A/N: Happy new year everyone!

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The Heir Apparent
Chapter 41: Into the Mouth of the Beast

Although the shinigami were quick to respond to the mustering call, inevitably it took a while to organize that many people. Especially with so many dead and missing, trying to separate those from cowards who'd hidden in Seireitei rather than fight took forever. It was enough to make the officers want to pull out their hair in frustration, especially since there were far fewer of them now.

There was one piece of good news, Kira and Iba had recovered from their wounds overnight and had returned to lead their respective divisions. A good thing since their captains, Kuchiki Byakuya and Shiba Kukaku respectively, would not be taking part in today's hostilities. Byakuya had wanted to lead his division, but Kyoraku had refused flatly, and had Unohana declare him an invalid. The noble captain had been coldly furious, and swore to take part anyway. So Kyoraku had him placed under lock and key, with Unohana holding onto said key.

Ichigo put that out of his mind, he had enough problems of his own to deal with. With Rukia gone he'd been forced to promote Kiyone, and so far she was proving less than able. That was putting it kindly. Most of the time she seemed terrified someone was going to contradict her. Whenever she had a free second she would stare into space and lose herself in her own world, until somebody (generally him) forced her to pay attention.

As a result, Ichigo had to do all the higher level leading himself. He'd never called his whole division to assemble before and wasn't exactly sure what to do, so most of the time he was improvising. That seemed to be what the more experienced officers were doing anyway though, they'd never been in a situation quite like this one. The only way Ichigo knew for large numbers of people to be organized was what they'd done at his school, when the teachers had assembled the classes. So, with that in mind, he ordered them all into lines with officers at the head of each, and had them march to the designated gate.

He met Rukia as they were approaching it, at the head of the single column of the tenth division. She had officers at the front and back, checking for stragglers, and they were keeping a much better pace then his men. She took one look at his setup and snorted, whether in derision or amusement he could not tell.

'Ichigo, this is not high school,' she said.

He reddened, 'Well how was I supposed to know how it was done? Nobody told me.'

Rukia glanced at Kiyone, then shook her head. The girl was staring off into space again. 'I see your point. Stay close to me and I'll show you.'

'Should I copy your division now?'

'Too late, we're nearly at the gate. This is the way it's done in friendly territory, it changes in hostile, naturally.'

The tenth and thirteenth division shinigami looked a bit uneasy at having to march parallel to each other. They had no history of association, due to their very different leaders, and generally steered clear of each other whenever possible. But when they met the other divisions near to the gate it became obvious that they weren't the only ones with an unusual connection. The eighth and first were also lined up side by side, as were the third and eleventh under Iba and Ikkaku, and the sixth and ninth with Kira and Hisagi. Those leading them, while they might not be showing any physical signs of fear; were afraid, Ichigo realised, and were seeking affirmation by lining up next to their friends. Then again he was doing the same with Rukia.

The fifth division and about half the fourth were both being led by lieutenant Isane, though she did have the blond third seat helping her. Captain Unohana was staying behind with the other half to deal with the many patients. Ichigo had no doubt that the medics that they had brought would be overworked before the day was over.

Seeing Kyoraku, Ichigo told his division follow Rukia's lead and flash-stepped the short distance to the head of the first division. 'Shunsui, I need a word with you.'

'Sure, Ichigo,' he said, holding up his hand to Nanao, who had opened her mouth angrily.

They moved out of earshot of the others, and Ichigo took a breath to speak. Kyoraku though beat him to the mark, 'Ichigo, call be me by my first name all you want when we're alone, or among friends. But in the future, please refer to me as Kyoraku-soutaicho in front of the men. We can't set an example of bad discipline, especially now when we need it most.'

'Um, okay,' said Ichigo, trying not to show his discomfort at the dressing down.

'Now, what was it that you wanted to say?'

It took a moment for him to recover his momentum after the wind had been knocked out of his sails. 'Er, I just noticed that with us moving out all our forces, Seireitei is basically undefended. And they could still have hell butterflies to let more of their men in. If they could overpower Unohana-san and Byakuya, they could easily slaughter all our wounded.'

Kyoraku slapped his forehead in exaggerated surprise, 'Goodness me, I never thought of that!'

Ichigo scowled, 'Don't do that, just explain what you're thinking.'

The flamboyant captain grinned, 'It's simple really. For them to beat even two weakened captains would require considerable resources on their part. They'll need to use all they have to beat us, even fighting a defensive battle. Their retreat during the raid, when they had all the advantages, proves it. So an attack here while we're away would be one of spite, if they knew they were going to lose. And they're banking on annihilating us today.'

'How can you be so sure?'

'Simple, I've studied their actions. And I'm certain they meant for us to find their base of operations when we did.'

'But by your logic, wouldn't that mean that they have a good chance of winning today,' said Ichigo, scratching his head, 'I mean, we've only known of their existence since yesterday, they've been observing us for years, decades; centuries even. They'd know better than us.'

'They almost certainly have set a trap,' said Kyoraku, 'And they've had a long time to plan it. But the first step to springing any trap is knowing that it exists.'

Yet they had no idea what to look out for. He realized now what a dangerous path he'd set them on, but waiting for the sick captains to die was unthinkable. 'Okay, forget I said anything, Shunsui,' he said.

'Anytime, Ichigo. And I mean that, you're my right-hand man now. And I hope that you will be after we win too, I'll need good captains supporting me when we reorganize.'

Win, now that was a good thought, if somewhat foreign at the moment. It was a new concept for him though, agreeing to play second fiddle to someone else. 'What about your Nanao-chan?' he said.

'She's a part of me, a part I can't live without,' said Kyoraku with a smile, 'Just as Rukia is a part of you.'

'We didn't do anything last night!'

'I didn't say anything.'

'You implied.'

'Did I?'

'Yeah.'

'Whatever you say.'

'So does that mean that you and Nanao-'

'Hmph, not telling.'

'Okay,' said Ichigo, the light banter making him feel better for some reason. 'Sorry I've been on your case so much recently. You've done a better job than anyone else could have.'

'Except old-man Yama,' said Kyoraku, looking suddenly distant.

'Even him,' said Ichigo stubbornly, but something in the other man's eyes told him not to pursue that line of conversation.

'Ichigo, I need a favour from you,' said Kyoraku after a moment's silence.

'Um, okay, depends-'

'I want you to be the captain-commander if things turn out like I think they will.'

Ichigo was flabbergasted, just a moment ago he'd been talking about them winning. 'Wh- What are you saying Shunsui?'

'I caused this, Ichigo. I am the reason why the Rache want to destroy us, why they exist at all. If I had been stronger, and not responded to the provocation, the Quincy's would have never been exterminated. If I had supported the extermination from the beginning it would have been quick and methodical, with no survivors to cause this. It's all coming full circle now, and it will finish with my death.'

Ichigo took a moment, closed his eyes, inhaled, and opened them again. Then he roundhouse kicked Kyoraku on the head, sending him sprawling to the ground.

'Ow,' said the older man, looking more stunned by the fact that he'd been hit than the physical force. 'What was that for?'

'You were spouting shit. It seems to work with Keigo.'

'Who?'

'Never mind.' Ichigo crouched down beside his friend. 'Listen, Shunsui, you're an idiot if you think that's going to happen to you. There's no way any of this has been preordained, so the only way it will is if you believe that. Don't you get it, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. This type of foolish talk will get you killed.' He paused for effect, and pointed a thumb to himself, 'I can't be the soutaicho anyway, I'm the heir apparent of Soul Society. If my old man ever bites it I'll have to take his place. So would you rather be having this conversation with Ikkaku, you think he'd make a good choice? Or better yet, Rukia and Nanao. They'll sure straighten you out.'

'I suppose,' said Kyoraku, looking thoroughly abashed.

'You're a fool, you know that? Don't you think that people would miss you if you got yourself killed? I would, Rukia would, your division certainly would. And how would Nanao feel, huh? Don't you dare be so damn selfish.'

Kyoraku took Ichigo's offered hand, and they rose to their feet together. Instead of letting go, he gripped it firmly, though he was having difficulty meeting his eyes. 'Alright, I won't, I'll win,' he said.

'Don't tell me, tell that bastard Bismark when you cut out his black heart.'

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The march to the Rache's fortress was uneventful, but highly tense. The Shinigami merged into three great columns and marched in formation, the captains and temporary captains in front with most of the officers. The second division formed the scouts and flankers up to two kilometres away, making an ambush all but impossible. The medics came up the back with a small vanguard of officers. They were expecting an attack at any moment, one which never came.

Kyoraku was naturally in command of his column, the other two he'd delegated to Ichigo and Ikkaku. He wasn't sure if the latter was the best choice, but he didn't really have too many alternatives. To promote one of the lieutenants above the others would cause bad feeling, and while Ikkaku was technically a third-seat it was well known by now that he had achieved Bankai. Fortunately he wasn't required to exert his command skills before they arrived.

The columns converged in front of the fortress. 'Alright, spread out everyone,' he ordered loudly, 'I want this place encircled from a kilometer away, we'll close in from there.' That was to clear any obstacles that had undoubtedly been set for their assault. 'Core team, you're with me.' That was Ichigo, Rukia and Ikkaku, the only remaining Bankai users. They had to stay out of the fighting until the Prima Kreis attacked. The lieutenants meanwhile had the difficult task of coordinating the attack by themselves.

Fifteen minutes later they had formed a loose battle line all the way around and were advancing slowly, blasting the undergrowth away with Kido as they went. There was no point in being stealthy, such a large movement could hardly have escaped even an ignorant enemies attention. Destroying the trees and such was to clear an open area for fighting, and break any traps that may be set there.

Through the thickening smoke Kyoraku could see the massive castle, the stronghold of the Rache. The building style was reminiscent of medieval castles with its towers and battlements, but that was where the resemblance ended. The battlements were triangular teeth, the towers layered with what looked like razor-sharp blades running down their sides, and had rings of spines near the top. It loomed above them, with its jagged edges and blood red stone, like an immense altar to war and bloodshed. He wondered briefly how they'd managed to keep it a secret, even though they were well outside the limits of the outermost districts where few lived it couldn't have been easy.

It was a structure to inspire fear, that much was obvious. While the mortal architecture might serve as a useful defensive weapon, it was useless here. The Shinigami could easily scale those walls, and even bash them down if necessary. Though that would most likely be difficult, he doubted the Rache had congregated in a place that could be brought down around them. Even still, it seemed strange for them to choose to fight in a confined area. Sure, they'd have traps prepared, but a close assault battle favoured the Shinigami more. Rache, who used mostly Quincy powers, would be far better suited to open combat. What were they thinking?

Unfortunately they had no more time for reconnaissance, for at that moment the Rache on the walls opened fire upon the Shinigami who were clearing the forest. Their accuracy was low, as he had predicted, due to the copious amounts of smoke, but enough arrows were shot that there were casualties. Through the storm of fire the Shinigami stepped up their spell casting, and cleared the last of the forest around the castle.

'That's strange,' he said, 'No traps have been sprung.'

'Maybe they forgot,' Ikkaku shrugged.

'Best to assume that our enemy is a genius, and will do everything that we fear and more,' said Rukia, 'That way any mistakes they make will be a welcome surprise, but we don't rely on them.'

'Then, what the hell are they thinking?' said Ichigo.

'We'll just have to find out,' said Kyoraku, and called to his partner, 'Order the assault, Nanao-chan.' Then he remembered with a grimace that he should be referring to her now as Ise-taicho.

'Hai,' she said, giving him a dark look before turning back and barking new orders. At once the Shinigami sprung into action.

Because they were in Rukongai, where the spirit particles weren't so dense as Seireitei, it was possible to solidify the air under ones feet and walk on it. It was still more difficult than in the material world though, and only the stronger Shinigami could do it effectively. The ones that could immediately started stepping up higher and higher, some carrying one or two weaker companions. Kyoraku even saw one officer going up with four, two on his arms, one on his back and one on his front.

Meanwhile the twelth division had brought out their assault equipment. Short ladders which at the touch of a button would extend to almost any length, catapults that sent Shinigami flying over the walls, and vaulting poles that did much the same thing. Also a number of flying appliances, similar to the Shihoin heirlooms, though these copies wouldn't work in Seireitei. The Rache responded with devastatingly accurate volleys, and the Shinigami fell in scores. Kyoraku saw an officer and the two men he'd been carrying be impaled by a single shot.

Nevertheless, the assault was too quick for the defense to hold, and in seconds they were fighting on the walls. On the gateway towers though the Shinigami were being decisively beaten, and Kyoraku could feel a familiar, smoldering reitsu emit from there.

'It's Ajmer Khaan,' he announced, 'And he's recovered fully.' He could beat the man again easily enough, but he needed to wait until Bismark revealed himself. So he turned to Rukia and Ikkaku, 'One of you must face him.'

'I want that trickster that got my captain,' said Ikkaku, referring to Marx.

'Then I guess it's up to me,' said Rukia with a sigh. She turned to Ichigo. 'You take care of yourself, captain.'

'And you, acting-captain,' said the tall teen, his jaw set.

Rukia nodded once, and flash-stepped away. Ichigo balled his fists so tightly that his hands went white.

'Relax, Ichigo,' said Kyoraku, 'It'll be your turn soon.'

The words had hardly come out of his mouth when Hisagi flash-stepped to their side. He was holding a limp arm and sporting other minor injuries. 'Sou-taicho, there's a powerful Rache that's totally stalled our assault on the north-eastern wall.'

'What does he look like?' said Ichigo.

'He's got a scar here,' she said, gesturing over his nose.

'That's Takumo, he's mine,' he said, and flash-stepped away without another word.

'He's keen,' said Ikkaku appreciatively.

'Perhaps too keen,' said Kyoraku.

There was an explosion of reitsu in the courtyard of the fortress, one that Kyoraku wasn't familiar with. Ikkaku was though. 'That's me,' he said with a wide grin, and left in a puff of dust and air.

'Now it's just me,' said Kyoraku, to nobody in particular.

The assault continued for a few minutes, and since Ichigo hadn't returned he supposed that it must really have been Ishida Takumo causing trouble. The Lieutenants were now involved in their own battles with the more powerful members of the Rache Kreis. High energy powers danced on the walls, sending ripples and coloured [colored] light into the air. By the escalating pressures from where the rest of his core team was, they were getting into their battles. But Bismark had yet to show himself. Well, if he wouldn't come, he'd go help the others finish quickly, starting with Rukia against Khaan.

Just then he saw what looked like a second sun on one of the towers, it rose into the air until it was hovering over the fortress. Then it shot towards him. He only just had enough time to get out the way before it plowed through the space where he'd been into the ground. The glowing orb dug in about three meters until only the very top was still above ground level. Then it faded, revealing the tall, handsome leader of the Rache. He jumped out of the hole quickly, and Kyoraku could see why, the sides had melted into boiling liquid glass.

'As expected from you, Kyoraku Shunsui, betrayer and destroyer of the Quincy,' said Franz Bismark, 'Most would not have survived that attack.'

Kyoraku's blood boiled, but his tone was light, 'I must admit, that was quite some attack. If I hadn't seen it from Yamamoto Raikawa long ago, I might have died. That's his blade you carry, which marks you as his killer. And that title you gave me, I think we're both worthy of it.'

'You know nothing,' Bismark snarled, the movement exposing fully the scar on his neck he'd had given him so long ago. 'Your Shinigami murdered my father, and then refused to find out who did it.'

'And so you murdered my wife,' said Kyoraku coolly, 'In a strange way, I suppose that makes us even.'

'You destroyed our entire order! There could never be a sufficient punishment for that, but I'll start with destroying your soul.'

'The sad part is that we're still dancing to the tune of a man two hundred years dead,' said Kyoraku, raising his swords which he had drawn while evading Bismarks attack. 'But I see there is no dissuading you. My heart would not be able to rest either, knowing that you still lived.'

Bismark's face contorted in rage, 'How can you be so goddamn calm!' he cried, pushing his great sword into his Quincy cross, 'Light is my strength, shine through the darkness; Herrlicher.'

As his weapons exploded into light, Kyoraku forced spiritual energy into his zanpakutou and said, 'Katen Kyokotsu.'

In that moment, he felt complete for the first time since his wife's death. Somehow he'd always known her killer was still out there, he'd been waiting for this fight without even realizing it. It had manifested itself in bouts of unexplainable tensions that led to binge drinking. There were no duels that he'd anticipated as much, and only one he'd needed as much; the one with Daiken.

The stakes this time were the same: if he lost, his friends would die. Only this time Soul Society would fall too. With that thought in mind he set his resolve, and attacked.

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