I'm not dead, just really got caught up with a lot of shite regarding school, the Packers, and the ACT.

I'm really sorry for my delay, if anyone is still reading, my deepest apologies

I do not own Bleach

Chapter 7:

The Passing of a Generation

"ISSHIN-SAMA!!"

Seeing his commander's body jerk back, Urahara rushed to join Isshin's side and helped him onto his own horse. 50 yards away, Barragan's riflemen fired at the fleeing general. Bullets grazing his armor, Urahara nevertheless made it back to the Kurosaki lines.

Or what was left of it, Kariya's men had already broken part of the stockade and were on the verge of breaking through. In the midst of all this chaos, Urahara could hear his commander barely gasp out these words...

"U-Urahara-san, signal the horns to retreat"

"Urahara-san!" Unohana had ridden in from her position in the south which had now fallen to Nnoitra's men.

"Unohana! Guide Isshin-sama from the battlefield and signal our men to fall back, I will head the rear-guard." "Hai!"

Unohana mounted Isshin on her horse and rode off, the sound of horns signaling retreat could be heard.

The sounds that would signal the final victory for Aizen.

"This battle is now ours, attack! Leave no one alive!" Ichimaru's men cheered in response and like demons rushed over the plains strewn with dead and dying man alike. Their warcries piercing the very soul of the Kurosaki samurai. Panic was in the air as men run amok desperately trying to flee.

"Urahara! Allow me to command the rear!"

"Kenpachi your task is to guide our Lord and our men safely from the battlefield."

"Those bastards brought harm on our Lord! You don't expect me to not take vengeance!"

Kenpachi was about to continue when Urahara's eyes glazed a bit, showing an icy look of determination. Taken aback by his gaze, the one-eyed samurai sighed, a small smile formed on his lips

"You really are one stubborn bastard Urahara, very well, if this is our end, it's been an honor!"

"Don't say that, I have no intention to die here just yet."

Then without another word, Urahara rode off to confront the charging enemy forces.

10:26 a.m.

Gathering whatever men he could, Urahara formed an spearwall on the top of a high ridge, below infantry and riflemen laid crouched ready to strike at the moment.

At the same time, Ichimaru hastily marched his command to the ridge, close enough to see Urahara's banner atop the crest.

"Ah, Urahara-san! How nice of you to be present for your own demise." he laughed, lips curved into a disturbing smile "Listen up! The man who kills Urahara Kisuke will be rewarded with land worth 50,000 koku, go forth and claim your prize!!" his men cheered in response and proceeded up the hill.

"Soldiers! From here we make our stand!" shouted Urahara "Show them once and for all the pride of Karakura!" then, raising Benihime he gave the order "To battle!!"

Ichimaru's men ran into a wall of spears, the tips impaling and felling many a soldier. Below the crest the infantry supported any gaps left in the spearwall. Attack after attack Ichimaru continued his relentless assault, yet he could not seem to break through Urahara's line.

Tousen too noticed the situation from his position, cannons at the ready,

'This continues and the rest of them shall flee, it is time for a decision, a hard one, but necessary"

"Patros, adjust our cannon's position and fire at Urahara's men."

"Tousen, some of our men our fighting at that location, if we fire our artillery-"

"Patros, I gave you an order, it is the duty of a surbodinate to follow it" Hesitantly Patros bowed to his commander's order, soon, the artillery crews began loading the projectiles down the cannon's barrel.

"Fire!" Smoke and thunder burst out of the barrel, projectiles of fire, like a meteor shower flew across the battlefield, when they reached impact, dozens of Kurosaki and Aizen soldiers alike were sent flying.

However the bombardment had broken Urahara's weakening line, sensing their chance the enemy mounted one last assault. This time the Kurosaki, bloodied and beaten, fled down the slope. Riflemen reached the crest and fired at the retreating samurai.

One mile to the north, the now abadoned Kurosaki camp was being set aflame by the Kariya army. Kariya himself spoke to Koga "Signal Aizen that we have captured the enemy camp"

By command the Kariya army fired several fireworks into the sky. Exploding into red sparks that dotted the sky above

Gazing unto the fireworks, smiling triumphantly, Aizen took the moment to savor a victory that proved to be rather hard fought

"Lord Aizen, the enemy is in full retreat, and there is word that Isshin-"

"I already know, Halibel have your men gather the wounded and inform Kariya-sama I wish to speak to him" "Your will my lord" Halibel soon rode off, Aizen was alone to see upon the chaos the day had brung

"Such is the times that we live in my friend, you too could not escape reality, and neither can I."

"Fields that were once green now lay strewn with the dead, towns, cities that flourish now lie in ashes. This my friend, this is the samurai's reality"

"A reality that has never changed, nor shall it ever be."

2:00 p.m. Five miles from Heijigara

Lying on a mat of futons, surronded by his attendents, Isshin struggled to breath as he coughed and wheezed air. The events of today left everyone solemn and in despair, Kensei and Shinji were struggling to hold back tears as Rose wiped his away. Even Kenpachi looked on in despair at his dying commander. Only Urahara betrayed no emotion as he knelt beside his master.

"O-o-our lord is going to make it right Unohana-chan?" a nervous Mashiro asked,

Unohana sadly shook her head "The bullet has lodged into his chest, I cannot remove it without further harming him." "Are you kidding me ?! You have to do something!" shouted Hiyori, Lisa could swear a teardrop fell from Hiyori's eye as she looked on, her eyes betraying a look of dread.

Suddenly, Isshin began coughing again, blood trailing from his mouth as he gathered his declining voice to speak

"My Lord, You shouldn't speak in this condition" pleaded Tessai, Ignoring his plea Isshin managed to weakly speak out

"My friends, it appears, I will not be long for this world" his speech interrupted by another spasm of coughing

"Lord Isshin!"

Taking another deep breath he continued "It is time I told you, the sword of Zangetsu is in Byakurai's keep" he stopped for a moment as the others gasped in shock

"Forgive me, I-i should have never tried to keep thi-this, a secret from all of you, well, a-almost all of you"

Kenpachi turned to Urahara "You knew of this all along haven't you?" Urahara said nothing, only nodding yes in reply. Isshin continued to speak but ended up expectorating more blood

"My Lord, I'm begging you, don't speak!"

"Hehehe, I guess the rumors of you being the Mother of the Army are true right Unohana?" he laughed weakly, he continued

"Ai-aizen will not stop with my death, he will seek to murder my family, d-d-destroy all that I have fought for. I have, instructed Urahara to take my family into hiding upon the event of my death. As for the rest of you, go into hiding and flee from Karakura"

"Isshin-sama, you can't expect us to abandon our home to those Sosuke plunderers!"

"I understand Kensei-san, but if the Kurosaki clan has a future through times such as these, you, you must all live"

No words were exchanged, just silence as they took upon their Lord's final command.

"Aizen has proven to be too strong for us, bu-but, in time he will weaken, by then my son shall have come of age to restore the clan. I want you to be of support when that does"

Without need to say, the surrounding attendents bowed in response "Hai, Isshin-sama"

Isshin's voice was now weakening, his breathing slowly becoming more impaired, yet he continued to speak

"Urahara, bring the Zangetsu to the Kiyomizu temple, it is a holy place, Aizen will not dare intrude upon it." Urahara bowed in reply

Isshin's voice was nearly gone, his strength was soon to fade

"My countrymen, to fight with you has been my honor, I shall now, see upon the world as it changes" As he spoke those words most of the attendents were now choking back tears

"The banner of Karakura, will fly free, forever!"

And with these words, Kurosaki Isshin forever departed from this world.

The tears of his retainers, fell unchecked. Their mourning pierced the air of the now gray sky.

The old generation has now passed

A new one comes to take its place

In time, he too shall know.

Post Battle Report:

Well, Ichigo and the others will soon make their mark in the next age of heroes to come.

I promise it won't take me another 4 months to update, writer's block is and will always be the eternal bane of authors.

Once again I apologize deeply for my delays.

The Shogun now retires for the night

Oyusama