6 days ago
The mental institution had been quiet lately. Ifukube paced his office uneasily, but it was not because he was anxious about the patients. He had made a terrible mistake and was sure he was to be punished for it soon. He turned again during his pacing and nearly stepped directly into Sosuke Aizen.
"You have failed me, Ifukube," Aizen said.
"Lord Aizen, I'm sorry," Ifukube responded. "I did what I had to-"
Aizen raised a hand and silenced him. He walked slowly around and made his way behind Ifukube and began rubbing his shoulders. "Do you have any idea what your mistake cost me?"
"Please, I can make it up to you..."
Bringing his hands slowly to the sides of Ifukube's head, Aizen's grip became firm. "Oh, Ifukube... You disappoint me..." With a quick twist of his hands, Ifukube's head snapped halfway around his body and separated his spirit form. A large gaping wound was in his chest and he gasped at the sudden pain.
"Aizen- Forgive me!"
"You made the mistake of interfering. Although you could take the form of Rangiku Matsumoto, you made the critical error of addressing him as Captain Toshiyuki. Rangiku has never once called him by that. And now, due to your error, I must now cast a constant illusion to make them believe that it was indeed her that he attacked."
"Please, give me another chance!"
Aizen smiled, almost cruelly, as he raised his palm and a blue orb of energy was forming. "Oh, you shall have another chance indeed. Perhaps you will please me more during your next reincarnation. I wonder. Since you are now in spirit form will you be reincarnated as a human or will you be born in Soul Society since you were not slain there? This should be most interesting. I'll look for you once this is over."
The ball of energy increased in brightness and intensity and Ifukube's scream was cut short with a blast of intense light. Outlets sparked and lights exploded while what remained of Ifukube's spirit body fell to the floor.
Present
"You bastard..." Tamotsu was on his knees looking at the broken pieces of Hinohebi's blade. After the fight between him and Aizen had ended, the Captains who were hiding to protect the illusion of Tamotsu's betrayal revealed themselves. They gathered together and waited for events to reveal themselves.
"Call me what you like," Aizen responded. "But that does not change the fact of what you are. All the Reincarnates are here because of my intervention in their previous lives. Is it any wonder why the Reincarnate Naomi Kanagawa remembers a lifetime as a Hollow?"
To this, Naomi's eyes widened. Her fists clenched, but she held her ground.
"She remembers such because she was once one of the Hollows I experimented on. Takeo Saegusa. Did you ever wonder why those Hollows appeared the night the woman you loved was killed? The very Hollows that took your voice from you? I sent them to force your powers to awaken."
Takeo glared at Aizen, touching the twin scars that ran across his throat. He remembered the night all too well.
"And Tamotsu Toshiyuki. You are the most interesting of all of them. Or rather, shall I call you by your true name? Kiyoshi Matsumoto..."
At the mention of his name, only ever spoken by his sister, Tamotsu cringed. It somehow sounded wrong coming from Aizen's voice.
"That's right. I know who you are. And who you were. Oh, the many drops of blood that have been shed because of you..."
"What are you talking about, Aizen?" Tamotsu's voice became deep and serious.
"Back when the seal was placed on your body it suppressed your reiatsu to an extreme degree. I sensed it long ago, and it was exactly what I needed for my experiments. However, when I sent my scouts, you were safe in Seireitei and the one they found, whose reiatsu resonates with your own, was Rangiku Matsumoto. Your sister."
At the sound of her name, Tamotsu's eyes shot open.
"They took her reiatsu and nearly killed her. And Gin Ichimaru found out about it. So noble, he plotted revenge for years against me. All the while, he was protecting you. Didn't you ever wonder why he never wanted you out of the Academy? And then, when he finally was able to exact his revenge, he was killed."
"Shut up, Aizen..."
"It was your fault he died. It was your fault what happened to Rangiku so long ago. Because of you, countless souls have perished. So many lives would have been spared if you had only given your power to me."
"Shut up... Shut up!"
"There's no escaping it. The blood of the innocent are on your hands. All this has happened... because of you."
Tamotsu's breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes narrowing, then an arc of red energy discharged. "No..."
The energy burst out of him like an inferno. Red reiatsu that enveloped him like a blanket of crimson flames. The surrounding Shinigami were all taken back as Tamotsu's reiatsu continued to climb. Not the normal signature of reiatsu they were used to from him, but an entirely different form.
"I am not the cause of their deaths," Tamotsu said, the anger building in his voice. "I am not yours to do with as you please. And I am not one of your experiments! You believe you know all there is to me? Then you should know- Hinohebi was not the only zanpakuto who chose to stay with me!"
Aizen's eyes grew wide in surprise as Tamotsu thrust his right hand to the side, the red energy condensing into the form of a zanpakuto.
"Protect the light and banish the dark- MASAMUNE!"
Aizen was just able to register the name of Tamotsu's zanpakuto when the Shinigami seemed to disappear from his sight. A sudden burst of reiatsu behind Aizen caused him to turn and raise his blade to block the strike Tamotsu gave with his new blade, the ebony blade sparking and the force of the blow causing Aizen to step backward.
Using Shunpo, he leapt into the air to what he believed to be outside of Tamotsu's reach only to move his head backward just in time to dodge a kick to the chin. Tamotsu had met his jump and was now spinning upward with the blade extended.
Jumping away once again, he was just able to block another of Tamotsu's strikes. The reality of the situation dawned on Aizen. With this new reiatsu awakened, not only was Tamotsu able to perform Shunpo but he was able to perform it at a master level.
Another strike moved Aizen's blade down to the side and Tamotsu raised his leg in a kick aimed toward his opponent's head. Unable to block, Aizen jumped away once again and was immediately met with a swing of Tamotsu's sword, the jarring impact causing Aizen to give way. Holding the blade down with his own Tamotsu released his double-handed grip and struck Aizen's jaw with the back of his fist, a devastating strike that would have shattered the bone of anyone weaker.
Renji could only watch in awe as the flame-clad Tamotsu fought with Aizen, remembering the Shinigami from long ago that could hardly perform any technique outside of Kido.
"That blade," Renji said. "Wasn't that the one that caused the zanpakuto rebellion?"
"No, Abarai," Byakuya said. "That was the blade Muramasa. Masamune is quite different. It is a powerful zanpakuto from long ago. Because of its ability, it was often referred to as the Blade of Judgement."
"Captain- How do you know this?"
"Because. Masamune belongs to a former head of the Kuchiki clan."
Tamotsu swung hard, the impact of his blade against Aizen's causing the renegade Shinigami to stagger. A hundred new memories flooded into his mind along with their accompanying power but he didn't care. So focused was he on attacking the one who caused so much harm to the Soul Society that he didn't bother to try suppressing the oncoming power. Instead, he allowed it to flow freely from him.
Using a quick sequence of attacks accompanied by Shunpo, Tamotsu managed to slip past Aizen's guard. Although he failed to make contact with flesh, the torn tunic bore testament that he was getting closer. After exiting Shunpo once again he executed a flurry of strikes from a single angle which were not aimed toward causing damage to Aizen himself, but rather to his zanpakuto.
Nobody was fast enough to count the number of blows delivered in a single second, but the purpose proved true when a fragment of Aizen's zanpakuto broke from the blade of the sword. This did not go unnoticed by Tamotsu as he struck full force at the point of the fracture, causing Aizen to be pushed back. The impact also caused a crack to begin spreading along Aizen's blade.
Fearing his zanpakuto would soon be broken, Aizen broke off and dashed toward the ground. He grabbed the nearest of the Arrancar, Kisaki, and threw her in front of his body as a shield. Tamotsu came in screaming, blade raised high. He swung hard toward the right side of Aizen's body, putting his full force behind the strike, then stopped as soon as his ebony blade touched Kisaki.
Aizen allowed a smile to show as the red flames of reiatsu diminished around Tamotsu's body. "Impressive," he said, holding Kisaki tightly in front of him. "With so much power behind that strike you were still able to stop the blow before cutting through this Arrancar."
Tamotsu smiled, his face still lowered from the striking stance. "Actually, I didn't stop the blade."
Aizen's smile disappeared and was replaced with confusion. "You did not stop your blade?"
"No... Masamune stopped. You see, Masamune is very unique among zanpakuto. He only cuts what he wants to cut. Only harms what deserves to be harmed. And he did not want Kisaki harmed."
Closing his eyes now that he felt safe, Aizen smiled once again. "I see. That is Masamune's ability then. If the sword doesn't wish to cut something then it will not pass through anything."
Tamotsu chuckled. "Not exactly. I said he didn't want to harm Kisaki. But the blade still went an inch into your arm."
Aizen's eyes grew wide as he suddenly came to knowledge of the wet feeling coming from his right bicep. There, embedded in his arm, was the blade of Masamune. A stream of blood flowed down to his elbow and stained his tunic a deep crimson.
"Hiding won't work. The only one here that Masamune wants to harm- Is you!" Tamotsu threw the blade straight upward, the cutting edge brushing the full length of Kisaki's face and flowed through her hair while the tip sliced through Aizen's cheek and left a shallow cut.
"What are you doing?!" Apacci screamed, kneeling on the ground as Naomi tended to her broken arm.
"I'm okay," Kisaki responded. "I'm okay... The blade... It felt soft. And warm... Like cotton..."
Aizen couldn't believe what he was hearing. The same blade which felt cold as ice as it cut his face, the same blade that contacted that Hollow at the same time, felt soothing to the one it did not want to harm?
"It's over, Aizen," Tamotsu said, pointing his zanpakuto toward Aizen. "I am immune to your power. My strength is greater. My speed is greater. Take the wise decision and just- and just- AHH!"
Tamotsu doubled over and grabbed his head as a burst of yellow energy erupted from him. The blast was followed by arcing green bolts of energy that flowed over his body. Aizen used the distraction to perform Shunpo and jumped away.
"NO!" Tamotsu leapt after Aizen and began running, Kisaki close behind. The Captains of the Gotei Thirteen watched.
"Shouldn't we go help them?" Ukitake asked.
Tier Harribel lifted a hand. "No. This was his plan and this is his fight."
"I agree with the Arrancar," Byakuya said. "For his honor, he must do this without our aid."
Tamotsu moved as fast as he could to follow Aizen, jumping over rooftops and heading straight into the woods. Kisaki followed closely, the female Arrancar easily keeping up.
"Kisaki, what are you doing?" Tamotsu asked as he winced at another outburst of power.
"I can help you," she said.
Tamotsu didn't argue. He didn't know how long he could keep his power in check and every moment that passed brought more memories of hidden pasts. It took all of his concentration to register where Aizen was heading. He couldn't afford distractions and-
Another burst of energy, orange this time, forced Tamotsu to the ground. He clutched his chest as he doubled over.
"Tamotsu-"
"Keep going!" Tamotsu strained to get the words out. "If he escapes we've lost!"
"But-"
"GO!"
Kisaki jumped away using her Sonido technique as Tamotsu began to sweat drops of reishi. He tried to stand, but another burst of purple energy shot out of him. More images clouded his mind. It was too much for him to suppress and, he realized, he would need all the power he could muster in order to catch Aizen. Instead of forcing it back down within himself, he allowed the power to flow freely.
He could feel another burst of energy forming. He waited for the moment before it released itself, then channeled it through his feet. In under a second, his jump forward broke through the sound barrier. A shield of solid reishi protected himself from the force of the wind before him as a delayed sonic blast followed. Only a moment later he caught up.
Kisaki glanced over and could see waves of pure energy in a dozen colors rolling over Tamotsu's body. They seemed to merge together and lighten in color- No. She had to stay focused. She could see Aizen but he was moving just as fast as they were.
More thoughts and memories flooded Tamotsu's mind as he continued the pursuit. He could feel as if he had been in this area before. Things had changed, but the layout seemed so familiar to him. Trees and shrubs, then images of walls coated in a purple slime... The Precifice World? Flashes of light, then back to the woods- Senkaimon!
"Kisaki, keep him on this course no matter what. I'm taking a shortcut."
Breaking off, he began running in near the opposite direction as Aizen.
"A shortcut? But-"
"Trust me!"
He could see all the trees and dirt paths as if he had tread this route a thousand times before. In front of him was a ripple in the air. It was small and could have easily been dismissed as nothing but he knew better. Jumping up he made his body long and thin, spinning to keep the robes and haori close to his body. Moving through the ripple in space he was suddenly inside the Precifice World.
Landing on the ground he began running through the dripping purple tunnels. Moving as fast as he could through the varying twists and turns he followed a predetermined route. He could remember from one of his past lives that this area was littered with naturally occurring Senkaimon which all interlinked with each other through Soul Society.
Time and space moved differently here. Hours would be like seconds on the outside and a mile to the left could take someone three miles to the right in the dimension of the Soul Society. And Aizen was heading straight for one of the natural Senkaimon. It was small and remote enough to have escaped his knowledge, but Tamotsu knew better. If he timed it just right, he would be able to cut Aizen off.
An explosion to Aizen's left caused him to move back to the straight path he was following. Kisaki fired another Cero from the tip of her zanpakuto. She had fought to keep Aizen's speed and course steady like Tamotsu wanted. All she could do was trust in the Shinigami. He had, after all, made a promise to her.
Aizen was about to change course once again when a flash of white light caused him to stagger. From directly in front, Tamotsu emerged with his sword held high. He cut down hard and fast, Aizen dodging by jumping backward. Kisaki tried to move in for an attack but Tamotsu was already swinging his sword for another blow. He moved so fast and his technique so elaborate that any attempt on her part to join in would only get in the way.
Power flowed from Tamotsu's body freely, the colors merging together and swirled around him. He struck twice and had to stop with a burning pain inside his head. Aizen tried to escape once again but was immediately cut off by Tamotsu.
Kisaki tried to step forward but the reiatsu surrounding Tamotsu made her feel like she was standing next to a blast furnace. She could only watch as the blur of movements increased, stopping only when Tamotsu was about to burst with more energy.
After Aizen jumped away again, Tamotsu couldn't follow him. Grabbing his head as the reiatsu built up again, he screamed and his entire body went rigid as a burst of pure white erupted from him like a beacon to the sky. The light was blinding so close and would be seen for several miles around. When the light faded, Tamotsu was dropping to the ground. Aizen was gone.
Kisaki ran to Tamotsu's side, stopping only because the concentration of reiatsu being released was too much for her to handle.
"Get... Aizen..." Tamotsu struggled with the words, then collapsed face down. Ripples of white energy discharged over his body, Kisaki helpless to do anything. The last extreme outburst still hung heavy in the air, drowning out any other reiatsu traces that might have been in the area. And it was impossible to find Aizen now...
Rangiku exited from Shunpo next to Kisaki and slowly made her way to Tamotsu. She wore a black cloak with a hood, the same that Tamotsu had borrowed from Kisuke Urahara.
"Rangiku," Kisaki said. "About Tamotsu. Its not what it seems."
"I know," Rangiku responded. "He told me everything before the attack."
Moving slowly toward Tamotsu's fallen form, Kisaki was amazed that Rangiku was unaffected.
"How can you stand to be so close to him?"
"Our reiatsu resonates. I can handle it." Rangiku's voice seemed surprisingly calm considering the situation, but a hint of worry could be heard. "Kisaki. I need you to return to Seireitei. Talk to Captain Unohana. She can help him."
"Unohana? Who's that?"
"Please... Go now."
Kisaki nodded and jumped away, moving as fast as she could with running and Sonido to get back to the city of the Shinigami.
Rangiku stepped forward. She had easily forgiven her brother for his deception, him having removed the illusion of the large wound on her chest. She leaned down to his fallen form and was taken back by what she saw. She gasped and moved in to look closer.
Random ripples of white energy still shot out from his body, but that was not why Rangiku hesitated. It was his robes. The haori seemed fine, but the robes under it... They weren't black. They seemed to be gray. A darker shade, but they were no longer black.
Her suspicion was confirmed when she moved closer and could see her own robes against his. Turning him over to see his face, Tamotsu's hair was the next thing that caught her attention. It was longer, having grown a full four inches since the initial attack on Aizen. Moving her fingers through it she could see random streaks of gray and silver against the normal shade of brown.
"Oh, Kiyoshi... What's happening to you?"
"Unohana!" Kisaki screamed the name as she came to the gates of Seireitei where several Shinigami had gathered. "Where is Captain Unohana?"
Several Shinigami moved in and drew their zanpakuto out of habit with the sight of the Hollow, but a soft faced woman with a long braid down the front of her body stepped forward and motioned for the Shinigami to sheath their blades.
"I am Captain Unohana," the woman said. "What is it?"
Kisaki's voice sounded worried and panicked. "It- It's Tamotsu! Something's wrong with Tamotsu!"
His presence was felt long before Rangiku was seen carrying the unconscious body of Fourteenth Division Captain Tamotsu Toshiyuki. His robes had lightened further during the trip back and his hair had grown an additional two inches with the silver streaks more prominent. Several Shinigami fainted by the mere presence of him and others struggled to stay on their feet.
Those who could withstand his presence had prepared an emergency stretcher. He was placed on the stretcher and moved quickly toward the infirmary.
"Isane," Unohana said.
Isane nodded, understanding what she had to do. Running alongside the stretcher she extended her hand and a glowing yellow rope extended and wrapped around Tamotsu. It was a technique developed long ago that was intended to bind and drain the reiatsu of a Shinigami. A dangerous technique, but it had saved Tamotsu several times before.
No sooner had the rope wrapped around Tamotsu did it glow brightly and shatter, sending Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu flying into a wall. "That... power..." Isane said. "Its so much more than before!"
Unohana ran to the stretcher, silently chanting the incantation to increase the effect. She threw the glowing ropes around Tamotsu. They glowed bright as she drained his reiatsu- only to explode and send Unohana back several yards. She landed on her feet but continued to skid for several seconds before stopping.
"How?" Unohana said. "How can one body contain so much power and still remain intact?"
Kisaki ran to Unohana, who stood motionless in the center of the street. "What's happening?" she asked. "What's happening to him?"
Unohana walked forward without answering. Tamotsu had entered the emergency section of the infirmary, but his presence could still be felt despite the presence of so much Sekki Seki rock that was designed to block reiatsu.
All of Seireitei fell silent as Tamotsu's presence slowly faded. It was hoped that his reiatsu had gotten under control on its own, but silently and fearfully, those close to him began to fear the worst.