The Heir Apparent
Chapter 35: Aftershock

With the glowing orb in the sky most of the Rache broke off their attack and retreated in a semi-orderly fashion, taking their wounded with them. Few of the Shinigami dared to follow, those that did were either called back by their officers or pulled back on their own accord. Those few diehards determined for death or revenge were ambushed and received the former. Mostly they were from the eleventh division.

For Ichigo it was all surreal, this organising men to carry the wounded and quickly getting everybody back inside the safe walls of Seireitei. It was like he was in someone else's body, a mere spectator in another's life. What had happened… He half thought it had all been a bad dream, that he would wake up from it any moment and be back to the normal divisional routine.

Was this all of them? There had been so many more Shinigami just hours before.

What the hell were these people? How could they combine Quincy and Shinigami powers? How were their leaders so strong? What did they want, well probably revenge for the extermination centuries back, but there must be more to that. Why now, when they could have allied with Aizen a few months before and ensured victory? A million questions rebounded within his skull. He needed answers.

It seemed to take them forever to get everyone back inside and with their respective divisions. When Ichigo saw how few seated officers there were left, particularly captains and lieutenants, he realised the depth of the disaster. In just two hours the strength of the Shinigami had been cut almost exactly in half. Ichigo felt cold creeping up his back, trying not to let it show. It was hard, most everyone seemed as frightened and shocked as he was.

'Attention, Attention,' cried lieutenant Ganju, knocking the wooden alarm panel loudly, 'All captains and lieutenants are to attend an emergency meeting. Seated officers are to take charge of divisional organisation.'

'Kiyone,' said Ichigo, turning to his third seat. But the girl was just staring blankly into space. Ichigo sighed, he'd heard what had happened, what she'd had to do. He turned to his remaining seated officers. 'Alright, you guys know what to do. I want a full status report by the time I get back.'

'Hai, Kurosaki-taicho,' said the man who was his fifth-seat. Ichigo supposed he should have taken some time to learn his seated officers names.

He joined Rukia, and they made their way at a slow walk towards the usual place. They'd each had less to organise, theirs being nearly the only division with both captain and lieutenant present; so they'd been the first to leave. They could afford to take their time getting there. Neither of them said anything, what words were there to be said?

They reached out at the same moment to silently take each other's hands, Ichigo drew hers to his face fiercely and kissed it before letting it drop to their sides. Rukia looked up at him with her big violet eyes, shimmering with the same agony he felt inside. A sob caught in his throat. She must have seen it, for the next instant she hugged him tightly. Feeling seemed to return slightly to his body, enough that he could appreciate her firm warmth.

'Rukia… I… I… if I'd lost you today, I-'

'I know.'

'I love you, Rukia,' he said, feelings welling up in his chest so intensely he almost choked, 'I love you so much.'

She pulled out his arms and looked into his eyes. 'I know, you big fool.' She raised up on tiptoe to kiss him lightly on the lips. Then she smiled faintly, 'And I love you. Now let's get this meeting over with.'

She took his hand again, and led him, walking faster then they had before. It was strange, but somehow everything seemed more real. Not back to normal, not by a long shot. But enough that he felt in his own skin again. He could deal with it.

With Rukia by his side, he was sure he could deal with anything.

x

Rukia could hardly believe that there were so few captains and lieutenants left. Unohana had just finished giving her status reports of the poisoned and wounded, as well as the dead. Of the Captains, only Yamamoto was dead. Yoruichi, Urahara and Renji were still in the material world, they hadn't been able to contact them. Of the rest; Hitsugaya was in a desperately critical condition. Shinji, Kensei and Kenpachi were down with a serious case of progressed poisoning; the last seriously wounded as well. And of the five remaining, two of them; Byakuya and Unohana herself; had been poisoned enough that while they could function as divisional leaders they couldn't possibly exert themselves in battle without ending up like the other three.

That left only Ichigo, Kyoraku and Kukaku. Three fighting-fit captains. Three!

Who'd be given the task of negotiating the surrender terms?

The lieutenants had fared better, but not well. Sasakibe was dead, leaving the first division devoid of its high command. Iba and Kira were both seriously wounded, and Hiyori; who apparently had attacked a massive group on her own; was at death's door and lucky to be alive. Added to that Hinamori was still missing, meaning that they were five down in total.

Ironically, that meant that there were exactly thirteen at the combined captains and lieutenants meeting.

'How quickly will you have the wounded back to fighting strength, Retsu,' said Kyoraku, his expression oddly grave.

'With each case it will be a different matter according to the extent of the damage,' said Unohana. 'I must remind you that Quincy burn's are quite different to the normal sword wounds we heal.'

'But how long?' he pressed.

'At best, a few days for the least injured.'

'We don't have "a few days",' Byakuya put in. He looked deathly pale. It was quite obvious to Rukia that he should be in a hospital bed, and was standing out of sheer stubbornness.

'True,' she sighed, 'I'm only a healer, there are limits even to my arts.'

'And the poison?' said Byakuya, looking at her.

'It's the same as Ukitake's, isn't it?' said Kyoraku.

Unohana looked down, a strange look on her face. 'Not entirely, but very similar. It's been altered for ingestion rather than blood poisoning, but the effects are the same.'

Rukia spoke up, 'Wait, you mean that this is the same poison that had Captain Ukitake sick all those years?'

'Yes.'

'I thought it was illness!'

Kyoraku answered her, 'That was the story we spread to keep the truth from getting out.' He turned to Unohana, 'There's no cure, is there?'

Unohana nodded sadly. 'It will remain with us until we die.'

'What about Orihime's power, her time-reversal technique,' Rukia protested, 'I understand that it couldn't help captain Ukitake since it happened so long ago, but this is recent.'

'Nice idea,' Ikkaku piped up, 'But she was taken captive by the black-cloaked one; Marx.' Ikkaku was there in place of Yachiru who refused to leave Kenpachi's side in medical. Frankly she would have been no use in the meeting anyway.

'Then we have to take her back,' said Ichigo. 'I say we attack them before they get reorganised, and get her and Ishida back. We'll have the others healed in no time then.'

'Not so fast,' said Kukaku, 'We don't even have a Captain-Commander to make a final decision.'

'So we need a new one?'

'Yes,' said Unohana, 'Under the circumstances, I don't think that Kuchiki-taicho or myself should be eligible for nomination. The Captain-Commander has to be able-bodied. Not that I would have accepted such a nomination anyway.'

'Nor I,' said Byakuya.

'Then we'll have a vote,' said Kyoraku, 'Under the circumstances with so many captains out of commission all the lieutenants should vote as well, naturally they cannot run for the position. Yes Ikkaku, you get to vote too. Understand this though, this is interim, just until the end of the crisis; after then we'll appoint a permanent leader.'

'I'll get the ballot box,' Rukia offered.

The voting results were fairly predictable. With only three captains running and two of them appointed less than two months before, the choice was obvious. Ichigo got two votes, Kukaku one and Kyoraku eight. A landside victory for the flamboyant captain, who looked none too happy for it.

'I didn't want this,' said Kyoraku softly after Rukia announced him the winner.

'You're the obvious successor to Yamamoto, even if all the other captains were here,' said Unohana, 'And none of us wanted this.'

'I suppose,' he sighed, 'And since I'm the most to blame for this happening who's still alive… It's time I took responsibility.'

'Shunsui, what're you talking about?' said Ichigo.

'It's nothing,' he waved off.

'Like hell it is, you mentioned how the Quincy's were involved in my last death, what happened after then that's causing this now?'

Kyoraku hung his head. 'I'll tell you tonight, I promise. But for now we have more pressing concerns.'

x

Marx hadn't expected to be the first back to the fortress, and sure enough he wasn't. But Takumo only touched down with his prisoner as Marx came in sight of the courtyard. Bismark of course had arrived first, he was tying a fresh dressing onto Khaan's leg stump. So, they hadn't withdrawn entirely unscathed, there was still some fight in the Shinigami. That was good, for his plans anyway.

As he touched down he swung the struggling human girl off his shoulders, and massaged a sore spot. She was heavier than she had looked, he should have used some sort of shoulder padding.

'Fool,' said Takumo, turning on him, 'You were ordered to kill her.'

Marx smiled and bent down to untie her. 'Under the circumstances I believe her use is greater to us alive.'

'Ishida-kun,' Orihime cried as he took off her gag.

Uryuu struggled against his bonds.

'Girl, we've hurt him,' said Marx, 'We're not going to kill him, but we can hurt him some more.'

'What are you talking about?' said Takumo.

Marx held up a hand to silence him. 'However, if you heal my friends wounds, I'll allow you to heal your friend. And we won't injure him further.'

Orihime stared at him for a moment, but couldn't hold his gaze. So she dropped her head, nodded once, and moved to Khaan's side. '(Souten Kisshen)' she said, and a half shell of light formed over Khaan's missing leg.

As they watched, the flesh and bone reformed, the bandages falling away. Even the clothing that had been taken with the leg regenerated. The light faded, and they all gazed in wonder as Khaan flexed his new limb.

'Truly, a remarkable ability,' said Bismark.

'May I see to Ishida-kun now?' she said timidly.

Marx nodded once, and she moved off to his side. Takumo watched them uncertainly, he seemed to be looking for an excuse to kill her, if for no other reason than because she was Marx's captive.

While they were waiting for her to heal Uryuu, and for Serena and the rest of the Rache to arrive, they related what had happened in their various battles. They all smiled when Bismark told them of his defeat of Captain Yamamoto, and gazed lustily at his liberated zanpakutou Ryujin Jakka. That Kyoraku had caused problems to Khaan meant little, they'd never expected anyone except Bismark or Takumo to take on a captain of his power and experience. Takumo's story was interesting too, he'd purposefully tried to lead the Kurosaki boy into a trap. But he hadn't come, to Takumo's dismay.

'You said he was a hot head who'd do anything for his friends. Why didn't he come?' his rival accused him.

Marx shrugged, 'Maybe he's matured a bit, maybe he say through your plan. Maybe somebody talked sense into him. I don't know, does it matter?'

He was glad that part of the plan hadn't worked. Now at least there were two powerful captains to occupy both Takumo and Bismark. As it was too much had already gone right, one made plans expecting the majority to fall flat.

Just then Serena arrived. She filled them in quickly with what had happened to her. At the end of it Marx laughed aloud.

'What's so funny?' she said coldly.

'You were bluffed, little sister. Kuchiki Byakuya received a full dose of the poison, flash-stepping to your location was probably the most he could have done without taking serious damage. You missed your chance to kill them all!' He could barely contain his glee, another captain in his arsenal, and one captain-class lieutenant.

Her expression soured, 'There'll be other opportunities.'

'Maybe.'

'What are we going to do about her,' said Takumo, pointing at Orihime.

'If, like you said, she's the only one that can undo your poison, then the Shinigami will have to attempt a rescue,' said Bismark. 'If they do rescue her we'll have lost.'

'Precisely why we should keep her alive,' said Marx smoothly. 'Her presence will force them to come to us, to fight on our terms.'

'They wouldn't know if we killed her,' Takumo argued, 'They might still come.'

'We don't know that for sure, they might be able to sense it. She has an unusually strong bond with her friends. Besides, she's useful for healing our people, as she just demonstrated.'

The days battle had been far successful for them than he'd predicted, which was bad for his plans. To usurp Bismark's position he had to kill both him and Takumo in this conflict. Now, absurdly, he would have to find a way to weaken their cause for his dream to come true. Inwardly he smiled, he would almost be an agent of the Shinigami. And this girl would be perfect for his plans. So too would the Quincy boy Takumo had captured, if he could bring him around to his way of thinking.

x

Kyoraku had never wanted to be the Captain-commander. His position of authority as Captain of the eighth division had suited him just fine, he'd never aspired for anything more. Well, except his noble family becoming recognised as one of the greats, but that was different. Now it seemed he had no choice. And even though he'd talked about it being an interim arrangement, knowing that he was most likely to be elected, he knew that if they won his appointment would almost certainly end up as permanent.

He could just see his carefree lifestyle fluttering away on the breeze, like a silken scarf.

It couldn't be helped, he was largely responsible for what had happened, like he had admitted. And today he'd received a new revelation about what had happened 200 years ago. The slip of paper Bismark had given him lay crumpled in his inside pocket. It had just five words on it: I killed Shiori and Raikawa.

The reason he'd been given it was blindingly obvious, Bismark wanted him to seek him out on the battlefield. And Kyoraku would, without a doubt. No matter how long it had been he couldn't let her killer live. But until then he couldn't act rashly, he needed to be calm, focused.

Everything made sense now, he knew where he'd met that tall Quincy before. He'd failed to kill him once, he wouldn't make the same mistake again. It was probably a good thing he'd followed the instruction to wait, he knew that if he'd read it the moment he'd been given it; he would have attacked Bismark regardless of Hitsugaya's condition.

Nemu was delivering a report about the Rache's powers. '…And according to Urahara-taicho's research, there are 4 types of naturally occurring spiritual power. Mortal; like the Quincy, Shinigami, Hollow and Demonic.'

'Demonic?' said Rukia.

'The Arch-Demon's in Hell have strength comparable to our captain-class,' Kyoraku explained, 'But they're trapped there, we beat them eons ago and hold the keys to their gates.'

Nemu continued, 'The theory was that these powers could be used to augment each other. The first significant testing of this theory outside of a few trials in a lab was when Aizen created the Vizords.'

'That bastard,' said Ichigo.

'Regardless, it was a significant step, and prompted a flurry of research into the phenomenon. It was discovered that there is a limitation. No power can coexist with its opposite, Shinigami and Demonic; or Mortal and Hollow. That should mean though that a person could double their powers, by tapping into another.'

Kyoraku nodded, 'Shinigami can gain hollow abilities, and Hollow; Shinigami. That is a proven fact. The Quincy would have had the choice between Shinigami and Demonic, the latter of which they had no way to access. That still doesn't explain though how they were able to use our abilities.'

'What do you mean?' said Ichigo.

'Think about when you gained your hollow powers, and later learned to control them. That required partial hollowfication, and then subduing your inner hollow. To use Shinigami abilities you have to be dead, that's the rule, somehow they're circumventing it. I want to know how.'

'We're still doing a detailed Reitsu analysis,' said Nemu, 'Please remember that I'm not Urahara-taicho.'

'Speaking of him, have we got in contact with the captains in the material world yet?' Their return would definitely turn around their desperate situation.

The fifth division, which was in charge of relaying such messages, was currently leaderless. So lieutenant Isane spoke for them, 'The severed world between here and the material world has been sealed. We tried to pass through to Hueco Mundo and go from there, but that passage has been blocked too. We're totally isolated.'

Kyoraku's face whitened. 'They would go this far, stopping the flow of souls… This could destabilize the very fabric of existence!'

'It seems they don't care about anything except winning,' said Unohana grimly.

'It doesn't change anything, they're still freaks that we must exterminate,' said Ichigo loudly.

It was ironic, Kyoraku thought, how much he sounded like Daiken at this moment. But the situation was different, this time there really was no choice but to kill them to a man.

Thanks to what had happened then.

'Lieutenant Nemu, I'm putting you in charge of finding a way to break through these barriers,' he said.

'What about researching the Rache's abilities?' said the girl.

'Do what you can there, but this is more important. Lieutenant Isane, I'm making you acting captain. You and the fifth division will support her. We have to find a way through if we are to win!'

Since he was now Captain-commander, he was automatically the captain of the first division. Nanao was still there to look after the eighth, and most others had at least one of their captain or lieutenant to lead them. But not the fifth and tenth. Lieutenant Isane would be in command of the fifth for now, but for the tenth there was only one other available lieutenant.

'And Kuchiki Rukia, until this crisis is over you will be the acting captain of the tenth division.'

'WHAT!' Rukia and Ichigo said together.

x

Bismark crumpled the list Marx had sent him regarding their casualties. No matter how he looked at the figures they boded badly for them. The Rache force had always been smaller than the Shinigami standing army, they'd been relying on surprise to thin their numbers. Their battles with the captain-class had been a huge successes, their lower order though had fared worse.

While the Shinigami had lost roughly 35% of their unseated warriors, they'd suffered 59% casualties in the Aussen Kreis. The fights between their Kreis and Innen Kreis and the Shinigami seated officers and lieutenants had been even more heated, with the Shinigami losing 50% while 72% of the Rache had fallen. In the end only the battles between the Prima Kreis and the Shinigami captains could be called a victory.

While the higher level battles would certainly decide the war, they had to be able to occupy the multitudes of lower level Shinigami if they hoped to win those without interference. And there was no way they could hope to perform another massive raid like they'd attempted today. They'd have to stick to smaller engagements, and defense.

It seemed like Marx's plan was the one they'd have to go with. They'd made their play, it was the Shinigami's move now.

Except that he hated waiting for things to happen. There had to be another way.

Serena entered his study without announcing herself. No one else would have dared do that, even the other members of the Prima Kreis. But then she'd always enjoyed special privileges. She wasn't happy, he could tell. She'd been burned when Marx had laughed at her and stated that she'd been played for a fool. There could be only one reason why she was here.

'I want to go back, give me keys to Seireitei,' she said, confirming his suspicions.

'No.'

She walked up to him, swung a leg over and sat on his lap. 'I'm going to kill them in their beds, give me the keys.'

'No.'

They both knew how this game was played. He hadn't forbidden it, so he was open to persuasion. She lowered her face so close that he could feel her hot breath on his cheek, and ran her hands down his chest. 'I'll put the fear of death into them.'

'No.'

He would agree in the end, he knew. But first he would receive full payment for his approval.

x

Ichigo stood in the medical bay of the fourth division, clenching his fists. He'd just come away from watching the medics work on Hitsugaya. The poor boy was so covered in burns he looked like a fiend straight out of a horror movie. He'd moaned as the medics covered him with salve, and turned his head towards the observation window where Ichigo had been standing. His lids had been burned away, his eyes boiled in their sockets. Ichigo hadn't been able to watch any more after that.

It was incredible that he was still alive after such progressed burning, a true testament to the captain-class' durability. But in his condition it might have been better if he'd died.

Rukia, seeming to sense his disquietness, slipped a small hand into his. 'We'll save Orihime, she can help him. Her powers will have him good as new.'

'But what if we don't,' he said darkly.

She was silent for a moment. 'Then we'll have lost. I'll not stop until we've saved her, and Ishida; as long as I draw breath. I know you, Ichigo, you won't either.'

He nodded. 'Somehow, we'll do it. We'll get them all back, heal everyone, and make those bloody Rache pay.'

Lieutenant Isane entered, and cleared her throat. 'We're waiting for you, Kurosaki-taicho, Kuchiki-fukutaicho.'

'Right,' said Ichigo, and followed her to a private room in the medical wing.

Inside Kukaku was sitting propped up by pillows in a bed, Kyoraku sat at the end of it. Unohana was sitting on a chair beside it. And on the opposite side of the room all the active lieutenants sat on pillows facing them. Byakuya was with them, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.

'Ah, you've come Ichigo,' said Kyoraku, motioning for him to take a seat.

'Why are we here?' said Ichigo.

Unohana answered him. 'I had to remove a metal shaft from captain Shiba's chest after the battle. She seems alright, but I would rather keep her for observation tonight to be on the safe side.'

'That explains why she's here, but-'

'She was involved in what happened as well,' said Kyoraku, 'I want you to hear her part of the story, so we have to be here. We could have told you about it, but it's preferable to get the news straight from the horses mouth, wouldn't you agree.'

'Am I a horse now?' said Kukaku.

'Eh? Ah, not really Kuku-chan-'

Kukaku smacked him in the back of his head, knocking his straw hat off. 'How many times do I have to tell you, MY NAME IS KUKAKU!'

'It's a pity Shihoin-taicho isn't here,' Unohana mused.

'Why?' said Ichigo, quickly remembering that that was Yoruichi's surname.

'Yori-chan was there too,' said Kyoraku, retrieving his hat and dusting it off.

'Waaait, I though that only you and Unohana were captains two hundred years ago.'

'Yep, that's right.'

'I don't get it.'

'You will.' Kyoraku then addressed everyone sitting, 'I know you're probably wondering why I've pulled you away from your divisions at this critical time. What I, we, are about to share with you one of the darkest secrets of Gotei thirteen. It is contained in no written literature, and I would thank you to keep it that way. However, it is important that you know the truth of the matter, in case something unexpected should happen.'

Ichigo suppressed a snort, this entire incident was unexpected. He had no doubt more unpredictable things would happen before then end. But he understood what Kyoraku was saying, he wanted them armed with knowledge in case he went the same way as Yamamoto. Intrigued, he took his place on a free cushion. Rukia immediately pulled one to his side and snuggled up against him. Ichigo quickly glance back at Byakuya, but he still had his eyes closed, so he leaned his cheek against the top of her head and put his arm around her.

'Were should we start?' said Unohana.

'How about where I got called to the material world?' said Kyoraku.

'No, they need to know what was happening in Soul Society prior to that.'

'Hmmm, your promotion?'

'That sounds like a good point.'

'Shall I begin?'

'Of course.'

Thus the pendulum again swings back to allow another glimpse of a time long past.

x

A/N: A quick explanation of the 4 spiritual power types. Think of it like this, it's similar to alignments in Dungeons and Dragons. If Shinigami is Good, then Demonic is Evil. Then Mortal/Quincy would be Lawful, and Hollow Chaotic. So like in the game you could have a character that's Chaotic Good, or Lawful Evil. But you can't have a character that's Good Evil, or Chaotic Lawful. It just doesn't mix.

By this standard, the Shinigami/Hollow mix would be Chaotic Good. Fitting, in the case of Ichigo. Probably not with the Espada though, Chaotic yes; Good no (except perhaps in the case of Stark). Ironically also by this standard the Rache would be Lawful Good. So don't take this comparison too literally.