The Lengths One Will Go
By: Kuroi Atropos
Warnings: AU, None for this chapter specifically
Summary: When Ishida goes missing, Ichigo, Orihime and Chad begin a search that leads them to Mayuri, where they uncover far more than their missing friend. Ironic that a Quincy would lead to the breaking of the Seireitei.
Disclaimer: Kubo Tite owns Bleach, and he gets paid for it, not me.
AN: Just a reminder since it has been so long since I published a chapter, this is AU. During their battles in Hueco Mundo Ichigo and company were able to escape with Orihime and so most of the Arrancar who died in canon are alive here.
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Chapter Eleven
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Chad carefully slipped his arm under Orihime's side as he and the fourth squad members that had accompanied them warily helped her to the next location.
He couldn't be more relieved that they were almost done.
Chad looked at the large, foreboding door that blocked this monstrous place from the rest of the Seireitei and prayed that Ichigo and the others would be able to last long enough for them to finish getting everyone to safety. Plus, he wanted to check on Ishida. Some of the Shinigami runners had been nice enough to let Chad know that his friend was still unconscious, but it wasn't the same as seeing him again, especially after what the Quincy had been through.
When they reached the next person on the constantly updating list from Mizuno-san (he still couldn't bring himself to call him Aiko, no matter how many times he was prompted) Chad took a step back to eye the mostly empty racks and made sure he could support Orihime with a single hand on the middle of her back as she started over.
The large boy sighed, wanting to tell her again to rest, but kept silent as he knew what her answer would be. Tatsuki would beat them bloody for letting Orihime get into this shape, but would hopefully let them live when she found out the cause. That would have to be one of the first things that Chad would have to make sure was taken care of when they got back. That would be more of a priority than spinning a tale to Ichigo's family right away since his friend would most likely need at least a little recovery time from fighting that many Hollows and Captains. He would also have to call Ishida's Dad as he really should at least know that they had found his son. They just wouldn't let Ishida know Chad had done so until after the call had been made.
He continued to itemize and prioritize during the time it took for Orihime to finish with her current patient, making sure that he remembered everything that would need to happen.
Oh, and he'd have to collect Ishida's homework. The Quincy would undoubtedly never let his grades drop and he would need something to do while he recuperated (because he would recuperate). Although looking at Orihime and knowing Ichigo, he might be picking up a lot of said homework over the next several weeks…
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Hiyori tapped her foot impatiently.
They'd just passed the two hour point, and Orihime had managed to beg another Mega juice. She and Hachi were the only ones still working at this point. Between all of the teams, they'd managed to save 814 now (824 if she included the 10 that had died as they were brought down). The time restraints required that the fourth squad members continue to help, but at the same time they just weren't on the same level as either Orihime or Hachi and remaining 16 victims were all very tricky cases that the two would have to work on together. The only thing that Hyori had discovered that made her feel even remotely happy was the fact that two of the Suppliers they were about to bring down had been there since the beginning, 305 years ago. Hikifune had begun her command 257 years ago; seven under the old Imperial Army, and then starting in the new Gotei 13. It meant at the least that Hikifune probably hadn't had anything to do with the start of this thing. She still didn't know if her old captain had known about it though.
At least they had a good chance of getting everyone down before the Hollows managed to find their way to this stupid place. And if they couldn't, well, thanks to a 4th Squad member who had accidentally tripped over a cord and pulled a plug on one of the units, they'd discovered that each individual container could function off of the Supplier inside of them as a kind of back-up battery. They couldn't allow this function to happen for too long as the Suppliers would be drained faster than usual (and thus faster than they could recuperate), but it meant that even if they couldn't get everyone down, they might be able to bring a few units through the portal and then take them down on the other side.
The Bount kid (who really made Hiyori's skin crawl) was huddled up near Orihime practically at her giant friend's feet, making sure to stay out of the way as he followed them around like a little lost puppy. As she found her eyes searching him out uneasily again, she found herself focusing on that damn doll he clutched to his chest and it reminded her of something she'd been meaning to ask.
"Oy, incompetent moron! You… the stinky one!" The sniveling mess of a 12th Squad member looked up at her from where he was shakily loading all the copies of the various necessary files he'd made under the watch of her exacting eyes. Hiyori stopped herself from flipping her sandal into her hand. "Some of these people are Shinigami, right? They had Zanpaktous and a few of the others had things like the psycho brat's little half sun. Where are they stored?"
"F-f-four b-b-blocks –we-we-west of here, ma-mam-ma-ma'am."
She scowled down at her feet, forcing down her need to smack him upside the head with a sandal again. That area was right near the second perimeter and a few Hollows had already managed to make it that far in. If she sent a group out now, they would be hard pressed to reach it before the bulk of the Hollows did. That jolted another thought to the forefront of her mind. Was anybody guarding the Well of Spirits in the 13th Squad?
Probably.
Hopefully.
Most likely not her problem.
Damn it she'd check after this….
She pointed to a Fourth Squad Member (one who had an authoritative air and most of his unit with him) as she glared at Stinky. "You lead the 9th Relief Unit there now. Try to find and rescue as many Zanpaktous and other similar type stuff that you can. Bring them all back here safely, got me?"
The bossy looking guy nodded after a dismissive glance at their guide, accepting the mission with an actually valid question. "Ma'am, may we please have some escorts?" She scowled. Most of the fighters had rushed to the outer lines to buy them time, and the few left only remained to keep an eye on the 12th Squad or help them with any of the suppliers that got violent.
"I WANNA GO ON THE TREASURE HUNT!" Hiyori recoiled in shock as the 11th Squad Fukutaichou dropped onto her shoulder. She remembered this little girl; the pink-haired brat had grown a little, but she still seemed like a psychotic little ball of energy with bloody hands that sometimes managed to be even scarier than her Captain. Hiyori was positive she could take the brat in a fight, but that didn't stop the shudder that ran up her spine at the thought of the little girl loose and having her version of fun.
Still, the girl had to have a reason for being here when there were so many fights to be had outside. Hopefully the brat would remember why if Hiyori could jog her out of her anticipation for the new game. "What were you here for first, gaki?"
"Oh yeah! Pin-cushion wants you to turn on your phone, Shiro-chan wanted to know how much longer 'til you're done and Mommy told me that you knew a fun game for me to play!" Hiyori blinked, Pin Cushion? Shiro-chan? Mommy? "Is it Treasure Hunt? Is it? Is it? Is it? Is it? Can I play Treasure Hunt?"
"Watch it, brat," she muttered threateningly and reached for her phone. Kensei (she assumed that was 'Pin-cushion) would want an update and she could ask about the Well that way as well, even if she wasn't going to try to figure out what else the little girl was talking about. She could get also get him to update 'Shiro-chan', whoever the heck that was supposed to be. Hyori could think of at least three people off the top of her head that fit the image that name brought to mind. Now to get the fluff ball out of her way and give the Relief Squad an escort…
Oh, that was just too perfect.
"Sure you can play treasure hunt," Hyori said with a fakely sweet voice. "And as part of the Treasure Hunt you get the extra special mission of making sure Stinky the Guide over there doesn't run away at the first sign of Hollows!" She hoped that sounded like something the girl would enjoy, and it would undoubtedly torment Stinky even more. Sometimes, she really was just too smart. The shivering mess practically melted at the grin Hyori shot him.
"Who would want to run away from Hollows? They make fun toys!" Hiyori turned to face the girl again and bit back a shudder. That was the 11th Squad for you… She was sooo glad the girl wasn't a Vizard. She didn't even want to picture her Hollow.
"You should remind him of that, okay?"
"YAY! Stinky Pants let's go!" No sooner had she spoken than the pink terror had grabbed Stinky and was rushing out the door with the 9th relief unit already hard pressed to keep up. She heard the leader yelling something about the wrong direction and sighed.
She poked her head out to make sure they'd managed to fix that little problem, but just as she did so, she felt the shift in the atmosphere, and looked up to see a Garganta forming almost on top of them. Not good. And then, to her horror, several beings stepped calmly out and into the air (and wasn't that just great because that wasn't even supposed to be impossible in the Seireitei). She felt her stomach drop as she recognized what they were: Five hugely powerful, white clad Arrancar.
Crap.
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An enormous wave of reiatsu crashed into Ichigo's back, throwing him off balance enough so that he barely managed to block a vicious swipe by the mantis-like Hollow he was fighting. He took great relish in arcing Zangetsu to chop the thing in half and allowing the shock wave to obliterate a good portion of the Hollows around him. He then focused his energy on reading the chaos that had just exploded into being behind him.
What he saw sent chills up his spine and made him sick to his stomach. It took him all of two seconds to realize what exactly had happened right as he heard Kenpachi's joyous laughter despite the distance.
Arrancar.
Powerful Arrancar.
He cursed as he realized they had appeared right next to that damn Black Hole; right next to Orihime and Chad, and in turn next to the Gate leading to Ishida and Urahara and his family and friends.
Like Hell those bastards were getting anywhere near his friends ever again.
Ichigo shot towards them in a powerful burst of Shunpo.
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Rukia was mostly done, thank the Gods. The evacuation of the hospital only had a few more trips, and then if they still had the time they could try and get some non-essential equipment, but the majority of the patients and truly necessary supplies would be through the gate to Urahara's first.
Then, a surge of powerful, nigh overwhelming Arrancar Reiatsu overcame the area. Rukia caught her breath for two reasons. One, it almost stopped her breathing with the sheer enormity of it. Two, it originated from near the Black Hole and consequently the evacuation portal.
She bit back a scream of frustration and glanced around, trying to prioritize the necessary actions and resources available to her so she could complete her now seemingly next to impossible (especially when compared with how she'd felt just moments ago) task. She took one step forward, ready to yell for scouts to check for a clear alternate escape path and for someone to see if there were any spare members of the fighting squads, when the Reiatsus of the Arrancar split apart enough for her to really sense them individually. Her voice froze in her throat.
Kaien.
No.
Aaroniero.
That monster was here. At first she could only stand there as memories thudded through her, and she rubbed her chest where his trident had pierced it. Then, with a shout towards the Fourth Squad member that been most useful in keeping things organized, Rukia lunached herself towards the Black Hole, drawing her Zanpaktou.
She would finish this now.
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Captain Kuchiki Byakuya cursed the impulsive, fight-obsessed fools he'd supposedly been fighting with as he arched Senbonzakura and leaped back. Kurosaki had just raced off towards the new Garganta and the extremely powerful fighters it had released. Kenpachi had vanished in that direction as well as had Hirako and Aikawa. To his disgust, Soi Fong and Yoruichi weren't that far behind them. They should know better.
He had no choice except to fall back. At the least he'd sensed the completion of the barricades and the formation of the fighting units. At least his Squad was doing their primary duty, protecting the Noble Houses.
He spun around and with a burst of Shunpo even that annoying Yoruichi would be proud of he cleared half of the distance in two steps where he met Komamura. They shared a long suffering look at being some of the few in a leadership position who could really comprehend duty before making their way back to the others, ignoring as best they could the Hollows in their wake.
He felt perfectly justified in the small sense of satisfaction he experienced when the over eager 11th Squad Captain went flying, having been tossed simultaneously by two of the Arrancar towards the Sotaichou and the main planning area.
Before he could even assess the situation, Kurosaki's reiatsu started to go a little dark again.
Byakuya shook his head again. If only one of the men would learn to not rush in….
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Yamamoto stared at the area near the Power Station where the new Garganta had formed. With an efficiency born of years of war against the Hollows, he quickly took stock of the battle field.
Unsurpirisngly, Kurosaki had abandoned his post and was now racing towards the new hollows, as was Kenpachi. Yamamoto frowned. How like the fickle fool. He couldn't say he hadn't figured the traitorous half-hollows that had once been captains and supposedly knew better would follow. They did only moments later. What did surprise him in a most unpleasant manner was the fact that all of his other captains seemed to be right on the brat's tail as well. Even Kuchiki and Komomura were headed towards the new arrivals.
Familiar as he was with the lay of the Seireitei, Yamamoto could already feel the drain of the power grids as more and more souls were ripped from the vital power house. Even with all of his experience and knowledge, he did not command words foul enough to express his thoughts on those idiots involved in such a traitorous activity. The fact that his captains were among the parties damaging the Seireitei made Yamamoto smolder in anger. How could they do this to him? How could they take everything he had raised them to hold dear and throw it away because of something like this? Yes it was unpleasant, but it was also necessary. They had to keep up with the other societies somehow…
As Yamamoto felt the new Arrancars come into the battle, he found himself looking over his warriors, gaging each of them. Who could he trust? Who would remain loyal to him? The number he came up with only made him realize how many allies he suddenly lacked in only a few hours. It also deepened his anger and sense of betrayal even further.
Soi Fong would follow her previous commander; he had no illusion that she would do otherwise. Unohana was tearing down the power grid, although he hoped he could talk some sense into her if she survived. Kuchiki had stood against him when he'd arrived at the power station. Komomura had stood with him against the traitors. Shinsui had argued with him on the fact that the power grid was even necessary, and at this point, he did not feel he could trust his former student. Hitsugaya , well, unfortunately, that bright child was a lost cause. Kenpachi…he just shook his head and moved on. Mayuri he could control, but he had no idea where the man was and Ukitake would stand with Shinsui. He only had one captain he could trust and find at the moment.
Other than his own lieutenant and the second squad Fukutaichou he couldn't trust any of the second-in-commands. They would all be too involved with their captains or previous captains to be of any use, and that went for most of the seated officers as well. Perhaps he needed to rethink the military structure of the Soul Society.
At this point, the only other groups he could trust would be the Kido-corps and the Secret Mobile Corps, the researchers that had managed to escape the ryoka and their allies, and most likely the noble houses. He could also rely on the central 46 for the most part, although he didn't know how much they could help, new as they were.
He felt Kenpachi clash with the Arrancar first, only to be stopped and thrown in Yamamoto's direction. The Sotaichou didn't so much as twitch as the bulk of the 11th squad zoomed towards their captain. He did, however, come to a conclusion. Their position was too tenuous. They would have to regroup…and he refused to regroup with traitors, hollows and ryoka who couldn't be relied upon.
He turned his head to the side. "Sasakibe." The white-haired Fukutaichou appeared almost immediately, kneeling in respect. "We must retreat. Inform the following Officers and have them bring only their most trusted squad members: Captain Komomura and Fukutaichou Ōmaeda. Then quietly get Secret Mobile Corps and the Kido Corps to evacuate the Noble Houses through the emergency routes." Saying it aloud seemed to rob him of all hope, and a chill of defeat washed over him as he truly acknowledged that he would have to completely rebuild this government he had created from scratch. He was getting too old for this.
"What of the others, sir?"
Yamamoto's expression darkened. "Leave them for the hollows to destroy."
His most trusted underling didn't even pause. "Yes, sir!" Sasakibe said with a bow and turned only to be pounded into the ground by a wild eyed Hitsugaya who had managed to somehow sneak up on them. Yamamoto glared at the interfering child who clearly radiated a powerful wave of murderous intent.
"What did you say?" Hitsugaya Toshiro asked through clenched teeth.
Yamamoto blinked at the younger spirit, wondering how he could have missed the brat's riatsu. He really was getting old, he thought to himself sadly as he turned to face the boy and released his sword.
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Toshiro had had a really, really lousy day. Probably the worst day of his life…and that included the day he'd discovered Aizen's true intentions and then been run through by the traitor's sword.
Now he couldn't help but feel the same betrayal, only magnified a hundred fold. He found himself unable to do much more than stare at the Sotaichou in shock as he realized his world had been turned upside down for the umpteenth time that day. Yes he knew this man was many things, and Toshiro had even come to realize that he could no longer remain under Yamamoto's command, but he had never figured the Captain Commander for this—to be someone who would abandon good and innocent people simply because they disagreed.
They sat there for nearly a full minute staring at each other, the old man with his sword at the ready and Hitsugaya kneeling on the First squad's Fukutaichou, whom he had barely managed to stop from leaving to sound their abandonment thanks to some particularly lucky timing on his part. He'd come to report the success of some regrouping efforts to the Command area. Even after waiting, the Sotaichou did not reply to Toshiro's question, and really his silence was all the answer the white-haired boy needed. He'd seen enough in his relatively short life that he could accept what Sotaichou was doing, he just desperately wanted—needed—to know why. "You would simply leave the rest of us to fight your battle? You would abandon and betray us that deeply?"
"I am not the one who has betrayed!" Yamamoto yelled with a flare of his spiritual pressure. "I have every right to leave you traitors to face your deaths."
"I will not let you hurt more people just to cover your pride," Hitsugaya growled as he stared at the Sotaichou, shifting off of the unconscious Fukutaichou and dropping into a defensive crouch. To think that he would do that…the very idea was nothing short of heinous! There seemed to be no end to his depravity. That he would abandon civilians, innocent bystanders and the lower Shinigami that, in spite of everything, remained loyal to him….
"I would dare, traitor," the old man continued. "May you still serve the Seiretei here as our bait." The Sotaichou, with an almost sad look on his face swung at him, and Hitsugaya barely managed to dodge the blast of scorching flames.
His shock began to melt away (it seemed he was getting all too used to these kinds of despicable actions), and Hitsugaya screamed in rage as he poured every ounce of anger, fear and protectiveness he had for Hinamori, for Matsumoto, for his subordinates, for his Grandmother and even Ukitake-Taichou into Hyourinmaru. He would not let that old bastard get away with this! He had to contain him before he could sound any type of wide spread retreat!
He had to hold the old man off long enough for everyone to escape because even he knew he had no hope of defeating Yamamoto should he choose to release his bankai.
With a wave of emotion, riatsu-charged ice began to build behind him, thick and hard as it leached moisture and more reiatsu from the atmosphere around him to strengthen and replenish itself where the Sotaichou's flames tried to eat it.
"Forget the Hollows, Sotaichou. If you want to get to anyone you'll have to get through me," Hitsugaya could barely recognize his own voice, caked over as it was with the iciness of all the pain and shock he had dealt with this day.
"Impudent brat!" Hitsugaya glared at the Old Man and braced himself, determined to be ready for any action, defensive or offensive. The man hadn't become what he was—the Sotaichou, the best, the greatest, the most revered—for nothing.
It happened suddenly, the Sotaichou darting to the side to try and escape the fast encroaching cold, Hitsugaya moving to counter, the jagged wall of ice shifting behind him with his thoughts, and then suddenly, Kenpachi shot out of the crater he had crashed into not ten meters away. Grinning like the maniac he was, he moved into the Old Man's path and with a single downward stroke that cleaved the air and walls for 20 sections in either direction in two, sent his opponent into the ground in a serious display of why everyone avoided 11th Squad like the plague.
Hitsugaya slid to a halt as he arched his sword through the air, lacing the area with Kido spells and traps and adding protection to the quickly reshaping wall of ice. He paid special attention to where he'd left Hinamori delicately cradled in pocket towards a corner of what was once a rather beautiful, walled in garden. He'd have to make sure he had enough left in him to see her to safety. He didn't trust her with anyone else right now, especially with Matsumoto lost in the mêlée around them.
His attention quickly snapped back to the Sotaichou as he rose from the ground. "That was the first time in a while I've had that feeling. I'll make sure to return the favor, mad dog!"
Only Toshiro's reflexes saved him as the Old Man moved, heading for him rather than the much larger man. Their swords clashed, and Hitsugaya gave himself into the fight in a way he hadn't ever before. He breathed arctic winds, flung Hyourinmaru's wings to the highest they'd ever flown, and practically became the ice he wielded. Surprisingly enough, Kenpachi attacked the Sotaicou with him. Well, at least he didn't try to cut Toshiro down.
The former 10th Squad Captain focused on this, on him and Kenpachi dodging and darting, striking at the Sotaichou with a viciousness he'd never felt in himself. He ignored the Hollows, trusting in Matsumoto and Ukitake and Ichigo to use the time that he would buy them wisely.
"Keep it up, kid! This is the best ever! Better than Hollows! Better than anything!" He heard Kenpachi laugh maniacally, adding a terrifying glee to his own bitter cold, which was getting more wild and violent than Hitsugaya had ever felt.
Then a particularly close crosscut sliced into Hitsugaya's side. He barely noticed, but it served to push him over the edge, and he let go of what little control he had left.
He forgot everything then. Hinamori, Matsumoto, the battle around him—he saw nothing but the evil of the man before him. Even if it became more than he could handle, even if he killed himself with the cold, he would stop the Sotaichou.
He swallowed the frozen heart of his dragon, and raged against the Captain Commander like the deadliest bizzard. Icy gusts cut through streams of flame, ice shards melted beneath the heat of the Old Man's rage only to reform into the darkest, black ice.
No matter what, this would end today.
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On several parts of the globe, various types of alarms and warnings sprung to life, creating a buzz of excitement tinged by worry at what had brought this development about, and what it said for the future of the Societies.
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End Chapter Eleven
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