A/N: Strange as this may sound, this is my favourite chapter of my story so far. The manga's currently a bit dull, Ichigo's still doing training and Aizen's doing like Jason; seriously. Not much else to report, don't forget to review!

x

The Heir Apparent
Chapter -149: The Night of the Wind of Death

Nineteen year old Franz Bismark stood with his back to a large oak on the edge of a dark forest, his small band of followers sitting huddled nearby. He was a young giant, both in statue and standing. The youngest member of the Quincy twenty-one, the high council of their order, he was also the new head of the noble Bismark family; the most prestigious in the entire order. As such he was automatically one of the most influential Quincy in the world, despite his youth and lack of political connections.

In the open ground past the forest was a country manor where the twenty-one had assembled. Guards were spread out around and inside. After the disappearance of Shinigami Captain Yamamoto Raikawa they feared reprisal attacks. Even though no-one could be 100% sure the Quincy were responsible.

No-one except Franz. He knew. He should, he was the one who'd killed the man.

It had been perhaps the single most defining moment in the young man's life. Everyone had considered the Shinigami captains immortal and invincible, since they never seemed to age and most of the ones currently serving were recorded in the orders earliest annexure. The closest they'd recorded to a captain's death was that of a lieutenant, a man by the name of Shiba Mikio. And that was so wrapped in legend it was impossible to separate the truth from fiction. Nobody had ever seen or a recorded an actual captain die.

Nobody except Franz.

It had been a tough battle, even though he'd ambushed the man and wounded him twice before he could retaliate. Any closer and he would definitely have died. But he'd prevailed, proving once and for all that the captains weren't invincible. Now there was no reason to bow and scrap to these undead spirits, they could be beaten, the Quincy didn't have to take orders from their like. He had kept the captain's zanpakutou as proof of his victory, even though he couldn't possibly use it. Soon when he led the Quincy against their enemy it would be a standard, a symbol of victory. Anyone who saw it would have no doubt that they could prevail. For now it lay wrapped in cloth and slung over his back.

Franz considered Shinigami even lower than hollows. Hollows at least were reduced to their base instincts, they couldn't be held accountable for the carnage they caused. The white-haired Shinigami who had broken into his family's home and murdered his father in front of his mothers eyes had been fully aware of what he was doing, and perversely taken his time. Franz hadn't been there, but he would never forget the look of frozen horror on his mothers face during the funeral. She'd committed suicide two weeks later.

Another life the Shinigami would pay for.

And so, at eighteen, Franz had taken over the mantle as head of the Bismark family as well as their traditional spot in the council. It hadn't been easy, but with his fathers advisors he'd managed to keep things going relatively well. Through them he'd been introduced to a useful contact, a soul in Rukongai with a way of delivering information to the material world. Most importantly this soul had a grudge against the Shinigami.

It was he who had provided the information that had allowed Franz to ambush Yamamoto Raikawa. And now he'd sent another important message. The Shinigami were sending an envoy to the high council to start the process of undoing the damage to their relations caused by the recent spate of killings. It was the perfect time to put the final nail in the coffin of the peace talks.

He could hardly believe that any thinking Quincy would sanction the talks. But they had, led by the influential statesman Lord Ishida. Japanese idiot, curse him and his pretty words. Bismark was the only one who had openly opposed them. They were fools, all of them. Open war was the only way they'd ever be free of the Shinigami menace.

He sensed a Senkaimon gate opening a few kilometres away, and signalled to his men. They slowly rose, doing final checks on their weapons. Tonight the envoy would die. He smiled, imagining Lord Ishida's look of horror when he found out they were at war with the Shinigami.

x

'Kyoraku-taicho!' a female shouted as she flash-stepped into the area.

'Hmm?' said Shunsui, lowering his unreleased taichi. His wakizashi was still sheathed. 'You are, Shiba Kukaku?'

He had met with her on a few occasions, she had always been to him Daiken's subordinate, having been brought into the Shiba family long after Mikio's death. It was a pity he hadn't been able to recruit her before his rival. Barely more than a pre-teen in mortal years, she was without doubt a future captain. Just like her friend Yoruichi, if she over her aversion to her zanpakutou.

'I am, sir,' she confirmed.

'Kukaku, what are you doing here?' said Yoruichi crossly. The young woman had been practising with him until she'd arrived, hence the reason why he was only using one blade.

'Forgive me, but I must warn you. I've just learned what my captain is doing.'

Shunsui was immediately suspicious, Daiken was known for inspiring fanatical devotion amongst his followers, and would never reveal any part of his plans that might compromise that. But still, even he could make mistakes, knowing the full extent of what he was doing; might force an otherwise ally onto the other side of the fence.

'I'm listening,' he said warily.

Kukaku shivered, and hugged her shoulders. 'He's found out about you sending your wife to the Quincy's.'

Shunsui went white, 'What's he doing?' he whispered.

'Some of the Quincy's also want war between us, my captain has made contact with them on the pretext that he's a soul that hates the Shinigami; so as not to arouse suspicion. He's told them all about her.'

Realisation came crashing down on him like a ton of bricks, 'They'll ambush Shiori and her guards, they'll try and kill them all.'

'And then we'll have no choice but to go to war with them,' said Yoruichi, equally awed.

It wasn't quite as simple as that, he knew. The death of an envoy wouldn't be enough, especially a secret envoy sent without the full blessing of the thirteen protection squads. But the additional bad feeling that created would almost certainly push them into an unstoppable sequence of reprisal attacks; which could only end in war. This was bad, very bad.

Shiori!

The love of his life was in terrible danger. He had to go to her, now. But this wasn't the time to panic, that would only make things worse; he had to do this right. 'Yori-chan, tell your father and Jushiro what's happened. They'll arrange things. Kuku-chan, you'd better get back to your division before your captain suspects something.'

'Kuku-chan?' said Kukaku, the firm set of her mouth telling exactly what she thought of the nickname.

Shunsui was in the habit of shortening young peoples names that were longer than two syllables, he had done it without thinking. At any other time he might have been amused at her annoyance. Not now.

'Go, now,' he said, using his voice to convey the urgency of the situation

Then he drew both swords to summon a Senkaimon gate.

x

'You told her?' Daiken asked his wife.

'Yes,' said Shiraken Chizu, 'And she did exactly as you predicted she would.' She had betrayed them by running off to bring word to Kyoraku Shunsui.

'Better and better,' Daiken gloated.

'How did you know she would do it?'

Daiken smiled, as cold and fierce as a dragon, 'I read her. Her strong friendship with the Shihoin girl gave her a natural affinity with her captain. Besides, I've worked for a long time to build her suspicions of me.'

Chizu could never understand how her husband could nurture enemies to use towards his cause, but then he'd always been much smarter than her. 'I - I see.'

He waved a silk-gloved hand, 'Don't worry yourself with it. There can be only one way this plays out, and it will be war between us and those human offal. After that, events will be set in motion that no-one will be able to predict. By the way, do you remember the special instructions I gave you.'

'The ones in case of-'

'Yes.'

'NO, I will not think about that.'

'You must,' said Daiken forcefully, 'It is important to me.'

'But why?' said Chizu tearfully.

Daiken gave a rare true smile. 'I hope someday that you will understand.'

x

Franz watched leisurely from a vantage point, an out-hanging branch of a tree, as his men attacked. The Shinigami had been cut down in the first few moments, but now that they had recovered from their surprise the survivors were fighting back. Chief among them being the lieutenant that headed the delegation, she had released her zanpakutou and its ability seemed to make any and all shots fired at her pointless. While defending she would destroy Quincy with her demon arts.

As much as they were outnumbered, Franz knew that with this woman rallying them the Shinigami would likely win. However, he had yet to make his move. From his chosen perch he ignited his bow, with the Shinigami as occupied as they were they were unlikely to notice or pay heed to another energy glow further away. He sighted all the fighting Shinigami, save the lieutenant, and summoned arrows. Powering up the multiple shots as much as he safely could, he fired.

The bolts scoured through the chests of five shinigami, leaving holes the size of their heads. The lieutenant opened her mouth to cry in horror. That instant Franz shot past her, her eyes followed him as though in slow motion, he dived forward and fired from point-blank range into her back; rolled as he hit the ground and came to his feet.

His entire attack had taken less than a second, as he rose so too did the Shinigami drop. Some tried to use their swords as supports as they fought vainly for breath. Franz gave a satisfied nod. The battle was over, all the enemy were dying or dead. His remaining men looked at him in awe.

Then he noticed the lieutenant, groaning and dragging her body on the floor. He'd fired blindly, and missed her most vital organs. Not by very much, he judged the gaping hole at just below her ribcage, it had severed her spinal chord. Fatal, he knew, but it might take her a minute or more to die. Much as he would enjoy listening to her last few gasping moments, her empty curses, they had to get out of here now. The guards would have noticed the disturbance and be on their way to investigate. The rest of the council couldn't know that he was the one responsible, that would be trouble.

Franz summoned more spiritual energy to his hand, and formed another bolt.

x

Shunsui sprinted out of the gate, solidifying reitsu under his feet as soon as he stepped into the mortal realm. It was night time, the material world loomed dark and forbidden below him. The clouds, some below and some above him, were thick and eerie. Shunsui ran through the air, feeling for any sign of his wife.

Sensing reitsu was enough to give him a good idea of the general location, but it was a flash of bright blue light that identified the exact spot. He kicked off, aiming at the ground. Dread was mounting in his chest, he knew full well that the flash had been a large expenditure of Quincy energy; and he feared the worst. As he shot closer he saw a tall Quincy aiming his bow at his wife's fallen body. Stifling a gasp he drew his blades, releasing them wordlessly.

The Quincy, sensing his power, swung around and fired wildly with Shunsui almost on top of him. He deflected the bolt away with one blade and slashed with the other as he hit the earth like a meteorite, sending shockwaves through the ground. The fallen were bumped up momentarily, including his wife. The tall Quincy man stumbled and fell, clutching with both hands at his half-severed neck; which was pouring with blood. He'd tried to evade at the last moment, but hadn't got far enough.

In an instant the air was filled with Quincy bolts, and Shunsui danced. Evade, manoeuvre, slice, repeat. In moments half a dozen Quincy lay dead and dying, their limbs splayed out upon the floor. He judged them followers of the first one he'd killed, they'd certainly been far weaker. Shiori! He had to go to her.

The other Shinigami from her party were either dead and starting to erode or else past any form of medical help. Research they'd done since Mikio's death showed that although Quincy energy was made to destroy hollows, it would also destroy any spirit it killed; albeit at a slower rate. The erosion could not be reversed, and the only way it could be prevented or halted was to remove the unfortunate's head or destroy their entire body. So he moved among them, doing the only thing he could. Then he knelt by his wife's side, and pulled her over.

'Ah, Shun…sui-' she gasped, reaching out to grip his willing hand.

'Shhh,' he said, putting on a brave face.

The wound was so big he could probably fit his fist through it. This was beyond his skill to heal, he had to get her back to Gotei thirteen immediately. But could she survive the trip?

'My…my love…ah…Shunsui,' she started gulping desperately, her eyes staring.

'No, NO, Shiori, stay with me,' he said, patting her cheek, desperate; hopeless fear rising in his heart.

She stopped and looked at him, her beautiful eyes filling with tears, 'I'm glad… I got to… be loved… by…' The light faded in her eyes, and her hand went limp.

Shunsui gritted his teeth, not allowing any thought to enter his head, lest he scream at the horror of what he must now do. It had to be now, there was only seconds delay after death before the erosion began. He stood up, lined his blade with her delicate neck, raised it high, and slashed cleanly through. Then he fell back to his knees, his swords clattering to the ground, tears pouring unbidden down his cheeks. He took her lifeless hand in his.

'Shiori, my Shiori,' he wept, kissing it. She was gone.

It was as though the floodgates of all the feelings he'd been holding back since learning of her being in danger were suddenly wrenched open. He remembered when they'd met, their first outing; just the two of them. Their first kiss, how her lips had been as soft as rose petals. The joy of their wedding day, the passion and closeness of their marriage. No, no, she couldn't be gone. It didn't make any sense.

Around him the bodies of the Shinigami were fading, their souls disappearing from the plane. Shiori's was the last to go, the hand in his becoming malleable and insubstantial before his fingers closed on nothing. She was gone, her soul flowing into the stream of those being reborn as living humans. Would he ever see her again?

'What, what on earth-' said a shaken voice behind him.

Shunsui turned to see a Quincy, a patrol leader judging by his insignia, staring at the scene before him. Behind him were a good dozen Quincy. Shunsui ignored them and turned back, looking for the tall Quincy's body. Strangely it wasn't there. That could mean only one thing, somehow he'd survived and got away. He couldn't get far, not with that wound.

'He's killed them all,' said the patrol leader.

'The war's begun,' cried another, 'The shinigami have come to murder us!'

With all the shinigami bodies faded away it must look like just that, that he'd attacked and killed them all with no provocation. But he didn't care what it looked like, he just wanted to… He had no idea what he wanted to do. Go home, cry, drink with his friends? It all seemed so meaningless.

He felt spiritual arrows being summoned behind him. 'Stand fast, shinigami, you're under arrest,' said the patrol leader.

Oh yeah, he'd taken his haori off for his training with Yoruichi, they had no idea he was a captain.

'No, he's killed my brother, he must die,' cried another, and released.

Shunsui's battle-hardened reflexes kicked in, he grabbed his swords and swivelled to his feet; deflecting the bolt negligently. Something snapped inside him, he didn't care any more that he was the one suing for peace. He didn't care that these fools probably had nothing to do with the attack. He didn't even care if he lived or died.

'You,' he seethed, murder written all over his face, 'Where are you hiding him?' That tall Quincy, he would make him pay.

'He's going to kill us all!' One of them panicked, and fired wildly. The bolt shot harmlessly over Shunsui's shoulder. Some of the others started firing too.

'No,' cried the patrol leader, 'Hold, all of-'

Shunsui's blade ripping his skull open silenced him.

'You're hiding him from me,' he growled, and flash-stepped in amongst them, evading their shots.

They were all trained soldiers, elites chosen to guard the Quincy high council. Stronger and more skilled than the others by far, but despite their numerical superiority they were no match for him. Shunsui cut them down one by one as they scattered to shoot, revelling in the dark satisfaction of each kill. There was no politics now, no pain. Just himself and the enemy, and he would kill them all.

As he slew the last one he noticed more Quincy running at him from all directions, a stream coming even from the manor house. So many, he estimated at just short of a hundred, and the number kept growing. It didn't matter how many there were, he would kill them all until he found the one who had murdered Shiori.

x

Deep in the forest Franz stumbled and fell to his knees, fresh blood pouring from the wound in his neck. His vision was blurring, he could barely see. He was dying, of that he was sure. How could this be happening to him? This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He could sense in the distance his brothers dying. No no no, his people were being slaughtered.

Who was that man, how had he dispatched him; Franz Bismark; slayer of a Shinigami captain, so easily? This was all so wrong. There would be no great rising against the shinigami now, he wouldn't be there to lead them. They would all die.

He flopped onto his back, trying to take care with his neck but failing. A face appeared in front of his, a young girl's. She was beautiful, was she an angel? No, she couldn't be, heaven was a myth; there was only Soul Society for the dead. Fear welled up in his chest, if he died he would have to go there.

That was his last coherent thought before he blacked out.

x

Ishida Takumo hadn't wanted to leave the manor house, but he was far surer of his safety at his father's side than anywhere else. Lord Ishida was a great man, a champion for peace. He followed him into the night. The darkness was lit up with flying energy bolts, and straining his eyes Takumo could see that the guards were fighting a single man. This was no ordinary fighter, he was dispatching them singly and in groups; roaring out phrases that Takumo couldn't make out in the distance.

'May god help us,' said one of the council members, 'He is a demon.'

'Oh Lord, preserve us,' breathed his father.

Takumo's father was the most influential of all the twenty-one, he was also considered one of the most powerful Quincy's of the age. And in all his eleven years Takumo had never heard him sound fearful before.

'What's happening,' he said numbly. He needn't have asked, it was obvious. The war had begun.

'That's Kyoraku Shunsui, the captain of the eighth division,' said his father.

'Are you sure?' said another council member, 'Don't the captains wear white cloaks?'

'It's called a haori, besides, how many talks have we had? It's him alright.'

'But why him, I though he was our friend.'

'It's been said that Shunsui is one of the most powerful captains they've ever had,' said Lord Ishida grimly, 'They're sending their best, I wouldn't be surprised if more captains attack us now, they won't want to take any high-ranked casualties. And by choosing him they're sending us a message, the whole of Gotei thirteen has taken up arms against us. We are at war with the Shinigami.' He squared his shoulders, 'Council, though it grieves me to do this, we must fight. Takumo, go hide somewhere until this is over.'

'But I-' The preteen began.

'You're not ready. GO!'

Stunned by the urgency in his father's voice, Takumo sprinted around to the back of the manor, where the stables were. A large pile of straw had been left there to spread for the horses bedding, Takumo dived inside it, shivering. As screams and hisses of bolts continued, he blocked his ears and hummed.

x

It was though the world around him had shrunk into a bubble, was it real; was it a dream? He was no longer Kyoraku Shunsui, he was free of that man's inhibitions. Now he was, truly, an instrument of his training; an instrument of vengeance. The world was uncomplicated when it was kill or be killed.

'Where is the tall Quincy!' he roared as he decapitated another guard, the head seeming to leap off his shoulders. 'Give me that murderer!' His voice sounded strange in his own ears.

Then, suddenly, there was no one around him; no one attacking him. Looking around, he saw that a core group in elaborate cloaks had called the remainder of the guard to them. His old self recognised them as the Quincy twenty-one, the leaders he'd been negotiating with. Seeing Lord Ishida's face there brought a muted pang, he ignored it. All he took from the memory of his former life was that these were formidable opponents.

If they were strong, perhaps he could get serious.

He smiled for the first time that night.

'Ban-kai.'

x

Only one Quincy who fought that night survived, terribly wounded and delirious. The rest were slaughtered to a man. Some from around the area who hadn't got involved would later tell the tale. Either by intent or by chance a vicious wind appeared from nowhere, ripping off tree branches and blowing roofs off houses. What would forever be remembered was the terrible howl it made, long and eerie, as though Hades had come to earth. Perhaps, that night, it had.

For from that day on, the incident would be know as the night of the wind of death.

x