beneath them apart into long trenches, and every punch seemed to shake the air itself.
She found she could barely breathe as his spiritual presence grew higher and higher, and now she was frantically dodging another one of his punches.
She countered with a long sweeping kick that he gracefully ducked under, and a slash of her Hachimitsu which he simply flash stepped away from.
It's like child's play to him…the bastard…My Okami…what has gotten into you?! I can't hope to defeat him now…I can only hope to stop him momentarily and then retreat with Ichigo…maybe if Kisuke were hear we could come up with something…but at this rate…
Yoruichi gasped. The Kaworu that had just dodged another one of her swift slashes suddenly appeared right behind her.
He smirked.
"Destructive Art: 96, Lighting Flock, Decimate!".
She gasped, turning around as he spoke that spell, watching as small bolts of lightning pulsed and gathered around Kaworu's right fist until it looked like almost blinding blade of electricity that he quickly swung straight at her chest.
She barely managed to dodge, feeling the electricity searing through her right hip as he cut her just a bit.
Flash stepping away with a grunt; she noted the slash he had landed despite her speedy dodge, noticing that there was no blood.
It must be so powerful and quick that it seals up the blood vessels almost instantaneously after it cuts them open!
Yoruichi had no time to contemplate this further however, as Kaworu was speedily in front of her again, sending a flurry of punches that seemed as fast as lightning itself.
She groaned, managing to dodge a few of them and grab his right arm in an elbow lock, only to feel him swing her around and slam his left knee into her back and then slam her hard into the ground as if she were his mere plaything.
The Goddess of Flash was in big trouble; that much was for sure.
She grit her teeth as the silken flapping threads of Hachimitsu burst out from the blade's beautiful hilt as she fell.
Hachimitsu…save me…I have no one else to depend on…Kisuke is nowhere to be seen…and the one I loved seeks to kill me. Rightfully so.
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi let out a joyous laugh dripping with vile glee as the voice of the member of his 12th Squad he had sent to spy on the battle between Yoruichi and Kaworu crackled through the small communicator the squad member had been provided with.
He leaned in, listening quietly to the small voice whispering through the speaker next to his queer ringed protruding objects where his ears would be, his skull-like visage giving a quick grin that seemed very maniacal.
"Ahahhahaha! Yes! Yes! So that's what it is!"
He bent over like a hunchback, leaning in and typing furiously on the keyboard in front of him, while gazing at a screen full of information and calculations.
"Ah…so that explains it then…the purpose of this stranger…and his goals…It is quite obvious who he truly wishes to kill…How amusing! And his zanpakutō is one of the three…If Hitsu-"
Suddenly a stern voice behind him.
"If I what? It sounds like you have a lot of answers, Captain Kurotsuchi…A lot of answers that the rest of us except General Yamamoto don't seem to have."
Mayuri gave a grin and spoke in his coarse voice as he faced the small but fierce-looking face of Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
"Perhaps I do, Captain Hitsugaya…"
"And would you care to enlighten me on what you've found?"
Mayuri slowly grinned.
"I figured you were the type to always follow orders, Captain Hitsugaya. Why not listen to Captain Yamamoto-Genryūsai and keep your nose out of it? These are rather…sensitive matters."
Hitsugaya seemed quite angered, but was obviously trying to hold onto his temper, speaking in a calm and collected tone.
"Because people are dying out there and I want to know why. Captain Soifon just departed towards the battle as well, whatever it is. She could very well be injured, like Captain Kuchiki, like that Rukia. We're under orders to avoid this, to ignore it as if it wasn't happening…I want to know why, and what's going on!"
Mayuri paused, studying Hitsugaya's face and speaking in a slow and secretive tone.
"You want to know…what's going on?"
"Yes!"
"Well, I can tell you this…Captain Yamamoto had a son…His name was Kaworu."
"Kaworu? Are you telling me that what's going on is because of that? What happened to his son?!"
Mayuri suddenly glanced away from Hitsugaya's face and seemed to stare out into nothingness for a good while, as if contemplating something.
Then he spoke in a rather disconnected and hollow voice.
"Oh, it was a wonder to experiment on all those Quincy…I imagine if Kaworu knew of me, he'd want to kill me just as he wants to kill my predecessor…"
"So…this has to do with the Quincy Wars?!"
"Oh, a lot more than that, Captain Hitsugaya…a lot more…it has to do with the fate of Soul Society as a whole."
"Then why is it being withheld from us? Tell me what the meaning of this all is, Captain Kurotsuchi!"
"Well…my research…"
"Is it in your records then? This information you just received?"
"Oh, yes, of course…but I can't just have anyone be privy to it…"
Hitsugaya let a slow sigh as he remembered how difficult and secretive Mayuri could be with his research and data. Often not even giving it to other Shinigami divisions that could make use of it.
"This is important, Mayuri…"
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi smirked slowly.
"Well, obviously I can show this information to you once you get written clearance."
"That could take months! Stop playing around like this, Mayuri! Your comrades are dying getting hurt and killed at this very moment!"
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi paused, giving a fake pouting frown which seemed bizarre on his skull-like countenance.
"Oh, you wound me, Hitsugaya! Inside my chest my little bitty heart might've felt something about that, but some modifications a while ago took care of that annoying organ. Tell me, why should I reveal anything to you without some…gratitude?"
"Gratitude? Stop playing games…what do you want from me?! What do you want in return then?"
"Let me…run some experiments on you, Tōshirō Hitsugaya…"
Mayuri rose, eyeing the short captain carefully as Hitsugaya's own eyes widened.
"Experiment on me?! Out of the ques-"
"Don't you want to know the truth of it as well, Tōshirō? You are aware you are the inheritor of the style of the Dragon Hyōrinmaru…one of Three Dragons?"
"Of course I am!"
"Then…what if I told you the Third Dragon has arrived. The Dragon of Fierce Lightning Death, Inazuma."
Hitsugaya's eyes widened and he took a step back in shock while Mayuri gave him a satisfied smile.
But…then who is the third? The records said he or she was DEAD…and what does that have to do with…Yamamoto's…son…his son?! So that means…
Suddenly he glanced down, and noticed that once again, his sword was trembling at his hip.
Hyōrinmaru?! Do you quake at the return of your brethren? Is it in…anticipation…anger…or is it…fear?
He looked up to see Mayuri giving him a grim smile.
"So then…shall we begin the tests?"
Yoruichi gasped for air as Hachimitsu's silken strands slammed into the ground before she could hit it, propelling her back up as they gripped the ground like the many legs of a centipede below her.
The flying strands them hurtled up as she herself flew up, slashing wildly at Kaworu.
He grunted, for a moment seemingly put back by her wild attacks, but managed to block all of them almost effortlessly in a flurry of movement to quick to see.
However, he had not apparently paid any attention to the silken strands she had sent hurtling up, connected to Hachimitsu.
Yoruichi gave herself a millisecond to smirk as they wrapped around both of Kaworu's arms and pressed his arms to his sides as they wrapped around his torso.
Gotcha!
Her eyes widened just as quickly as he let out a roar of power and simply ripped straight through all of Hachimitsu's strands containing him, the shreds of silken fabric fluttering to the ground like so many butterfly wings glinting in the sun.
Yoruichi had barely any time to react in her surprise, Kaworu's fist hurtling towards her face.
However, in her stead, Hachimitsu was quick to react. In its fully released form, her zanpakutō formed an almost instant sphere of defense around Yoruichi, even when she didn't order it to.
Any attacks that came too close would be quickly met with a meshed web of Hachimitsu's silk threads that were strong enough and quick enough to stop the fiercest punch or sword slash.
So Yoruichi was double surprised as Kaworu's fist slammed a hole directly into the silken shield that had appeared before her and then painfully continued into her face.
Yoruichi let out a pained grunt as the hard fist collided terribly into her pretty face, the force of it sending her flying head over heels right into the waiting and damaged ground below.
A massive explosion of dust and rubble shook the entire area as Kaworu calmly watched from above.
Slowly it cleared, to reveal Yoruichi's gravely injured form. While she hadn't taken any major slashes this battle, she was still very beat up and it was clear that her energy was slowly going down minute after minute.
Yoruichi Shihouin groaned, trying to maintain consciousness as she stared up at the massive broiling center of the overwhelming spiritual presence all around her.
His…spirit…his power…it's…still rising?!
She blinked once, the sweat and blood dripping into her eyes as she touched her forehead and felt a nasty gash there.
Yoruichi looked back up to notice that the sky was totally empty and heard a familiar grim and emotionless voice behind her.
"Destructive Art: 96, Lighting Flock, Decimate!".
She glanced back just in time to see Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai hurling his energy-filled, crackling right fist directly at her back.
It's…over…
Yoruichi felt warm arms wrap around her body and felt like crying.
Am I dead already?
Those arms however, were real, and just barely managed to carry Yoruichi away from the fierce kido that would've surely slammed directly into her torso and left a basketball-sized hole there.
Yoruichi was slumped rather unceremoniously on the ground and found her eyes so pained that she could barely keep them open to glance up at who or what had delivered her from instant death.
So…heavy…so…tired.
She could barely make out a lithe, familiar feminine form standing over her grimly, speaking in a confident tone.
"I don't know what's going on, Yoruichi sempai…but…stay down…I'll handle this from here on out."
Yoruichi felt like screaming for the figure to run away, but found herself unable to she slumped into unconsciousness.
Soi…fon…run…run…run…run…you'll die…he'll…you…Kaworu…you…goddamn…beautiful…son of a bitch…
Unknown
"Can I dream alone?"
"That would not be a dream. It would just be a projection of reality."
"Then... where is my dream?"
"That is the extension of reality."
"My... where is my reality?"
"That is at the end of the dream."
Ichigo Kurosaki woke up with a start, sweat dripping off his brow, to find himself laying in the infirmary, his entire body aching.
"Where am I? Yoruichi? Did Kaworu…am I injured? Did he die? Where's Rukia?!"
Ichigo paused to stare up at the ceiling, muttering under his breath.
"Unfamiliar ceiling…"
He turned to see a familiar Shinigami girl standing to the side of his bed, her soft eyes flashing with unreadable emotions.
"Where am I, Rukia?"
"Fighting Byakuya? No, I'm not there..."
Rukia stood beside Kurosaki's bed, startling him with her voice, a voice he had grown to love and at times abhor.
"If you don't try to further yourself and challenge yourself, you will never grow in strength, Ichigo…Sometimes that means sacrificing your beliefs…or even your soul…to gain the strength to defend your friends against certain death. "
Orihime appeared at the foot of the bed, still as she had been when he had last seen her, her soft voice piercing into Ichigo's very essence.
"Please…Ichigo…you cannot let them kill us…they'll take me…they'll take Rukia…they'll take us all…You have to find a new path to protect us…You couldn't even beat Kaworu…What makes you think you can…beat…"
A new commanding voice rose over the others, Ichigo craned his head to see a tall man with a cold stare and glistening eyes.
"Aizen..."
"Human, you have no strength in your current form…You are nothing but a plague, a weakness among your companions! I overestimated you, drifter…You are too fickle and stubborn, unwilling to consider other paths to strength if they could protect your friends from harm."
Rukia nodded slowly.
"It was my brother's stiff stubbornness that caused his defeat, his rigidity, his refusal to change. You remember…"
Beside him was a woman with soft hair that resembled the glamorous painting his father had in their house. Ichigo Kurosaki knew very well who she was.
"Mother..."
"Ichigo…As long as the Sun, the Moon and the Earth exist, everything will be all right. You must gain the strength to defend your friends and loved ones, even if that means taking the path that you fear…"
Then there was a flash of light, and Kurosaki let out a shriek, clutching his head.
"I'LL PROTECT YOU ALL EVEN IF IT MEANS GIVING UP MY GODDAMN SOUL!"
Over and over and over and over.
This scene had been replayed and replayed inside Ichigo Kurosaki like some annoying rerun, and he had had enough.
He could feel that there was fighting still going on outside the void of his mind, that outside his friends could be in danger.
Ichigo grit his teeth.
"I want to have the power to save them! I'm tired of this, Zangetsu!"
Suddenly, footsteps behind him, and a soft female voice.
"So be it, Ichigo Kurosaki."
He turned to see a young woman with tan skin and tawny blonde hair in strange clothing standing before him. She had odd white clothes, part of which resembled a jacket with long sleeves that bared her middrift and revealed a good amount of her ample bosoms.
Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes opened wide as he noticed then that she had his Hollow form grasped by the neck. This pale white strange-looking opposite of Ichigo let out a terrible screech as the young woman stabbed her own blade into this Hollow Ichigo's neck.
Black blood poured onto the ground out of "Hichigo's" throat and Ichigo stumbled backwards in surprise and confusion as the black blood began to flow up his legs and up his body.
Ichigo flailed wildly but was unable to throw it off as it seeped up his chest and then into his nose and mouth even as he tried to keep his mouth clamped shut.
He felt like screaming, though he knew not if it was because of the power surging inside him or the revulsion inside himself.
Ichigo felt almost violated, enraged. He only knew one way to release all of these emotions.
I'll…kill him! KAWORU!
Soul Society
Seireitei
Orihime Inoue and Uryū Ishida had been moving for what seemed like ages through the winding corridors of Seiretei, trying to track the exclusive spiritual presences they had felt.
Sweat beaded on Ishida's brow and he shook his head.
"I can't…really feel them that well…Maybe since I lost my powers."
Orihime gave him a kind smile and nodded quickly.
"I can't feel Kurosaki-san much anymore…but I think I feel Yoruichi…she's over that way!"
"Then let's go…thank you, Inoue."
"Your welcome, Ishi-"
Suddenly she was interrupted by a shrieking little girl's voice that seemed quite familiar.
"Hey! Boobies and Glasses!"
Kenpachi halted in front of them with Yachiru balanced on his shoulders.
Kenpachi looked down at Orihime, smirking.
"You? Then are you two looking for Ichigo as well? Lead us to him! We've been searching for ages!"
Ishida noted they had come from the direction Orihime had just pointed out and were heading towards the direction Ishida and Orihime had come from.
His forehead wrinkled and he eyed the little girl on Kenpachi's large shoulders.
"You two are going the wrong way…"
"Oh yeah, and what do you know, Four Eyes?!"
Yachiru leant over and began to pound on Ishida's head.
Ishida sighed, trying to adjust his glasses as Orihime smile and laughed.
This could…take a while…
Suddenly, a massive crash and Chad burst through the wall next to them, carrying Hanatarō Yamada on his shoulders.
Chad was now covered in rubble and dust but didn't seem worst for wear, glancing stoically at Orihime and Ishida.
Yamada seemed quite pale and about to lose his lunch.
Ishida raised an eyebrow.
"Chad?"
"Ishida…I picked up this guy along the way when I felt Ichigo's spiritual presence…he says he knows Ichigo and helped him out before and that he can feel his presence too…it's gone down!"
"Well yeah…I can feel it too…you don't need to be a rocket scientist to feel these massive spiritual presences."
He glanced back at Kenpachi nervously, making sure the large man hadn't been insulted.
The Captain seemed oblivious to the talk, scratching his nose while Yachiru frolicked on his broad shoulders.
Ishida glanced back at the smaller fellow on Chad's shoulders, noting his paleness and sickly features.
"You alright there, Shinigami?"
The young Shinigami shook his head and gulped silently, then motioned for Ishida to come closer.
Leaning forward towards the little fellow, Ishida heard him whisper into his ears.
"That…was…the…twentieth…wall…we've burst through…this guy…doesn't get the…concept of…using doors…"
Ishida glanced at Chad, who seemed just as oblivious as Kenpachi.
"Something wrong, Ishida?"
"Oh…nothing."
Kenpachi grunted dismissively, glancing around in impatience.
"Right, is the friendly reunion over?! I want to find this bastard with the high spirit! And I want to kill him, even if it's that Ichigo fellow!"
Orihime frowned as Ishida grabbed her delicate hand and nodded, the pair quickly sprinting down the path winding through buildings.
Kenpachi watched them dart away and then turned to Chad and the Shinigami on his shoulders.
"You, big fellow, you know where they are too? I don't think Yachiru has any idea…"
"Hey! Kenny!"
"Well, we've been running about for hours, dammit!"
Chad only nodded slowly, speaking his deep but quiet voice.
"Yes. I know where they are."
"Then lead the way!"
Yamada groaned as Chad crouched down and prepared to run.
"Gah! Can't you just go around like those two?! They seemed smart, that glasses guy seemed to be using his head for a change, and he seemed intelligent…"
Chad shook his head, apologizing as he burst through the wall in front of them in an explosion of rubble and sprinted on.
"Sorry, but this way is faster…Ichigo might be in trouble."
Kenpachi grinned as he burst through the exact same wall with Yachiru bouncing and giggling on his shoulders and then quickly paced alongside Chad.
"I like this guy, he uses his head!"
Captain Sajin Komamura sighed, moving his massive bulk through the corridors of Soul Society as he contemplated the matters plaguing his mind.
What did Captain Hitsugaya say? That he intended to find out the truth behind all of this? And Captain Soifon…am I truly a fool to be so complacent? I owe my life and worth to General Yamamoto...but what if he really is hiding something.
Komamura glanced off in the distance, trying not to dwell on Tōsen and the truth behind this all.
Kaname…he leaned too much on his sense of duty and justice, until it became skewed and corrupted…and part of the problem behind Aizen managing to betray us so easily was that we were too grounded on issues of duty and the rules that we couldn't see the obvious foolishness around us and in the execution of that Kuchiki girl…
He paused, slowly using the strange but effective brush Lieutenant Hisagi had brought him to brush through his sweaty and matted down fur.
Perhaps there is a balance, a sane resolution between the mad justice of Kaname, the inflexible law of General Yamamoto, and the wild untamed and uncaring foolishness of that Kenpachi! I must find it, before I am ready to face my demons and tame the demons that plague Tōsen.
Komamura clenched his massive gloved paws.
"I will not be ready until then…until I have the strength."
Suddenly a voice behind him, interrupting his self-avowed vow briefly.
"Captain Komamura?"
The massive fox-like Captain turned around to face his Lieutenant, Tetsuzaemon Iba.
He had his distinctive hair cut and sunglasses as always, much like a Yakuza. Rather strange indeed.
The man was reliable and strong, but at times a bit odd and lazy.
Maybe that combination isn't as bad as I once thought…there must be balance in every man.
"What is it, Lieutenant Iba?"
"We've…found something…I think it may have to do with the recent events in Soul Society…with the battle that is supposedly going on."
Komamura stiffened.
So…do I cower in the face of possible truth and follow my orders…or do I move on and see if I can help my comrades by discovering the truth behind all of this madness…
Captain Komamura only silently hesitated for a minute before he responded, but it was a minute that seemed like a glaring hour for Lieutenant Iba. Komamura had never seemed so introspective.
"Lead the way, Lieutenant."
"Yes, Captain."
Lieutenant Renji Abarai stared on in awe as Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai's body as the old man spit out blood and tried to stand over the slippery blood spilling under his body from the stab Kisuke had dealt.
Finally, Gendo stood, his eyes staring fiercely at Kisuke Urahara despite the wound that seemed obviously severe.
Kisuke Urahara's wounds were obviously severe as well however, though Renji would never guess he had received them from the queer bankai of Tokikaze that he and the other Lieutenants had not glimpsed while Urahara was trapped in that terrible area of darkness.
Frankly, both of the former Captains of 12th Division seemed near death, yet neither Renji or the terribly injured Kira (and certainly not the yet unconscious Isane) seemed ready to interrupt the battle.
The emotions and spiritual powers connected in this terrible fight to the death just seemed too intense for them to leap into.
Gendo gazed fiercely at Urahara and growled.
"How?! How did you survive those who you killed? How did you survive Tokikaze's abilities?"
Urahara gave him a grim, hateful smile.
"I simply…surrendered to the specters of my past and let them take out their vengeance on me…"
"And yet you live?!"
"And yet I live…it seems they were unwilling to deal the fatal blow…though it's quite obvious that if either of us stay still for much longer like this, we'll just bleed out and die."
"So?"
"So…"
Gendo grunted, just barely able to raise his katana and point it at Urahara.
"So we make one final rush at each other…Let our blades decide the true victor!"
Urahara smirked, shaking his tired head.
"No…rather I think not...If I retreat, I think it likely a comrade from 4th Division can help me…And I think it likely Renji…Renji!"
Renji appeared at his side, Urahara's arm around Renji's shoulder while Kira seemed just barely able to support Isane on his own shoulders.
"As I was saying…I think it likely Renji can take me somewhere to get my wounds fixed…Yet you will simply bleed out and die, as it has been centuries since anyone in this place knew you or would help you…You no longer have any solace in this world, old man, so I think it more likely any Shinigami you encounter will stab you, not heal you."
Gendo's eyes widened and he let out a pained grunt that seemed mixed with tired anger.
Kisuke gave him a tired but wide grin.
"Therefore…I must bid you adieu…it is far easier to simply retreat and let you bleed out than be forced to make some final clash of blades which I may, frankly, lose. Ta ta, former Captain Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai…and rest in peace!"
The instant 'peace' left Kisuke's mouth, Kira and Renji quickly sped away with Kisuke and Isane on their shoulders, leaving nothing but a wake of dust in front of Gendo.
The old man grunted, feeling his slippery blood making his hold on his katana rather difficult as he pressed it against the ground like a walking stick and used one hand to gently hold the bloody wound in his chest.
Gendo stared up with blurry, tired eyes that threatened to close, staring at the white towers and massive buildings in the center of Seireitei with a grimace.
"I…cannot die…brother…I will not die…Not until you…give me…penance."
His now bloodied hand reached out from pressing his wound and grasped the buildings in the horizon.
The hand clenched into a shaky fist as it grasped at those white towers, as if Gendo had crushed them into his palms.
"Not until…I revenge…my own history…Tokikaze…Unlike Urahara…I refuse to surrender to the specters of my past…just yet…"
There was only a dull thump as the old man toppled over and lay silent against the building's roof.
No one noticed, no one paid any mind.
Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai lay silent, unmoving, and alone on the building's roof, his blood pooling under him.
Feels…just like home…
Captain Komamura's eyes widened as he stood before the 'things' that his Lieutenant Iba had found and wanted to show him.
He glanced closely at them, noticing that they were massive humanoid-shaped holes in the wall. As if someone had crashed straight through the wall and continued on, wall after wall. It was almost cartoonish!
"So…you found these, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, Captain Komamura?"
"And you think they might have something to do with the explosions recently and the battle that is supposedly going on?"
"Yes sir…"
"If only we could find out…who caused this…"
Suddenly Komamura's eyes widened and he let out an angry gasp.
Lieutenant Iba moved in closer, curious.
"What is it, Captain?"
Komamura groaned, pointing at one of the holes in the wall. The outline was massive, and seemed to have…spikes on his or her head.
"Dammit! That's Kenpachi! That idiot! That's his hair!"
"Err…Captain Kenpachi?"
"Yes…yes…"
Lieutenant Iba sighed in what could be called relief.
"Guess it really didn't have anything to do with the intruder…"
Captain Komamura nodded, and then let out a slow and awkward laugh.
"Captain? Is something the matter?"
Captain Komamura had certainly been acting strange for the last day or two.
"Oh…nothing…it's just that Kenpachi…he certainly gets on my nerves…"
"Yes…I heard what happened in the battle with Captain Tōsen…"
"Indeed…but I have moved past that…I understand that Zaraki's actions now, even if they were wild and brutish."
A voice behind them, whose owner sounded like he was smiling or at least in a casually pleasant mood.
"That's good to hear, Captain Komamura. I'm glad you're feeling well."
Komamura turned to see Captain Shūhei Hisagi.
The man seemed in good spirits in his new Captain's robes, which actually looked nice with the choker on his neck and the tattoos all over his body.
Yes, he had forgotten to mention that to himself before, Hisagi had been promoted to fill in the empty spot of Kaname Tōsen as Captain of Ninth Division. The ceremonies had been recent, though Komamura had been unable to attend, still recovering from his injuries.
Hisagi indeed seemed quite capable, though his Lieutenant hadn't been decided on just yet.
"Congratulations on the promotion, Captain Hisagi."
"Yes, thank you, Captain Komamura…but I didn't come just for festivities and greetings…there's something the matter…it has to do with the recent events…"
"Yes?"
"Well…more like…someone wants to see you…two someones to be exact…Follow me…"
Captain Komamura nodded, gesturing for his Lieutenant Iba to follow them as well.
So…this is my true moment of decision…I will always respect you, Captain Yamamoto…but…I must discover the truth behind this…and if it has anything to with Kaname…
Captain Soi Fon faced down the strange man who had been fighting Yoruichi with a fierce intensity, trying to ignore the obvious danger and massive spiritual presence emanating from him.
Who the hell is he?! It has to have something to do with Captain Yamamoto's orders earlier at the Captain's Meeting…but why would he want to hide this from us and tell us not to interfere or do anything about it!? Yoruichi could've DIED! What the hell is wrong with Soul Society now, and what is he hiding?!
"You there, who are-"
"The time for questions is over. I have places to go, business to intend to, and the wounds on my body still bleed. I no longer have time to waste playing with my father's underlings."
His…father's what?! Can it be?
Kaworu suddenly appeared crouched in front her and slammed a terrible punch into her stomach that made the saliva and blood float out of her skewed mouth.
She bounced off the ground, gasping for air and just barely managing to leap over another punch and land.
Captain Soifon quickly reached for her zanpakutō, just barely managing to draw the wakizashi known as Suzumebachi from her back as Kaworu appeared leaping right in front of her face and sent his boot colliding into her head with a terribly debilitating roundhouse kick.
It seemed that indeed playtime was over for Former Captain Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai. He seemed no longer content to taunt or speak during battle, or even to go easy on his opponent.
His eyes remained cold and emotionless, but the spiritual energy continued rising from him, despite the fact that his body was covered in bloody slashes now from the fights with Ichigo and Yoruichi. None of them seemed to be very deep or effective, however, or in a vital area of his body.
Every move and attack seemed driven with an unbelievably powerful strength and speed, as if he seemed intent to end the battle in a matter of two or three moves.
She caught another punch in her right cheek that seemed to send pain spiraling up her spine, but managed to ground herself and spit out her initial release along with an unbelievable amount of blood.
"Jinteki Shakusetsu, Suzumebachi!"
The wakizashi she held became a golden stinger that wrapped around her right fist, and Kaworu seemed to hesitate for a moment, confused by the new events.
She took this as an opening, realizing that she may not have another one again.
Quickly she slammed the stinger into Kaworu's right shoulder, making him grunt and quickly flash step away from her before she could do anymore.
Kaworu glanced down at the wound, his eyebrows rising in confusion as he noticed that while it wasn't severe at all there happened to be an odd butterfly symbol like a hornet's crest had appeared on him where she had stabbed.
She quickly hurtled at him again, growling as she sent a flurry of spinning kicks and punches at him.
Kaworu seemed to be blocking them leisurely, but he let out a surprised gasp and stopped one of her strikes with both hands before it could land.
He noticed then that her stinger had been zooming straight for the same spot on his right shoulder and that his arms were mottled with the same hornet's crests.
Kaworu grunted, pushing her backwards roughly, Soifon gasping in disappointment as she had been about to kill him right then and there.
"How did you-"
"How did I know what?! I may not know your techniques, you bitch, but I damn well know something's going on when you keep trying to hit me in the same spot."
Kaworu's eyes suddenly grew fierce and he gave a sly smirk.
"Well, I guess I just won't let you hit me at all. You're too tricky. I'll end this now."
Soifon's eyes widened as Kaworu appeared behind her and stabbed the spear point of Inazuma at her back.
Shit! He's too fast for me still?!
She just barely managed to spiral around and leap over the long spear, gasping as she felt it crackling with electric energy.
However she wasn't able to dodge the upturn as Kaworu simply reversed his grip and swung the other end of Inazuma at her.
The blunt endpoint slammed hard into her head like a hammer, sending spots into her vision as she flew backwards.
Soifon spit out another few drops of blood and felt the same warm liquid dripping from her forehead. It wasn't a major wound, but she found herself unable to stand straight for a few seconds.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, she got her balance, taking a deep breath that stung inside her throat.
Soifon realized that she had better release her zanpakutō again before another punch or strike slammed into her, hoping she'd be able to at least keep up with his speed or at least manage to land a hit on a spot she'd previously struck.
"I have no choice then…Bank-"
"I told you! I no longer have time to play around!"
Soifon was unable to finish her phrase, an obvious attempt to make the final release of her zanpakutō. Instead she caught Kaworu's powerful right hook right into her stomach.
He followed this up with another blinding punch to the head and a terribly brutal high kick that connected with her chin.
All these movements were flashes of pain that she could barely detect with her eyes as they landed. It was almost like invisible slamming pain that she could barely detect.
As she hurtled up in the air, Kaworu grabbed her right arm and snapped it like a twig over his shoulder, making Soifon scream in agony as it broke.
"No more playing around…"
She had long slumped into unconsciousness because of the pain, so she didn't make any other screams as he broke her other arm and sent her slamming down in a freefall spiral onto the ground.
Captain Soifon slammed into it with an explosion of dust and then didn't move again, her spiritual presence frightfully low.
Kaworu smirked as the hornet's crests seemingly tattooed all over his body now began to disappear.
"Too bad Yoruichi…neither you nor father's underlings could halt my path. That's the end of that. Now, onto-"
His brow then furrowed, and he sighed in haughty exasperation as he felt a blade point about to plunge into his back.
It was definitely the point of a sword, though he knew not whose, but he was indeed so fast that the moment he felt it about to enter his skin he simply spun around and caught it in both hands.
Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai's eyes widened with imperceptible horror and surprise as he noticed the sword he had caught and its owner.
The sword was black and sleek…Zangetsu…
And the young man with tattered clothes and wounds all over his body…there was no mistaking him.
Ichigo Kurosaki was not down for the count.
His spiritual presence was back, apparently, and while it could not equal Kaworu's at all, it had actually risen from the last time Kaworu had fought him.
And there was another change that rather startled Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes were yellow.
But otherwise he seemed completely physically unchanged.
"What?! I thought I killed you?!"
Ichigo gave Kaworu a fierce look and yanked Zangetsu's sleek black blade out of Kaworu's hands and then swung it with blinding speed at Kaworu's neck.
"Let me show you a little something about killing."
Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter…
It seems my chapters are getting longer and longer.
I was wondering, is that a problem with you guys?
Would you like these chapters a bit shorter or separated partitioned out into smaller chapters? Or are they just the right size to read and enjoy?
I mean WOW, I've never written a Fanfic chapter in any fanfic as big as this one…
Oh, and for those worrying about a clichéd "ICHIGO SAVES THE DAY" ending, don't worry…This arc isn't over just yet.
There's a LOT still in store, a lot still going on in the background of Hueco Mundo and Soul Society that I haven't revealed.
Hope you guys stay along for the ride.
See ya next chapter.