Hi... This Chapter was a little difficult to write... I hope it reads as well as I intended. Also, I'm sorry if this ruins the story for anyone but I'm standing by it. Thanks to anyone willing to stay with the direction of this story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Bleach was created by Tite Kubo and this is an Alternate Universe/Timeline and this chapter will contain Spoilers for the Dubbed TV Series...
Chapter 13: Simultaneous Inklings
Positioned around the Seireitei the four teams waited for the signal to begin the assault.
"This is stupid," Ichigo said hiding behind some rocks, "We should just attack."
"Give it a minute," Baldo answered watching the sky, "Three, two, one."
Dark clouds rolled overhead the Seireitei and the temperature began to drop rapidly around them. Snow descended and created steam as it contacted the warm ground.
"Now," Baldo led Ichigo toward the North Gate once the fog blanketed their surrounds. A giant weapon crashed down upon them. Baldo used Draco to block it then flash stepped subduing the gate guardian.
"Great how do we get in now," Ichigo asked.
"Don't worry its all part of the plan. Soar, Bankai… Draco Dragoon," Baldo dug his dragon claws under the gate and lifted it high enough for him and Ichigo to pass under. The gate closed behind them with a thud.
"You lifted the gate by yourself," Ichigo sensed something as he looked in the distance, "Not just you."
"I expected the other gatekeepers to be under the enemy's control," Baldo transformed back into his human self, "We'll flash step from here."
"Expected," Ichigo said keeping pace with Baldo, "So Rotondo?"
"Yeah, Rotondo and I learned to lift the gates. We did it together when I first got to the Soul Society but thought we should each be able to do it ourselves in case of a crisis.
"I paired him with Ishida because his arrows would give Rotondo enough cover if they were attacked while he was holding the gate."
"What about Chad and Garland," Ichigo asked, "I don't think they could lift the gate."
"Nope but I hoped Garland's teleport technique would be enough to get them past it," Baldo answered, "Though I wasn't sure how much energy he'd use just on the two of them.
"I figured Chad be strong enough to protect Garland until he recovered his strength."
"You've done a good job balancing us out," Ichigo commented.
"Thanks."
"Why did you pair me with you?"
"I- I don't have the strength to fight my dad," Baldo answered with genuine fear in his voice, "I know he's going to be at the heart of this battle. Whether he'll be friend or foe…"
"I got it," Ichigo said, "I'll do my best to hold him."
"Thanks, Ichigo."
They've continued running under the cover of the fog when Ichigo turns to Baldo, "Hey Baldo how come…"
"Rotondo," Chad said to Garland running from the East Gate.
"And you," Ishida asked Rotondo leaving the South Gate area.
"Can talk," Orihime asked Unohana setting up a relief station after Hitsugaya engaged the majority of Soul Reapers entering through the West Gate.
"It's because of," Baldo started.
"Baldo's reiryoku," Unohana finished. She started elaborating, "Both Garland and Rotondo were…"
"Injured when we meet Baldo," Garland continued, "And although Baldo was alive, his spirit pressure…"
Rotondo added, "Was very strong. He used his…"
"Soul link ability to harmonize with their spirit waves but I was," Baldo said.
"Just a kid and didn't really know how to use his healing powers," Rotondo told Ishida.
"A side effect from using his uncontrolled reiryoku transferred part of his soul into us. It," Garland continued.
"Gave them the ability to talk and Rotondo was able to stand on two legs all the time," Baldo said, "And I think a part of their soul leaked into me linking us…"
"After Baldo came to the Soul Society, he learned to control it and it hasn't happened since," Unohana finished.
"So that's why he said he wasn't as clumsy as before," Orihime said as they healed some wounded people. "Um why does Baldo…"
"Call," Ishida asked.
Chad continued, "Himself…"
"A monster," Ichigo finished, "It's been bugging me. That and what did you mean when you said you lost your family three times already?"
"I call myself…"
"Monster," Garland continues, "Because his heart is burden…"
Rotondo continues, "By the guilt he feels for…"
"Killing his family," Unohana's face saddens, "It wasn't his fault…"
Garland's voice became solemn, "The first time was when his family was slaughtered by a Hollow when…"
"He was seven," Rotondo continued, "Baldo blames himself because he wasn't able to protect his family."
"You were seven," Ichigo exclaimed.
"When I think back, I remember saving Gena," Baldo responded sadly, "If only I could tap into my spiritual powers earlier in that day."
"Believe me. I know how you feel. A Hollow killed my mother when I was a little kid too," Ichigo said recalling his own memory of trying to save a little girl stepping into a river.
His mind flashed to waking up with his mother's dead body shielding him. Ichigo continued his story, "I couldn't protect her either and I blamed myself for many years. I thought everyone else did too but my dad told me it wasn't my fault and I was a fool for believing it was. It's not your fault Baldo."
Baldo paused a moment then continued his story, "The second time came while I was still alive…"
"Hollows followed Baldo everywhere he went after that," Rotondo said.
Garland continued, "Attracted by Baldo's spirit energy. It didn't matter where he moved to. The Hollows just knew where he was…"
"It's the reason Baldo hates fighting," Unohana told Orihime, "But, also, the reason he became so strong. He couldn't…"
"Afford to lose because all the Hollows that pursued me were my family," Baldo finished causing Ichigo's eyes to widen.
"What?"
"The Hollows that chased him," Garland repeated answering Chad's question.
"Were his Aunts, uncles," Rotondo listed as Ishida froze.
"Cousins, grandparents," Unohana continued as Orihime cried.
"Each year on the anniversary of their deaths," Baldo told Ichigo, "I would find a place to remember them and travel to Ashdum Park. It's my "Inner World." The place I showed you the soul link."
"That was where your family was killed."
"Yes," Baldo answered, "Each year more and more of my family appeared in the park with me. I realized it after I defeated a Hollow and found a new family member in the park.
"I had to become stronger and defeat the Hollows in order to allow my family to rest in peace."
"That's," Ichigo started.
"So sad," Orihime's tears streamed, "To have to watch his family die all over again."
"Baldo finally finished the feud with his family around a month before the Aizen battle," Rotondo continued, "He defeated a Menos Grande that…"
"Was composed of the rest of his family," Garland picked up the story.
"Hey I thought Hollows come to the Soul Society when they're cleansed," Ichigo started.
Ishida continued, "Shouldn't his family be in the Soul Society somewhere? Why doesn't he look for them?"
Rotondo shook his head, "Hollows only crossover if Soul Reaper's defeat them."
"Baldo wasn't a Soul Reaper," Garland continued.
"So the only time he'll see his family is in his memories," Unohana finished, "He's only told me because I promised to keep it in confidence. Rotondo and Garland know because…"
"They're part of my soul," Baldo told Ichigo.
"You've never told Captain Komamura," Ichigo asked
"No," Baldo replied, "I know him and I can't bear to see him cry."
"You really love Captain Komamura," Ichigo emphasized on "really" but in a non judgmental tone.
"Yes. I love my father-."
"No, it's deeper than just father and son," Orihime finished healing another squad member. "It's in his voice whenever Baldo speaks about him."
"Please follow me," Unohana ushered her into a private room.
"Baldo speaks as if he's in love with Captain Komamura," Orihime spoke compassionately, "Like how I talk about Ichigo Kurosaki."
"So you've sensed it as well," Unohana replied.
"He is! How long has he-?"
"Not long," Unohana interrupted, "It seems he's only made up his mind recently but he's been conflicted about it for a very long time…"
"In fact I don't even know if Baldo knows his true feelings for sure," Rotondo said.
"When did his confusion start," Ishida asked.
"It started around a month after he became Captain," Garland explained, "We had come to the World of the Living for the first time…"
"An unprecedented number of Hollows appeared across the continent of North America," Rotondo told Ishida.
"At the time, we had lost contact with the Seireitei and the use of the Senkaimon," Baldo shared with Ichigo, "There weren't any signs of reinforcements coming through and the soul pager lit up like a Christmas tree."
"That was during the Kageroza Inaba attack," Ichigo added.
"Since we couldn't communicate with the Soul Society, Baldo concluded we were the only squad available to stop them," Rotondo continued, "We started on the west coast and flashed stepped cross country toward the east…"
"As strong as our squad was, exhaustion settled upon us as we've reached New Jersey," Garland informed Chad, "We were tracking an elusive Hollow the locals nicknamed the Jersey Devil to a forest.
"The Hollow got the drop on us due to our fatigue and knocked Rotondo and me down. It fired an enormous flame…"
"That's when I first found out I could breath in fire. I absorbed the attack," Baldo said, "And immediately fell to the ground unconscious…"
"Official records reported by Baldo say that Squad 14 defeated over 20,000 Hollows during that time," Unohana said to a shocked Orihime, "However the following events were left off the official report but Baldo told me in confidence…"
"After Baldo hit the ground that Hollow released another flame attack and we were defenseless," Rotondo thought back, "Suddenly Captain…"
"Komamura appeared and slashed dispersing the flame then chopped off the Hollow's arm. It roared and ran away but Captain Komamura did not give chase," Garland said.
Unohana told Orihime, "The Captain decided it was more important to treat Squad 14's wounds especially since Baldo's Shihakusho was torn leaving his skin exposed…"
"But Captain Komamura was in Karakura town during that time," Ichigo said.
"I regained consciousness briefly," Baldo informed, "While Captain Komamura treated my wounds. Even though he looked, smelled, and felt like my father, I knew he wasn't. However I couldn't help saying "thanks dad" before passing out again…"
"That Captain Komamura watched over us while we recovered but a few days passed and Baldo still didn't wake up," Rotondo told Ishida.
"On the fourth night, Baldo began shivering as the temperature dropped," Garland recalled the memory, "Captain Komamura rolled Baldo on his side and slid his arms around Baldo nestling his head on Baldo's neck."
"Baldo stopped shivering and laid his hands over Captain Komamura's and whispered, 'I love you dad,'" Rotondo smiled, "They stayed that way the rest of the night."
"The next morning I woke in my father's arms," Baldo told Ichigo, "Rolling over, I found myself hugging him and adding a "Thanks dad."
"That's when he confessed that he wasn't Baldo's real father," Rotondo said.
"I know," Baldo answered.
"He confessed that he was sent to kill Baldo," Garland said.
"By who," Baldo asked.
"By Kageroza Inaba," Captain Unohana said, "According to Captain Komamura."
Baldo repeated, "Who?"
"Captain Komamura informed us that Kageroza Inaba was the creator of the Mod Souls and that he created the Captain from Sajin Komamura's Reiatsu," Rotondo informed.
"Is that why you look, smell, and feel like him? I asked," Baldo told Ichigo.
Garland answered, "He even had the real Captain Komamura's memories and abilities."
"So you are him, I said feeling his embrace tighten," Baldo said.
"He intended to kill Baldo when he got there," Unohana told Orihime, "But couldn't."
"Why I asked," Baldo said.
"Because you were injured, he lied," Rotondo answered.
"I called him a liar," Baldo said, "Then asked why he intended to kill me?"
"Kageroza sent him because there wasn't enough of Baldo's Reiatsu to create a Mod Soul of Baldo," Unohana told Orihime, "And it was Kageroza's version of irony. Father and son force to dual."
"I asked him again why he couldn't kill me," Baldo said, "But he released me from his embrace and said there was a Hollow to kill."
"A group of Hollows appeared separating the four of us. Garland and I defeated the back end of them but," Rotondo's voice sadden.
"Baldo was still weak from breathing fire and collapsed to a knee while fighting the Jersey Devil," Garland's voice also became sadden, "Captain Komamura stepped in front of Baldo as the Hollow's claw sliced through his body."
"Enraged, I slashed and killed the Hollow then ran to my father's side. I tried healing him but couldn't. I grabbed his hand," Baldo's voice hollowed, "He said the reason he intended to kill me was the same reason he could not."
"What was that," Ichigo asked.
"Because I had no idea 'how much in love he was with me.' Baldo's eyes tear, "And then he wished that he was the real Sajin Komamura so that he could spend at least one more moment with me.
"I told him that he was the real Sajin Komamura and that he was my father and how could he love a monster like me. He smiled and then turned to dust," Baldo wiped his eyes, "That's when I lost my family the third time.
"Kageroza underestimated my father's heart. He would never hurt anyone if he could help it."
"Oh I'm so sorry for Baldo," Orihime cried, "There's so much loss in his life. What did Captain Komamura say?"
"Baldo hasn't told him yet," Unohana informed Orihime, "When he finally came back to the Seireitei he sought my counsel. He wasn't sure whether he should bring the topic up with his father."
"Why not," Ichigo asked.
"I was worried that those weren't his feelings and I wasn't sure of my own feelings. I wasn't aware of them until Captain Zaraki asked which one of us was the alpha," Baldo smiled, "That night my dad confirmed it when he asked how I answered Zaraki.
"It wasn't until Yachiru came through the Senkaimon that I realized how much I loved him," Baldo looked pleadingly at Ichigo, "We have to save him Ichigo. I can't live without him. I know its weird-."
"It's not weird," Garland said to Chad, "Animals do it in the wild. It's just part of nature. Sometimes…"
"People just like who they like and can't help it," Ichigo interrupted, "There's nothing weird about it. I promise to help save your love."
"Ichigo," Baldo whispered.
"We better get flash stepping," Ichigo smiled.
"Right," Baldo nodded as they flash stepped toward Squad One's office.