23
Loyalty
…
"Wrong again," Urahara corrected, swinging his cane around. He stopped, pointing it at the old man. "My motive is justice."
As soon as the words left his mouth, several Shinigami appeared around the trio.
"Shinji, Grimmjow," Urahara called. "I trust you two to take care of them."
The men nodded and drew their swords.
"What are you going to do?" Grimmjow questioned.
"Something dangerous."
Nodding, the Arrancar and Vizard followed orders. Screaming soon became the fight's soundtrack as Shinigami fell from every direction. Yamamoto glared at the blonde ex-captain.
"You know," Urahara informed, "I wanted to settle this peacefully."
The Head Captain didn't waver. "You will all be defeated."
"Suit yourself," the scientist sighed. He turned his cane and pointed it at his own chest. That moment seemed reluctant to happen judging by the speed it went by at. The cane's tip was thrust straight through in a lethal blow. It seemed that everyone watched as Urahara's body fell.
And his Shinigami soul stood in its place.
It was a rare sight to see. The wind whipped around the man as if in awe of his power. Blonde hair, uncontained by any striped hat, brushed lightly against his face, barely missing the shoulders of his haori and shihakusho. His blade caught the moonlight, held to guard his heart. In this mode, he became nothing short of impressive.
"You give me no choice, then," Yamamoto sighed. He tapped his staff against the ground. Immediately, the wood began to dissipate until there was only a thin sword remaining. "Reduce all creation to ash, Ryujin Jakka."
…
"What is that?" Ichigo exclaimed as the sky ignited with flames.
"The Head Captain released his Shikai!" Rukia realized.
"This battle has to be getting serious, then," Uryu noted, lifting his glasses.
"Yo, Tessai!" Ichigo called. "You're still not going to let us out?"
"You're not to be involved in this battle," Tessai answered. "Even if I did let you out, what would you do?"
"I would…" Ichigo stopped himself.
"Exactly," Tessai said. "You don't know which side to fight for. By doing this, I can keep you and your friends safe. Also, no matter which side wins, you will not be cast out."
Ichigo stared up at the burning sky and then at his friends behind him. Tatsuki was barely conscious, Orihime close by her side. Chad stood there like a safeguard. Karin was gazing in astonishment at the sight outside through the shield, but the sweat on her forehead made it obvious that the high spiritual pressure was getting to her. Rukia…well, she looked as conflicted as he did.
"Let me out," Ichigo whispered. "I know what side I'm on and I'll take whatever consequences come my way."
"Ichigo," Rukia gasped.
He turned to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Rukia, but I can't side with Soul Society on this one. They've hurt too many people this time."
She dipped her head. "I understand. In that case…I'm coming with you."
"No," Ichigo refused. "It's too dangerous and I can't risk that. Tessai, keep an eye on her."
"You idiot!" Rukia shouted. "I'm coming!"
"I'm not going to force you to betray your loyalty to Soul Society," Ichigo answered. "Not for me."
"But I—!"
"Don't," Ichigo cut her off. "If your heart isn't all the way in it, then I don't want you getting hurt."
"You didn't let me finish," she snapped. "Ichigo, you're fighting because Soul Society is hurting your friends, but they're my friends, too. I don't care what you say. I'm coming and I'm fighting and we're going to win this together."
"And what if we have to kill Head Captain Yamamoto?" Ichigo asked. "What will you do?"
She opened her mouth, but closed it a second later.
Ichigo looked away. "I told you, I can't risk that."
"Ichigo…"
A hole in the barrier opened up briefly and the substitute Shinigami jumped out. It closed right behind him. Putting his hand to the shield, he gazed determinedly at the violet-eyed girl. She placed her hand on the other side of the translucent wall, mirroring his.
"I'll come back," he vowed.
"You better."
As his form gained distance from her, she bowed her head and hoped that this wouldn't be the one promise he'd fail to keep.
…
Matsumoto watched the chaos unfold around her.
"Captain," she whispered.
"I know," he said.
"What do we do?" she asked.
"Fight for Soul Society, I suppose."
She studied his face closely. "But you don't want to."
"I don't know what I want," he answered. "Soul Society is corrupt. I fully understand that, but I would rather not fight against them. However, I refuse to side with the Arrancar and Vizards."
"I'm not sure if there really are sides," she admitted. "I think everyone's fighting for their own purposes."
"No allies, then," Toshiro concluded.
Matsumoto took a step forward.
"What are you doing?" he wondered.
"I've made my decision," she declared.
He only needed one look at her icy blue eyes to know the answer. "Go."
With a nod, she flash-stepped away. Toshiro surveyed in interest as the war raged on. The Head Captain had just entered battle and Ichigo could be seen flying into the fray. He closed his eyes.
…
"There's nothing to say," Toshiro grumbled. "After all, this is the way it's supposed to be, right? Shinigami slay Hollows and purify their souls so that they can go to Soul Society. To think otherwise is to be naïve."
"I don't know," Ichigo said. "Is it always the right way?"
…
"I'm sorry," Matsumoto half sobbed. "They've ordered you to kill your brother."
…
"Toshiro, one day, you will learn that there are some things you are better off not knowing. When that day comes, I will mourn, because it will hurt you and that will be the day that you truly lose all traces of your childhood. At this moment, though, I know you are not ready to face that realization just yet and I would personally appreciate it if until then you would trust in my judgment."
…
Toshiro opened his eyes. He understood.
…
Ichigo soared through the air. Shinigami were hesitant to approach him, not sure which side he was on. However, it became perfectly clear once a certain spiky-red-headed Shinigami appeared.
"Ichigo," Renji called. "Why aren't you attacking the Hollows?"
"Get out of my way, Renji," Ichigo ordered.
"What…?"
"I said outta my way!" Ichigo repeated. "If you don't want to get hurt, you should go hide, but I'm not about to let this happen now that there's a fighting chance."
"What are you going to do?" Renji asked. "Kill the Head Captain?"
Ichigo's silence scared him.
"You're not going to do that, are you?"
Ichigo scowled. "I'm going to do whatever I have to in order to keep my friends and family safe."
Renji drew his zanpakto. "Then I'm sorry, Ichigo, but I'm going to have to stop you."
"Don't make me hurt you, Renji," Ichigo threatened. "You're one of my friends, but if you prevent me from keeping everyone else safe, I'm going to have to."
"Roar, Zabimaru!"
Ichigo dodged as the jagged blade shot out past him.
"I'm doing this for your own good," Renji declared.
He recalled Zabimaru, but it became tangled on its way back with a long, golden cable. Renji's eyes followed the length of it to an effeminate blonde man.
"I'll take it from here, Ichigo," Rose offered. "There are bigger fish to fry."
Ichigo nodded and took off again. The battle around Yamamoto was really heating up. Ichigo held up his massive zanpakto, preparing to call out bankai. A swish of black caught his eye, though, and he whipped around to look for the Shinigami. Instead, he was faced with the black-cloaked figure from before.
"You're with the Arrancar, right?" Ichigo asked. "Then we're fighting for the same cause."
Instead of answering, the figure raised a hand and fired a bright blue cero.
"Whoa!" Ichigo exclaimed, barely dodging. I guess he doesn't believe me. Ichigo put his sword in front of him. "If that's the case, then Bankai! Tensa Zangetsu!"
Power raged around Ichigo as his zanpakto thinned out into a small blade and a long black coat wrapped around his torso. Black Cloak stood there looking unimpressed. Then again, he could be shocked as h— and Ichigo still wouldn't know due to the shadows from the hood covering his face.
"Aren't you going to draw your zanpakto?" Ichigo asked. His last words fell upon empty space. He wondered if the person had given up when he felt a cero coming at the back of his head. Ichigo blocked it with his blade just in time.
"Not one for talking, are you?" the orange-haired teen panted. "Fine, then. Bring it on."
…
Toshiro jumped from his spot on top of the roof and into the battle below. The Shinigami kept pouring from the portal. How many were dead now? How many did he know? This problem had to be stopped at its root.
"Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru."
The ice dragon barreled out from the tip of his zanpakto. Hitsugaya tried to keep his breathing even. Grimmjow and Shinji placed their attention on him. Shinji grinned.
"Ah, so you've finally decided," he commented.
"Captain Hitsugaya," Yamamoto called, "I have this under control. You should concern yourself with your other comrades. Unless…"
Toshiro turned his face away from the old man.
Yamamoto's aura gained severity. "You've decided to betray Soul Society."
"I would say the greater betrayal of Soul Society is leading it into corruption," Toshiro responded. "I do not side with the Vizards and Arrancar. I am fighting for my personal beliefs. We tried to reason with you, but you refused to listen. If saving Soul Society means replacing its leader with someone better fit for the role, then so be it."
Urahara glanced toward the young one. "Are you sure about this?"
Toshiro nodded. "There's no turning back now."
"Then I say we go all out," Shinji suggested.
"I secured this area earlier today," Urahara informed, "so none of Karakura will be harmed. We may need our top strength to take down the Head Captain."
Hitsugaya's grip on his sword tightened. Ice began to spiral at the tip.
"Wait!" Ukitake screamed, running out of the Senkaimon. "Stop! All of you!"
Another man ran out beside him. Ichigo pulled to a halt mid-air. Shock registered. "Dad?"
In the next second, Isshin kicked his son in the face. Ichigo was about to scream at him for it, but the black-cloaked man's hand zipped right through where his heart would have been. He traveled on the momentum into a few feet away before stopping completely.
"You might want to pay attention," Isshin reprimanded.
"But you're a…what is…I…?" Ichigo sputtered. "Wait, so your business trip was really a visit to Soul Society?"
"I'll explain later," Isshin sighed. "I'd focus more so on your opponent right now."
Ichigo nodded in agreement, only to find Black Cloak missing.
…
Ukitake hurdled into the middle of the fight between Yamamoto and everyone else. He coughed, creating a nasty sound. It was only partially muffled by the continued clashing of swords. A round of flames almost hit him, spiraling uncontrolled from Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka.
"Jushiro, what are you doing out of bed and aiding in the prisoner's escape?" Yamamoto demanded.
Ukitake stood, sweat beading on his forehead. "Isshin is not the enemy."
"Have you turned as well, then?" the Head Captain asked.
"No, I…" he trailed off. At that moment, his eyes locked onto the young captain. "Toshiro!"
Toshiro jolted as he suddenly felt a strong presence behind him. A painfully bright light was speeding his way. A cero. It would be impossible to dodge. His arms began to twitch in order to bring Hyorinmaru in front of him when a black shape blocked the light. The cero hit the figure's blade instead and was deflected completely.
As the blast subsided, the newest figure became more defined. A lithe body with messy white hair that hung limply around his head. The man turned to reveal his identity. Toshiro found himself at a loss.
"Katashi."
…
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter as the latest reviewers!
Also, I apologize for being slow on the updates. Not much else I can say there.