Well, here we are again, I hope this story isn't too dumb so far, hope you've been enjoying it without much annoyance…
I still don't get many readers when it comes to each new chapter, but it's all good, the few that are supporting me really help, I welcome all your reviews and reading eyes…
Hopefully I'm not making my chapters too long?
And hopefully I'm not taking too long to update…
Do enjoy the story and this Kaworu Arc, as we're entering the midway point of the Arc and a turning point in the story.
I already have like the next twenty chapters planned out, at least vaguely inside my head.
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
Kaworu just barely ducked under Ichigo's wild swipes, his eyes widening with what could be concern.
The boy isn't close to strong enough…yet…but he's stronger than before, and last time I checked I nearly sliced him in two!
He flash stepped away just in time to dodge a wild horizontal swing, bringing up his spear to thrust powerfully at Ichigo's face.
Kaworu was more than a bit satisfied by the obvious strain this new berserk Ichigo was having blocking the spear and holding his ground and he found that without much trouble he could simply throw Ichigo back with a slam of his spear.
He's stronger…faster…but it's not enough, not with me at this level…
The wounds he had previously dealt Ichigo seemed to have mysteriously healed, and Ichigo's battle fervor had certainly increased…but it would not be enough.
Kaworu scoffed as Zangetsu locked with his Inazuma, and then simply executed a familiar combo he had dealt to a previous female in this battleground. Soifon.
Kaworu quickly dropped Inazuma, letting Ichigo fall forward into the powerful right hook waiting for his stomach.
He followed this up with a blinding punch to the head and a terribly brutal high kick that connected with Ichigo's chin.
All these movements were flashes of pain that Ichigo could barely detect with his eyes as they landed. It was almost like invisible slamming pain that he could barely detect.
As Ichigo hurtled up in the air, Kaworu grabbed Kurosaki's right arm and snapped it like a twig over his shoulder, making Ichigo's curse and scream in agony as it broke.
Ichigo's eyes widened, both from the pain and from the fact that he felt Kaworu grabbing both his legs as they fell, throwing him with a rush of air towards the ground.
He slammed into it hard a few seconds before Kaworu gracefully landed, Ichigo's clothes in tatters, his body caked with blood and shaking with agonizing pain.
"You have showed great growth, and for that, I am impressed. You taught me that one can't simply leave an enemy a terribly bloody slash. Obviously it doesn't always work, ask Yoruichi!"
Ichigo grimaced, trying to stand, feeling the strength and at the same time that odd darkness that he had felt with it draining out of him.
"But I suppose this time I'll do you honor and be more thorough. Let me teach you a true level of power before you die…This zanpakutō I wield is not simply some pitiful blade with a name and spirit…It is one of the Three Dragons. Heard of them? I suppose not. They were the Dragon Spirits who fought for the King of Soul Society himself, but are said to have become so powerful that he was forced to seal them away into 'Guardians', Shinigami cursed and blessed with being the inheritors of each dragon's spirit and style."
Kaworu paused, gripping Inazuma tight.
"There were three…Inazuma of the Sky, Ryūjin Jakka of the Earth, and Hyōrinmaru of the Sea…lightning, fire, water…Every generation they are sealed and resealed into a new Guardian. This fated Shinigami is blessed with the power of the Dragon at his disposal, but it is madly difficult to reign and control a power and zanpakutō of such a level. Many Guardians go insane, or take centuries to develop their powers fully. There is one connection between all of them, to survive, the Dragon will slowly leach away the flesh and energy of the host until he or she is dead! And then onto the next Guardian! That is why they are sealed as skillfully as possible into the zanpakutōs…"
Ichigo had been trying to rise during Kaworu's continuing monologue, but found his legs unwilling to move.
"My shikai and bankai only increase the strength and form of my zanpakutō while my own massive spiritual presence rises…however; it is possible to go beyond this, to use the power and spirit of the great Dragon sealed inside the zanpakutō itself! Such spiritual power is so immense and dangerous that barely any Guardian has attempted it, except my father long ago when he first fought the wars to create this place. Any inexperienced fool who would attempt it would be instantly consumed by their Dragon's power and turned into a pile of mangled flesh because of their body's inability to handle such a massive spirit…and even those who learn, like my father, still run great risk. Leach on the power of the Dragon for too long and he will corrode your flesh and slowly burn away your body. It's why any release of the Dragon's seal must be quick and decisive, then ended…if I used this for too long, my fingers would burn away, then my hands, arms, shoulders, legs, torso, chest, neck, head, obviously I'd be dead by the time such a thing occurred…"
Ichigo gasped in agony as he felt the pain in his body, as if all the wounds he had been dealt before that had seemingly been healed by the dark presence inside of him were suddenly back. He tried to use his zanpakutō to raise himself up, but found his body stiff. Slowly he managed to get to his feet, gritting his teeth and trying to focus his weak eyes on Kaworu and ears on Kaworu's words.
"In honor of your futile attempts to defeat me, I will end you quickly with the first release of my Dragon's seal. There are three in total, and each increases my power so drastically that my body could very well burn to ash when faced with the immense spirit of the Dragon possessing and assisting it. So I will make this last only a few seconds. No offense meant, but I don't want to lose a finger or anything."
Ichigo stumbled forward, trying to muster his spiritual power and stay in his bankai form. Slowly he tried to put one foot in front of the other, and then found himself running forward at great speed, sword raised.
"Enough talk you bastard!"
Kaworu stared at him with what seemed to be immense sympathy, sighing and shaking his head. Ichigo was still advancing slowly, which gave Kaworu time to speak.
"Releasing first limit, Inazuma…"
He held the great spear Inazuma in his left hand and pressed the tip into his right palm. As if made of air, it sank straight through his palm as if his palm was an endlessly deep pool of water and then simply disappeared.
Kaworu clenched his right fist, his eyes bulging and the veins at his forehead straining with obvious difficulty as his right arm trembled.
Suddenly, the bright golden-white tattoos spelling the phrase "VENGEANCE IS MINE" ("Fukushû Suruwa Wareniari") across both hands that had grown on his knuckles with his bankai started to contort against his skin.
The golden lines began to crisscross and grow, as if the tattoo was somehow sprouting like a vine. They grew up his hand and began to snake and crisscross all around his right arm, these glowing golden lines and symbols searing into his skin as if they were being branded on or tattooed.
It all stopped at his right shoulder, and as the smoke cleared, one could see the intricate and beautiful lines and runes all around his right arm with a new surprising addition.
There seemed to be a glowing wing of electric energy sprouting out of his right shoulder, a single ethereal wing of massive spiritual presence.
Ichigo had stopped in his tracks halfway to Kaworu, and was now gaping at the former Shinigami Captain.
The sheer rise in power had struck Ichigo Kurosaki dumb. It seemed impossible that this already irrationally powerful stranger had even more left in him.
Suddenly, Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai simply disappeared.
Ichigo sensed him a second later and turned to see the glowing figure now about fifty feet behind where he had been.
It hadn't even seemed like a flash step. It was as if two Kaworus had existed suddenly.
Ichigo trembled as Kaworu spoke.
"Show him pain, Inazuma…but make it quick."
Ichigo had no time to react as Kaworu swung his glowing right arm in a punch…from thirty feet away? It seemed preposterous.
However a glowing energy swirled around his fist as he punched the air in Ichigo's direction, and Ichigo could swear he saw something forming in the energy and electric air.
It looked like…the face of a great yellow dragon's maw, screaming in an unholy terror at him. It seemed to be made of great jagged lightning bolts, and just as Ichigo saw it formed, he saw it directly in front of him, and then felt it pass through his body, this great raging dragon of maddening electricity.
Ichigo Kurosaki took one stumbling step forward, raised his lolling head to glance at Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai, coughed out a small cloud of smoke, and then simply collapsed.
Kaworu, still fifty feet away, gripped his right arm, his body trembling as the tattoos shrank away from his arm and shoulder, descending back to the initial tattooed kanji letters at his knuckles.
The great spear Inazuma simply descended back out of his right palm in one long slide, as if his arm was vomiting it out. It clattered to the floor and returned to the shikai form of a cross spear and then the unreleased form of a small tanto knife as the cross points and spear handle simply disappeared.
Kaworu reached down with and grasped the small unassuming knife, returning it to the place it had held at his left hip.
He seemed to be panting with great exertion, his body trembling, and his right arm actually smoking but seemingly unharmed and whole.
He looked down at his fist, clenching and unclenching it as if testing if it still worked, sighed once, and then simply flash stepped away.
Seconds later, a pair appeared in the area with panicked looks on their faces…well at least one face was panicked, the other was the stoic but obviously angered face of Captain Byakuya Kuchiki.
The bandages were fresh under his Captain's uniform, and he peered around the area as Lieutenant Renji Abarai stood behind him.
"Just barely…"
"What is it, Captain?"
"We just missed him…"
"Yes, he's fast Captain…"
"Did you take Lieutenants Kotetsu and Kira to the infirmary?"
"Yes, Captain Kuchiki."
"Good…we'll have to call in 4th Division to clear up the rest…of this."
The barren battlefield was littered with inert forms…Ichigo, Yoruichi, and Soifon. It was also scarred with great depressions and long ridges and holes in the ground, as if it had been torn apart by a giant.
Now everything was silent and the dust slowly cleared.
Former Captain Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai was nowhere to be seen, but Byakuya and Renji both knew this was far from over.
Captain Kuchiki stepped forward; studying Yoruichi's pained unconscious form.
"He'll be back…"
"What makes you think so, Captain?"
"He left all of them alive…even that Kurosaki brat…he's been toying with us, whatever he came here for, he must still be striving for it…And…"
"Captain?"
"And…I think Captain Yamamoto-Genryūsai knows what it is…"
"Captain…"
Kisuke Urahara sighed as he rested in the infirmary bed.
They had patched him up well, but he hoped to leave as quickly as possible. Any report to that old man heading the 1st Division and he might get a bit of trouble.
He was supposedly exiled and banished, after all, having just barely escaped Soul Society long ago with Yoruichi's help…
That…was a story he didn't want to think back on…or repeat.
He had come here because he thought it unavoidable, vital, but he had nearly been killed before even seeing Yoruichi.
Now as he realized he could barely feel her spiritual presence, he hoped she was alright. Even she might have trouble against…
No, he had to focus on the present. First, getting out of this bed, second, finding Yoruichi and having them both take care of this matter themselves.
He had been plotting this in his mind as he lay there, and realized that in the state he was and in the state Yoruichi and Ichigo possibly were, he would need help.
This is why he was hardly surprised when he saw the large looming figure of Captain Sajin Komamura accompanied by Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba and newly appointed Captain Shūhei Hisagi.
Komamura stared at him with hard dispassionate eyes, and suddenly Kisuke wondered why he'd wanted to speak with this fellow out of the many other possible Shinigami. The fox-like Captain was renowned for his slavish devotion to Yamamoto and his stubbornness.
However, as always, Kisuke Urahara had leverage.
He stared up at Komamura and smirked, Komamuru giving him a merciless stare that was tinged with what might be curiosity. Good.
"Before you call an alert or try to slice me apart, let me say…I know the truth behind why this strange man is attacking Soul Society, and why…General Yamamoto-Genryūsai isn't telling you everything…why everyone is being ordered to stand down…"
Komamura huffed, but it was clear he was interested.
"Word games! Why should I believe you?"
Suddenly a sly bemused voice that surprised the entire group including even Kisuke, and Captains Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku stepped out of the shadows behind Captain Komamura and Hisagi.
"Because, my dear Captain Komamura, Kisuke Urahara is one of many reasons that fellow Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai is out there on a rampage."
Kisuke gave his former teacher Shunsui a wry but obviously annoyed look, speaking in a slow sardonic voice.
"You flatter me, Shunsui…now that I've apparently got an audience of four chattering Captains, let me continue, as I was saying…"
He was suddenly interrupted by a loud whistling noise and turned to see that Captain Kyōraku was bringing a pot of tea to steam over a makeshift fire as he and Ukitake reclined on small mats they had seemingly materialized out of thin air with a small tray of cookies between them.
Kisuke suddenly remembered why these old coots had annoyed him so much.
"Do go on with your story, Kisuke! We have much to...discuss..."
This might take a while…
Meanwhile, at the other end of Seireitei, two other Captains were plotting and positioning for information on this secretive madness that was possibly related to Chief Captain and General Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya stood in the dark and damp cell that Mayuri had led him into, looking around at the queer flashing contraptions all around the walls.
"What is this? Tell me, Mayuri, what do you plan to do? You speak of testing me, but I want the information I came here for first…"
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi smirked and turned away, shaking his queer-looking heard.
"Oh, even I don't know EVERYTHING…my records are dismally inaccurate going that far back, obviously my predecessor picked and chose what he put in there…but what I have for you will directly link to both of us getting the information we need…"
"What are you talking about?!"
"I mean, I intend for you to get it directly…why not ask the man of the hour himself, Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai?"
"What are you playing at? Ask him? As if he'll simply divulge everything to me?"
Mayuri turned towards him, speaking distractedly as he fiddled with a switch inside the cell Hitsugaya stood in.
"You? Who said anything about you yourself? You're a mere trivial trifle. He'll definitely have to speak when faced with the full might of the Guardian of the Dragon of the Sea, Hyōrinmaru!"
Hitsugaya's eyes widened in utter surprise as Mayuri flipped the switch and let out screaming laughter.
"I want to know everything! Everything! Anything not in my records will be put in forcefully! I want Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai!"
Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai stared down stoically at his uncle Gendo's bleeding form lying there on the dusty ground. He had been moving quickly through Seireitei after retreating from the battlefield, but had halted once he had felt that diminishing but familiar Yamamoto-Genryūsai spiritual presence.
"I told you before uncle…Only those with the strength to stand are allowed to return home. I cannot carry you and bring this place down as well, not now. You tried hard enough, but you fouled up. It's a pity…"
Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai didn't react in surprise at his nephew's words, his body still, and blood was still flowing out as he stared wistfully up at Kaworu.
"I understand…simply…do me three favors…for an old man who has to carry the weight of his past into death…the bitterness…everything…"
Kaworu stared down at Gendo with eyes that could have been depicted as sorrowful; however they were more a sad pride that seemed to hide emotions that may have been broiling beneath.
"Yes?"
"First…bring this land down to dust…give your father and his minions the penance they deserve…second…burn my body into ash with that Inazuma of yours, leave barely any trace…my soul bares bitterness, and I wish to be erased from existence, I do not want to become some terribly miserable Hollow bent on vengeance or wander the halls of eternity with this terrible wound of pained memory on my shoulders…thirdly and finally…"
"Yes?"
"Wait…are you not curious who dealt me such a wound?"
Kaworu glanced away at his old dying uncle's probing eyes, as if he wished to hide something or didn't want to say something in response.
"Ah…so you already have an inkling who did it to me, is that it? I can see sadness in your eyes, despite the brutality of your strength and the crimes done unto you…I can feel from the spirits in that battlefield far away that you killed no one! Tell me boy, even now you feel a flinching mercy and emotion for that bastard Urahara and that wench Shihoun, is that so?"
Kaworu's fists trembled as they clenched and unclenched, and he looked down at his uncle silently.
"I thought so…how can you hope to avenge the pains of time and memory that we have had to bear because of Soul Society and your father if you still bear the weakness of compassion? You brutalized them, I know it, but you cannot leave such terrible beasts of history alive! I see it true…"
His uncle paused, reaching out with old trembling hands to grasp his zanpakutō Tokikaze.
"I feel it, Tokikaze does too…your memories and pain, you are sensitized and weakened by them…inside of you a small tiny piece of Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai still loves Seireitei and the Shinigami, or at least does not wish them total destruction…This is where my third favor lies…Give up this foolish compassion and 'humanity', Kaworu my nephew…you must have the will to burn them and their stone buildings into nothingness!"
Kaworu's eyes widened but he didn't even move as Gendo lifted his zanpakutō and thrust Tokikaze through Kaworu's chest right where his heart would be.
However the blade seemed suddenly ethereal as it pierced, not drawing any blood or even cutting Kaworu's flesh. Instead, it simply passed through his chest and out the other end like a ghost.
"Show him the foul joy of forgetfulness, Tokikaze…"
Kaworu's eyes widened and he fell to his knees beside his uncle as his uncle retracted his zanpakutō from Kaworu's chest and dropped it with weakening hands.
"Do it…end me…Kaworu…I have used Tokikaze to seal away those emotions restricting your will as best as I could…now end me!"
Kaworu's hands seemed to pulse with electric spiritual power and he held them over his uncle's dying body, still on his knees as tears began to run down his face.
"No more pausing, boy! You told me yourself, 'Only those with the strength to stand are allowed to return home'! NOW END ME!"
Kaworu let out a roar of what could be termed both animalistic rage and resigned sorrow, a massive burst of light and spiritual presence shaking the area all around.
It was done.
Kaworu turned away from his deed and what had formerly been Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai…just in time to hear footsteps clattering behind him…a single person approaching.
"I'm here to take care of what Yoruichi Shihoun failed at doing. Your father's orders are clear, you will die, Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai."
Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai turned slowly to stare at Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe's face, and Sasakibe suddenly felt a tinge of utter fear that he tried to suppress.
He vaguely remembered the son of Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, having seen him before the entire ordeal of his punishment and "death".
Kaworu had been strong and arrogant, but most of all he had always held a compassionate and almost loving look in his eyes when looking at you. A smile that one couldn't help but mimic.
Now, his eyes seemed dead, cold, shallow, there was nothing reflected in them but… Chōjirō Sasakibe's own death!
Kaworu paused, looking Chōjirō up and down like he was a piece of beef hanging from a freezer ceiling…and maybe he might as well have been.
"Well, you came to the right place."
Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe barely had time to scream as the lightning-yellow lines and rune-like symbols and kanji carved and tattooed up Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai's right arm and that glowing ethereal yellow wing of electricity seemed to hover out of Kaworu's right shoulder.
"Releasing first limit, Inazuma…"
"Ugate, Gonryōma-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUHHHHH!"
The dust cleared over Soul Society, however all of Seireitei was still charged with rumors and an electric sense of dread and alertness.
The intruder, Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai had not been found, and it was the popular speculation that he remained even now, two weeks later, hiding his spiritual presence and himself somewhere in the many barracks and buildings of Seireitei.
Slowly Seireitei collected its wounded and tried to remain ready for disaster at any second, despite the fact that the leader of the Shinigami himself, the one they were supposed to look for to guidance, Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai had still ordered all Shinigami Divisions and Captains to stand down.
Many grew disgruntled by the Chief Captain's apparent attempts to suppress all of these events even with the many who had been wounded, however his word was absolute to most of the Shinigami.
They had found Ichigo Kurosaki in a stupor, unharmed and unchanged, but unconscious. He had been put in the same infirmary with Rukia, where his despondent friends hovered around and tried to figure out what to do.
They never found Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe…only a smile pile of ashes that were collected into a small dustpan and presented to an ever stoic but exceedingly irritated Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
Same with the supposed other intruder, Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai. All that had been left was a similar pile of scorched earth and dusty ashes.
All the wounded had been transferred to infirmaries, and so far they seemed to be coping…however Kisuke Urahara had disappeared from the infirmary Captain Unohana swore she had seen him and treated him.
Gingerly reeling from the pain of Aizen's betrayal not so long ago and this new wound, Seireitei slowly went to sleep as another new night descended.
"Good night…I…I'm going to walk for a while."
Ishida had left broodingly from the small hut-like structure Rukia and Ichigo had both been moved to, supposedly for their own protection against the menace that could still be in Soul Society.
He seemed to be brooding on something, and both Chad and Orihime noted he seemed preoccupied with reading some random piece of paper in his hands.
They didn't try to engage him however, Chad giving a brooding look to Orihime that seemed obviously full of worry and strength regarding Ichigo and bid her good night.
Orihime sighed, making her way down the street.
First Rukia and then Ichigo…and I heard even Yoruichi is in trouble…I'm so useless here, just standing and moping around, not even able to fight for real at Ichigo's side…
The thoughts in her mind preoccupied her, and before she realized it she noticed Ishida's retreating back in the distance. Without realizing it, she had been following him down that same narrow Soul Society street in the misty night.
She noticed suddenly that he had actually stopped, though Orihime didn't know when exactly.
Suddenly, he ducked into an alleyway to the left, out of Orihime's line of view.
He didn't see me, did he? No…but what's wrong with Ishida…he's thinking about something…or is he just in pain over Ichigo like this? He tries to be stiff, but I know Ishida really cares about us…If anything, I'll try not to be useless and at least cheer my friends up!
Resolved at this point, Orihime put on a cheerful smile, thought if one concentrated they could clearly see the sadness in her big expressive eyes.
She made her way down the street and turned into the alleyway.
A single figure stood inside it, tall and dark, though she instantly realized it was not Ishida. In fact, despite the sheer wall at the dead end of the alleyway, Ishida was nowhere to be seen.
The tall figure had clothes that she had noticed most of the Captains of the Shinigami wearing, though she didn't recognize him as a Captain she had met.
He had genuinely handsome features and messy black hair that went down to the middle of his neck. However she noticed something distinctly.
His eyes…
They…he was clearly alive…but they…his eyes, they seemed dead, emotionless even.
She didn't even have time to scream as the firm hand of Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai wrapped around her mouth.
"Shhh, don't scream. Ask your friend Yoruichi, I don't have much patience for pretty girls. Struggle and I might have to break every bone in your body."
Orihime wisely chose not to scream, though her mind was screaming in terror as she pondered this stranger who had her firmly grasped and the probability he was the same man everyone had been talking about.
He…did that to Ichigo!
Before she could even blink or think another thought, he disappeared, flash stepping himself and her out of the alleyway in a sudden blur as if they hadn't ever existed.
I really really really wish I could draw.
Because then I'd try to sketch out some Bleach fan-manga…the stuff I write out is so…VISUAL in my head that I can see it vividly animated in the Bleach-style.
I try to describe it the best I can, for example Kaworu's tattoo-like golden markings and the way they burn and sear up his arm, growing like a plant as if some invisible brand or pen is burning them onto his skin…
And other visual elements, I hope you at least vaguely understand what I'm trying to get when it comes to moves and fighting and weapons…I wish I could draw them out, even character descriptions, I have everything totally visual and vivid in my brain.
Oh well, as long as you're enjoying it so far…
Don't worry, I have a lot planned out for Ichigo and his friends…poor Orihime…What does Kaworu intend to do?
There's still a lot of plot I have planned out just barely outlined in my mind, so fans of the many various characters and pairings in Bleach, some who may not have gotten much face time, worry not!
Get ready for some crazy stuff next chapter!