Counterattack
Mayuri Kurotsuchi had left the Gotei 13 behind. He found his affairs too limit when confined to the Soul Society, hence why he moved out here to the World of the Living. Now without the hierarchy of the Gotei 13 to bound him, the world was his for the taking. Soul Society, Hueco Muendo, the World of the Living and others he'd never have known about before were right at his fingertips.
And the last thing he'd ever expected was to be brought back into another comflict.
Looking out his front door he saw dozens of Soul Reapers, high ranking officers and low members alike. His stare did not require any words as he turned to Rangiku. She was standing right before him, hands crossed over each other.
"Please." She pleaded. "We have nowhere else to go." Despite his better judgment Mayuri stepped aside and allowed them passage inside. He watched as one walked in after the other, each looking worse than the last. Once a mighty order than once command a presence throughout all the Soul Society and the world of the living. Now they were reduced to so few numbers that they could fit into a living room.
Shunsui Kyoraku was laid on his back as Ukitake helped address his wounds. Both Captain and Lieutenant of Squad Two were present while Squad Three was entirely vacant. The only survivors of Squad Four were Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu, Third Seat Yasochika Lemura and Hanataro Yamamada. The three keeping themselves busy by treating whoever they could with what skill they had had between them, even Nemu helped where she could. But even between the four of them they could do little to heal these extreme wounds. If Unohana had been there she'd have been able to heal them all no problem, but she wasn't.
Captain Matsuri Kudo and a few unseated officers of Squad Five. Captain Kuchiki of Squad Six managed to save his Lieutenant, and top seven seated officers. It was the greatest number of survivors from any Division. Captain Kommamura and Lieutenant Iba from Squad Seven.
Chojiro Sasakibe had been Captain of Squad Eight when he died, leaving Rangiku as their only survivor. Shuhei along with his Lieutenant Shusuke Amagai and Third Seat Koga Kuchiki from Squad Nine. Captain Gosuke Kiganjo and Lieutenant Yoruichi Shiouhin from Squad Ten. Kenpachi along with his Third Seat Ikkaku and unseated member Fujimaru Kudo of Squad Eleven. Squad Twelve's souls survivor was Ran Tao. And aside from Captian Ukitake only Rukia Kuchiki and Ryunosike Yuki.
Soifon sat with her back against the wall clutching at the bleeding wound she had on her side.
The former Captain of Squad Twelve looked them all over. Never in all his life had he expected to see so much death in one place.
"What happened?"Mayuri outright asked. But everyone stayed silent, expecting another to answer.
"Quincy."
"And where is your mighty Head-Captain?" He asked. Rangiku turned her head and pointed over her shoulder. Mayuri followed her finger until his eyes came upon Shunsui Kyoraku. Needless to say it was strange to see. But a lot had happened in the Soul Society the passed few days.
"Where is Hitsuguya?" he asked turning back to her.
"He's dead?" Mayuri questioned in almost disbelief.
"Dead." Kiganjo spoke." Or at least he was." Mayuri looked at him strangely.
"One cannot be both dead and alive at the same time." He said matter of factly." Explain." But Kiganjo knew very little and simply sat back, so instead Rangiku spoke up.
"He was under some kind of mind control." She told." But he…. They had to kill him first." The former Captain sat back in his chair, running his hand along his chin.
"Hm." He said softly." Interesting."
"Interesting?" Soifon questioned as she jumped to her feet." We've been beaten out of the Soul Society. Our organization destroyed and you call that interesting?!"
"Yes I do." He replied with a small smile. Soifon looked about ready to jump across the room and beat him half to death. But she stopped as Mayuri stood up and began pacing about." Quincy back in force." He muttered aloud but mostly to himself." Enough force to bring down the Gotei 13, two Head-Captains included. Yes." He said with a hiss as he turned and faced all of them." This is very interesting indeed. So interesting I'd like to see it for myself."
"What are you saying?" questioned Kiganjo.
"I." He hissed as he brought his hands up to his chest." Have a plan. And" He said as he reached inside his jacket." A trick or two up my sleeves." He snickered. Noone else seemed to find it very interesting or funny." Although I suppose it looks bad, the Gotei 13 asking an outsider to help with their affairs."
Finally Shunsui spoke up, pushing himself to sit upright with the help of Ukitake.
"I think we're passed the ordinary at this point." He said. He stopped to take in a few hushed, deep breaths." But if it's necessary." He pointed a finger at Mayuri." Mayuri Kurotsuchi I name you Captain of Squad Twelve."
"Oh." Mayuri said fanning himself." I'm so happy. I think I'm going to cry."
The once mighty lands of the Gotei 13 now belonged to the Quincy. The great building that once was the Squad One Barracks had nearly been destroyed, blown in two by the battle of Ywach and Shunsui.
The dead still remained, littered in the streets while the surviving Quincy patrolled the area. Ad Ywach's new favorite pet Toshiro stood vigilant as he scanned one are to the next. But all was quiet, and undeserving of his attention.
But in one brief second everything went from quiet to noisy. The building Toshiro had perched himself on was suddenly destroyed and he lay at the pile of rubble at the bottom. And keeping him pressed to the ground was a giant metal arm. But it seemed to cause him only slight discomfort.
Toshiro slowly pressed his hand against the metal arm. And with little effort at all began to push against it, getting back to his feet as he did so. Then with one light toss he pushed the arm away completely, watching it disappear into the air. But that was the least of his concerns now.
Standing on his feet Toshiro looked out to see himself surrounded by what remained of the power of the Gotei 13. Soifon, Matsuri, Byakuya, Sajin, Shuhei, Kigano, Yoruichi, Kenpachi and of course Rangiku. But even together it would take all of them to bring him down.
Toshiro reached back and prepared to draw his sword. They certainly couldn't let that happen.
But when his sword was halfway out of it's sheath Soifon appeared on his right, swinging out her leg. Toshiro casually raised his arm and blocked. At the same time Yoruichi went blow and tried to kick Toshiro's legs out from under him. But he simply grabbed Soifon by her leg to send her crashing into Youcihi.
Kiganjo came at him next, the brace knuckles of his shikai already on his fists. He jabbed with his left, only for Toshiro to duck aside. Then he swung with the right only to be ducked under again. And when Toshiro came back up he punched Kiganjo in his belly and followed up with an uppercut to the chin.
Now Kenpachi came swinging wildly from behind. Toshiro stepped away from him, forcing Kenpachi to hit the ground instead. Now between both Kenpachi and Kiganjo, Toshiro jumped into the air and kicked out both legs, striking them in the face.
"We can help you Toshiro." Matsuri pleaded. But her calls only attracted his attention as he turned and swung Hyorinmaru at her. She put up her own and block, but then Toshiro kicked up his leg and knocked her back. Just in time too as he turned his attention over to Byakuya.
Toshiro put all his strength behind his sword and knocked him back. But now he realized something else, he was caught in the middle again. Byakuya was on his left and Rangiku his right.
"Scatter senbonzakura." Byakuya commanded.
"Growl Haineko!" Rangiku yelled. Their blades turned into a wave of ash and pink pedals, surrounding the Head-Captain. Their blades continued to swirl together, growing higher and higher. Until suddenly with one simple swing of his sword Toshiro unleashed a gust of cold wind to fan the ash and pedals away.
Byakuya jumped back and out of harm's way so Toshiro turned his attention to the next closest thing, Rangiku.
With another swing of his sword he sent another gust of ice her way. Rangiku raised her sword and the ash appeared, destroying the ice before it could reach her.
Toshiro prepared to continue his attack but the giant sword of Tenken came crashing down. But in one simple move Toshiro raised his sword over his head and blocked it. And his blade did not move even an inch no matter how much pressure or power Sajin put into it.
With one move Toshiro pushed all the weight off his sword and then with the next turned and unleashed a wave of ice at the giant. Sajin put up his arm to cover his face but the shards of ice buried through his armor and into his skin still.
Toshiro stood, ready to make another attack.
"Well look what we have here." Hissed a voice. Toshiro turned around to see Mayuri Kurotisuchi." Hello Head-Captain." He greeted." Been a while." Toshiro said nothing." But you've seen to have made yourself busy." He glanced around at the toppled buildings and dead bodies." A little redecorating?" He snickered although he was the only to do so. So far Toshiro had remained motionless, standing still and silent as Mayuri prattled on."You must still have some resentment towards him." Mayuri continued. Toshiro was still silent." I was never very nice to you, I'm sure you must remember." Silent still. Mayuri clicked his tongue inside his mouth as his smile grew." Little Captain" He said the long-lost nickname.
Whether driven by Ywach's orders or his own lust for blood Toshiro raced forward, much to Mayuri's pleasure. He jumped forward and swung down Hyorinmaru, only to be blocked by Ashisogi Jizō. But Toshiro stepped forward, with another swing.
"AHA!" Mayuri exclaimed with another block. Toshiro stepped forward and their blades clashed once more, but this time something else happened. As he looked his enemy dead in the face, Mayuri opened his mouth wide and spit something at him. But it was not wet saliva but a thick, musty thing almost like dust. He rubbed the substance out of his eyes and looked up to see Mayuri before him." Is that all you've got?" he asked as he snapped his head to the right, making it crack as he did so.
Toshiro lunged forward and raised his sword into the air. By the time Mayuri was even aware of it, Toshiro had already slashed down Hyorinmaru cutting the Captain of Squad Twelve into two pieces. Finished with his foe he turned and walked away. But then he noticed something, he didn't hear the crash of his body on the ground.
He slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder. To his great surprise there was Mayuri, standing real as day unharmed.
"Like I said." Mayuri repeated." Is that all you've got?"
Once again Toshiro plunged forward, faster this time. So fast he moved past Mayuri's guard entierly and buried Hyorinmaru hilt deep into Mayuri's chest. He picked up his head to watch Mayuri's, which was only inches from his own. His eyes twitched and rolled behind his head.
He ripped Hyorinmaru form his chest and waited this time to see him collapse. When the body did not move for several moments he turned. But then he turned only to see Mayuri before him once more.
"Singing in the rain." Mayuri hummed as he jumped onto a nearby post, grabbing it with one hand and then twirling himself around on it." I'm singing in the rain." He turned now to face Toshiro with a bright, yellow smile.
Now it was time to call out the big guns. Toshiro raised Hyorinmaru and with a silent command unleashed it. Swinging his sword forward he shot the Ice dragon at Mayuri. The speed and strength of it too much, it quickly overwhelmed Mayuri and pinned him to the wall.
But no sooner had he seem him overwhelmed than did Mayuri appear on his right, this time slashing down with his sword. Even though they were right on top of each other Toshiro still managed to jump aside, missing the blade. Confused he looked up to him still standing there.
"Come on." Mayuri said." Come and get me." Toshiro held his free hand back, forming ice around it with a sharp point. At Mayuri's call he lunged forward and stabbed it right through his head.
"What's the matter?" He heard the voice hiss. Angered Toshiro turned to see Mayuri still there." Too faggoty to come get me?" Now with both hands on his sword Toshiro swung, not shooting a dragon from his blade but an entire gust of ice and snow. Enough to blast across the Soul Society. The other Captains had jumped away but Mayuri stood perfectly still. But he was somehow still there!
"This is really getting to be a poor show." Mayuri commented.
Toshiro dashed forward and jabbed Hyorinmaru into Mayuri's chest, lifting him into the air so he could fell the blood trickle down his arm. Then Toshiro turned and tossed Mayuri to the ground. And when he looked up the last thing he saw was Toshiro's foot coming down on his head. The scientist made no move to defend himself.
"I'm getting rather bored of this." Mayuri hissed in his ear.
Toshiro used Hado #31 to blow off his head, but when he turned around found Mayuri standing there his head still on his shoulders. He saw the Ice Dragon devour him in it's mouth, crushing him to piece but then he appeared still intact. And now with his bare hands he reached forward wrapping them around Mayuri's neck and with one quick jerk, snapped it clean off.
Yet some way, somehow Mayuri just kept coming back. Why wouldn't he die?! But it seemed after this quick back and forth he was finally ready to speak. He sheathed his sword.
"I would have thought you'd be different." He hissed." Even as a puppet I would have thought you'd still had access to your old memories." Toshiro turned to face him now, gripping his sword tighter." I am always one step ahead." Mayuri repeated. Toshiro took no notice and prepared to lunge forward. But it was when he took that step, that something happened. He couldn't feel his body. His arms, his legs, everything had gone numb. He made a silent moan of discomfort as he tried to step forward but only succeeded into falling flat on his face. "If you're curious about what's going on allow me to explain." Mayuri said." There was a purpose to that drug I gave you before." He took a step forward." It was activated, every time you killed me. And after the tenth time, something happens." The smile reappeared on his face and he pointed a long, white finger at the Head-Captain." In case you are keeping track, this was number ten." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a needles." Now comes the fun part." Without another word Mayuri swung his arm down and plunged the needle into Toshiro's neck.
The other Captains rose up from their places, and huddled around to see what would happen next. Toshiro began to foam at the mouth as his body began to shake violently.
"What's happening to him?!" Rangiku shrieked. She turned to Mayuri who had a relatively calm look on his face.
"The only way for the process to work is to undo what's already been done." The look on her face didn't change, he'd have to simplify his answer." In short he has to die again."
"DIE!" she cried turning back to Toshiro." NO! He can't he's-" Mayuri put his index finger on her chin and raised it up she could view him.
"Relax." He hissed." It's going to be like old times again." Despite his calmness Rangiku was still concerned. Toshiro's skin was still dark, his eyes white and rolled in the back of his head. And his body continued to shake and tremble with no sign of stopping.
But then suddenly his body stopped moving. Rangiku turned and look at his face. She watched as his skin began to turn brighter, to it's normal color. And lastly two big, beautiful blue eyes appeared.
She leaned forward putting one hand on his chest, so she could lean over his face. She wanted to be the first thing she saw.
"Toshiro?" she said. His eyes shifted slightly to view her better. But he said nothing.
"I know your face." Toshiro finally said breaking the long silence. Overjoyed and with tears in her eyes Rangiku lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him. The touch seemed almost unreal to him. As if he had gone from a cold dark place into the warm light of the sun.
The Captains around them shared in the joy, clapping their hands and cheering. Finally Rangiku let go and Toshiro was helped to his feet. It was now that he got a good view of everyone, and saw several missing persons.
"Where is everyone?" Toshiro asked looking to them." Kyoraku, Ukitake!" He called. But there was no response." Shunsui!, Jushiro!" he called louder this time." Unohana!"
"Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake are still in the world of the living." Rangiku said stepping forward." Still healing up." Toshiro raised a curious eyebrow at her." Captain Unohana is dead."
"How?" Toshiro asked sternly. Eyes shifted between everyone else. Nobody seemed ready to answer." How?" Toshiro asked again.
"By you." Rangiku responded. The answer clearly took him by surprise. He remembered a recent nightmare where he fought Unohana. Fought and killed. But such a thing couldn't have been real, no matter how real it felt.
"Chojiro?" Toshiro asked. Rangiku simply nodded her head." Did I-" Toshiro began pointing to himself but he was stopped by Rangiku.
"No." she shook her head, tears of sorrow now building in her eyes. Toshiro turned and looked around at the others. If there were any not there he assumed the worst.
"Who else?" He asked.
"Everyone." Rangiku told." We're all that's left." He had assumed right, this was the worst.
Toshiro Hitsuguya the 2nd Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, successor to Genruysai Yamamoto the founder of the order. Yamamoto was no doubt rolling over in his grave. They should instead call Toshiro "The Head-Captain that failed". Though he doubted there would be a history of Soul Reapers to hear about it.
But Mayuri wasn't the only one to make a great discovery.
They were suddenly distracted by another sound. The sound of raised voices. Lookinh over they saw Sternritter N Robert Accutrone on his knees. Standing over him was Ikkaku Madarame, Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon, and Fujimaru Kudo.
"Please, please, mercy." Robert pleaded.
"You want mercy!" Ikkaku yelled." You do not deserve mercy!" He swung his first forward and punched Robert to the ground.
"No wait!" Lieutenant Shihouin yelled reaching out and grabbing his superior's arm." He can help us!"
"Help us?!" Ikkaku yelled." He can DIE for us!" He turned and raised Houzukimaru, but when he try to swing it down he found he couldn't. It was being held back by some force. Turning back Ikkaku saw Toshiro standing there." Head-Captain!" He exclaimed jumping back.
But Toshiro paid him little mind as he took a step closer to Robert. The Sternritter kept his eyes glued to the ground. Until Toshiro knelt down before him, forcing their eyes to meet.
"Where is your Master?" He asked. Robert shivered. The idea of betraying his leader pained him, but the idea of living felt better.
"The…The Soul Palace." He told." He took the rest of the Sternritter and went there. I-I was told to stay back and guard until his return." Toshiro said nothing but rose to his feet. His eyes went to the sky where far off in the distance he could see the Soul Palace, home to the Soul King and the Zero Squad.
"Head-Captain?" Ikkaku questioned getting Toshiro's attention." What should we do with the Quincy?" Toshiro was silent for a moment. Despite the brutality of the last few days Toshiro was now presented with the opportunity to change it. To spare the life of an enemy, to show some light in these dark days. To truly be a leader worth following or a blood-lusted killer.
"Kill him." He answered. Without another word Ikkaku turned and plunged Houzukimaru into Robert's throat while Iba slashed his blade into his stomach. Nobody seemed to disagree, except one.
"No!" Yushiro let out." There's no honor in this." Byakuya reached out his hand and kept him in his place, stopping him from doing something stupid." Captain please." He said turning to him." This is not war, this is murder!"
Toshiro ignored him and turned his attention back to the sky and the Soul Palace.