In the Squad 5 barracks, all of the seated officers were scrambling to gather the members of their squad.
"Oh we are screwed-screwed-screwed-screwed-screwed-SCREWED-SCREWED!!!" the third seat panicked as he ran around in a desperate effort to get the barracks cleaned up and presentable. He and the other seated officers had received word late last night that they were getting a new Captain. The reason for his panic is that in the time since Aizen's betrayal, the members of squad five left their barracks to rot and it was downright deplorable.
"Relax Golan. The place looks fine." A lazy looking man, who happened to be the fourth seat, said as he let out a belch.
"Get your bum off that chair and HELP ME FOR CRYING OUR LOUD!!!" Golan, the third seat, shouted.
"Oh come on, the new Captain's not gonna be here for a while. You know how lazy they can be some times." The lazy fourth seat replied as he scratched his chest. He didn't expect what happened next.
"SHINIGAMI CHOP!!!"
The fourth seat now had the Chop hand, crushing down on his forehead. All of the other officers and squad members in the barracks were stunned as they turned towards the door to see Kaichou standing in the doorway and wearing a white Captain's robe instead of her usual black jean jacket. She also sported a fresh new Stetson Stallion Hat.
"I see we're already getting off to a bad start." Kaichou said as Hensen Tatsujin returned to its normal bladed form.
"Alright listen up! I am Captain Wrangler, Your new Captain. I'm otherwise known as the Black Wrangler. I've been abroad in the World of the Living for the past one hundred and ten years and have only recently returned. I'm going to put this as simple as I can…I expect nothing but one hundred percent from my squad members and especially from my seated officers and my Lieutenant. I do not tolerate laziness from my squad members…that means you chub hub." Kaichou warned, glaring straight at the now cowering fourth seat.
"C-Captain Wrangler ma'am! I am third seat Golan Dell. I humbly welcome you to Squad five." Golan said with a humble bow.
"Ah yes I've heard good things of you Golan. Now tell me, where is Lieutenant Hinamori being kept? I heard she's still caught up in a delusion of admiring the traitor Captain who shall remain nameless and thus is considered inactive." Kaichou asked as the third seat nodded.
"You heard correctly ma'am. Squad four currently has her in their care in the med center." Golan replied.
"Good. I'll be paying a visit there later. In the meantime I want this barracks fixed up. I've heard that the squad three and nine lieutenants have been ensuring their barracks' have been kept in order and I am rather disappointed to hear otherwise of squad five. The lack of your lieutenant should be no excuse. Now I am going to go pay a visit to Lieutenant Hinamori, I would much like to see her return to duty, and when I return I want to see this place sparkling. Got that?!" Kaichou asked as the squad leapt to their feet.
"YES MA'AM!!!" the squad replied in unison.
"Good. Third seat Dell…you're in charge of the clean up. Don't hesitate to inform me of any slackers when I get back." Kaichou said as she turned to leave.
"What are you guys standing around for?! GET TO WORK!!!" Dell ordered as the squad quickly scrambled to get to work. Kaichou stood outside the barracks for a moment with a satisfied smile on her face as she listened in on the working squad members. She then assumed her hawk form and flew off to the squad four med center.
At the med center…
Kaichou had quickly Gigai shaped back into her body. It was easier in the Soul Society due to the fact that she didn't actually need a Gigai but only her clothes.
Unohana and Isane had returned by that point and were the ones who greeted Kaichou upon her arrival.
"Ah, Captain. Are you here to see Lieutenant Hinamori?" Unohana asked as Kaichou nodded.
"Yes. I wanted to see if I could try and help her." Kaichou replied as Unohana nodded understandingly and led her into a small room where Momo lay on a bed. Kaichou quickly slipped the white Captain's robe off her back and hung it up on a small peg by the doorframe.
"Her wounds are healed and she's back to her original strength but her heart and mind are not as sound as they once were." Unohana whispered as Kaichou nodded and was let into the room. Momo was startled by the unknown guest.
"Oh, I wasn't expecting anyone today except for maybe little Shiro. You don't seem familiar or like a Soul Reaper for that matter. Who are you?" Momo asked confused.
"My name is Kaichou Kurosaki. I'm here to help you." Kaichou said with a caring smile as she sat down next to Momo's bed.
"Help me?" Momo asked confused.
"I'm here to help your mind recover from the shock it just went through. Your body may be healthy but your mind is not well. I want to help you fix that." Kaichou said.
"What do you want me to do?" Momo asked softly.
"Just lay back and relax. Tell me a bit about your childhood." Kaichou said as she pulled a pen and pad of paper from her back pocket.
"Well…" Momo said as she started explaining her childhood in district one of Rukongai with Toshiro Hitsugaya. As they talked, Unohana and Isshin listened in carefully from outside the doorway.
"She sounds like she knows what she's doing." Unohana said as Isshin gave a chuckle.
"She's a licensed psychiatrist in the human world. It gave her something to do in her spare time when not conducting that research of hers." Isshin said as Unohana pondered.
"Research? What Research?" she asked as Isshin scratched the back of his neck.
"Well…it's kinda hard to explain. She knows more about it than I do…and I don't really have much of a clue myself." Isshin replied.
"Hmm…I guess we'll just have to ask her later." Unohana said with a smile, "Can I interest you in some tea then?"
"No thanks, I better get back to the estate to make sure none of Ichigo's friends have run off somewhere and gotten mistaken for Ryoka. Some other time perhaps but thanks for the offer Retsu." Isshin said as he headed out.
"Anytime Isshin." Unohana replied as Isane looked at the two curiously.
"Captain? Why did you refer to each other by first name?" Isane asked as Unohana gave a small chuckle.
"Isshin and I were friends in the Academy. Granted I was a fourth year student when he and his sister joined along with Captains Ukitake and Kyoraku. The five of us became good friends over time. He's also volunteered to show us a few of the medical procedures the humans use in the world of the living since he is a licensed medical doctor there." Unohana replied as Isane nodded understandingly.
"I see. I'm looking forward to the demonstrations later." Isane said as Unohana nodded.
"As am I." Unohana replied as she and her Lieutenant headed off to make rounds.
Back at the Soul Reaper Academy…
Ichigo was sitting under a tree with his lunch in hand. He was keeping a sharp eye on Yuzu as she had lunch with Angela. Karin was on the opposite side of the tree where Ichigo was sitting. Their next class was the one Ichigo was privately worried about for Yuzu and Karin's sake. They would be getting their Zanpakuto's and also be learning it's name so they could release its Shikai form.
"You know if you keep scowling like that, your face is going to stay that way Ichigo." A familiar voice said from the bushes.
"Renji? What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked.
"I had the afternoon off so I thought I might pester you some. Had to use Zangetsu against anyone yet?" Renji asked as Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"I've come close to using it but at least at the moment I've got things covered." Ichigo said as Renji chuckled.
"Heh, I heard that the Skullini brothers got quite a scare by the sheer power of your spiritual pressure." Renji said with a grin.
"How did you know?" Ichigo asked.
"I caught the fourth squad Lieutenant on my way in. She told me what happened." Renji replied.
"Oh." Ichigo said, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"Well I better let you go. Lunch ends in three, two, one." Renji said as a loud bell was heard and the students slowly started heading towards the academy save for a few whose next class was outside…this included Ichigo and his sisters.
"Hey Renji, you mind sticking around for a while?" Ichigo asked as Renji grinned ear to ear.
"Oh sure, love to." Renji said in such a way that Ichigo got worried.
"What are you planning Renji?" Ichigo asked as Renji snickered and stood up from behind the bushes holding a large container that looked similar to a golf bag only filled with the beginner swords known as Asauchi.
"Oh hell…you're teaching the Zanpakuto class, aren't you?" Ichigo asked as Renji grinned sinisterly.
"You bet your butt and if you want to pass the class then I suggest that you get in line and cooperate." Renji said as Ichigo's eye twitched.
"What are you talking about?! I beat the snot out of you last time!" Ichigo growled as he leapt to his feet.
"Heh I was just letting you win." Renji replied smugly.
"Oh yeah?! Then how about a rematch! You and me!" Ichigo shouted as Renji grinned.
"Bring it on strawberry brains!" Renji said as he beckoned with his hand for Ichigo to come at him.
Before either of them could move however, they were both kicked square in the crotch by an annoyed Karin.
"Shut up both of you!" Karin growled as the two limped away.
Soon, both had recovered and Renji was standing before a small group of students. Ichigo and his sisters were standing next to each other in front, but Ichigo was less than thrilled with being there as his crossed arms, scowl, and rolled eyes would attest.
"Alright boys and girls…and Ichigo, I am Lieutenant Renji Abarai of squad Six. I've been asked to fill in for your usual instructor today and as such I will be showing you the basics of using a Zanpakuto." Renji explained as he pointed to the container full of the beginner swords.
"While it usually takes a long time for one to acquire their own Zanpakuto, it is not at all uncommon to acquire one seemingly at a random moment. Until you all have a Zanpakuto of your own, you will be working with these basic beginner swords known as Asauchi." Renji said as the students started lining up to get their beginner swords. Ichigo simply stood off to the side with Zangetsu in his hand. Karin and Yuzu were both hoping to have their Zanpakuto suddenly appear in their hand before having to take one of the Asauchi but much to their dismay, it didn't happen.
As the lesson progressed, Ichigo simply sat off to the side with Renji's permission since he knew full well Ichigo was more skilled with his Zanpakuto than he was. Ichigo however simply watched Yuzu and Karin and hoped that their Zanpakuto would awaken. What none of them knew was that they were being watched, not just by the Punishment force, but by a small horde of white bone armored creatures.
The horde of creatures watched for a while before standing straight up as if they were human and then their bone armor started compressing down into human form before a strange liquid substance started oozing out from between the plating. The liquid coated their bodies before solidifying into the appearance of what appeared to be Soul Reapers in uniform. They then emerged into the light and started heading towards the group of trainees.
"Huh? Who are these guys?" Ichigo asked curiously as Renji turned towards the approaching group.
"Well get off your bum and find out for me, I'm busy." Renji said as Ichigo rolled his eyes yet complied anyway.
"Hey Renji over there asked me to see what you guys want." Ichigo said as the Soul Reapers looked at each other then stepped around him before heading straight towards the trainee group.
"Hey! I'm talking to you guys!" Ichigo shouted as the Soul Reapers approached Renji. Renji signaled to for the trainees to stop as he dealt with the approaching Soul Reapers.
"Hey I sent that guy to…huh?" Renji said as he watched dumbfounded as the Soul Reapers passed by him and headed straight for Yuzu. Ichigo suddenly got a bad feeling and flash stepped in between them and Yuzu with Zangetsu raised.
"I thought I asked you what you guys wanted!" Ichigo asked as the trainees froze.
"Give us the key." The Soul Reapers said in unison. Immediately Ichigo's suspicions were confirmed. They were no Soul Reapers, they were LeBlancs.
"KARAKURA YELLOW AND RED!!!" Ichigo shouted and instantly a swarm of Punishment force members appeared around Yuzu and Karin.
"Get out." Renji said to the LeBlancs as he drew Zabimaru.
"You first." The LeBlancs said as they started glowing bright blue and they then started moving inward towards each other, causing their disguises to fade away and appear as a large white armored beast with a large spear. The tip of the spear was glowing with blue spirit energy.
"Guess again! ROAR ZABIMARU!!!" Renji shouted as he swung his now released Zanpakuto straight at the creature but the creature parried the attack successfully.
"The key will be ours!" the creature said as it aimed the spearhead towards the ground and then rammed it into the floor, sending a massive shockwave that sent everyone around him flying. It then raised its right arm towards Yuzu. Its open hand suddenly shot forward on a chain attached to the base of the hand and the end of the arm. But before it could reach Yuzu it was blocked by a swing from Zangetsu.
"You're not touching my SISTERS!!!" Ichigo shouted as he started glowing with spiritual energy.
"Ichigo." Yuzu said softly as she watched her brother valiantly defending her and Karin.
Ichigo and Renji were both double teaming the beast with all their might but the monster was just too fast and too strong.
"I'm not going to say this again!" Renji shouted as he took another swing, "GET OUT!!!"
Again the swing was blocked but this time the creature grabbed Zabimaru's extended form with both hands and effortlessly pulled it apart, shocking Renji.
"Zabimaru! How!?!?" Renji shouted in horror mere seconds before the creature aimed the spear at him and a blue arrow fired from the tip, piercing Renji in the shoulder and knocking him some distance away.
"You BASTARD!!!" Ichigo shouted as he took a swing and shouted, "GETSUGA TENSHO!!!"
Instantly a powerful vertical blue wave of energy flew out towards the beast. The beast blocked but the sheer power knocked it some distance back and into a wall. The monster pulled itself from the crater it made in the wall. Its blue eyes staring straight at Ichigo with an angry expression.
"So be it." The monster said as small chunks of blue energy started ripping away from the wall and flying towards the creature, repairing its armor and causing its spear to glow brighter.
"What the hell? It's draining Reishi like the…the Bounts." Ichigo said as a horrid realization hit. The creature wasn't any ordinary LeBlanc, it was the mutated soul of a Bount and as such it only grew stronger when it absorbed Reishi.
"Zeige Dich Furz." The Bount LeBlanc said as its spear glowed bright blue and morphed into a bone armored cobra with a glowing blue hole in its underbelly and with a glowing set of fangs in its mouth.
Yuzu and Karin along with the other students were shocked at the sight of the Bount LeBlanc's doll.
"I thought your dolls became their own being when they were killed?!" Ichigo asked as the Bount LeBlanc laughed.
"The dolls only become their own entity when the doll itself is killed by a Quincy and they become known as Marionettes. If the Bount is killed by a Quincy, the doll dies too but remains under their master's power and the Bount becomes like me. They become Punissons and their dolls become Esclave." The Bount LeBlanc explained.
"I don't care who or what you are! YOU END HERE!!!" Ichigo shouted as he raised his Zanpakuto in a glowing blue swirl of energy.
"BANKAI!!!" Ichigo shouted and in a burst of spirit energy he appeared in his Bankai garb. "Tensa Zangetsu."
The surrounding students were taken aback in awe that one of their classmates had achieved Bankai already. Karin and Yuzu however were cheering him on.
"Alright big brother! Give that butt ugly freak what's coming to him!!!" Yuzu shouted excitedly as Ichigo gave a reassuring smile towards the younger.
Ichigo suddenly flash stepped into the air and reappeared behind the Bount LeBlanc with Zangetsu's blade pierced deep through the creature's back and chest. Ichigo then removed the blade and started performing the same move at practically every angle on the creature's body before finally stopping and walking way.
"What a waste of Bankai." Ichigo said. But he didn't see the holes in the LeBlanc start to heal up as it absorbed the Reishi from around him.
"ICHIGO BEHIND YOU!!!" Yuzu shouted as she saw the Esclave hiss and unleashed a Flèche vent attack on the seemingly unsuspecting Ichigo. Ichigo vanished into the thick stream of arrows that destroyed the wall behind him. As soon as the dust settled there was nothing there but a groove where the arrows had flown and the hole in the wall at the end.
"Ichigo." Yuzu said with a heart broken expression. The Punissons started to laugh.
"So sad Soul Reaper. I honestly didn't expect such power from a beginner. You must have received some training beforehand. Alas I shall never find out from you." The Punissons said as he turned towards Yuzu. Yuzu was stunned but her sadness quickly evolved into anger.
"You MONSTER!!! YOU KILLED ICHIGO!!!" Yuzu shouted angrily.
"Too bad so sad. Now come along before your sister is the one that gets hurt." The Punissons ordered as the Esclave slithered up next to him. Yuzu stood her ground but no one saw what came next…
End Chapter 15.
What's going to happen to Yuzu? Is Ichigo still alive? Find out in the next chapter.
"LeBlanc Research Time."
Gin Ichimaru appears holding the pointer.
"Hello again. Today we will be discussing the three primary races of the LeBlancs." Gin said as the image shifted to a few of the LeBlancs that were seen attacking the Soul Reapers at the Don Kanonji filming.
"The most common type of LeBlanc is the ones born from hollows known as Cavons, which is essentially the French word for Hollow. They have only their basic Hollow abilities at their disposal." Gin said as the screen then shifted to an image of a LeBlanc with both the hole on its chest and a Bount crest somewhere on its body.
"Doll born LeBlancs who operate independent of their corresponding Bounts are called Marionettes. They have only their basic abilities from their time as Dolls." Gin said as the screen shifted to the image of the Punissons and Esclave LeBlancs.
"Bounts that are turned into LeBlancs are called Punissons which is the French word for Punish. But since the Bount itself was killed, its doll was transferred along with them. The dolls are referred to as Esclave which is French for Slave. The Punissons have the ability to fire arrows like the Quincy's but they also have the ability to absorb Reishi like the other Bounts can. The Esclave however gain the ability to use Flèche vent like the Maison LeBlancs." Gin said as Mayuri Kurotsuchi appeared.
"Hmm does this mean that the Punissons and their Esclave are more powerful than a Maison or is the Maison more powerful?" Mayuri asked as surprised Gin.
"How did you get here?!?!" Gin asked surprised.
"It would be too hard for your tiny brain to understand Ichimaru but I assure you that my interest here is completely scientific." Mayuri said as he turned to examine some of the collected battle footage.
"Why does he do this to me?" Gin asked.
End
