*A/N* Alright time for chapter two! I'm excited with how this is turning out. I'm sorry for not updating very quickly I have a lot of things to do right now and my schedule keeps me pretty busy so I may not update every week. In any case reviews are appreciated. Enjoy chapter two! –Chey
Zanpakuto of the Dead King
Chapter Two
The nine taichos stood in a room with the thirteen fukutaichos talking quietly amongst themselves about the recent events that have brought us all here today. A door opens and the Sotaicho walks in and we all turn our gazes to him. He begins to speak without even checking to see if anyone was speaking.
"It seems there have been rumors of massive amount of reiatsu leaking from the forest outside of Rongukia. (I don't think I spelled that right sorry if someone could tell me how to that'd be awesome!) It appears as if some of your own men have reported the same thing to you all. The stealth squad was sent to investigate but they could not find anything and it appears as if the man hiding them is using illegal Kidou." Everyone gasps and I remain silent and think of the only two men I have ever heard of using illegal Kidou.
"So what are we to do Sotaicho?" Captain Ukitake says and all eyes turn to him briefly before the Sotaicho returns all attention to himself by speaking.
"I am sending out a team to investigate. This team will include Kuchiki-taicho, Abarai-fukutaicho, Hitsugaya-taicho, and Kuchiki-fukutaicho. You will patrol the area and try to find out what's concealing the being or beings within the barrier and who they are." He states and we all nod and move in front of him as out names are called.
"When are we to leave?" Nii-sama asks and I sigh knowing that they wouldn't go easy on Tōshirō and I after the Kurosaki's went missing two weeks ago.
"You are to leave immediately." He answers before banging his cane. We shoot off toward where we feel the reiatsu of a lower ranking shinigami. We reach the man and he quivers a bit as he bows at the waist and leaves in a hurry. I frown and feel my sense just pick up on a weak reiatsu as it clashes with another.
-CB-
Hachi struggles, sweating slightly against the force of the combined reiatsu of Shinji and me sparring. With my mask released my power increased greatly but I have yet to draw out my Bankai. I smirk and clash swords with Shinji sending a powerful wave of raised Reiatsu against his winding him a bit. Hachi clenches his teeth and I shunpo toward Shinji and we clash harshly the sound of metal hitting metal ringing viciously in our ears. Hachi gasp as his barrier falls allow our waves of reiatsu to spill everywhere before we rein them in quickly. I smirk and don a black hood before shunpoing out of the cave and taking off with Yoruichi, Karin, Yuzu, and Shinji on my tail. Yoruichi and Shinji and pushing the twin to their limits speed wise with me taking the lead as one of the fastest now.
"Let's go you're slowing down!" Shinji says with a lopsided grin at Yuzu.
"Don't slow down or I'll send the old pervert to get you!" Yoruichi shouts at Karin causing her to speed up. I chuckle and turn around sharply before pushing them back quickly with a barrier. I freeze as their figures waver and disappear as four shinigami appear behind me a bit winded by the looks of it.
"Who are you?" Tōshirō growls and I smirk with my eyes to the ground and giving them only a look at my head. I raise my arms to perform a Kidou and watch as it forms without me even speaking. I feel my barriers go up and their eyes widen at my skill. Hachi has put me through harsh train in two weeks fine tuning my skills in Kidou.
I cover my voice slowly before dropping my barrier. "Who I am; is of no concern to you shinigami and therefore you have no business here. If you do not leave I will use my blade to force you to." I growl fiercely feeling Gōru brighten at my side easily recognizing my call to him. I can't use Zangetsu or they will know it is me.
"He has two blades…" Renji murmurs shocked. I silently pull out Gōru and feel the golden scales move under my palm creating a warm friction against my palm.
"Cry out to the heavens Gōrudendoragon…" I murmur softly so even they can hear and Gōru starts to shine bright gold before turning to dust in my palms and rustling through the trees.
"Is that your attack then?" Renji asks and I chuckles dryly before holding up a finger and shoot a small burst of reiatsu into the air. Fog rolls across the small clearing while cutting off most view around us. The air thickens around us constricting the ability to breath and a loud harsh cry is heard as the shining golden dragon slithers down from the clouds of fog. All the shinigami before me gasp and Gōru wraps around my body like a snake. I chuckle as the dragon's rolling voice floats across the field.
"My lord what do you wish of me?" The golden dragon asks and I raise my head keeping my face in the shadows of my hood.
"Remove these shinigami from my presence and leave them with a message for when they awaken. They should tell Yamamoto that the Prince and Princesses have returned and unless he wishes for any of his Captains to fall to their knees at our power he will stop from sending them here." I reply before turning my back and hearing the shrill cry of Gōru and then the sound of four bodies hitting the ground. Gōru disappears in the mist along with the shinigami and I drop my barrier.
The four stare at me wide eyed and Shinji opens his mouth to speak but Yoruichi interrupts him. "So you do know the true powers of Gōrudendoragon." Her voice is low and hard the voice she used to use when she found out something staggering about me.
"Why would I not…all information to use Gōru was granted to me when I requested it. I even know how to activate his Bankai and what it does. However I cannot show you that for it must be kept a secret until the time is right." I reply with an age to my voice that seems to surprise Yoruichi.
"By seeing you in the younger body I forget just how old you really are now. You've grown up quite a bit Ichigo." Yoruichi says before turning and walking back toward our training grounds. I push myself forward to fall into step with her while pushing my hands in my pockets. I think back on all the times I was put down for being stupid and reckless as a child. Now though I understand what everyone meant. Even compared to Rukia I was immature.
I walk into the training grounds and lean against a wall as Lisa and Kensei teach Karin and Yuzu kendo. I cross my arms over my chest recalling the events of my short time as a substitute shinigami. I'm brought from my mind when Shinji leans against the wall beside me silently.
"I know you want to say something." I murmur and he frowns before turning his eyes to glance at me.
"What Yoruichi said earlier really bugged you didn't it?" If I hadn't known Shinji as well as I did it would have startled me how well he could read me but knowing him as I do I understand that when he is quiet enough he is very perceptive.
"I guess so…it just reminded me of when I would fight beside the Taicho and they would treat me as if I was beneath them and too immature for them to deal with. I do not enjoy being pushed around because I am less educated in the ways of the shinigami." I reply quietly and he nods while everyone else's eyes dart to us trying to figure out what we're talking about.
"I suppose that would begin to become annoying. The question is do you believe you are more mature now and will show them that in a mature and respectful way." Shinji replies and I glance at him from the corner of my eyes before smirking and looking over to my two sisters.
"I believe I am more mature, I also understand that I am more powerful now and must be more careful because the people around me could get hurt and even ill around me. Hell most of the vizard would become a bit ill if I unleashed all of my reiatsu." Shinji now turns his head to me in total shock.
"How do you know you have so much reiatsu?" He questions and I look at him before looking away as he turns to completely stare at me. I remain facing my sisters and respond quietly.
"Unlike a regular shinigami, who has no actual knowledge of their amount of reiatsu aside from in comparison to another's, I know the exact amount of reiatsu I have, the percentage of it I put out, the strength I produce, the amount of reiatsu the people around me have, and most importantly the amount of reiatsu each of my weapons have in their possession and how much I can charge my own reiatsu into them. I have a limit however it far surpasses that of even Aizen and it would take five different levels of power to bring forth the ability to use it." I reply and he frowns and studies me for a moment.
"You are aware that Aizen escaped some time ago correct?" I nod slowly and he sighs before walking to a boulder on my other side and sitting on it as gracefully as Shinji can.
"I am very aware of the fact that Aizen escaped. I also know the realm in which he is hiding and which realm he is in at all times." I reply and he nods understand that my knowledge of such a thing surpasses even him at the moment.
"Ichigo I've been meaning to talk to you about something." Shinji murmurs after a few moments of silence between us. Instead of his normal voice that entails deep conversation this voice is filled with a dark seriousness that would make anyone shiver.
"Alright I'm all ears." I reply turning my entire attention to him along with my eyes.
"The Vizard army has agreed to remain in the Seireitei with you, if you will have us, as a personal army of sorts along with Yoruichi and Kisuke." I watch as he bows his head to me and it strikes me as wrong.
"I do not need a personal army Shinji. I do however wish for you all to stay as a counsel that advises me on situations in battle as well as outside of battle." I reply and he looks up nearly breaking his neck.
"Are you sure you would trust us with such a position?" He asks and I give him a look that is entirely Ichigo. His eyes light up and he chuckles softly. "That was a stupid question wasn't it?"
I nod and sit down on the floor with my back against the wall while watching Lisa whack Karin across the back of the head for dropping position.
"Karin in one second you could be killed for doing that!" She gripes and Karin glares at her before fixing her position. Karin grumps under her breath and I stand and grab a kendo stick before nailing hers and forcing her to drop it.
"Karin, listen to Lisa and Kensei they know what they are talking about. In battle if you don't rely on the skills you are taught by others you will ultimately fail." I say softly before handing her the kendo stick she dropped and smile down at her. "Try again…"
"Alright Ichi-nii…" She says before doing what Lisa and Kensei say with skill and ease along with Yuzu. By the end of the day we are watching them spar with their zanpakuto in Shikai form.
"Ichigo when are you going to leave and go to the Seireitei, I know you don't want Karin and Yuzu to go with you the first time." Yoruichi asks and I look up at her from the floor before looking up trying to remember the day I decided.
"I'm leaving in two days for the Seireitei. Yoruichi, I want you to train them both for Bankai the way you trained me when you feel they are ready. Under any other circumstances I wouldn't suggest something so dangerous but Aizen is out there and he is a threat to us." I say and she nods before squatting down slowly.
"I will bring them both as soon as they are ready, are the Vizard coming with you?" I look at Shinji gauging his reaction to her question and his eyes connect with mine easily.
"We are more than willing to go when you leave Ichigo. The barrier is sustained enough and if it breaks Hachi can return." Shinji says and I nod before standing and dusting myself off.
"We leave at midnight in two days. Be prepared because we need to reach the Seireitei before dawn." Shinji nods along with the other Vizards and I walk over and wrap my arms around my sisters guiding them to the heeling pools where they can bath and relax.
"Ichi-nii what do these do?" Yuzu asks swiping her sweaty bangs form her face. I smirk and turn around walking back around the rocks as I talk.
"Just get in you dummies…you'll see." I chuckle and return to the others as Yoruichi is silently chuckling to herself remembering the first time I used them.
-CB-Midnight Two Days Later-
My fingers flex around the handle of Zangetsu as I plan our route in my inner world with Gōru and Zangetsu. Gōru weaves us through the forests while Zangetsu and Hichigo weave us through the Seireitei. All of the Vizards are dressed in shinigami uniforms that display no rank or squad.
"Let's go…" I murmur to Shinji and he nods before we take off quickly. The trees pass by in a blur but everything around us is silent. I land on a tree branch and signal for them to stop. They all land behind me and we watch as a group of shinigami pass, a bit drunk but otherwise coherent.
"Yeah did you hear about the two taichos that were knocked unconscious by the guys Shikai?" One slurs and Shinji glances at me while everyone else just stares wide eyed.
"I don't believe that in any way. I would believe that the day Kuchiki taicho showed any emotion." Another man says pushing his drunken friend softly. I chuckle at the comment about Byakuya and shake my head before taking off again this time a bit quieter than the last. I chuckle as we crest a hill and start my way down the rocky slope using each ledge as new leverage. We sneak our way down the slopes with me in the lead followed by Shinji, then Hiyori, Lisa, Mashiro, Kensei, Love, Rose, and finally Hachi. I hit solid ground and take off toward the tall wall in the distance.
As we approach the wall I slow to a quiet walk while entirely concealing my reiatsu along with the other Vizards. I reach the wall and walk along it until I reach a gate. I touch the handle of Zangetsu before sliding the blade from its sheath.
"Shatter Zangetsu…" I murmur and the silver katana shatters in my hand before glowing and reforming into a longer version of a katana with white wrapping around the hilt and dangling down from the bottom. I spin it quickly effectively making the Vizards step away a few paces. I allow Zangetsu to slip through my hands and fly into the wall sticking easily. I smirk and feel the wrapping running through my hand before I grip it tightly sending out a wave of concentrated reiatsu into the wall through my blade. It shatters and reforms at my hip as dust and rubbles crash around us. It clears as alarms ring shrilly in the night. I hear people coming and move through the gate quickly along with the other eight members of my group. We take to the roof tops at a lightning fast pace.
"Lisa, Love, Rose and Hachi go find a place to meet I'll know. Shinji, Hiyori, Kensei, and Mashiro are with me. We'll meet later…" I murmur knowing they caught it before we split up and take off in different directions.
"Where exactly are we going?" Hiyori says looking up toward Shinji and me.
"I need something from Sokyoku Hill Hiyori." I reply and she nods before speeding up to match the fast pace of Shinji and me.
"Attention Gotei 13, intruders have been spotted near Squad Thirteen." The message is loud and I snort knowing Lisa did something to distract them form us. I turn sharply and jump onto higher roofing knowing this place like the back of my hand now.
"How is it that you know so many routes?" Shinji asks chuckling at the sure fire answer that is going to come.
"I have run from shinigami many times Shinji. I memorized every route to take to get to Sokyoku Hill the day before Rukia's should have been execution. In any case shouldn't you four know this place better than me?" They look at me and smirk and I know that they know most places like the back of their hand.
"You are in charge of this mission, remember?" Mashiro says sweetly before tilting her head to the side and listening intently at the sound of footsteps coming our way. I curse softly and turn sharply.
"Hiyori, Kensei, and Mashiro split away from Shinji and I and go find the others they are safe now they're stopped moving." Hiyori looks at Shinji for a moment and I sigh softly. "I'll make sure he comes back in one piece Hiyori."
She snorts and takes of behind Kensei and Mashiro. Shinji and I take the steps quickly and dash through the forest of blackened trees. I smile as the sun begins to crest before I slow to a stop at the very edge of the tree line and walk slowly along it. My eyes rest on the tree that I need and I smirk before sticking my hand in the trunk and pulling out a rolled piece of parchment.
"They have found us." Shinji murmurs backing toward me. I move toward the execution grounds and Shinji follows.
"Do you trust me?" I say as we sprint toward the edge. His eyes find mine and he smirks.
"I suppose I do. Bring it on." I stop and turn to face the trees as Shinji does the same. I grab the back of his uniform and pull back hard forcing us both off the cliff. We drop and Shinji looks at me like I'm suicidal while struggling. I touch the hilt of Gōru and smirk.
"Dragon's cry…" I murmur and we suddenly stop in midair and start to float to the ground. Shinji stares at me wide eyed before shaking his head and falling silent.
"I don't even want to know." I nod as we land on a roof top overlooking the shinigami who have their backs to us.
"Squad ten they are close I can feel his power from before…" Tōshirō says glaring fiercely at his men. I chuckle softly at that and squat watching what he does. His eyes trail to the bells that tell them when to move out. A hell butterfly flutters toward the small taicho and he sighs.
"Matsumoto take care of the squad we have a meeting of the taicho." He says before shunpoing away. I smirk and motion for Shinji to get closer.
"Let's go…it's time." I murmur and Shinji smirk forming her special cero and shooting it into the sky before we take off at our quickest speed. We reach the doors as everyone else does and I growl at the tall closed doors before pulling Zangetsu out. "Shatter Zangetsu…"
The action at the front gate is repeated on the set of double doors and I smile as my sword reseals itself at my hip. I place a proud hand on Zangetsu's hilt walk forward through the dust.
"Who the hell are you show yourself you cowards!" I hear Suì-Fēng shouts and I chuckle as Shinji does.
"I do not believe that he can show himself if there is this much dust! Must you two be so dramatic you dumb asses?" Hiyori shouts hitting both of us. I glare sharply over my shoulder and she falls silent. I dust myself off and shrug softly.
"It's not his fault that the old man's bite is ten times worse than his bark." Shinji replies sticking his pierced tongue out at Hiyori. The dust begins to clear and I raise my hand making them all fall silent.
"So you finally show yourselves Vizard army, why have you infiltrated the Seireitei and destroyed our gate and doors?" Yamamoto says and I stare at him over the eight heads of shinigami before me and past the black line of my hood.
"If you must know they came because I came to retrieve something." I say quietly and everyone gasps and their heads swivel to stare at me.
"What have you've come to retrieve and why is it that you do not show your face?" Byakuya says with a slight growl.
"Squad Six taicho be silent or my zanpakuto will silence you again." I state and his eyes widen slightly. "In any case if you give me time without interrupting again I shall show you what I came to retrieve." I murmur before walking forward. I pull the parchment out of my sleeve and move forward down the lines of shinigami toward Yamamoto. I stand tall and proud and hand him the parchment.
"Boy I know what this parchment reads and I do not believe you are being truthful with me." I frown and feel my anger flare as Hichigo jokes around adding gas to the flame. "Show me the sword of heaven."
I sigh and slide my hood down while popping Gōru from his sheath. "Cry to the heavens Gōrudendoragon…" My voice caries with a harsh tone that sends most people in the room to their knees. Gōru slithers into the room from the opening in the doors and curls around me his tongue flicking out slowly.
"What do you wish of me milord?" He says and all eyes watch amazed as I offer my hand to the golden dragon and he moves until his nose touches my hand.
"I wish for you to show in front of all here who is truly your master by stopping all movement of squad one through thirteen within the Seireitei and bring them here!" I command and he bows his head slightly.
"Your wish is my command master…" Gōru says before bursting into a bright golden light and darting toward the back wall shattering it completely. The taicho and Sotaicho stare at me in awe.
"I certainly hope you believe me after this. Or perhaps I shall have my sisters bring their blades up for you." I say as people start to shunpo to the grounds outside of the door. The Vizards take their spots behind me. Gōru returns to his sheath and I pull Zangetsu from his sheath before blocking the blow from Rukia.
"You idiot how could you fool me into thinking you disappeared!" She shouts wildly while throwing a punch into my face. I catch her flying fist with my free hand and still her blade with my own causing her to look at me.
"Rukia Kuchiki…I love you." I murmur and she stops and drops her sword before really looking at me. Her arm weakens and I drop her arm before sheathing my blade.
"Ichigo you're young again! Oh! I love you too!" she shouts before jumping on me and wrapping her arm and legs around me tightly. I hold her up and bit shell shocked. She pulls her face away from my neck and places her lips soundly on my own before pulling back and jumping down. Bending down she grabs her blade and walks back to the front of the group.
"Did that just happen?" I murmur turning to Shinji who nods wide eyed. I nod and feel a smirk light up my features.
"Alright, now that we got that enjoyable surprise out of the way, onto the problem at hand…" I say smirk and cracking my knuckles. "I am the true heir to the throne of the spirit king. Therefor I will be taking throne in a matter of a few days. In those few days I will be waiting for the arrival of my younger sisters. However, as of a few moments ago when I gave the Sotaicho that paper…I am in charge of the entire Gotei 13."