It was still a long way from the forest to the edge of the city and the heroes were rather silent as they progressed.
"So…you and Toshiro eh?" Tatsuki asked Karin who blinked curiously.
"Huh?" Karin replied.
"I hear you and Toshiro are together now. He's kinda stuck up and stubborn in some cases and he's always got that chilly demeanor but he is a Captain and kinda cute." Tatsuki said as Uryu pushed up his glasses.
"Kinda strange complementing a guy whose element is ice while coming from a woman whose element is fire." Uryu commented.
"Hey the element doesn't necessarily represent the person." Tatsuki replied as Rukia nodded.
"True. I'm not cold at all for example. Sode no Shirayuki on the other hand…now she's cold." Rukia said as Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"You just technically called yourself cold you know." Ichigo said as Rukia glared at him.
"What was that?! What did you say?!" Rukia asked angrily.
"Not this again." Ichigo groaned.
"Hey! We're trying to keep a low profile here!" Yoruichi yelled at them.
"Well you can't exactly get any lower in height profile than Rukia…can you?" Karin snickered.
"You're smaller than me!" Rukia growled.
"Yeah but I've got Bankai! What do you have?!" Karin asked with a challenging grin.
"What does that have to do with anything?!" Rukia asked back in confused annoyance.
"Hey knock it off you two. We've got our own enemies to fight here and it's not each other!" Uryu said as the two fell silent but with their heads turned away from each other and their arms crossed over their chests.
"Great choice of girlfriends there Ichigo." Yoruichi razzed as she playfully elbowed Ichigo in the ribs.
"Give me a break." Ichigo groaned as they reached the top of another hill and stopped at what they saw. At the bottom of the hill was a small camp of LeBlanc soldiers. There were at least a dozen of them and they didn't seem too distracted by the sudden appearance of the group.
"Hey who are they?" one of the LeBlancs asked.
"Must be some of the new training methods the General has lined up for us." Another said as Isshin grinned and drew his Zanpakuto.
"Leave this one to me, kids." He chuckled silently. Before you could blink, Isshin had leapt down and cut through one of the LeBlancs down the center.
"Train this. MUST KILL TECHNIQUE: WHIRLI-DEATH!!!" Isshin shouted as he suddenly started spinning around in a circle with his Zanpakuto held out in front of him.
"What the-?! HE'S INSANE!!!" "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!" the LeBlancs shrieked.
"Pathetic weaklings! Isshin shouted as he sheathed his Zanpakuto and started physically beating the few remaining LeBlancs senseless, killing most with a single blow. In ten solid seconds exactly, from the time he drew his Zanpakuto, all the LeBlancs at the camp were dead.
"Now whaddya think of your old man Ichigo?!" Isshin asked the stunned crowd.
"Holy-…" Tatsuki blinked.
"And I thought Tessai was strong." Yoruichi said as Isshin grinned.
"Well that was fun, but we've still got a ways to go so let's move out!" Isshin said as he casually strolled on towards the city with the others close behind.
Soon they reached the edge of town and like Yoruichi had said, they saw nothing between them and the city. Seriously…nothing. No large walls, defenses, battlements, or even people.
"Where is everyone?" Orihime asked nervously as they slowly approached one of the empty streets.
"I don't know. It's like the town was very recently occupied but suddenly the people just vanished." Tatsuki said.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Isshin said as he kept a hand on his Zanpakuto.
"As do I." Nel said as she drew Gamuza.
"You're right. They're not hiding. They're all watching us. Waiting for orders to strike." Yoruichi said as Ichigo, Karin, and Rukia reached for their Zanpakutos while Chad summoned his battle arm.
"Wait…someone's coming." Orihime said as she spotted a figure approaching from up the street. It was indeed a LeBlanc. He was large and muscular with only a white cloth covering his head. He also wore black pants and large black boots but no shirt. His eyes pierced through a pair of holes in the mask and his core could clearly be seen in the center of his chest. He was also carrying a large spiked club in his right hand. For some reason though, he wasn't wearing his Bone armor. He came to a stop at a small intersection in front of them.
"Hold here strangers. You have come as far as the Guerre Maitrise will allow." The LeBlanc said as Ichigo stepped up.
"We don't take orders from the Guerre Maitrise. We're here for Yuzu Kurosaki. My SISTER! No go tell your friends that we are here to take her back!" Ichigo growled. The LeBlanc chuckled and then started to laugh insanely.
"So…" he said finally, "…You fancy yourself to be a Soul Reaper eh? Why don't you just run along and return to the Soul Society before you get yourself killed…heh-heh or at least go back so that you might make peace with your pathetic life before we come and end it anyway."
"So you think I'm funny huh?" Ichigo asked with a smirk. Instantly he leapt up and bifurcated the LeBlanc down the center, causing the LeBlanc to disappear.
"Who's the funny one now?" Ichigo asked. Suddenly they heard a strange creaking sound coming from all around them. From the buildings then emerged a sea of LeBlancs as their bone armor formed around them.
"Nice going Ichigo. Now we're going to get killed before we can even get to the castle!" Karin grumbled.
"That's what you think Karin." Isshin said with a Kenpachi styled grin.
"Isshin? Are you going to do what I think you're about to?" Yoruichi asked with a knowing smirk.
"Oh yeah." Isshin said as he raised his Zanpakuto.
"Reap Chuushuunomeigetsu." Instantly his Zanpakuto entered its scythe form.
"Dad? What are you doing?!" Ichigo asked. Isshin then twirled his Zanpakuto over his head, causing it to start glowing bright red before leaping into the air and swinging it across like thrashing wheat, sending out a massive bright red Getsuga Tensho.
(Music Cue: Number One)
"It's time to watch your old man work Ichigo!" Isshin shouted as he started glowing with bright red spirit energy.
"BANKAI!!!" Isshin shouted as he suddenly let off a blinding bright red light. When it faded, his attire mimicked Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu attire but only without the frayed ends and with red robes with black interior instead of the black with red interior. His Captain's Haori was still clasped to his shoulder and his Zanpakuto's Shikai form was also in his hands.
"Chuushuunomeigetsu no Samurai Kariirebito!" Isshin shouted as he came down and delivered a killing blow with his Zanpakuto on a single LeBlanc. Instantly an armored warrior in blood red samurai gear with a decoration above the eyes shaped like Chuushuunomeigetsu's Shikai and holding a katana matching Chuushuunomeigetsu's sealed form in its hands appeared in a flash of red light and began cutting down LeBlancs. With every foe both it and Isshin slew, another Samurai appeared and started fighting as well. Soon there was an entire army of Samurai. (Chuushuunomeigetsu no Samurai Kariirebito: Harvest Moon of the Samurai Reapers.)
"What's going on?!" Ichigo asked confused.
"Your father's Bankai, Chuushuunomeigetsu no Samurai Kariirebito…A long name but with a truly deadly Bankai when it comes to dealing with multiple foes. With every foe your father slays, a samurai warrior emerges and will fight against those Isshin considers to be his enemies. The same works for the Samurai with every foe they slay. After a few minutes, provided there's enough enemies, an entire army is amassed." Yoruichi said as Ichigo grinned.
"He's creating a diversion! With all of the LeBlancs diverted towards him, we can run in and grab Yuzu with less resistance!" Ichigo said as Yoruichi nodded.
"Then let's hurry!" Yoruichi said. However Isshin suddenly appeared in front of them.
"If you're going to Yuzu, take this with you. It might come in handy!" Isshin said as he tossed what looked like a comparatively shorter sword to Karin. It was Sanctus Curator.
"LET'S GO!!!" Ichigo shouted as they ran down the cleared pathway straight towards the Castle. (End Music.)
Meanwhile in the prison tower…
Yuzu was watching from the balcony with excitement. She could see smoke rising from the edge of the city coupled with the occasional explosion. She could also make out a faint glimpse of red coming from the same spot as well.
Her twin LeBlanc aids were watching from either side of her with matching scowls on their faces.
"Do not even begin to hope for a rescue Key girl. Your would-be-rescuers will inevitably fail and die by our hands." The twins said in unison in a vain effort to crush Yuzu's spirit.
"You don't know my brother. He's going to kick all of your butts!" Yuzu declared.
"I doubt that will be the case." A chillingly familiar voice said from behind her. Yuzu turned around to see the Collector.
"The construction of the Porte Faiseur is nearing completion. Soon you will open the gateway to the Soul King's realm and then we shall destroy the Soul Reapers from the top down." The Collector said as he turned towards the door. (Porte Faiseur: Gate Maker)
"Oh…and she is not allowed to watch from the balcony anymore." The Collector said as he walked out, closing the door behind her.
Yuzu quickly spun back around and took a deep breath.
"IIIIIIICCHHIIIIIIIIIIIGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Back in the city…
The team slid to a stop as they heard Yuzu's cry.
"That's-that's Yuzu!" Uryu exclaimed.
"That yell came from the castle, she must be in one of those towers!" Rukia said.
"Well done Soul Reaper. You're on the right track." A LeBlanc said as he approached with a large battle axe in hand.
"We don't have time for this! Getsuga TENSHO!!!" Ichigo shouted as he launched a blue wave of energy at the LeBlanc but he took a swing and dispersed it easily.
"What the-?!" Ichigo exclaimed as the LeBlanc laughed.
"You fool. I am Sentinelle Nonag! And this is where your little rescue mission comes to an end." The LeBlanc said as he raised his axe.
"Je Suis Ganon!" Nonag shouted as he suddenly morphed into a giant creature with a snake like head and neck with a lizard like body.
"Look at me now Soul Reapers! Behold my awesome power and weep in despair! I am invincible compared to your puny little-GACKT!!!" Nonag gagged as a Reishi arrow shot through the neck joint where the head met the neck. On the back of his neck was his core, which now began to crumble due to the hole running straight through it.
"If you had spent more time attacking us than making prolonged declarations of your apparently exaggerated power, then you might have been more effective at stopping us, but instead you wind up dead with an arrow through your throat and we are able to simply carry on." Uryu said as he lowered his bow and pushed up his glasses. Instantly Nonag blew away into dust.
"Nice shot Uryu." Ichigo said as Uryu nodded in response.
"Let's not waste any more time and let's hurry." Uryu said as they hurried on. They then entered a courtyard where a single LeBlanc stood with its back turned towards the group. Immediately a strange energy barrier went up around the Courtyard, sealing everyone but Tatsuki and Rukia outside the courtyard.
"What is this?!" Ichigo asked in confusion as he attempted to break through the barrier with Zangetsu.
"Soul Reapers…you have reached the end of the road. From here, your journey ends in bitter sorrow." The LeBlanc said as he turned around. Immediately he raised a large bola in his hands. The LeBlanc himself was almost as tall as Jidanbo the gate guardian in the Soul Society and similarly built too. His core was nowhere to be seen through his thick bone armored plates.
"Ichigo! There's no way past it! It'll be quicker if you go around!" Rukia shouted as Ichigo paused.
"She's right Ichigo, there's no way through and we don't have the time to try and find a way through! We need to go around!" Yoruichi said as Ichigo remained silent before lowering his head in partial defeat.
"Alright. Tatsuki! Rukia! Try to catch up when you can!" Ichigo shouted as he and the others immediately started running around to the sides of barrier only to crash into another one. They were boxed in.
"Oh great!" Ichigo groaned as the LeBlanc laughed.
"You're not getting away that easily Soul Reapers. This barrier is impenetrable and receives its power from my core. The only way you're getting out is through me!" the LeBlanc said as Tatsuki and Rukia glanced at each other.
"Then you're as good as dead." Tatsuki taunted as orange flames appeared on her back and arms without harming her clothes.
"I am Rukia Kuchiki of the Thirteenth Division." Rukia introduced
"I am Tatsuki Arisawa and uh…I'm not a Soul Reaper, just a human that's going to kick your sorry butt!" Tatsuki said as the LeBlanc chuckled.
"And I am the Sixieme Gardeur; Eppilihp." The LeBlanc introduced. (Sixieme – sixth)
"Sixieme? I thought there were seven of you? The seven Sept Gardeur." Rukia asked as Eppilihp groaned.
"There is, or at least was. I am the sixth member of the Sept Gardeur. The Quart, Cinq, and Sept were sent to the Soul Society and killed by you Soul Reapers. The first to fall was Roodnmad the Cinq Gardeur, followed by Ihsoy the Sept Gardeur, and finally Igaka the Quart Gardeur." Eppilihp explained as Uryu's eyes widened. (Translation: Quart – fourth, Cinq – five, Sept – seven).
"Yoshi was only the seventh member of the Sept Gardeur?!" Uryu asked in shock.
"Ihsoy was only sent to the Soul Society because she had been there the most recently and that she could gain power from the Reishi particles around her. She was a weakling compared to me." Eppilihp said as Rukia and Tatsuki smirked.
"We'll just have to see about that. Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!" Rukia shouted as her Zanpakuto entered Shikai form. Tatsuki cracked her knuckles and her flames got larger.
"I didn't think her powers were that developed. I thought she and Aunt Kaichou only had a few training sessions together." Karin said as Orihime smiled.
"Well…she did have some help." Orihime replied as Nel nodded knowingly.
"Let's see if that help pays off." Nel said. Suddenly Tatsuki leapt forward.
"I GET FIRST STRIKE!!!" Tatsuki shouted as she unleashed a rain of fireballs down on Eppilihp. Eppilihp attempted to strike her down with his Bola but she dodged the strike effortlessly and fired a single large fireball at his head. The blow knocked him onto his back as Tatsuki hovered in the air with blue flames all around her.
"Tatsuki! Keep him pinned down!" Rukia shouted as she quickly raised her Zanpakuto.
"Tsugi no mai, Hakuren!" Rukia shouted as the beam of ice flew straight at Eppilihp as he attempted to climb up. Tatsuki however was fast and hurled another fireball at him. Unfortunately the ice beam and the fireball hit simultaneously, resulting in an explosion.
Tatsuki landed next to Rukia as the smoke started to clear. They were both dismayed when they saw Eppilihp was still alive. His armor however had been horribly damaged and a large portion of it was broken off.
"You think that will be enough to defeat me?! You Soul Reapers are truly pathetic! Now it's time for you to see my true form! Je Suis Philippe!" Eppilihp roared as a burst of smoke erupted from underneath him but nothing happened.
"What?! What is this?! What's going on?!" Eppilihp asked confused. He didn't realize it but on his back, partially revealed from beneath his armor, was his core. His core was flickering slightly as small pieces of it broke off.
"Looks like we've only just softened you up for the final blow! Hey Rukia, ya think you can do that ice beam thing again? I've got an idea." Tatsuki said as Rukia nodded.
"Tsugi no mai, Hakuren!" Rukia shouted as she unleashed another ice beam and Tatsuki unleashed a massive stream of flames. Eppilihp's eyes widened and he quickly swung his bola at the beam, resulting in a massive and blinding explosion.
"RUKIA! TATSUKI!" Ichigo shouted as the smoke from the explosion impacted against the barrier but didn't pass through.
They couldn't tell what was going on but then they were able to see the piercing blue eyes from within the smoke.
End Chapter 51.
The Black Wrangler: Behind the Scenes…
A new camera was turned on, staring straight down at Orihime's chest as the person holding the camera struggled to see if it was turned on.
"Is it on? Is there a red light on the front?" Tatsuki asked as the camera panned up to Orihime's face who nodded.
"Oh never mind we've got video." Tatsuki said as Orihime giggled.
"Hello, I am Orihime Inoue, and today my friend Tatsuki and I will give you a grand tour of Women's Dressing Room A." Orihime said proudly.
"It's for all the main female characters in the story…plus Captain Unohana." Rukia commented from off screen. The camera then panned over to her as she sat at her makeup table reading from a Bleach Manga.
"Miss Kuchiki I am hurt by your words." Unohana said with a saddened expression as Rukia jumped.
"Oh, Captain Unohana, I didn't mean it like that!" Rukia pleaded as Kaichou sighed while slipping past Retsu.
"I can't leave you girls alone for five minutes, can I?" Kaichou groaned as she sat down at her table.
"Don't worry Captain Unohana, Rukia's just jealous." Nel said as she put some polish on her mask.
"Jealous of what?" Unohana asked confused.
"She means your bust size Retsu." Kaichou replied as she made some quick touches on her makeup. Retsu blushed while Rukia sank into her chair behind her Manga.
"Hey everyone! Say hello to the new Tatsuki Cam!" Tatsuki said from behind the camera, causing Retsu, Kaichou, and Nel to glance over towards her and Orihime.
"Oh. Hello." Retsu said with a friendly wave.
"Hi Mom!" Kaichou said with a Gin like smile and wave.
"BOO!!!" Grimmjow shouted as he suddenly leapt in the doorway, causing all the women to jump before he ran off down the hall cackling like a mad man. Nel grabbed Gamuza and charged off after him.
"Yeah you BETTER RUN!!!" she shouted at him as she hung half way out the doorway, shaking her fist at him and giving one additional unseen gesture before paling and stepping back inside as Byakuya approached the door.
"I don't believe that was called for." Byakuya said calmly.
"It was not aimed at you Captain Kuchiki. My apologies." Nel said with a polite bow with Byakuya reciprocated.
"Very well." Byakuya said as he turned around. Nel quickly saw something on his back and snatched it off. It was a Kick Me sign.
"Oh how original Grimmjow." Nel groaned sarcastically as she crumpled the paper up and tossed it in the garbage. Sadly the garbage can had a photo shopped image of Ulquiorra taped to it with the captioning "Everything in this can is trash."
"What's gotten into him today?! He disrupts shooting four times! It took Ulquiorra threatening to kill him to calm him down." Rukia asked.
"He's bored. He, Ikkaku, and Lieutenant Iba had a drinking contest last night using some of Rangiku's Sake…sadly Grimmjow won and he gets this way when he has a hangover. I don't know why." Nel explained.
"Saw a lot of it in Los Noches did we?" Tatsuki asked.
"Occasionally. Sake was hard to come by. We had to rely on our Fraccions to do the shopping for us. None of Grimmjow's would get off their bums and do anything for him so he usually bummed his shopping list off on one of someone else's Fraccion." Nel explained.
"Uh Tatsuki, what's that little blinky thing in the top right corner of the screen?" Orihime asked.
"It's the battery indicate-…-or. Oh crap." Tatsuki said before the camera shut itself off from a low battery.
End
