The air was quiet and calm. Tamotsu Toshiyuki, the man wanted most for betrayal of Seireitei, now sat only a few miles from its borders. He meditated, going over every detail of his plan within his mind. Everything had be perfect. A single flaw and the entire plan would fall apart.
He had spent the past three days in intense training. His opponent would not go down easily, as Harribel and her Fracciones could attest. And now, if all went well, he would be taken down.
A presence behind him caused him to stir, but his focus did not falter. "Tamotsu," Kisaki said. "Everything is in order, just as you would like it."
"Excellent," Tamotsu answered. "It is time."
The city of Seireitei loomed in the center of the Soul Society, its skyline recognizable for miles around. But as the onlookers from within the city looked outward there was something that seemed impossible. It seemed to be a sea of black figures, faces hidden behind white masks.
"Hol- Hollows!" a Shinigami cried out. "Thousands of them!"
"They're heading straight for the city!" a member of the Fourth Division cried out.
"I can't sense anything," another Fourth Division member said. "I don't have much reiatsu, but even I should be able to sense them. How could they get so close without the alarm being sounded?"
Hanataro Yamada ran to the side of the city wall and saw Tamotsu leading the vast army, Tier Harribel and her Fracciones standing right behind him. "That's Tamotsu," he said. "He can't be suppressing the reiatsu of an entire army- could he?"
The other Shinigami looked at Hanataro, then at the many Hollows marching in toward Seireitei.
People screamed as the army marched through the town, the marching footsteps synchronized with Tamotsu. Wearing the purple cloak like a cape wrapped over one shoulder, he stared straight for his destination. He led his army, not stopping for anything. His goal was in sight. Soon, he would bring the proposed leader of Seireitei to justice.
Several Shinigami ran in panic as the army of Hollows grew ever closer. A few paused to look up toward the sky.
"Why isn't the wall coming down?" one asked. "That wall... its meant to protect us in times of emergency! Where is it?!"
"Calm yourself!" another Shinigami said. "Get to your Captain and wait for orders!" The panicked Shinigami nodded and ran, while the other one looked up toward the sky. "Why isn't the wall dropping? Soul King- Have you abandoned us in our hour of need?"
The arm came closer, still synchronizing in footsteps, then all at once stopped as Jidanbo leapt forward to protect his gate. The giant of a man lifted his twin axes and pointed them at Tamotsu.
"Wait here," Tamotsu said. "You know the plan."
Approaching the gate, Tamotsu stopped just out of range of the giant axes and stood.
"Tamotsu Toshiyuki," Jidanbo said. "I have heard much about you. But I never expected betrayal!"
"Betrayal?" Tamotsu asked. "Betrayal is in the eye of the beholder, my friend."
"You dare to call me your friend? No. I will stand and fight you. You do not have permission to pass!"
Tamotsu laughed. "My dear Jidanbo. Who ever said I was asking for permission?"
With a sweep of his hand, two gigantic whirlwinds appeared on Tamotsu's sides and struck the guardian square in the chest, throwing him backward into the city. Tamotsu ran forward, entering Seireitei on his own.
"Tamotsu!" Renji screamed as he unsheathed his zanpakuto.
"Stop, Abarai," Byakuya Kuchiki said. "Leave him to the others. You shall remain here and guard the gate in Jidanbo's stead."
"Captain..." Renji looked at the army of Hollows and the four Arrancar. None of them had taken a single step since they had ceased their march. Then he understood. His Captain was giving him charge to protect the city. It was up to him to stop any Hollows that dared to enter.
"Toshiyuki shall be dealt with in the appropriate manner," Byakuya said, standing casually.
"As you wish, Captain."
Tamotsu ran full speed along the streets of Seireitei, firing low and medium level Kido at any who dared to step in his way or stop him. None of the spells were designed for damage, but rather to push them out of the way. Gusts of wind were summoned without so much as a wave of the hand and attacks bounced off invisible shields.
A group Shinigami all jumped at once in an attempt to overwhelm the renegade but were all cast aside with a wave of his hand. Above, several Captains watched as the events developed. Ever watchful, but never moving from their posts. Hitsugaya stood firm as he watched until a blur of motion distracted him.
"Matsumoto!" he cried. "Matsumoto- Stop!"
"Rangiku?" Kyoraku turned to see the Tenth Division Lieutenant running straight for Tamotsu. "What is she doing?"
Tamotsu shoved off another couple of Shinigami who approached him and turned, too late, to see Rangiku drawing her zanpakuto. She grabbed his shoulder hard and threw him against a wall, holding him firm as she pressed the blade of her zanpakuto against his neck.
"That's enough, Kiyoshi," Rangiku said, her eyed filled with an emotion that seemed to border on hatred.
"So this is it then?" Tamotsu asked. "This is what you choose? You would join them? You would turn against your own brother?"
Rangiku pressed her blade harder against his neck, causing a small stream of blood to flow. "I have... no... brother!"
Several Captains suddenly appeared, surrounding Tamotsu and Rangiku. The last to appear was Yamamoto himself.
"Such a fool you are, Tamotsu Toshiyuki," Yamamoto said. "You leave your army outside and take on the whole of Seireitei yourself?"
"Not exactly," Tamotsu said, wincing as Rangiku pressed her blade against his throat and caused another stream of blood to flow.
"Your attack on me, which was without cause. Your flight into Hueco Mundo. Your alliance with the Hollows. An attack on Seireitei itself! For such actions, the only punishment suitable... is death!"
Tamotsu smiled. "So I'm to be executed then?"
"Immediately!"
"So I see... In that case, might I have a request concerning the terms of my execution?"
Yamamoto stood silent a moment, then nodded. "Speak."
Renji stood ready, the army before him still not having moved since the fighting began. "You hear that?" he said. "Sounds like its over. What, was he suicidal or something? Charging in all by himself like that?"
"We shall see who the fool is," Harribel said. "And what would someone like you know? Nothing but a freeloading fool."
"Nothing but words."
Byakuya, who was standing behind Renji for the duration, extended his finger as a Jigokucho approached and landed. A moment of silence, then the black butterfly flew off.
"So what's the word?"
Byakuya lifted his head and spoke. "The message says that Toshiyuki has been captured and is currently headed for Sogyoku Hill for immediate execution."
"Serves him right. You hear that?"
"Abarai, there is something else. The message also states that, according to his own wishes, Toshiyuki's execution shall be performed by Rangiku Matsumoto."