• • •
Gasping, I halted midstride. I fumbled from my position on a rooftop, my eyes wide as I stared around.
"What is it, Jun?" My Zanpakuto spirit asked, sensing my unease.
"Chad's reiatsu!" I exclaimed, closing my eyes to try and sense it. "It disappeared! He's in trouble!"
"If they managed to take Chad down… they have to be at least a Fukutaicho or greater!" Ankoku-Tatsu spoke in disbelief.
Nodding, I closed my eyes as I focused closer on his reiatsu's frequency. Each person's was a bit different, that's how you managed to track people down.
"He's still alive..!" I breathed out, feeling as if a weight had been taken off of my shoulders. "His reiatsu is faint, but it's still there. Whoever he was up against, they didn't kill him. He's just severely wounded."
Placing my hand on my Zanpakuto's hilt, my eyes narrowed in the direction of the reiatsu. He was nearby… If my sensing skills weren't too rusty, I'd say he was in the outskirts of Ninth or somewhere in the Eighth.
Either way, I was probably the closest to him. I still had time. I could catch up to them and hopefully save Chad.
Rukia was important, but I didn't plan on letting any of my friends lose their lives. Not on my watch.
"Sorry, Rukia, but it looks like you'll have to wait a bit longer."
• • •
"Kyoraku-Taicho!" Ise Nanao, the Fukutaicho of the Eighth, yelled as she ran down the steps from the second story building she had just been in. "It's an urgent message!"
Coming to a halt, Ise-Fukutaicho adjusted her glasses and the book that she kept tucked under her left arm as she gasped while attempting to regain her breath.
"It's not like you to be so agitated." Kyoraku Shunsui, the Taicho of the Eighth Division, casually said as he lazily crossed his arms. His gray eyes rose from the body of the fallen Ryoka, looking at his Fukutaicho instead. "By the way, did a kid from the Dark Brigade come? What was that about?"
"Aizen-Taicho has… passed away..!"
Kyoraku froze at the news, his muscles turning rigid as his eyes widened.
"The cause of death is severe heart injury and removal of hakusui with a Zanpakuto. It is definitely a homicide. There is no suspect yet…" Ise-Fukutaicho gravely reported. "It was a top priority order under the combined authority of Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni-Sotaicho and Hitsugaya-Taicho. There is no doubt to the report…"
"…Is that so… Then Sosuke-Kun is…" Kyoraku sighed, his hand coming up to tilt his straw hat downwards a bit more. "…In that case, let's go pay him a visit."
"Yes, sir." Ise-Fukutaicho agreed, nodding.
However, the Fukutaicho froze for a second. Her sharp eyes landed on the fallen Ryoka, her glasses flashing as she scrutinized him.
"Is something wrong, Kyoraku-Taicho?" Ise-Fukutaicho questioned. "That Ryoka is still alive."
Kyoraku turned his head towards his Fukutaicho, not looking all too alarmed.
"Shall I… finish him off?" The Fukutaicho questioned, bringing her hand up and letting it glow with a bright white reiatsu; its killing intent could be easily felt.
However, before she could strike, she was struck down.
A blow to the back of her neck knocked her out, causing her body to fall towards the ground, limp and lifeless.
"Well, if it isn't Jun-Kun."
• • •
"You've made it just in time, Jun…" My Zanpakuto comforted, swelling in pride as I effortlessly took down the Fukutaicho who had aimed to kill Chad. I didn't even need to use my Zanpakuto to do it; Ise-Fukutaicho had let her guard down, so I was able to simply knock her out by pressing the pressure point in the back of her neck.
"Well, if it isn't Jun-Kun." Kyoraku-Taicho greeted, the corners of his lips twitching up in a smile even though his Fukutaicho was currently unconscious at my feet. "I certainly wasn't expecting to see you."
"My apologies, Kyoraku-Taicho." I sternly spoke, quickly withdrawing Ankoku-Tatsu as I stood in a defensive position in front of Chad's fallen form. From the corner of my eye I could see that he was bleeding pretty badly from somewhere around his chest… He should be able to hold on for a bit longer.
Although, I wasn't suspecting Kyoraku-Taicho to be the one to take him down. Maybe Ise-Fukutaicho, but not Kyoraku-Taicho. Kyoraku was one of the oldest and strongest of the Taicho's. Not to mention that he was best friends with my Taicho, Ukitake-Taicho.
That's how Kyoraku knew who I was. He'd often stop by Thirteenth to avoid his workaholic Fukutaicho. I'd met him when I stopped to bring tea to Ukitake-Taicho because the two Third Seats were too busy trying to finish their paperwork and outdo each other. Kyoraku had been visiting Ukitake-Taicho, so I met him then.
"My, my. You like getting straight to the point, don't you?" Kyoraku-Taicho asked, grinning down at me as he readjusted the straw hat atop his head. "Why don't we just chat for a bit, eh?"
"Did you do this to Chad?" I questioned, quirking an eyebrow up towards the lazy Taicho. He never really took things seriously, as you can see.
Kyoraku's carefree look faded quickly as he glanced down once more towards the Mexican's fallen body. He was still alive, Kyoraku could tell, but his energy was faint. No wonder I was so on edge; Chad was a very strong individual. I had counted on nobody being able to take him down.
Sighing, the Taicho shook his head a bit. "You've allied yourself with the Ryoka, then?"
"Yes, I have." I answered, steading my Zanpakuto just in case something was to happen. "I can't let Rukia be executed. I'm here to help save her."
"That's what he told me," Kyoraku muttered, crossing his arms as he stared at the sky. "I thought that it was a bit reckless of him to come all this way to save Rukia-Chan. He didn't really know her. And you don't really know him either, do you?"
"I may not know that much about Chad, but he's one of my friends." I said, feeling my eyes narrow as I stared at the Taicho. My grip on my Zanpakuto tightened, turning my knuckles white. "Chad was willing to help even though he didn't really know Rukia. That means a lot to me. Because of that, I promised myself that I wouldn't let any of my friends die here. They deserve better than that; Chad is no exception."
Blinking, Kyoraku chuckled. "You sound like you've really grown up, Jun-Kun. I remember how distant you used to be… One trip to the World of the Living changed you this much?"
My eyes narrowed as I lightly growled. I could feel my anger rising. "I haven't been changed. My walls just started crumbling down."
"Even so, it was those humans who managed to do so, correct?"
"Maybe," I hedged, meekly shrugging my shoulders. "All I know is that they mean a lot to me. I can't just stand by and let them be struck down. I've lost way too many people and I won't let them meet that same fate."
"That's very noble of you." Kyoraku-Taicho nodded, grinning down at me. "If Jushiro were here now, I'd say that even he would be impressed."
Wincing a bit, I gulped. "Please, don't bring up Taicho's name. I know he wouldn't be too happy to hear about everything that's going on. I don't think Ukitake-Taicho would forgive me… Especially now that you, his best friend, stand in my way. I can't just stand aside. I'm guessing you won't either?"
"As much as I would like to, I'm afraid that I can't. Yama-Jii would have my head if I did…" Kyoraku sighed.
I hung my head, regretting having to go up against him. He and my Taicho were probably tied for the strongest Taicho, after the Sotaicho that is. I didn't want to go up against him… I don't even know if I'd be able to do anything to him. He was on a whole different level.
But I had to do it.
He was standing in the way of my goal.
Determination shone on my face, my eyes turning even icier. "Then so be it, Kyoraku-Taicho."
Mumbling the incantation to unleash the seal on my lower back, I concentrated on the blue reiatsu flames that formed on each of my fingertips. When I was finished with the whole incantation, I took a deep breath and thrust my fingers into the seal on my lower back.
The reiatsu flames burned through the material of my Shihakusho, revealing the traditional skull. Lighting up, the seal released; the tribal etchings vanished in black wisps and my reiatsu skyrocketed. Kyoraku's eyes widened at the release of reiatsu, his hands quickly gripping onto the hilts of his Zanpakuto's.
"You've been suppressing your reiatsu this whole time?" The Taicho questioned, eyebrows rising as he slipped his Zanpakuto from their sheaths. Swiftly moving in an offensive position, his tachi sword pointed straight at me while he held his wakizashi pointed towards the sky. "I'd say this can easily match a Taicho's in strength… No wonder Shuhei-Kun and my Nanao-Chan didn't stand a chance against you."
"True," I grinned, pointing Ankoku-Tatsu at the Taicho. "But I still had my seal when I faced both of them. Ise-Fukutaicho just let her guard down. Hisagi-Fukutaicho actually put up a bit of a fight."
Kyoraku chuckled. "Maybe I should release my Zanpakuto against you."
"Maybe you should." I chuckled as well, grinning. "I know I will."
"Do you have Bankai?" He questioned, a serious look in his eyes.
Shaking my head, I dejectedly sighed. "I didn't have enough time to train for it before we invaded. If only I had a few more days… But, I did master my Shikai; I can only hope that it's enough."
"Then I'll only release Shikai as well. Fair is fair." Kyoraku-Taicho grinned.
"That's up to you." I shrugged, before concentrating on my reiatsu. The shadows began to swirl around me, dancing before our very eyes. It was so much easier now that I had access to all of my reiatsu. "Sorera no ue ni kagekyasuto, Ankoku-Tatsu!"
Kyoraku-Taicho watched in interest as the shadows crawled up my Zanpakuto's blade, tainting it the familiar dark black color. Black continued to flow around me and my blade, evidence that I was much stronger when I had my consistent source of reiatsu.
"Interesting," Kyoraku nodded. "Now, it's my turn."
The Taicho readied his Zanpakuto's, eyes hardening a bit as he concentrated on his reiatsu. I could feel the level increase, but it didn't affect me like I thought it would; mainly because we were close to being on equal footing now.
"Hana kaze midarete, kashin naki, tenpu midarete, tenma warau." {Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer} Kyoraku recited, his Shikai activation phrase sounding more like a poem rather than a releasing command. However, a bright flash soon illuminated the area. When it cleared, the Taicho was standing there with his two released Zanpakuto's. "Katen Kyokotsu."
Kyoraku's Zanpakuto still existed as twin blades, but they had transformed just a tiny bit. Instead of looking like regular katana's, they now looked like a pair of heavily curved Chinese scimitars. The blades were black, which was odd, but they had silver edges. The hilt and guard looked the same, but there were now long red tassels hanging from the end. One was slightly larger than the other, so it was easy to distinguish which one used to be the tachi and which used to be the wakizashi.
"Twin blades… This is gonna be tough." I sighed, craning my neck to the side and grinning in content as it popped. "But, I can't back down from a challenge. Especially if my friend's lives depend on it."
"If only you would sit down and have a drink with me… I'd much rather do that than fight you." Kyoraku sighed, lightly shaking his head. "You're much too determined to back down."
"Correct," I grinned, smiling up at the much taller Taicho. He towered over me by more than a foot. "I'm sure you've heard how stubborn I can be."
"My apologies for trying to convince you otherwise." The Taicho murmured, pointing his Zanpakuto towards me. "I guess I have no choice but to fight you. Although, I don't like fighting against young ones."
"I am not young!" I huffed, glaring at the Taicho. "I may only be a human, but I've experienced more than most do in ten lifetimes..!"
Kyoraku-Taicho chuckled. "That may be so."
"Brace yourself, Kyoraku-Taicho!"
• • •
Zaraki Kenpachi sat with his back against the wall, his Zanpakuto resting against his shoulder as he waited. He wasn't going to chase down his frightened opponent. No, when they were ready they would come and find him.
"…You've finally decided to come out…" Kenpachi muttered as he rose to his feet, his eye locked on the Ryoka with bright orange hair. He didn't care if he was a Ryoka, this kid was strong. It'd been too long since he'd last had a good fight. "Are you ready to die? Or are you surrendering?"
"Both of those are wrong!" Kurosaki Ichigo exclaimed, cinnamon eyes shining in determination as he tightened his grip on his Zanpakuto. The strawberry ran forward, Zanpakuto ready to slice the battle loving Taicho.
With a wide swing, Ichigo's Zanpakuto connected with Kenpachi's chest; he actually managed to cut him! Blood spurted from the wound, Kenpachi's eye widening in surprise.
"Sorry, but… I can't die here." Ichigo said, his eyes darting up towards the Taicho. "If I do, everything that I hold dear…will be destroyed!"
The Taicho was silent for a moment before his lips tugged upward into a ferocious smirk. His reiatsu increased even more, causing the strawberry's eyes to widen a bit. "What's this? So you can do it after all… Don't relax yet. Keep up that sharpened reiatsu… The fun is just beginning. Isn't it? Kurosaki Ichigo!"
The pink haired Fukutaicho of the Eleventh giggled, smiling at the excited look on her Taicho's face. If Kenpachi was happy, then so was she.
"Ken-Chan looks so happy…" She smiled, watching the spiky haired Taicho charge the strawberry. Ichigo was keeping up with Kenpachi, somehow managing to counter his strikes and even dodge some. He could even hear the ringing of the bells in his hair.
However, she blinked in surprise as she felt another reiatsu that she recognized nearby. Her dark pink eyes tore themselves away from the battle in front of her as she looked in the direction of the familiar reiatsu. "Jun-Kun..?"
The other two felt the burst of reiatsu as well. Ichigo's cinnamon eyes considerably widened, losing his focus on his own reiatsu as his mind raced to thoughts of Junko. Kenpachi's Zanpakuto was able to pierce straight through the strawberry's Zanpakuto, impaling his chest.
"I told you not to relax just yet… Your reiatsu…" Kenpachi muttered, "Has become this weak just because you got distracted by the other flare of reiatsu nearby…and because you saw that you had a chance to win."
Kenpachi jerked his Zanpakuto out, pulling it out of Ichigo's chest.
"What a boring end…"
Ichigo's body fell to the ground, his large clever like Zanpakuto splitting in two pieces.
"Che… Sure you could scratch me, sure you could hear my bells, but none of that matters if you don't last…" Kenpachi said, his dark eye staring down at Ichigo.
Shallow gasping breaths were all that Ichigo could manage. Blood began leaking from his chest wound, quickly pooling around his fallen body. Violently, the strawberry began coughing; he was coughing up blood.
"…This is it? How dull." Kenpachi said, turning his back on the injured Substitute Shinigami. "Maybe I should go and scout out that other reiatsu… It's still burning strong…"
Ichigo mentally cursed, his hand slowly curling into a fist. He had to move. He had to fight! He couldn't let Kenpachi walk away; he was planning on targeting Jun next!
The bleeding just had to stop! He had to get up, to move!
He had to save Rukia! He had to save the rest of his friends!
Kenpachi continued walking away from the injured strawberry, the tip of his Zanpakuto dragging along the tiled ground. After he was a good ten steps away, Kenpachi slung his Zanpakuto back over his shoulder, not even looking back.
However, he froze.
Everything froze.
The birds froze in the sky, the clouds stopped moving, the wind stopped blowing.
A man dressed in black appeared next to Kenpachi, his ragged black cloak fluttering even though there was no wind. The figure continued walking towards Ichigo, pausing mere feet away.
"Do you want to fight?" The man in black questioned, staring down at the strawberry from behind lightly tinted thin sunglasses. "To fight… Or to live… Choose."
"…want to win…" Ichigo murmured, staring up at his Zanpakuto spirit.
"I can't hear you." The man in black said, watching as Ichigo's grip around the broken sword tightened, his knuckles turning white.
"It's pointless to just fight… It's pointless to just live… I want to win..!" Ichigo ground out, his eyes shining in determination. "I want to win!"