Author's Note: This chapter is going to focus heavily on the royal guard. They're pretty much going to jump on top of the current situation. Also I have to warn everyone – considering that the royal guard has not been elaborated on yet by Kubo in the manga, I'm going to be making up some of my own facts about it. Don't worry, I'm not going to get ridiculous with these facts. However, the royal guard – in this fic – are going to be ridiculously strong. My idea of the royal guard is that it is compromised mostly of captains that have had a few hundred years of experience under their belts. I am also splitting up the royal guard into sub-divisions. Think of what the second division is like (with the discipline squad, etc) and you'll know what I mean. Basically the royal guard is going to be huge, and is going to be a huge problem for the rebels and the vizards. This chapter is really rather violent and gruesome, and destructive. I am giving you forewarning now.
Also, sorry kids, but no Rukia & co. today. I had to get some important plot elements out of the way in order to clarify a few things. I promise though, there will be plenty of Rukia-ness in the next chapter!
kaiserkawaii: Haha thank you! I want a RukiaXIchigo reunion too : - /. It's going to take a little while though.
BioHazard82: Thank you! Though I must confess that there may not be an update for at least two days. I have another stupid economics test coming up…bleh!
Nekura Enzeru: Thanks! Actually, I tried to set up the royal guard invasion in the last chapter through Soi Fon, but it was a short snippet, so it might have been easily over looked. Anyway, the royal guard (or the zero division) is going to enter in this chapter, and boy are they a fierce group : - P.
DancingBuffy: Thanks! And we shall see. ; - )
DarkJason: Haha thanks! I know, I have been a bit oocish with the characterizations, but I kind of wanted to explore some emotions that we rarely get to see from the characters. I think it makes them a lot more complex.
KH 777: Ah she totally is! We never get to see a serious Hiyori or an emotional Hiyori, so I thought it would be nice to incorporate that.
realityfling18: Haha, yesss, so much is happening. And even 'more' happens in this chapter! And thanks, I really love it when Shinji got all serious in the 'Pendulum' arc because it was a side we never really saw before. I definitely had to incorporate that in the fic as well.
Slashvenom & rukia death kuchiki: Thank you!
prettygood: Haha thanks! Glad you like it!
Note: If anyone needs clarification on the Japanese used in this chapter, let me know. Basically the most important is that Shinji is using 'dark bankai' instead of regular bankai.
Chapter 6: The Pharaoh
Kirio Hikifune entered the first division head quarters with all fifty members of her squad following behind her. It had been a long time since she had set foot in soul society. 110 years to be exact. She cringed slightly at how much things had changed. Apparently three captains and three vice-captains had recently instigated attacks on soul society and had freed a dangerous man from prison. Or that's the story she had received. Soul society conveniently left out the parts about the man being Isshin Kurosaki whose only crime was being the father of a wrongly-accused criminal. Also soul society's report to the zero division had stated that there had been twenty causalities in the attack. Receiving the information had prompted the king to send sector 6 – the execution sector – of the royal guard to soul society. So here they were. All 50 members of the execution sector now stood in the center of the first division head quarters. Yamamoto, Kyoraku, Mayuri and Soi Fon had all gathered to greet them.
Yamamoto was secretly pleased. He knew that the 50 members of the execution squad had all served as captains under him at one point or another. He also knew that they had 200+ years of experience on their hands. All in all, they were formidable opponents. The presence of their reiatsu alone had caused various members of different squads to be sent to the fourth division to receive treatment. Yamamoto stood and bowed deeply to the members of the zero squad.
"I welcome you back to soul society," Yamamoto stated politely, "I assume that you've heard of the situation?"
Hikifune stepped forward, as she was the captain of the execution squad, "Yes, we have. That being said we are willing to offer temporary substitutes to fill the currently empty positions in your squads."
"That would be greatly appreciated," Yamamoto replied and watched as Hikifune snapped her fingers slightly. Four former captains stepped forward from the crowd.
Yamamoto stood before each of them, "Ah. Reiko, you can take the thirteenth division under your wing for now."
The man in question nodded slightly before departing swiftly.
Yamamoto turned to the three remaining captains, "Areina, please take the sixth division. Jiru please take the tenth division. And Raian, you can have the eleventh."
The three captains departed, leaving the execution sector with only fourty-seven members.
"Obviously what happens from here on out is not up to me. What orders have you been given?" Yamamoto asked curiously.
"We are sending a group of thirty to the real world. Once they arrive those thirty will split into three groups of ten," she paused to let it sink in, "One group will head to the west coast in America. Another will head to the east coast in America. The final group will remain in Japan. We have all been trained well in being able to track and kill any and all targets."
Yamamoto smiled slightly at Hikifune's last statement. That was exactly what he had wanted to hear, "And the remaining seventeen?"
"Will remain here for security and defense purposes. However, if one of our groups finds the traitors we will dispatch the remaining seventeen to deal with the threat."
Yamamoto could barely contain his smile, "Good. Then everything will hopefully be at peace."
At his last statement, the groups that were headed to the real world, left. Hikifune looked at Yamamoto gravely before responding, "Not exactly." Yamamoto looked up at her in surprise.
"There is still a new threat growing. Don't think the royal guard has overlooked this. We've been doing our own research," Hikifune stated sharply.
"The threat in Hueco Mundo isn't something that is a pressing issue at the moment," Yamamoto stated just as sharply.
"The threat is not originating in Hueco Mundo, captain-commander," Hikifune retorted. The four captains standing in front of Hikifune were suddenly alarmed.
"Kirio, if the threat isn't originating in Hueco Mundo, then where is it originating?" Kyorau asked worriedly.
"Hell," Hikifune stated simply. There was an uproar at her statement. Soi Fon had started screaming about how it wasn't possible and Mayuri – for once – agreed with her. Kyoraku shook his head in disbelief before Yamamoto banged his cane on the ground.
"The threat in Hueco Mundo is only working for the threat in hell from what we've uncovered," Hikifune let out a sigh of distress, "This is something bigger than we had originally imagined. There are rumors that – soon – the celestial ancient order will become involved."
Three captains stared at Hikifune in confusion. Yamamoto, however, openly scoffed at the former twelfth division captain, "The celestial ancient order does not exist, Hikifune."
"You're wrong," Hikifune proclaimed quietly, "I've met their leader myself."
Yamamoto visibly paled at the thought, "It isn't possible! If the celestial ancient order were to exist then it would mean –,"
"That there are even bigger threats than soul society, the royal guard, or the King has ever seen. I'm aware. And there are bigger threats," Hikifune folded her arms across her chest.
"Obviously the present problem we are dealing with involves the execution of traitors. We are content with dealing with those matters for now, however, you must also be aware that we may soon face a war that will end all of humanity." Kyoraku was alarmed by that statement. He had no idea what the celestial ancient order was, but if it had made Yama-jii pale, then it meant that they were all about to become involved in something a lot bigger than they had originally thought.
"Is the celestial ancient order evil?" Kyoraku inquired.
"Oh good heavens, no!" Hikifune practically shouted, "They are the highest order of good that we have in any dimension. They are the origination of heaven, and the creator of worlds. Where do you think shinigami go once they die?"
Kyoraku was startled. He hadn't realized that such an order was in existence. Although he knew that the battle for good couldn't have possibly ended at the King and the royal guard, he had never been aware of the order that lied beyond.
"You said 'they'. How many of them are there?" he asked politely.
"Thirteen. Which makes you wonder where we get our numbers from," Hikifune smiled warmly.
"And their leader? How powerful is he?" Soi Fon asked sharply. She had only just arrived back in soul society this morning. Captain Unohana had taken a break from tending to Ukitake in order to restore the entire second division back to their previous health.
"She is extremely powerful. She could probably wipe out the entire planet with a snap of her fingers. Which is why she usually doesn't make house calls. Unless the matter is that urgent."
All four captains were completely speechless at the news. Not only were they finding out new information about the order beyond the royal guard, but they had also just discovered that there was a threat so severe that this particular order might just have to enter their dimension in order to stop it.
"Are they really going to come down here?"
"How old is their leader?"
Kyoraku and Mayuri asked simultaneously. Hikifune turned to Kyoraku first, "They probably won't come down here. At least not until they have more information. At best they'll send the leader of the Illuminati down to take care of the threat. If even that --,"
"Or they would send down some members of the Imperial Magi," one of the captains in the execution sector interrupted.
"Or that," Hikifune agreed. She then turned to Mayuri, "Sapphire should be turning 750 billion years old next month. Well, according to when she started counting, that is."
There was another small uproar as a barrage of questions were aimed at the ever-patient captain once more.
"Who are the Illuminati?"
"Who are the Imperial Magi?"
"Can I study her as my newest specimen?"
Hikifune turned towards Kyoraku, Soi Fon, and Mayuri, "The Illuminati are the gate keepers of heaven. They are the next highest defense after the Celestial Ancient Order. The Imperial Magi are the next highest defense after the Illuminati. And no, Mayuri, you cannot."
Yamamoto was turning different colors as he absorbed all of the information. He couldn't seem to process the fact that there were such powerful orders in existence. He thought he was only dealing with a couple of rogue captains, some vizards, and a slightly powerful threat in Hueco Mundo. Now it seemed that the issue was more pressing than he originally thought.
"Don't look so sickly, Yamamoto. It's a good thing that we have such powerful orders willing to intervene if things get rough. The only thing you should be focused on is the execution of these traitors and the threat in Hueco Mundo. The higher ups will take care of everything else."
"About the threat in Hueco Mundo. What do you know about it? They haven't even bothered to att--,"
Kyoraku was cut off as an explosion took out the entire left side of the first division. He could see absolutely nothing but dust and debris flying around. Covering his head with his hands Kyoraku tried to make out any figures in the dust. That's when another explosion hit the right side of the first division. Kyoraku was startled when a flying object hit him squarely in the chest. Said object landed in his lap. As some of the debris started to clear he looked down to see Mayuri's severed head in his lap. Gagging at the sight, Kyoraku quickly removed Mayuri's head from his lap and tossed it off to the side. Though the gesture might have seemed rude, he did not want to see the opened, blank eyes of his former comrade staring him in the face.
Suddenly, he heard Hikifune shouting at Soi Fon to get back. He watched as more of the dust settled and he could make out the shape of Hikifune attacking another shape. The other shape did not seem human, as far as he could tell. Kyoraku quickly covered his ears as the beast let out an ear-shattering screech. He watched as spikes protruded from its back and it flew onto a wall right next to him. Kyoraku quickly withdrew his zanpakuto and braced himself for an attack. A clawed hand came down on his zanpakuto and Kyoraku nearly toppled over under the overwhelming strength.
As he met the eyes of his opponent, Kyoraku gasped. Before him, Ichimaru Gin licked blood off of his fangs with a long black tongue. Although the face was definitely Gin's, it was obvious that his soul had undergone several transformations. Kyoraku had a sinking suspicion that the blood that Gin was currently licking off of his teeth was Mayuri's.
He watched in disgust as Gin swallowed the blood, before he moved his head closer to Kyoraku's. He sniffed the air slightly and smiled wickedly. Kyoraku leapt backwards and unleashed his shikai. There was no way he was fighting Gin without it. Swinging both swords at Gin's head, Kyoraku was surprised when he dodged both. He was even more surprised when both of his swords were suddenly lodged into a wall at the far end of the room.
Gin let out a roar of laughter that sounded as if a thousand demons had been lodged into the back of his throat, before he charged Kyoraku. Just as Gin was inches from sinking his teeth into Kyoraku's flesh, he stopped. Kyoraku watched as Gin's eyes widened in terror and he shoved his hands into his mouth, trying to wipe something off of his tongue. Kyoraku once again clamped his hands over his ears as Gin started to shriek in pain. Kyoraku watched in horrified fascination as a hole appeared in Gin's neck and rapidly started to spread. Soon, Gin's head had dislodged itself from his shoulders, and he fell backwards, obviously dead.
Kyoraku was startled as he noticed a blue substance starting to trail out of Gin's corpse. It formed a small puddle at Kyoraku's feet. He was about to bend down and take a closer look before someone stopped him.
"Don't. That's a highly toxic acidic poison. Your former twelfth division captain must have injected himself with it before he died. He saved us all," Hikifune stated from Kyoraku's right.
As he turned around, he assessed the damage to the first division. Everything was completely destroyed with the only exception being the center of the division. And that had only remained in tact because all seventeen members of the execution sector, Soi Fon, and Yamamoto had been standing in that area.
Yamamoto looked visibly shaken at the attack. He attempted to gather himself somewhat as he turned towards Soi Fon, "Soi Fon, please inform lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi that her captain has just passed away."
Soi Fon shot him a startled look before she hurriedly ran off towards the twelfth division head quarters. As she exited, Captains Unohana and Komamura arrived on the scene with the other substitute-captains arriving behind them. "Were any other divisions attacked?" Yamamoto asked Unohana.
"Just the first division," Unohana replied, concern masking her features.
"If you would like, I could cancel the search in the real world so that we can focus our efforts here," Hikifune suggested.
"No," Yamamoto said firmly, "That is still an issue that needs to be taken care of. Komamura-taichou, please inform the thirteen squads that Captain Kurotsuchi has been killed in combat. Also please inform the remaining lieutenants that a meeting will commence in the 8th division's headquarters in no more than fifteen minutes."
Komamura nodded at the command and flash-stepped out of the ruined division. Yamamoto turned away from the group and folded his arms behind his back. Somewhere inside he knew that Aizen had just been a test-run. He had always known that there would be a bigger threat to soul society than Aizen Sousuke. But what frightened Yamamoto above all else, even more so than the fact that his division had been ruined, was the reality that had just begun to settle in the back of his mind.
The attack had only been caused by what was supposed to be a menos-level hollow. If menos-level hollow were now evolving into humanoid form and having ridiculous amounts of reiatsu, then what were the espada-level hollows like now?
"Stand back, Ichigo, even I only have this under about 90% control," Shinji stated darkly as a set of yellow eyes darted towards the red head behind his vizard mask.
Ichigo and the other vizards had formed a half circle around Shinji with their zanpakutos drawn. They had all taken a step backward at Shinji's words. Shinji pulled out his zanpakuto and held the tip directly above his heart. Ichigo was suddenly alarmed. What exactly was Shinji planning to do? Show Ichigo how to commit suicide?
"Kuroi Shi," Shinji whispered as he plunged his zapakuto through his heart. Ichigo sprang forwards, but was held back by Kensei and Love, who were intently watching Shinji. Ichigo watched in horrified fascination as black tendrils started to twist around Shinji's zanpakuto before plunging their way through the now-gaping hole in Shinji's chest. Shinji howled in pain, and Ichigo had started to claw at the arms that were trapping him.
A transformation had started to begin. Ichigo watched as Shinji's body jerked and suddenly his shirt was torn completely from his body. White and black bone had started to form over Shinji's shoulders, back, and chest, acting as armor. His vizard mask had also started to grow and it connected to the bone armor at the center of his back. Spikes of bone protruded from Shinji's shoulders and his hair grew and fell just below his waist.
There were also noticeable differences to Shinji's mask. It was like the mask had actually become Shinji's face. It had stretched and melted over Shinji's human form. The teeth had elongated and turned into fangs, and Shinji's eyes burned a firey red instead of the usual golden glow that accompanied a vizard's mask. As the transformation completed, clawed, black finger nails grabbed at the zanpakuto that was imbedded in his chest and wrenched it free, leaving behind a black gaping hole.
The black tendrils had returned and were started to crawl their way around Shinji's zanpakuto. His zanpakuto cracked down the center and separated. Ichigo watched as the black tendrils swirled around the cracks and began melding metal together in the center. When it was completely done, Shinji's zanpakuto had three deadly looking black blades that all stemmed from the hilt of his zanpakuto.
None of this, however, was as impressive as the overwhelming reiatsu that was now emitting from Shinji. The vizards could barely stand on their own feet in the presence of the reiatsu. Suddenly Shinji clasped the zanpakuto in front of him and looked up at the sky before opening his mouth.
"Kurai," he stated before continuing, "Bankai." The sky above the group darkened as black clouds sailed over head and thunder rolled in the distance. Lightning shot forth from the sky and met Shinji's blade in a whirl-wind of light. The ground shook viciously and chunks of rocks sailed overhead as Shinji called forth this unknown power.
Suddenly a black pyramid rose from the ground and loomed ominously in the background. Light poured out of a crack in the door way of the pyramid before the door was blown off of its hinges completely. Ichigo was horrified as one by one, black skeletons began to march from the pyramid to stand behind Shinji. After they had all arrived from the pyramid, Ichigo was in shock. There had to have been at least three hundred skeletons behind Shinji. All of them were wearing a pharaoh's head piece and carrying deadly-looking spears.
"Hone Kinjito," Shinji said in a demonic voice as he looked around the group, "Bone Pyramid."
Ichigo was having a hard time watching the whole event. Although Shinji was still there, for the moment, he truly looked like a demonic pharaoh standing before his army of the undead. Ichigo was shaken by the entire scene. Mostly because he knew that he must have appeared the same way to Ishida and Orihime while he was battling Ulquiorra in that form. It was a truly terrifying sight. If all nine of them had unleashed this form at once, soul society didn't stand a chance.
"This is the true extent of our power, Ichigo," Shinji addressed him in the demonic voice again before adding, "That we know of, anyway."
"What do you mean, 'that you know of'?" Ichigo questioned wildly.
"This is the final stage that we've managed to control as vizards. We've never attempted anything outside of this. We don't even know if it's possible," Shinji responded and Ichigo cringed. It was like listening to the voices of a thousand corrupted souls trapped inside of Shinji's vocal cords.
"I think you're scaring him," Hiyori commented, but was visibly shaken herself.
"What do you mean? I thought I was pretty attractive," Shinji said and then grinned. Everyone cringed at the sight. Shinji's teeth looked like they could crush flesh, bones, and even steel if they wanted to. Shinji did his best imitation of a pout, but it ended up looking twisted and malicious.
"I think that's enough Shinji, hurry up and revert back," Kensei stated, looking at the other vizard pointedly.
"Fine. Geez, you guys are no fun at --," Shinji was cut off and he suddenly gasped. His eyes rotated around the group a few times and Ichigo could tell he was having an inner battle with his hollow.
"All," if possible Shinji's voice was even colder and more malicious then before. Before anyone could even process what was going on, Love was sailing through the air before he crashed into the side of the pyramid. The vizards simultaneously put on their masks as they attempted to thwart Shinji's attacks. Kensei attempted to break past Shinji to get to Love, but Shinji had raised his zanpakuto. As he did, his skeleton army mirrored his images, before Shinji thrust his zanpakuto forward. With that, the army began marching forward, towards the remaining seven vizards.
"This is a blast!" Shinji cried in mirth as he swung his zanpakuto at Rose. Rose barely managed to block the attack before Shinji fired a black cero at his face. Rose hit the sand about five hundred feet away and rolled with the impact. He was bleeding from various areas and Hachi rushed over to heal him.
"We can't keep doing this," Kensei stated in alarm, "Either we break off his mask, or fight fire with fire. And we can't do the first unless we want nine vizards running around mindlessly slaughtering each other," he rolled out of the way of the oncoming blade and grabbed the front of Ichigo's shirt.
"Listen closely. I'm going to distract the bastard. I'll give you a clear opening but then you have to break Shinji's mask. We only get one shot at this. Screw up and we're all dead," Kensei whispered ferociously at Ichigo.
Ichigo nodded and waited for Kensei to make his move. He was only praying now that he would be able to shatter Shinji's mask. He watched as the girls, Hachi, and now a semi-healed Rose attacked the skeleton army, while attempting to reach Love. Shinji was howling with unsuppressed laughter at the site and Ichigo thought he was going to vomit. The sound was enough to make him want to give up right then and there.
His eyes widened as he heard Kensei roar viciously at Shinji before he swung his zanpakuto in a downward arc at the blonde's head. Shinji blocked the attack with ease and begun to let loose a barrage of wild attacks at Kensei's chest. One of them had actually managed to hit Kensei and his back hit the rocky surface of the training room, hard. Ichigo watched as Shinji bent himself over Kensei, smiling maliciously. Shinji raised his zanpakuto and was about to deal the finishing blow before he stopped. Frowning, Shinji's mask started to crumble away where Ichigo's zanpakuto had cracked it. Within minutes, Shinji was lying face-up on the ground of the training room and blinking in confusion.
"What the hell happened?" he questioned looking around at the collapsed figures of his family.
A water bottle sailed through the air and hit Shinji directly in the face as Hiyori marched over and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, "IDIOT! You almost killed all of us! Kensei told you to transform right then and there, but NO, of course you had to make one last smart ass comment."
Shinji cringed as Hiyori's voice reached new and unwanted volumes right next to his ear. He smiled weakly and apologized profusely, but Hiyori was having none of it. The rest of the vizards watched as she landed punch after punch onto Shinji's chest. Cursing him out the entire time.
As she went to punch him again, her hand was stopped. Hiyori looked up to see Ichigo grasping her hand firmly, "That's enough, Hiyori. Can't you see he's already beating himself up enough over it?"
Hiyori looked down at Shinji and was startled by the pain she saw in his eyes. And not pain from the attacks she had just landed on him. It was deeper than that. Standing up, Hiyori muttered a soft apology before bolting up the stairs of the training room. Ichigo helped Shinji off the ground and looked at him seriously.
"You have a lot better control on it than I did," he said somewhat encouragingly.
"For about the first twenty minutes, I always do," Shinji replied sullenly.
"Then there's the lesson. Keep using it for twenty minutes until your positive you can push your limit further," Ichigo replied, "Eventually your determination will win out over your hollow's."
Shinji looked at Ichigo oddly. For being so young, the guy certainly had a lot of insight to pass around. He shot a half-grin towards Ichigo and nodded. Shinji then turned to the rest of the group and rubbed the back of his head warily.
"Uh, sorry for almost killing you, guys."
Kensei shook his head slightly, "You're forgiven. Besides, it's all happened to us before. Most of us can't even make it past five minutes. You should be proud of yourself."
Shinji frowned at the word proud and Kensei shook his head again, "You know what I meant."
"Yeah," Shinji agreed and nodded. Ichigo looked around at the group once more, "How about tomorrow we limit it to kido and cero training?"
Lisa laughed at that, "Sounds good to me. Nothing too strenuous."
Shinji also grinned before smacking Ichigo on the back, "Good thinking. Hey who wants to order pizza?"
There was a collective shout of 'me' as several of the group's stomachs roared in hunger and the vizards made their way inside the house. Shinji wasn't quite sure how to approach Hiyori. He knew she was feeling guilty, but it was times like these that he wasn't sure what to say to her.
"She'll come around," Ichigo said knowingly, "Karin can be the same way at times, and she always comes around."
Shinji certainly hoped so. Everything had gone well today for the most part. Well at least up until Shinji had tried to kill everyone. Although he guessed that was just in a day's work for the vizards. After all, most of their lives were spent around death. Why should today be any different?
Ichigo settled onto the couch and started to think about the day's events when suddenly, the world went black.
And then the world was on fire.