Sosuke and Sora were both staring blankly at the wall in front of them. Tatsuki was sweating in disbelief, question marks floating around her head.
"Huh…a dead end." Sosuke commented.
"This is what? The fourth one yet?" Sora asked.
"Clearly our sister doesn't have a good sense of direction." Sosuke commented.
"It's negligible back home where the only spirit energy is coming from those of us with abnormally high spiritual pressure but here, her senses are probably drowning from all the energy around us." Sora explained. Tatsuki was hunched forward in frustration by both her lack of direction and her brothers' comments.
"Good point. She gets around Karakura alright and admittedly this place is built like a maze. It's no surprise she got lost." Sosuke added, Tatsuki immediately whirling around to glare at them.
"How would you two like to lose a few inches from the neck?!" She asked, drawing her Zanpakuto in a menacing fashion, silencing her brothers. She then turned back with a sigh.
"Should I take over?" Sora asked.
"Do you have a better idea of getting out of here?" Sosuke asked back. Sora merely pushed up his glasses.
"As a matter of fact I do. This way." Sora replied, motioning to follow. Sosuke and a begrudging Tatsuki began following him. Within minutes he had brought them to a path leading them back towards Sokyoku Hill.
"How did you do that?" Tatsuki asked.
"I have my ways." Sora replied with a smirk. Tatsuki and Sora both exchanged skeptical glances before moving to look over his left shoulder, looking into the left lens of his glasses and they immediately saw a small green wireframe map of the Seireitei being projected in the lens.
"Ah-HA! You've had a map this whole time!" Tatsuki exclaimed as Sora calmly looked towards them.
"Yeah, and…" he replied.
"AND you could've been leading us from the start! Why didn't you tell us you had a map?!" Tatsuki yelled.
"I would've but you didn't give me a chance to tell you I had one." Sora replied.
"Well it would've been nice to know BEFORE we got here!" Tatsuki grumbled as they entered a large courtyard area with three entrances. Two on the south wall at opposite corners and one in the center of the north wall. The triplets had entered via the south east entrance.
"Didn't seem important to mention at the time." Sora replied as Sosuke glanced away from his bickering siblings.
"Quiet." He ordered. Sora fell silent but Tatsuki scowled at him with a twitchy eye.
"You wanna say that again?" She asked threateningly but Sosuke put a hand on his sword. Tatsuki and Sora both noticed the behavioral cue and quickly put their hands on their Zanpakuto. Suddenly a number of Soul Reapers swarmed through the entrances, their Zanpakuto drawn as they quickly surrounded the triplets.
"Hold it right there Ryoka!" one of the Soul Reapers ordered. The three Kurosakis merely glared at them with bored expressions.
"Hmm…fifteen Soul Reapers to take down three of us. Think it's too much?" Sora asked.
"Doubtful." Sosuke replied.
"Enough talk, Ryoka!" a voice said, the three Soul Reapers turning towards the north entrance where three additional Soul Reapers appeared, all three of them bearing Lieutenant armbands.
"Yeah, you're finished now!" Lieutenant Marechiyo Omaeda said with a grin.
"You made a mistake coming here, Ryoka!" Lieutenant Tetsuzaimon Iba added. Lieutenant Nanao Ise merely pushed up her glasses.
"Need I remind you both that our orders are to detain them until members of the Kurosaki Clan arrive?" Nanao asked.
"Heh, these punks?! They're Kurosakis?! I don't buy it." Omaeda said, scratching his chest.
"Two of them look kinda like that bastard Aizen." Iba added.
"Although the one with the red hair has some nice curves." Omaeda added with a lewd grin. Tatsuki grinned with a twitchy eye.
"Oh, one of those huh?" she asked tersely, drawing her Zanpakuto while her brothers both inched away from her.
"Looks like Tatsuki's gonna make this more difficult than it needs to be." Sora mumbled as Sosuke put a hand to his Zanpakuto.
"Might as well go for it." Sosuke said with a shrug. Sora shrugged in response and drew his Zanpakuto. The three Lieutenants were all surprised by their actions.
"Whoa are they going to fight us?!" Iba asked. He was surprised that they were even daring to do so despite being outnumbered.
"They're idiots! They can't take us all on at once!" Omaeda said with a cocky grin. Tatsuki then grinned towards him.
"Oh yeah?! TREMBLE! CHI Genkotsu!" tatsuki yelled, rearing back her Zanpakuto, her brothers disappearing in a flash step just before she brought her armored fist down into the ground, blowing away the Soul Reapers surrounding her with the resulting shockwave, causing them to all hit the surrounding walls hard, the Lieutenants all watching in relative disbelief.
"Whoa!" Iba exclaimed.
"She took them all out with one move!" Nanao said in alarm.
"Yeah and not in a 'first-date' kind of way either!" Omaeda said, drawing his Zanpakuto.
"Alright, we tried to be nice!" Iba exclaimed as Tatsuki turned towards them with a dark smirk.
"Heh-heh." She chuckled as Omaeda raised his Zanpakuto.
"Crush! Gegetsuburi!" Omaeda yelled as he swung his Zanpakuto, now the oversized spiked flail, towards Tatsuki but she didn't react, not even moving.
"Melt away, Hanamizu." Sosuke could be heard saying from somewhere. The oversized flail suddenly smashed into Tatsuki but she appeared to shatter like glass, startling the other Lieutenants.
"What the-?!" Nanao exclaimed mere seconds before Sosuke appeared standing atop Gegetsuburi's ball with a hand on his Zanpakuto and his other pointed towards Omaeda.
"Hado 4: Byakurai." Sosuke said calmly, firing a bolt of lightning at Omaeda who took the hit head on, knocking him onto his back.
"Omaeda!" Lieutenant Iba exclaimed in alarm before turning back just in time to receive a powerful uppercut from an armored fist, knocking him out in one hit. Nanao was now the last Lieutenant standing and was shaking in disbelief at what had happened when she sensed a Spiritual pressure near her. When she turned back, she saw strange purple flower petals floating down towards the ground, Sora standing near her.
"It's nothing personal Lieutenant. We're sorry about this but hopefully our actions will be justified eventually." Sora explained as Nanao's vision began to blur and distort until she suddenly passed out, unconscious. Sora quickly caught her before she fell over, helping her lean up against the wall.
"Hanafuku?" Sosuke asked as Sora pushed his glasses up.
"You forget which of us is more experienced at Kido." Sora commented.
"Come on, these Lieutenants have delayed us long enough." Sosuke said but before they could continue on, they saw a strange semi-transparent wall appear in front of their path.
"What is this?" Tatsuki asked, confused.
"Sora?" Sosuke asked but Sora looked at the wall with a nervous expression.
"It's Kido. Bakudo number 81: Danku, more specifically." Sora commented.
"It wasn't you?" Sosuke asked as they backed away back towards the center of the courtyard.
"No. I'm not good enough to pull off Danku without an incantation…or even with an incantation for that matter." Sora replied. Suddenly they saw more Soul Reapers appearing along the tops of the wall, appearing in flash steps, but their uniform was different, one all three had been told about.
"The Punishment Force!" Tatsuki exclaimed as the ninja-garbed Soul Reapers of Squad 2 surrounded them.
"That's right, Ryoka! Your intrusion into the Soul Society is at an end here and now!" a voice said before Captain Soi Fon appeared in a flash step before them, her Zanpakuto drawn.
"Now-now, Soi Fon, let's not forget who we're dealing with here." Shunsui Kyoraku said as he and Jushiro Ukitake appeared to her left in a flash step. The triplets all recognized Jushiro right off.
"Captain Ukitake." Sora commented as Jushiro blinked curiously for a moment then smiled.
"Oh, right. You're Kaichou's grandchildren. I almost forgot. I haven't seen the three of you since you were born." Jushiro said with a friendly smile, earning an annoyed glance from Soi Fon but she said nothing.
"Our father speaks highly of you, Captain. He considers you a far superior alternative for a father than his own." Sosuke said, the triplets all regarding Ukitake with friendly expressions despite the situation.
"Well considering his father was Sosuke Aizen, I'd think even a rock would be better father material but you can't exactly go wrong with Jushiro though." Shunsui commented.
"I know this is probably the wrong time to ask this, but where does your father stand on the subject of my relationship with his mother?" Jushiro asked, Soi Fon letting out a soft sigh of frustration.
"He approves wholeheartedly." Sora replied as Tatsuki nodded.
"Yeah, he's even got a picture of you hanging next to the picture of grandma." Tatsuki added as Jushiro smiled warmly.
"I'm glad to hear it." Jushiro replied. Soi Fon's expression was darkening by the second.
"Remind me to break out the good sake when this is over, Jushiro. Sounds to me like you just became a step-dad and grandpa all at once." Shunsui said as Jushiro chuckled slightly.
"Seems that way doesn't it?" Jushiro asked.
"ENOUGH!" Soi Fon exclaimed, silencing them all.
"We're here to apprehend them! They are still considered Ryoka after all!" Soi Fon yelled
"I thought we had. I thought Wrangler was supposed to catch them anyway. We're just meant to keep them here." Shunsui said as Soi Fon scowled.
"Then we shall do just that." Soi Fon replied but the triplets all stared at her.
"I'm afraid that we can't go with you willingly Captains." Sosuke said.
"Our mission is too important." Sora added.
"Yeah so, no offence, but would you kindly get out of the way?" Tatsuki said.
Elsewhere…
Grimmjow was nimbly dodging the unpredictable spinning blades of Kazeshini, using Sonido to evade them when necessary. Shuhei was growing impatient.
"I would've expected more of a fight from you, Arrancar! I know you're one of the more powerful Espada, so why not show me that power!" Shuhei yelled as he sent another of Kazeshini's scythes spinning towards Grimmjow but again Grimmjow evaded.
"I already told you. I ain't interested in fighting you. My reason for being here isn't exactly to stir up trouble for you Soul Reapers." Grimmjow said before quickly noticing the chain to one of Kazeshini's scythes appear next to his head. He quickly spun around in time to block with his Zanpakuto, deflecting the scythe into the air.
"What is it then?! What are you doing here?!" Shuhei asked as Grimmjow turned back towards him.
"You don't feel it, do you? That occasional wave of Hollowfied Reishi? Ah wait, of course you don't. You don't have a mask and you're not a Hollow." Grimmjow explained.
"What are you talking about?" Shuhei asked.
"I can't say as I can blame you for not sensing it. This kind of spirit energy is the kind only we Hollows can sense. I'm not sure where it's coming from but you'd do wise to heed my warning and back off." Grimmjow said as Shuhei narrowed his gaze at him.
"Is that a threat?" he asked.
"You saw what I did to that tower back there. A single Bala with the power of a Cero, and that was with me holding back significantly. If I can do something like that with a weakened Bala attack, imagine what someone like Stark or Halibel could do if they were here. I've not even released my Zanpakuto either and I can feel my power surging periodically. Trust me, Hisagi. This ain't a fight you can win, not unless you let me do what I came here to do." Grimmjow explained. Shuhei glared at him calmly, both of his Zanpakuto's scythes in his hand. Grimmjow continued staring at him for a moment before calmly turning and starting to walk on towards Sokyoku Hill. He suddenly saw one of Kazeshini's blades fly past in a wide arc around him before it quickly wrapped around his neck twice. Grimmjow growled in annoyance before being pulled backwards up into the air before being slammed down hard onto the ground some distance behind Shuhei, his impact sending up a large cloud of dust. Shuhei had one hand on the chain of his Zanpakuto while holding the other scythe in his off hand.
"I don't believe you, Arrancar. It's impossible for us to not sense this Hollowfied Reishi. You made the story up to try and justify your presence and your actions. I was fooled once by someone I thought was a friend. I'm not going to be fooled by someone I know to be an enemy." Shuhei said simply as the dust started to settle. Suddenly the dust was blown away by a sudden surge of spiritual pressure, a bright blue glow appearing from within the crater left by Grimmjow's impact. Shuhei was stunned by the spiritual pressure and even more so as he saw Grimmjow, glowing with spiritual energy, stepping out of the crater, a bemused expression on his face.
"Alright, now you're starting to piss me off." Grimmjow said with a scowl, pointing his fist towards Shuhei, a sphere of blue energy forming around it. Before Shuhei could blink, Grimmjow had fired a Bala headed straight towards him. Shuhei didn't move as the Bala flew past him, missing him by inches, the Bala impacting the wall on the far end of the pathway behind him, leveling a large portion of the wall in a large explosion. Shuhei took a moment to look at the damage in shock before turning back around to find Grimmjow within arm's reach.
"You see that? That was a Bala at average strength. I could've put a lot more into it but I don't think I could've controlled the trajectory at that point. The Bala I fired just now was meant to show you what I mean. The power I wield isn't usually this strong. That energy field is increasing my power. Normally I think you might be a challenge but right now, I'd strongly consider backing off." Grimmjow said as Shuhei snarled at him. He was about to try and swing at Grimmjow but Shuhei caught him by the wrist.
"Are you really that stupid, Hisagi? I just showed you what I'm capable of. Don't be a fool. Like I said before, I don't want to fight you." Grimmjow said, daring Shuhei to try and attack. After a moment Shuhei relaxed and stopped resisting against Grimmjow's iron grip. Grimmjow then calmly let go and stepped around him. Grimmjow had just cleared him when Shuhei spun back towards him with intent to attack but stopped as Grimmjow suddenly spun back around, swinging his arm up and across. Shuhei froze as he felt a deep cut across his chest. Blood suddenly sprayed from a fresh wound in his chest. Shuhei fell onto his back, a stunned expression on his face. Grimmjow glared at Shuhei as he fell towards the ground.
"Damn it, Hisagi! I tried to convince you to back off! You should've listened!" Grimmjow hissed angrily. He then heard the sound of additional Soul Reapers approaching, hearing their shouts. He quietly turned away.
"Tell me something, Hisagi. Did you try and stop me because because it was your duty?" Grimmjow asked. Shuhei glanced towards him, struggling to sit up. Grimmjow then used Sonido to disappear further ahead, following the trail of Hollowfied Reishi, leaving just seconds before a group of Soul Reapers entered the area, finding the wounded Lieutenant.
Meanwhile…
General Yamamoto stood in his office, looking out over the Seireitei from the balcony when his Lieutenant, Chojiro Sasakibe, arrived, kneeling before his Captain in respect.
"Head Captain, we've just received word of a break-in of your private quarters!" Sasakibe reported.
"What do you mean, Lieutenant? My private quarters?" Yamamoto asked, not turning away from the Seireitei.
"Nothing appears out of place but we found that some of your personal documents and private records have been pilfered through, sir." Sasakibe reported. Yamamoto was quiet for a moment before finally speaking.
"What specific records were examined?" Yamamoto asked.
"Documents dated over one thousand years old specifically, all of them surrounding the Sokyoku and its origins." Sasakibe replied.
"The Sokyoku? Why would anyone seek to learn of a weapon long since destroyed? What other purpose would there be other than to build another? The Sokyoku would require a massive amount of energy to be utilized and it would be impossible for a single individual to wield such a weapon. Aside from that, the Sokyoku has been destroyed since Ichigo Kurosaki's rampage over twenty years ago." Yamamoto said.
"Sir, it is possible that the recent break-in was an attempt to try and find a way to thwart the execution of Yachiru Kusajishi. If such is the case, we should take extra precautions when she is executed in the morning." Sasakibe said.
"I agree Lieutenant. We must increase the security on the Penance Cell immediately. Recall one of the Captains immediately from the search for the Ryoka. We must carry out the execution without interference from them." Yamamoto ordered.
"There is no need to recall anyone, Head Captain." A voice said from the doorway. Yamamoto turned personally to see Captain Byakuya Kuchiki entering the office.
"Captain Kuchiki, you were assigned to assist with the apprehension of your renegade clansmen. Why are you here, or do you have a report on the situation?" Yamamoto asked.
"I am here to accomplish two tasks at once. It is my belief that the Ryoka, especially my nephew Kaien Kurosaki, are here to attempt to disrupt if not prevent the execution of ex-Lieutenant Kusajishi. If this is the case, then they will be headed for the Penance Cell and Sokyoku Hill in a bid to accomplish this task. Therefore, I volunteer myself and all of the Sixth Division to carrying out Central 46's orders and the apprehension of the Ryoka." Byakuya explained as Yamamoto pondered for a moment before giving a nod.
"Very well, Captain Kuchiki. You may proceed." Yamamoto ordered.
"There is one more thing Head Captain. I would recommend that you personally keep ex-Lieutenant Kusajishi's Zanpakuto with you at all times. This is only a security measure to ensure the ex-Lieutenant cannot be rearmed by the Ryoka. Given that she is of Squad 11 who shun the usage of Kido, the ex-Lieutenant will be quite defenseless without her Zanpakuto if freed." Byakuya said as Yamamoto thought for a moment and then looked to his Lieutenant.
"Lieutenant Sasakibe, retrieve ex-Lieutenant Kusajishi's Zanpakuto from the lockup and bring it to me immediately." Yamamoto ordered as his Lieutenant bowed.
"Yes Head Captain." Sasakibe replied before turning and departing, Byakuya following after him as Yamamoto returned his attention to the Seireitei.
Elsewhere…
Captain Yamashi was just emerging from the Squad 9 barracks. All of his men were dispatched into the Seireitei in search of the Ryoka. As he approached the gate leading out of the Squad 9 grounds, he paused, allowing a slight smirk to appear on his face.
"I must commend you for your skill, Ryoka. I didn't realize you were there until you allowed me to." Yamashi said as he turned to see the foxlike visage of Gin Ichimaru smiling back at him although his eyebrows denoted a more serious expression.
"I've had some good tutors over the past couple of decades. Ya must be the new Captain of Squad 9." Gin said as Yamashi smiled.
"And you're the traitorous ex-Captain Gin Ichimaru. All of the Soul Society is looking for you. You're a wanted man now, and there won't be anyone preventing you from facing the justice you should've faced when you first betrayed the Soul Society." Yamashi said.
"That may be true but see, that's where we are different. I know things. Things ya probably want to keep secret." Gin said as Yamashi arched a curious eyebrow but still smiled.
"Oh? Enlighten me." He said.
"Where should I begin? How about we start with how ya became a Captain. It took Central 46 a few months after first being reinstituted to issue their first edict. And that edict was to appoint ya as Captain of Squad 9. I find it even more interestin' that until that point, no one had even heard of ya. Then there's ya service record. Ya led exploratory teams into Hueco Mundo for years but when Aizen and I proved our betrayal over twenty years ago, ya reported that ya team got wiped out by Hollows. Very convenient for ya that none of your teammates survived, isn't it?" Gin asked but Yamashi wasn't fazed.
"I believe you're grasping at straws, making connections that simply aren't there. Hueco Mundo is a dangerous place. It is the home of all Hollows after all. You yourself should know how treacherous it can be given the time you spent there with Aizen." Yamashi replied.
"Perhaps then ya can explain how it is that Captain Kurosaki lost control of her Inner Hollow? Ya see, I've met the young Kurosaki and someone like her wouldn't let somethin' like that take her down. I also find it how convenient that Central 46 ordered her to take a leave of absence so quickly after the incident. It's also quite curious givin' her testimony of what happened. Plus considerin' that they threatened to exile her if Captain Hitsugaya insisted on going forward with the petition to get her reinstated, I find that Central 46 seems to have it out for her." Gin explained.
"Captain Kurosaki is a Vizored and therefore is extremely dangerous should she lose control. It took five Captain Level Soul Reapers to bring her down after she lost control of her Inner Hollow. Central 46 likely just saw her for what she is, a threat to the Soul Society and those around her. The only reason she achieved the rank of Captain was because she is the sister of Ichigo Kurosaki and a member of the Kurosaki clan. I won't deny her skill or her power but even we must recognize that as a member of one of the four great noble clans, she only got where she was out of nepotism. We also need to consider that those migraines of hers were interfering with the performance of her duties." Yamashi said simply.
"Ya know ya tryin' to kid a kidder, Yamashi. Ya think ya got me stymied with all those excuses ya keep givin' me but fact is, ya just tryin' to hide somethin'. I am right, aren't I? One traitor to another, I know one when I see one." Gin said as Yamashi chuckled slightly.
"I'm afraid the only traitor here would be you, Ichimaru. What exactly do you and your fellow Ryoka intend to accomplish with this brazen attack on the Seireitei?" Yamashi asked.
"We've got our own goals. Kaien Kurosaki's goal is to save the young Lieutenant from execution. His cousins and young Mr. Ishida are here to back him up. Grimmjow Jeagerjaquez's purpose however is one I believe you'll find to be the most dangerous, at least for you. He's here to sniff out the source of that Hollow Energy Wavelength ya got runnin' somewhere here in the Seireitei." Gin said.
"Why not admit this mission for what it is, Ichimaru? Treason, plain and simple. You wanted an excuse to run amok in the Seireitei again, to cause trouble, and you've brought all of these Ryoka, who don't know any better, straight to their doom. The Kurosakis will be facing stiff punishments for this. Complete loss of their Soul Reaper abilities for the rest of their lives, plus at least five hundred years imprisonment within the Maggot's Nest. The Arrancar however will be executed for his assault, and you, Ichimaru…will also be executed for your violation of parole. I'm surprised your officer didn't try to stop you although I imagine you hoodwinked him as well." Yamashi said but Gin wasn't fazed.
"Ya really think he doesn't know I'm here?" Gin asked, causing Yamashi to pause.
"You mean he knows?" Yamashi asked.
"He's the one who sent us all here. And aren't ya curious as to what my mission is here, Captain Yamashi?" Gin asked as Yamashi arched a curious eyebrow.
"I admit my curiosity is piqued." Yamashi replied.
"Quite simply, my mission is one that's a bit out of character for me. But Kisuke knew what he was doin' when he picked me for this mission. After all, it takes one traitor to find another, just like it takes one traitor to kill another." Gin said as he drew his Zanpakuto. Yamashi chuckled at this.
"So this is your mission. You were sent as an assassin." Yamashi said as Gin shrugged.
"Nothin' personal, Yamashi. Ya just are set on causin' trouble for the Soul Society and I can't really allow that." Gin said, dropping into a fighting stance as Yamashi chuckled again.
"You think you can intimidate me? I'm fully aware of the limiter placed on you. You don't have access to your Bankai and your powers are severely limited. Don't you think that challenging a Captain is rather suicidal?" Yamashi asked.
"Normally yes, but it's kinda the reason I like wearin' long sleeves. Plenty of room to keep plenty of tricks. Speakin' of which, here's my first one." Gin said as he started glowing with silver colored spirit energy, his spiritual pressure skyrocketing and catching Yamashi by surprise. He caught him off guard even more when he heard Gin say…
"Bankai."
End Chapter 45
Arrancar Encyclopedia
Arrancar daihyakka!" Yuzu Kurosaki's voice over announced. Kisuke is standing in front of the screen with the pointer once again.
"Hello again. Today we'll be reviewing the LeBlanc Crisis from the first story of the Black Wrangler Trilogy." Kisuke explained before turning to the monitor, showing an image of a basic LeBlanc.
"The LeBlancs were creatures born from the souls of beings killed by the Reishi arrows utilized by the Quincys. These victims included Soul Reapers, Hollows, Bounts and their dolls, and even other Quincies. They were ruled over by the Guerre Maitrise De La Chateau, three Quincy turned LeBlancs with extraordinary power known individually as the Collector, the General, and the Executioner. These three led the LeBlancs in a plan to try and abduct Yuzu Kurosaki who, at the time, had her soul infused with a very important artifact called the King's Key, which would allow them to come and go from their home world of Le Mort Regne. Their goal, like any other mainstream villain, was world domination." Kisuke explained before the screen shifted to the scene of Ichigo and Kaichou Kurosaki battling the Collector at the climax of the first story.
"In the end, the LeBlancs managed to capture Yuzu Kurosaki but Ichigo and his family went to rescue her. Yuzu then unleashed the King's Key's Bankai to wipe out all the LeBlancs, rendering them extinct. The King's Key was then removed from Yuzu's soul and she was made a full Soul Reaper with a new Zanpakuto." Kisuke said as Yuzu stepped onto the stage with a bow. She was in her Soul Reaper uniform.
"Thank you for explaining everything Mr. Urahara." She replied.
"No problem." Kisuke replied as Yuzu flash stepped away and Gin stepped onto the stage with a curious eyebrow raised.
"So how is it that whenever I host the segment, weird things happen to me but not to ya when ya host it?" Gin asked as Kisuke shrugged.
"Dunno. Guess I'm just lucky that way." Kisuke replied with a smile.
"That's what I figured so I brought someone with me. Have fun, Kisuke! Bye-bye!" Gin called as he walked off stage.
"Huh?" Kisuke asked before getting tackled to the ground with a kick to the back of the head from an irate Hiyori Sarugaki.
Fin