A/N: Some people commented to the last bit that Ichigo and Rukia were slightly out of character in their 'almost loving' bit. I assure you, that was deliberate. There's probably a special psychological term for it, I'm not too sure, but people's personalities do change in certain extreme circumstances. Fighting is one of them, -ahem- excitement is another. I'll just leave it at that.

InfiniteDragon was here!

x

The Heir Apparent
Chapter 40: The Second Phase

Morning came, the sun raised its overly bright head over the hills, filling the land with a blood red glow. Fitting, Bismark thought. It was now impossible that Serena and her men would return. The knowledge made him feel empty, though he didn't know why that should be. He wore his Rache uniform, an adaptation of the old Quincy one, his golden cloak reflecting orange in the light.

Takumo joined him on the battlements of the fortress, watching the sun rise over the dark hills. 'She's dead, isn't she?' he said.

Bismark nodded, though it had been more of a statement than a question. He turned to the other man, who seemed to be struggling not to say anything further. He daren't criticize his leader, but it was difficult not to when a decision of his resulted in the loss of one of their core members. Especially since Takumo had been fond of Serena, though she had never returned his feelings. Bismark wouldn't have cared if she had, but he was aware of the other man's inner conflict. As he was that it had been a bad decision to let her go out on her own. Of course, only hindsight was perfect.

'So what now?' said Takumo, obviously uncomfortable with the silence.

'Nothing, brother. Now we wait. They'll come to us, and we'll finish this.' It would happen today, the Shinigami had no choice. Marx had taken care of that.

Khaan emerged from a nearby round tower, and joined the two of them. He was the only one who wore anything different to the Quincy uniform, substituting it for a coat of metal scales, which were entirely useless except as decoration. 'So, no more Serena,' he said indifferently.

'She's gone,' said Bismark.

'Too bad,' he said, and yawned, stretching his arms out widely. He seemed oblivious to the angry glances that the other two men shot him. 'Today I feel like destroying another Shinigami. Ha, but I got that little boy good yesterday.'

And Kyoraku made short work of you, thought Bismark irritably. But he needed the man today more than ever, in all his arrogance and insensitivity. But if he survived their victory today, Bismark would see to it that he did not last long. He'd had his fill of the man decades before. 'You'll get your chance,' he said, forcing a smile.

'Pretty sky,' said Khaan, 'My people used to say that a red sunrise meant that a bloody battle would happen that day. Superstitious fools! Still, this time they might be right.'

'How are the preparations going, brother?' said Bismark, ignoring him and turning to Takumo.

'As you ordered, brother.' There was subtle infliction in how Takumo said the word, making it subservient but also slightly bitter. Takumo didn't like using that form of address. Bismark didn't care, as long as he used it.

'You're ready?' he pressed.

'As ready as we're ever going to be.' He gestured behind him, where Rache were fitting tubes of energy into pre-prepared places in the walls.

The fortress had taken more than forty years for them to build, because of the size, complexity and their need for absolute secrecy. It had been built for one purpose, and one purpose alone: To be a death-trap for the Shinigami of Gotei thirteen. The weapons weren't enough to kill a captain, that's what the Prima Kreis was for, but anything less would be overwhelmed for sure. Knowing what they'd be facing, he almost felt sorry for them; almost.

'Good morning, Lord Bismark, brothers, you're up early,' a new voice commented.

Bismark had to fight the impulse to swivel around, he'd been so intent in his conversation and thoughts that he hadn't noticed Marx approaching behind him. He couldn't afford such lapses, not today. 'Good morning, brother Marx,' he said, nodding without looking in his direction; as though it was no surprise to him. 'How did you sleep?'

'Poorly,' said Marx, 'I couldn't stop thinking. There's so much riding on today, nothing will ever be the same after.'

'I didn't have any trouble,' Khaan put in.

'That's because you don't think, you just do,' said Marx.

'Thinking's overrated, beating on Shinigami is better.'

'Sometimes a bit of thinking will help you in that endeavour.'

There was no malice in their argument, over the last century Marx and Khaan had become well acquainted, and such petty disputes were the staple of their conversations. But it was annoying to listen to, so Bismark interrupted them.

'Have you received any word from our spies?' he said.

Marx turned to him, 'Only one. Captain Kuchiki organised a summary execution for all our members in the twelfth division we had on duty last night, as well as many of our people involved with their hell butterflies. It's quite possible that a third of our agents died during the night, the rest have gone to ground. The only reason I was able to find this out was the one that told me was in the second division, while on patrol he decided to make a run for it rather than risk Captain Kuchiki's inspection of the division. Apparently he's being very thorough.'

That was a problem. Though the agents had already played their important part, the loss of their inside information was galling. 'And Serena?'

'He overheard captain-commander Kyoraku telling lieutenant Ganju that his sister, Captain Shiba Kukaku, defeated her in battle, and was injured.'

'How badly?'

'He doesn't know.'

'If she's hurt, I'll finish her off,' said Khaan.

Trust him to want the easier battles. But then Khaan had never been one to enjoy a challenge, he preferred dominating his opponents. He wouldn't stand a chance against either of the other two captains though, so if Shiba Kukaku did show up Khaan would have to be the one to fight her. Marx had his hands full with MadarameIkkaku and Kurosaki Isshin, the Spirit King to be. Bismark wondered idly if he would be involved in the next round of fighting. His and Takumo's opponents were, of course, already designated. Both men would actively seek them out on the battlefield.

The four men stood together on the walls as the red sky changed into blue, as though in tribute to their fallen comrade's colour.

x

Kyoraku Shunsui sat bare-chested, watching the sunrise out of his window. It was the morning of the day that would possibly decide all. It might be an idea though to hold back a while, to bring a few of the curable captains (like Kukaku) back to full health before they brought the fight to the Rache. As it was, they were two captains against four Prima Kreis members; Rache leaders. It was fairly obvious that those four were on a totally different level to the rest of the enemy order, lieutenant level wouldn't stand a chance against them. He did have two more Bankai users, true, but neither had reached their full potential with the ability. They weren't even close.

In his bed, Nanao stirred, 'Shunsui, come back to bed,' she complained.

'Yes, dear,' he said, banishing such thoughts from his mind, and laying down beside her.

She pulled his arm over her and snuggled in close, sliding his hands over her satin smooth skin. Under the sheets she was naked, he knew, but he was already too spent to be excited by the thought. Neither of them had got much sleep last night.

'Mmm, this feels good,' she sighed, 'I don't want this to end.'

And yet it will, he thought sadly. They would have to get up and go to their various stations. Him as the acting captain-commander of the first division, her as the acting captain of the eighth. This could well be the last chance he had to hold her in his arms like this.

'I love you,' he whispered quietly.

'Yes, you do,' she said, smiling while still not opening her eyes.

'Do you love me?'

'Do you really need to ask?'

'I want to hear you say it,' he pressed.

Finally she opened her eyes, and Kyoraku was struck once again by their vivid colour. He felt like his heart would implode with so many feelings. 'Of course I love you, you dirty old man,' she said, then she noticed his expression, and hers softened, 'I love you with all my heart, Shunsui.'

He hugged her tightly, like he would never let her go. Unfortunately he had to, a minute later, when somebody knocked discreetly. He sighed and got up, despite her protests, pulling on a top as he went to answer it.

It was Enjoji, his third seat. No, Nanao's acting lieutenant now, since Kyoraku had transferred to the first division; forcing everyone below to step up. 'Your pardon, soutaicho, I have a messenger here from the fourth division. He says that Unohana-taicho has to speak to you urgently, that there's been a new development with the patients.'

If it was urgent, it definitely wasn't good. 'Give me a moment to get ready, and I'll be there.' He thought about it for a moment, then added, 'Check if messengers have been sent to the thirteenth and eleventh divisions, if they haven't yet, make sure they are. Tell them to meet me there.'

'What about the other acting captains?'

Kyoraku considered, then shook his head, 'We can always fill them in later.' It was easier to deal with a small group, and what he needed right now was; what he thought of as; his core group of leaders.

x

'YEEAAA!' Ichigo cried as he woke from deep sleep with a start, sitting straight up and pulling his foot away.

Rukia, who had been tickling it with a feather, looked almost as startled as him for a moment. 'Wow, that was quite a reaction,' she said with a small smirk.

'Evil woman,' he said, rubbing his hair with exaggerated annoyance. The way her violet eyes sparked was making his chest tighten.

'Put on some clothes, we've got a lot to do today,' she said. She was, of course, already dressed. 'I've been up an hour already, trying to organize the tenth division. I suppose it helps that they're used to taking orders from a small person,' she added thoughtfully.

Oh yeah, she was now an acting captain, taking over from poor Toshiro who'd been roasted alive yesterday. Wait, that meant he no longer had a lieutenant. He'd have to promote one of his third seats. Then he remembered, and sighed aloud. Sentaro was dead, and Kiyone a wreck as a result. He supposed he didn't have any choice but to take her, there was no one else.

Then there was a rapping at the window panel, which was still open. A tall female messenger with dark curly hair and a rather prominent nose stuck her head in, and gave a start to see him in his boxers. 'A-a thou-thousand apologies, Kurosaki-taicho,' she stammered, looking away.

Ichigo snorted, but didn't comment about the invasion of his privacy. Things like that didn't seem so matter like that had before, in light of what was happening. 'Yeah?' he said, getting up and pulling on his hakama.

'Um, um, Kyoraku-soitaicho wants you and Kuchiki-fukutaicho, I mean-'

'Come on, spill it,' he snapped.

'You, you have to meet him at the fourth division.'

'Is it urgent?' said Rukia.

'Um, I think so.'

'Alright, message received, go, scat. Hmph, the quality of messengers here is really going down,' she said after the shinigami had left. 'She should have been quick and professional about the message, and she definitely should have used the front door.'

'I think she was nervous because she caught me, you know,' said Ichigo as he pulled on a sock.

'She got an eyeful, yes. I should have her executed.'

'Yeah…wait, WHAT!'

'The sight of you belongs to me, no one else is allowed to see,' she said, coming into his arms.

'You'd better be kidding about that execution,' he muttered, but allowed her to pull him down to kiss soundly.

x

Hinamori opened her eyes slowly. She felt desperately weak, like all the energy had been sapped from her muscles. Initially everything was dark, but then she realized that something was covering her eyes. She pulled it away, and was immediately blinded by the light. As she slowly adjusted to it she noticed it was coming from the ceiling, technology remarkably similar to what existed in Soul Society. Something heavy, cold and uncomfortably was around her neck.

'Ah, she's awake,' said a voice.

'How do you feel, Hinamori-chan?' said another, female, one.

She turned to see two people sitting near to her, also wearing metal collars. At first she didn't recognize them, but then a distant memory came. 'You are… the Ryoka!'

She spoke at a normal tone, but her voice boomed loudly around the confined space. She realised then that the other the two had been speaking at a whisper.

'Please, we're Soul Society's allies now,' said the skinny boy, 'Or should I say, Soul Society's captured allies.'

That implied that she was captured too. She glanced around. Sure enough, they were all inside a cell made up of metal bars, with only two beds between them. There was another cell opposite theirs, but it was in terrible disrepair. There were no windows, and the only one way up, the stairway which was sealed at the top with a trapdoor. The lighting upon closer inspection looked like it had been installed after the dungeon had been dug, the wires were all secured to the top of the stonework. It was the only piece of technology that had been added. There was no ventilation, the air smelled stale and damp, like old mushrooms. Worse, there was a chamber pot in the corner. She'd have to use it, with a boy in the cell, she had to get out of here! How had the other girl coped?

Hinamori pulled at the metal collar, and tried to summon enough reiatsu to break it with Kido. Even what little she had was beyond her reach, it slipped through her grasp like quicksilver. Feeling at it, she recognized it as a collar from a Seireitei military prison. How had these people gotten their hands on these?

'It's no use,' said the girl sadly, 'They seal our power, we can't take them off. And they're so uncomfortable.'

'Sorry, I don't know your names,' Hinamori said, softening her voice so that it didn't echo.

'Oh, I'm Inoue Orihime. And this is Ishida Uryu-kun.'

'Well, Inoue-chan, Ishida-san, what happened? What are we doing here?'

'You don't remember?' said Uryu, raising an eyebrow.

It was coming back now, the tussle in the streets of Rukongai. Waking up in a dark room with a black-cloaked man that told her he was here to help her bring down Kurosaki-taicho. She'd refused, she still didn't like captain Aizen's killer, but after their time in Hueco Mundo she found she was beginning to respect him. The man hadn't been impressed. Then, nothing. Wait, these people were Kurosaki-taicho's comrades, they'd supported him in both the invasion of Soul Society and Hueco Mundo.

'You're Kurosaki-taicho's friends,' she said.

'No I'm not,' Uryu snapped.

'Yes we are, go on Hinamori-chan,' said Orihime with an indulgent smile.

'I think something terrible is about to happen, I think that these people are going to attack Soul Society!'

Uryu sighed, 'That would have been news, a day ago.'

For the next hour Hinamori listened with growing horror to what the two of them knew, all the while terrified that something had happened to Hitsugaya-kun, and somehow knowing that something had. Yet he was alive, she was sure of it, though she wasn't sure how.

'You were the test subject for their most malicious weapon,' said Urya, 'A poison that damages the person who ingests it as soon as they expend spiritual energy. There is no cure for it either.'

'But… how come I'm not dead then?' said Hinamori, confused.

'Because of Inoue-san's power. She reversed its effects on you. The Prima Kreis allowed it just to prove that her ability could undo the damage. Naturally this means that she is the only one who can restore the afflicted captains.'

'Then why haven't they killed her yet… Sorry, but that seems to be the most logical thing to do,' she said, shooting an apologetic glance at Orihime.

'It would be logical, yes. But they want to lure Gotei thirteen here to destroy them, Inoue-san here is bait. They can't kill her and pretend like she's alive when she isn't, because Kurosaki and Kuchiki will probably sense her death, and they know this. They plan to kill her tomorrow, after they've finished off the rest of the Shinigami.'

'But they Gotei thirteen won't come, not immediately, they'll build up their strength first surely.'

Then Uryu told her what Takumo had boasted to him that morning. By the time he was done Hinamori wanted to cry.

x

Kyoraku gazed over the six beds that held the captain-class fighters in critical condition. Three were in one ward, obviously designated for those with just injuries. Hiyori was the only lieutenant in either, and was covered in bandages and unconscious. Kukaku was in a similar condition, but on the other side of the room was Hitsugaya. He was suspended in a tank of some kind of liquid, with an oxygen mask and food tube strapped to his face. Pity mixed with revulsion welled up inside him, he was entirely unrecognizable covered in a reddish-black crust; even his hair had burned off.

That room though only held his attention for a second. Next door was the three poisoned captains, Kensei, Shinji and Kenpachi. Yachiru was sitting by her captain's side, looking uncharacteristically worried. Kenpachi was also covered in bandages, but he was having less spasms of what looked like unbearable pain. None of them could scream, not with tubes in their throats, but he was sure that the hallway would be filled if they could. They had all been restrained, in Kenpachi's case with solid metal chains. Kyoraku also noticed that they were wearing the spiritually restricting collars they normally put on military prisoners.

'The hell…' said Ichigo, who was standing next to him.

'What's happening to them,' said Kyoraku to Unohana.

The six of them from the eighth, eleventh and thirteenth division were there at his order. They had been joined by Byakuya, who was sitting on a bench and looking even less well then yesterday. Two more lieutenants had joined them uninvited, Matsumoto and Hisagi. They had both been at the fourth division checking on their captains, in Matsumoto's case former captain. With all of them standing around Unohana in the narrow corridor, it was quite a crowd.

'I can only give you a theory,' said Unohana, wincing at something. 'It started about an hour ago, their reiatsu started flaring uncontrollably even though they were unconscious. Since they would do further damage to themselves we tried to stop them. In the end only the prison collars worked, they won't be good for them but the alternative is much worse. Soon after the seizures began, and no amount of medication will make them stop.'

'How come Zaraki-taicho isn't doing it as much as the other two?' said Rukia, pointing.

'Because he received a partial healing from Orihime-chan, it removed a lot of the poison from his system, and undid some of the damage.' She gritted her teeth, her face paling.

'Wait,' said Kyoraku, horror in his eyes as he put two and two together, 'If we're restraining their remaining spiritual power, and we can't stop their convulsions, then that means-'

'Yes.'

'What am I missing?' said Ikkaku, scratching his bald head.

Yumichika, the acting lieutenant of the eleventh with Yachiru refusing to move from Kenpachi's side, sighed. 'It's obvious, Ikkaku, they'll use up all their physical energy and die.'

'You mean, taicho is going to die?' said Hisagi, his eyes shocked.

'What, no way!' said Ichigo, 'We have to do something.'

'Uh,' said Unohana, now in obvious pain. She sat down next to Byakuya. 'We're putting glucose into their blood, and are trying to feed them, but one of the after-effects of the poison we hadn't foreseen-'

'It's now hard for them to absorb it,' Kyoraku realized aloud. 'This was all planned. And I'm assuming it's affecting you and Byakuya-kun too, just to a lesser extent.' The way they were acting made it obvious.

She nodded, 'We're safe, don't worry about us. Kenpachi has inhuman vitality, and since it's not as bad for him I could certainly keep him alive for three more days. As for the other two, they're strong, so I'd give them about twenty-four hours to live. Eighteen if it worsens, as I predict it will. But to be safe, I'd say we need to get them help within twelve hours.'

'Twelve hours!' Rukia was shocked, 'You mean we have to rescue Inoue before then?'

'Earlier, you still need to bring her back.'

'Crap, then there's no time to waste,' Ichigo declared.

'Hold on,' said Kyoraku, 'Wait just a moment. For a start, we don't know where their base of operations is. Secondly, even if we did, they want us to attack. This second-phase of the poison is proof, they were planning to destroy us in two major battles.'

'You mean we should just let them die?' said Ichigo incredulously, gesturing in the afflicted captains direction.

'We played into their hands last time, we shouldn't do it again.'

'You're a fucking monster!'

'Do you think Shunsui likes doing this?' Nanao snapped, 'He's got to make decisions that determine the life or death of others. And ultimately of Soul Society. If we wait a few days, yes and let them die, then we can have Kukaku and Hiyori at full health to support us. And we need all the strength we can get now.'

'Ichigo,' Rukia said, casting a worried glance at him.

He visibly cooled down. 'Alright, I understand your logic. But I'll be damned if I wait. Captain-commander or not, I'm going as soon as I know where they are. I'm not gonna let them die.'

'You know that's rebellion,' said Nanao, 'Going against the captain-commander's orders in a time of war is punishable by death.'

'I-don't-care.'

'We're with you, Ichigo,' said Ikkaku, 'All the way.'

'And me,' said Hisagi.

'The seventh division is with you,' said Matsumoto, 'I know Abarai-taicho would agree, if he were here.'

'You're a fool, Kurosaki Ichigo,' said Byakuya from the bench, then he gave a rare hint of a smile, 'But a good fool. This once I will support you.'

'This such a beautiful moment,' said Yumichika, flicking his hair back.

Ichigo turned to the acting captain of the tenth division, 'And you, Rukia?'

Rukia smiled, 'I'm behind you, Ichigo, like I always have been. And always will.'

Shiba Ganju chose that moment to burst through into the corridor, announcing, 'We've found them, the Rache, we've found their castle.'

'Castle?' said Hisagi.

Kyoraku closed his eyes slowly.

'Just so you know, I support him too,' said Unohana conversationally.

Kyoraku had no choice. The weight that had been on his heart though had lifted. They might not be doing the intelligent thing, but they were doing the right one. 'Alright, we'll do this. But we have to do it properly, no mistakes, no one acting independently.' He looked pointedly at Ichigo. 'Ganju-kun, please tell me all that you know.'

And in the corridor of the medical centre, they began to formulate a plan of attack.

x

Mack, Quack, Pack, Stack, What do you call the rim of a plate? A Crack.

(Hisagi and Kira are sitting outside the ninth division barracks)

Hisagi: You know, I'm quite popular with the fans. So why haven't I been getting my screen time recently?

Kira: Are you talking about in the Anime, Manga or this story. Cos you're big in the fillers.

Hisagi: Come on, those are lame. No, I want real stuff. Like a chapter in the manga dedicated to my backstory, like they did with Hitsugaya.

Kira: Er, that was only because he won a character poll that should have been topped by Ichigo and Rukia. And they haven't done another one since as a result.

Hisagi: Well, at least in this story I should be given a more prominent role.

Kira: At least you got a minor part in this chapter. What about me? I'm stuck in some sickbed with unspecified injuries, to be cured at the author's convenience.

Hisagi: Yeah. Oy, author, you listening?

(A booming voice comes from the clouds)

Voice: YES

(Hisagi and Kira hug each other, trembling)

Kira: If it's not too much to ask-

Hisagi: Could we please have a little more screen time?

Voice: I WILL THINK ABOUT IT

Hisagi: (letting go of Kira) What's that supposed to mean?

Voice: IT MEANS: I WILL THINK ABOUT IT

Kira: (holding out his arms) Hisagi, aren't you scared anymore.

Hisagi: No, we had your gay bit last time. Listen, author-voice, what if we grovelled, begged and pleaded.

Voice: HMM, IT HAD BETTER BE VERY LOUD AND SINCERE

Hisagi and Kira: (prostrated on the floor) Please, please, give us more important-

Voice: LOUDER!

Hisagi and Kira: PLEASE, PLEASE-

(Far away in the material world, in the Urahara Shokan, which in this story has been converted into a twelfth division base)

Ururu: Jinta-kun, you shouldn't be playing with Kisuke-san's inventions.

Jinta: (into the microphone) LOUDER!

x

A/N: Don't forget to review!