22
Outbreak
…
Midnight struck. At that second, a large doorway appeared. Its gates slid apart, releasing a blinding light. The crowd shielded their eyes against it.
The Head Captain himself stepped out, guarded on either side by Captain Kuchiki and Captain Soi Fon.
"Sir," Toshiro reported as he and Matsumoto flash-stepped onto the scene.
"The crowd here is smaller than expected," Yamamoto noted.
"Waitin' on us, were ya?" Shinji asked, leading the Vizards onto the spot.
"So you came without resistance," Yamamoto said.
Shinji scoffed. "No way, old man." He drew out his zanpakto as did those behind him. "We came for the party."
Several more Shinigami filed out of the Senkai gate in response.
"I feared as much," Yamamoto said. "Prepare to be defeated and captured. Captain Kuchiki, I place you in command of delivering the Substitute Shinigami and his friends to Soul Society."
"Understood," Byakuya answered.
"Not so fast."
A blade appeared under Byakuya's throat. At that moment, tremendous reiatsu erupted from out of nowhere.
"Karin!" Ichigo called as his sister fell to her knees beneath it. She wasn't the only one. "Tatsuki!"
"Who are you?" Yamamoto demanded of Byakuya's attacker.
The crazy man grinned. "Kaeliel Aratashi, former fourth Espada. And I'm not alone."
The rest of the Arrancar appeared in a ring around the group.
Hiyori raised an eyebrow as two of the littlest ones appeared on either side of her. "What the h— is going on?"
"We're here for the party," they said simultaneously, grins stretching wide.
The last to appear was a silent, dark-cloaked figure, dangerously close to the small group of humans.
"We don't want any trouble," Grimmjow announced, taking a step toward Head Captain Yamamoto. Several of the Shinigami close by prepared for battle. The Cero ex-Espada narrowed his eyes. "We want to negotiate peace, like we told your Living World friends earlier. If you decline, we are ready for battle."
"Why should we work with you?" Soi Fon demanded.
Grimmjow stayed calm. "We simply request free transit between Hueco Mundo and here. No souls from the Living World would be consumed. You yourself should know that at this stage, we only eat other Hollows. Humans souls do not satisfy the hunger."
"Soul Society does not trust nor associate with Hollows," Yamamoto stated.
"Did you forget," Grimmjow asked, "that we did not destroy you Shinigami when we had the chance to back in Hueco Mundo? We deserted Aizen instead. Also, because that man is dead, Hueco Mundo is now in complete chaos, causing other Hollows to flee here. What we offer is assistance in taking out these Hollows and status reports on potential threats rising in Hueco Mundo."
"That goes completely against our ideals," Yamamoto protested. "We destroy Hollows in order to purify them and the souls they have consumed. Allowing you to feed from them instead does not allow this process to occur."
"And you want to destroy us for that same reason?" Grimmjow asked. "Because we are part Hollow? I think you are neglecting that we are also part Shinigami."
"That does not excuse anything," Yamamoto defended. "Prepare to be executed!"
"Have it your way," Grimmjow said. "Arrancar, attack!"
Nel stood back as did Pesche and Dondochakka. "Grimmjow," she argued, "I didn't come to fight! I came for peace!"
He cast her a look that held the faintest trace of sadness. "Then they will kill you."
A Shinigami charged at her in that moment.
"Nel!" Ichigo screamed.
…
"I guess you can say goodbye, pretty boy," Kaeliel muttered, sword still braced against Byakuya's throat.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
Kaeliel was taken aback as a flurry of blade-like cherry blossom petals flew at him. He used sonido to dodge them, but they followed. Growling, he sonidoed again, this time toward Byakuya. His sword was dangerously close to reaching, but the petals blocked him. Soon enough, they were spiraling around him, creating a barrier. He grinned.
"Finally."
He released a massive cero, which tore through all of the small blades until a path was clear. The next thing Byakuya knew, Kaeliel was inches from him.
Clang!
Byakuya blinked as Yoruichi's blade defended him. She scowled, pushing Kaeliel far off into the distance. She chased after him.
"I knew Kisuke was wrong to bring all of you into this," she said. "What happened to a peaceful resolution?"
"Your Shinigami made the first move," Kaeliel answered. "This is self-defense. If you don't want to die, you should back out now."
Byakuya appeared beside her. "To be clear," he told her, "I am not fighting with you."
She smirked. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
…
Ichigo was startled as a barrier formed around his whole group. He soon found Tessai to be the source of it. Urahara was on the outside, waving goodbye.
"Hey, let me out!" Ichigo argued.
"Sorry, Ichigo," Tessai apologized, "but I am under strict orders to hold this barrier until the dust has settled."
"You knew this was going to happen," Rukia gasped.
Tessai grunted in admittance. "Urahara planned it. He called the Vizards and the Arrancar in."
"Why would he do that?" Ichigo shouted.
"Soul Society is corrupt," the large man replied. "They are stuck in the ways of the past and cannot move on."
"So Urahara's on the Vizards' and Arrancars' side?"
"No, he's on the side of preventing casualties."
"I don't understand," Rukia said. "If he started this war, how can he be against deaths?"
"He wants to show Soul Society that they could use the help of the Arrancar and Vizards," Tessai explained. "In the end, there is only one force he is fighting and that is Head Captain Yamamoto himself."
"And if the Head Captain doesn't give in?" Rukia asked.
"He is dedicated to changing the order."
"He wants to replace the old man…" Ichigo breathed.
Tessai nodded. "By all means necessary."
…
It was the trio of creepy grins. Ira, Ari, and Hiyori were a force to be reckoned with. They circled like vultures around Soi Fon. She deserved credit, though, because she showed not an ounce of anxiety. Actually, if anything, she looked annoyed. Three children were cornering her.
She'd already released her zanpakto.
None of them had.
"You can't be that strong," she growled, "if you need all three of you to take me down."
Hiyori scoffed. "Nah, but these two wouldn't get any action in otherwise. Between us Vizards and the Arrancar, we've got your side pretty covered."
At that, the blonde jumped forward and began swinging away at Soi Fon. One. Swish. Two. Swish. Three. Clink. Hiyori's blade came intocontact with Soi Fon's Suzembachi. The two struggled. Soi Fon pushed the girl away and then flash-stepped. Hiyori spun on the spot and blocked the weapon again.
"Is that all?" the young girl taunted. "C'mon, I haven't released or anything yet. Make it worth my time."
The captain vanished again. Hiyori was startled by a stabbing sensation in her side. She propelled herself backward, searching for the source. A curse left her mouth when she noticed the strange tattoo.
"I am the head of the Stealth Force for a reason," Soi Fon boasted. "Do not underestimate me."
Soi Fon blurred out of sight before she was finished speaking. Hiyori dodged just before she hit the same exact location. D—, she was good. Hiyori's muscles tensed as the captain slid to a stop. The girl examined the older.
"You should be less obvious with your attacks," Hiyori spat. "Because now I can tell two things about you: you won't attack me head-on and in order for your zanpakto to work, you need to tag the same spot at least twice."
Soi Fon's eyes narrowed. "You were able to deduce that fairly quickly."
"I used to be a lieutenant," Hiyroi admitted. "I wouldn't have gotten the title if I didn't. That leaves me with one question: how well will your attack work if I cut off that hand?"
The Vizard charged forward with the force of an angry bull. She swung for the woman's wrist, but missed. Soi Fon took the chance to stab Hiyori again, coming three inches short of her intended target. The young girl backed off.
Hiyori was growing violently irritated with this Shinigami. Soi Fon's continuous vanishing act did nothing to help.
"Where are you?" Hiyori screamed.
She was answered with three words.
"Hado 31: Shakkaho!"
Red energy shot forward. Hiyori was covered by the blast. Soi Fon smirked. That little brat was so cocky. Figured she'd get her head blown off.
Then the smoke cleared.
A look of genuine surprise crossed the female captain's face. Hiyori stood there perfectly unharmed if not a little singed. The only change was the white mask that rested over her entire face.
Ira and Ari cheered from the sidelines.
"I like her," Ira whispered to his twin.
"Agreed," Ari replied.
"So," Hiyori drawled, "what were you saying about me not being strong enough?"
Soi Fon scowled.
Hiyori grinned. "That's what I thought."
…
"Kisuke Urahara, what is the meaning of this?" Yamamoto demanded.
The green-clad man lifted the brim of his ever-present hat to erase the shading over his eyes. "You already know the answer to that, I believe."
Directly behind Urahara, Grimmjow and Shinji stood in waiting. The scientist had called them there. Not only that, but he'd helped each of their respective groups. For now, he called the shots.
"So you are a traitor," Yamamoto concluded.
Urahara frowned. "Traitor? This is coming from the group that exiled and executed so many innocent people, including myself. You betrayed us, not the other way around."
The Head Captain's eyelids pulled up. "Your motive is revenge?"
"Wrong again," Urahara corrected, swinging his cane around. He stopped, pointing it at the old man. "My motive is justice."
…
Thank you: fangirl 666, -SoManyUpsAndDowns-, and Thunder Claw03.