It was hectic. The thought was in everyone's head in some shape or form. Every available member of the Gotei 13 was out for blood after what had happened to Captain Aizen. Lieutenant Hinamori was in a jail cell at the moment and the same for Lieutenant Kira just in different barracks. Even Captains were wondering aimlessly, hoping they could find one of the Ryoka. Except Soifon. She had a destination in mind.

A call had gone out to every Lieutenant and all but Tadashi answered, Momo and Kira being locked up. At first Soifon was just a tad bit worried then it hit her. In the 75 years of service as her Lieutenant he had never missed any meeting or mission. So when she asked around looking for him and getting no answers she grew completely worried. Then her Fourth Seat Lee had told her that Ken and Shane, the unnamed Sixth Seat, had taken Third Seat Matsuri Kudo to the Fourth Squad Barracks due to the injuries inflicted by a Ryoka. From his reports Tadashi had staid to chase down the Ryoka, despite showing no signs of doing so.

So after getting the directions she was off, using shunpo at an almost inhuman rate. As she shunpoed she caught sight of several people running about. There was Captain Hitsugaya shunpoing towards Squad Three's Barracks. There was Ichirou, Tadashi's older brother and Third Seat of Squad Five, with his face in his hands…

…Little did she know he was covering his smile, a ripped off piece of the shinigami garb covered in his brother's blood.

When Saburo heard the news he was furious. He happened to enjoy Matsuri's company; she did help him achieve Shikai after all a dozen years ago. So after passing her along to Lieutenant Isane when Ken gave him directions he was off as well. He was shunpoing, his right hand gripping his zanpakuto hilt tightly.

From the directions he was given he wasn't far off but he had to pass the Fifth Squad Barracks first…maybe he would grab his eldest brother to help?

"Ichirou!" Ichirou looked up from his hands. He stood up, the bloody piece of cloth dangling from his hands. Even as he tried to fix his face into a stoic mask he couldn't help the giggle trying to escape from his throat. He had finally done it!

First Father then Tadashi? What more? Give me more!

You can wait…in fact why don't we finish off this pitiful family…then we can find mother…, Inside his own mind he thought of himself as a homicidal maniac bent on killing as much people as possible…such a shame his zanpakuto disagreed back then.

Shaking his head from his pleasurable thoughts he noticed Saburo in front of him looking at him with pleading eyes.

"Ichirou! There's been a Ryoka sighting by the Fifth Division Barracks!"

Ichirou ran thoughts through his head; with Tadashi and father gone I'm the strongest Takeshi left but with Saburo here it could lead to issues. He's already got brute strength and tremendous speed but his Hado is crap…but still…

"Yo! Ichirou?" Ichirou once again shook his headand glanceddown at his youngest brother.

Ichirou smiled down at him, "Yeah I've heard." Time to lie. "Last I've heard was that they were heading towards the Arena. If we hurry we can grab them. They have Tadashi after all." He should buy that, he is an idiot…Tadashi would've seen through that.

"Tadashi?"

Ichirou turned around and started walking, calling over his shoulder, "Yeah, Tadashi. That's why we're going to get them, Saburo." Shit! He didn't know about Tadashi! "Hurry up, Little Brother!" And he was gone.

Saburo shunpoed after him, glancing at him every so often, hoping his suspicions were wrong, Ginrairyu, does he seem…off to you?

Of course, he's always seemed off to begin with. But there is one thing tough.

What?

I smell blood on him.

Soifon stared blankly ahead. Pinned against the wall was the top half of the shinigami uniform covered in blood. It was covered in slash marks and there were several holes, like someone had shot the garb's owner with a Hado and the edges were singed. By the blood on the garb and on the floor there was no way anyone could live. But also it looked like it was more than just two people's blood. In fact it looked like at least twenty…


Lady Soifon?

Please…no talking…

Soifon walked slowly towards the pinned garb. It hung low on several broken blades that had defiantly came from zanpakuto blades. Its arms were pinned and one was pierced through the collar. Lost in herself Soifon grab the blades and pulled them out. The blades clanked when they hit the ground but if Soifon heard it she didn't show any signs. She pulled the garb to her face and smelled it…sawdust, sweat, and blood…Tadashi.

You remembered his sweat? Lady Soifon! If Soifon looked she would've saw her zanpakuto spirit blushing with a small nose bleed. When her spirit didn't get a response she grew worried, Lady Soifon?

Please, even Soifon's thoughts sounded miserable and wet; please no…I can't handle this again…Suzumebachi tell me this isn't happening again!

Lady Soifon…Suzumebachi was on the verge of tears, she used to hate Soifon but after Tadashi came around and helped Soifon be more open and cheerful she started to enjoy conversations with Soifon.

Soifon fell to the ground crying into the garb, her tears soaking it slowly, "Tadashi…not you…" She was fairly aware of the presence of the Fourth and Thirteenth Squad Captains behind her. Her tears grew louder and louder and she continued to say Tadashi's name over and over until a hand came to rest on her shoulders.

She looked up into the caring eyes of Captain Unohana and Captain Ukitake, who were her surrogate parents after Yourichi left. Unohana shook her head and Soifon could only mutter a "no" before her tears flooded again. Unohana dropped to her knees to embrace the younger female captain, all the while giving Ukitake a fearful look.

Ukitake averted his gaze, "There's too much blood…this couldn't just be Tadashi. By the looks of things he went down fighting more than a dozen enemies." He passed before kneeling down and grabbing a zanpakuto that from the guard up was shattered. "He held back as well…otherwise shattered blades wouldn't be the only things here…Tadashi you idiot." The rare use of the word idiot made Unohana tense and when she looked at him she was surprised to see a few tears roll down his face.

The last time he cried was when his Lieutenant died. She turned back to Soifon and ran a hand through her hair, soothing her as tears of her own fell from her face.

Saburo was tagging behind Ichirou, he was tensed and his hand was on his zanpakuto hilt. He had noticed the bloodied garb he was holding, how could he not it was in plain sight? When he took notice of the arena walls he sighed, calling himself an idiot out loud. Ichirou turned back and looked at him questionably but was unprepared for what happened next.

Saburo shunpoed past Ichirou, grabbing the bloodied cloth as he did so, and jumped over the arena walls. He landed in the middle of the arena and noted the numerous cobwebs covering the hallways leading in.

You were right, Ginrairyu, the Ryoka wouldn't use this as headquarters. There's too much space for an ambush, too much cobwebs, and it's in the middle of Seireitei.

Of course I'm right fool! Always am always will be!

Of course, sorry Ginrairyu sir.

Inside his mind his zanpakuto spirit sighed before looking up from his position on a dark cloud. Ginrairyu was a humanoid figure with gleaming silver scales for skin wearing a male kimono with silver lightning bolts in random patterns. He had silver dragon like arms and his face was humanoid bar from the moving storms in the eyes that flashed with lightning every so often and the mouth full of canines. His legs were covered by his kimono and he had silver hair that flowed straight down his back and stopped at his knees.

Are you going to be alright kid?

For the first time since the spirit made itself known he sounded concerned for him, Yeah…I'll be okay…Ginrairyu?

Yes?

It was fun knowing you…

WHAT DO YOU ME…"Saburo."

Saburo's head snapped to his left as Ichirou landed. Ichirou looked deadly calm and his face showed he was amused.

"Lil Saburo." He made a ticking sound like a mother scolding her child. "What do you think you're doing?"

Instead of answering he fingered the cloth between his forefinger and middle before his hand glue a dark green, "What are you doing there, Saburo?"

Looking up at Ichirou Saburo answered tensely, "I'm running a diagnostic on this blood. Normally people can't do this but if I'm familiar with the person and their blood I can remember or not if it's him or not." He passed before his eyes grew wide and he threw the cloth in the air, it flowing away due to wind, and pulled out his zanpakuto, "What did you do to Tadashi?"

Ichirou's eyes widened, "That's an interesting ability you got there. And to answer your question I've done nothing to Tadashi." Saburo narrowed his eyes in disbelief and Ichirou continued, "I've done nothing to Tadashi. Ichimaru did."

Saburo's narrowed eyes widened, "Captain Ichimaru? What does he have to do with this?"

Ichirou chuckled deeply, "I just told you Saburo, Captain Ichimaru along with some servants, killed Tadashi."

Saburo's knees buckled wildly and his arms were shaking, his head was downcast and his eyes were covered by his brown bangs. Compared to his brothers he was small, taller than Captain Hitsugaya but still small. Compared to his brothers he looked like his mom more. The hair that curled at the end and of course the ability to heal. But there was one more thing, the unwavering courage when faced with a threat.

Saburo's hair started flowing, being pushed in the air by the artificial wind his reiatsu created. He shot his head up and his hazel eyes were now a teal color, the same as his reiatsu. With a yell he disappeared, reappearing above Ichirou, "I'll kill you!"

Ichirou eyed him almost lazily and reached up and grasped onto his zanpakuto, making Saburo hang in the air, "Such weak words. Do you think you could kill me? I've already killed father. I would've got mother too if your brother's captains predecessor didn't jump in." Saburo screamed in rage and lashed out with his foot. It connected with Ichirou's chin and he shot back, letting go of the zanpakuto.

Saburo landed in a crouch and breathed deeply before he progressed what Ichirou said and got even angrier. The reiatsu pouring off him was near lieutenant level and it was at that Ichirou smiled. Ichirou pulled his zanpakuto out of its sheath, the blade a rusty yellow color.

In his anger Saburo disregarded that fact and shot off again. The way he propelled at Ichirou was like he was flying and the dirt filled the air, blocking Ichirou's sight. Ichirou held up his left hand, pointed it to his right and muttered a Tenran.

The circle of wind that shot from his hand pushed back the dirt and Saburo who had just shunpoed in the way of the attack. He flew through the air, Ichirou appearing above him.

Saburo reared back his zanpakuto to jab, still in the air, but missed as Ichirou disappeared under him. Saburo landed and skid back several feet before he gasped in pain. He was afraid to look down, afraid he was cut deeply. But what he saw instead scared him even more. At his feet was a puddle of blood that continued to grow, drops of blood dripping in it. If you were to follow the drips you would see that from his left shoulder down was air.

"Little Saburo." Saburo shunpoed away and landed several meters, landing in the center of the arena. Ichirou stood where he was only seconds ago, holding his whole arm with his free hand. "People say that when you become aware of an injury it starts to hurt. So tell me, are you hurting right now? Are you regretting fighting me?"

Saburo chuckled, "You kidding me? This just tickles." Despite saying that Ichirou could see the pain in his eyes and the sweat rolling down his face. "The loss of my arm or both, I will kill you."

Ichirou laughed, it was an uncontrollable laugh that set Saburo even more on nerve, "You? Kill me?" He laughed more before throwing Saburo's arm in the air and pointing to it, "Byakurai." A beam of blue lightning flew from his hands and incinerated the arm, not even ashes remained. "That'll be your head next! Don't you get it? You can't kill me! No one can!"

Saburo chuckled, "Well Tadashi could've. Why else would you have someone stronger than you do it?"

Ichirou growled before shunpoing behind Saburo. Saburo's eyes grew wide and he ducked before lashing out with his zanpakuto. Ichirou jumped back, landing on top of the arena walls.

Saburo started panting and Ichirou called down to him, "You're losing a lot of blood there! If you still had your arm I bet they could reattach it but not now! Now either you die by my blade or you die of blood loss!"

Saburo growled in the back of his throat, "I don't care! As long as I take you with me!"

Kid, you're not going to last long…you're going to have to use it.

I know…it'll be hard; I don't have nearly enough time to skip to it.

Tch, yeah I know but you'll have to do it.

Saburo sighed before straightening up, Yeah I know, I have an idea…it should surprise him…Ginrairyu?

I swear if you say "It was fun knowing you!" one more time I will go out there and hit you!

No not that, what I was going to say was that you're a stubborn old fool and needs a reality check…

I hate you.

Feelings mutual, Saburo smiled to himself before putting a hand to his wound, stabbing Ginrairyu in the ground. His hand glew green and the wound quickly closed, stopping the bleeding. He turned towards Ichirou and smiled. He raised his hand towards him and started muttering.

Ichirou was having a blast; here he was, killing his youngest brother. A grin made its way on his face and he started chuckling quietly.

Yes! Give me more! I want his body in pieces! Bring me out! I want to see his face when we rip him in two!

Ichirou nodded his head, even though he knew he couldn't see him do as such. Then he noticed Saburo chanting something.

"Is that…an incantation?"

"Bakudo #63 Sajo Sabaku!"

Before Ichirou could dodge a long glowing yellow chain was flying towards him and successfully trapped him. Ichirou growled, "How can you do this? You hate Kido!"

Saburo laughed weakly, "Yeah I do but my Lieutenant doesn't. She taught me all she knows, which is a lot."

Ichirou growled, "I'll have to make sure to get her too then! Who'll stop me then Saburo?"

Saburo didn't answer; instead he drew about as much reiatsu as possible, grabbing his zanpakuto in front of him. His zanpakuto started glowing from a green color to a dark silver.

"I'm sorry everybody." He spoke aloud to no one as he faintly saw Ichirou break free and rush at him. "I'm sorry that I failed." Saburo looked up to see Ichirou, posed above him with his zanpakuto raised above his head. Ichirou slashed down, inches away from Saburo's face when he spoke again.

"Bankai." Ichirou flew back as a silver burst of reiatsu exploded form Saburo. When the reiatsu faded he noticed Saburo's new looks.

Saburo was wearing a silver kimono top with the original shinigami pants but silver. The kimono top had several lightning bolts, like his zanpakuto spirit. Covering his right hand was what looked like silver dragon scales and his hand itself was a dragon one. On his back were two large silver dragon wings that were spread out, a silver glow flowing off them. On his shoulders were what looked like two lower jaws of a dragon mouth, teeth pointing down. Covering his head was the top of a dragon jaw, two large horns flowing from the nose of the mask. Covering his lower face was a silver metal mask. Ichirou thought he was done with his assessment when a long tail, at least two meters long with a silver curved blade at the end, flew from behind him and whipped towards Ichirou.

A crescent shape blast of silver lightning flew at him and Ichirou was struck head on, sending him to the walls and crumpling it. Ichirou grunted in pain and slowly stood up. He regarded Saburo tiredly.

"To achieve Bankai at such a young age. Impressive. Who taught you this trick?"

Saburo's breathed was labored now. He only had one chance at this and he knew that if he missed he would die without taking down his eldest brother. So to answer his question for the sake of time was a stupid idea…but he wasn't exactly the smartest person around, "Kitama Ginrairyu. And Tadashi taught me."

With that he flew in the air, Ichirou's eyes following his every move. Saburo held out his left hand, a bright ball of his silver reiatsu forming there. The ball grew longer and wider from his palm, extending into a serpent like shape. Then with a flash a long, Chinese dragon, made from pure reiatsu, was flowing around him. The dragon was huge, easily able to wrap around the very arena they battled in now.

Saburo held his palm out; empty now since the dragon was now flying in the air around him, "Ginryuken." The dragon roared before flowing towards Ichirou who smiled and held up his zanpakuto.

"Annihilate, Chiasa." His long, rusty yellow blade started glowing brightly and in a second he now held a long scimitar with the same rusty yellow blade. The tassel was a chain with a long spike that flowed around Ichirou's right arm and impaled it, keeping it in place and adding yet another scar. The hilt was a dark blue color and the guard was a white. The most distinguishing factor was the bone like material on the flat side of the sword.

The dragon was meters away from Ichirou when he raised his sword and slashed down, the sword cutting through the air itself, and a crescent shape blast of pure black reiatsu flew from his sword, smashing against the silver dragon.

At first it offered a slim resistance but after a few seconds it cut through like it was butter. The attacks surged forward and hit him. Saburo screamed in pain as the attack sent him plummeting to the ground and out of his Bankai. Ichirou smiled before sheathing his zanpakuto, it returning to its sealed state. Ichirou started walking towards him, whistling while doing so.

After a few seconds Ichirou stood above him, "So here we are. Any last words?"

Saburo racked his brain for anything, "Yeah." He coughed and blood started gathering in his throat, "Seeing mom again wouldn't hurt so much."

Ichirou cocked an eyebrow, "Your last words and you wish to see mother instead? You always were a mother's boy."

Saburo smiled before his eyes closed completely, Ichirou turning and shunpoing away from the arena.

Saburo?

Shuddup…I'm trying to sleep.

Inside his mind his zanpakuto was standing on top of the same cloud, looking up at the sky before looking down at the ground, watching the grass sway in the wind and the waves of an ocean crashing against the shore.

I never realized. The sky here is so dull and dark, always raining and there is always a storm. But…looking down there's brightness; even without a sun it's still day. So while you were always depressed, always so down on luck, you held on to hope that you could do something…you were some weird kid, Saburo Takeshi.

He didn't receive an answer.