Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it. All rights belong to the creator Tite Kubo.
This is an AU story with some OOC.
And with nothing else please read, enjoy and review.
Chapter 16: Danger! The Battles That Lead to Hopes, Memories, and Dreams!
Part 1
Ulquiorra VS Byakuya and Suì-Fēng
Just what is it that she's feeling right now? The strange green Reiatsu that meets her skin made her senses go numb. The Hollow's Reiatsu has stunned her. When the rain stopped, her gray eyes widened. The green-eyed Hollow became bat-like in appearance with large, black bat wings forming on his back, his hair grew longer and wilder, and the remains of his Hollow mask centers atop his head, with two large horns extending outward to the sides towards the front. For some strange reason, his clothing has changed. It became more form-fitting and closed at the top, becoming more like a robe towards the bottom.
Her eyes haven't left him so she never notices the instant both Captain Hitsugaya and Kuchiki release their Bankai. Her mind was still trying to understand what the Hollow did. Why did it feel like it just released its own Bankai? Is this the power-up that the original Captains witness with Zangetsu?
Body moving by reflex, Suì-Fēng leaps back, dodging a Quincy arrow.
"Looks like I missed an easy target." Ryūken said, not willing to admit that he couldn't take the shot much sooner because he too got distracted by the Hollow's transformation. Eyesight still locked on the Captains, the white-haired Quincy addressed Ulquiorra. "And just what is it that you just pull-off right now?"
"This is an Arrancar's Resurrección." Ulquiorra started gathering Reiatsu on his right hand, creating a green energy javelin. "Luz de la Luna."
Another great perk for being a member of the Onmitsukidō was how some of their early lessons involve learning to read lips. "Arrancar? Is that what they're called?" The corners of Suì-Fēng's lips turn down. How is it that this Hollow knew what to label himself as? Her head shot towards Byakuya upon seeing the man's Bankai rush towards Ulquiorra.
"When did you release your Bankai?" The petite Captain noted that both of Byakuya's hands were raised. It's no secret to her how Kuchiki's Bankai work. The man can control the blades with his mind alone, however, using his hands allows him to do so more effectively; making the blades increase in speed threefold. Bringing her head forward again, Suì-Fēng flinches from surprise. Captain Hitsugaya just saved her life, he just blocked a group of arrows aiming towards her with his Ryōjin Hyōheki (Woven-Ice Wall).
"Damn it, Captain Suì-Fēng! If you're not going to help us here, then go after Kurosaki!" Tōshirō barked, gathering Reiatsu with his blade to launch a counter-attack against the Quincy.
The 2nd Division Captain noted that just like Byakuya, Captain Hitsugaya released his Bankai too. "How did you guys react so quickly?" Her voice was soft, and it directed her question towards herself. The Hollow's Resurrección completely took her by surprise; she never expected this kind of power from them.
A large portion of Byakuya's Senbonzakura Kageyoshi was pursuing Ulquiorra, Hollow using his wings to fly instead of dodging with Sonido. "We only reacted out of reflexes." Captain Kuchiki stated as the rest of his Bankai's pink petals closely surround him to make sure there are no opportunities for the Hollow to get into his safe-zone. A lesson he learned when he faced Zangetsu.
Captain Suì-Fēng grinds her teeth. How is it that Captain Kuchiki was acting normal!? "You know what I'm talking about, Captain Kuchiki." Is not like she wants to admit it but, "How was it that the Arrancar's Resurrección didn't stun you."
Watching as the Hollow tosses its javelin, Byakuya uses the remaining petals surrounding him to shield him from Ulquiorra's attack, causing the green energy weapon to explode and cover both him and Suì-Fēng in smoke. Bringing his pink petals back around him, he waited for the Arrancar's next move. "The reason Captain Hitsugaya and I didn't get stunned was that we both felt a greater power than this."
Listening to his explanation, the 2nd Division Captain turned her back towards Kuchiki's, protecting his back. "You're talking about Zangetsu." Her gray eyes spotted movements to her right but didn't try launching an attack. "I thought you said this Hollow feels stronger than Zangetsu." Her eyes spotted another quick moment to her left.
"I thought so too, but it seems like Zangetsu is compressing his Reiatsu." Captain Kuchiki added, mentally calling back the rest of his Bankai. "Zangetsu's transformation on that day felt stronger than what this Hollow just did."
"Then that means our Lieutenants are facing an impossible opponent right now." She went back to grinding her teeth. "We need to call for back-up."
"Cero."
Both Captains use a quick Shunpo, dodging Ulquiorra's Cero. Captain Suì-Fēng, while in mid-flight on her dodge, looked around, trying to spot the Hollow when she felt the Arrancar's hand grab a hold of her head before forcefully tossing her down at the ground.
Noticing the pink petals of Byakuya's Bankai, Ulquiorra took flight and as the man's Bankai got close, he tilted his wings to the right, diving and dodging the tiny blades. Watching Senbonzakura Kageyoshi following him again, he went back to flying in circles.
Captain Kuchiki changed his strategy. He kept half of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi's blades around him and the other half after the Hollow, trying to even out his offense and defense. "Are you all right, Captain Suì-Fēng?" Byakuya said, his eyes not turning around to see the petite Captain push herself back to her feet. One small little distraction and this Hollow may kill him.
"I'm fine." Suì-Fēng grunted, a hand going to her left cheek and quietly hissing. "That'll leave a bruise."
"Forgive me for repeating Captain Hitsugaya's question, but are you going to help us or not?" The 6th Division Captain growled. What the hell was wrong with Captain Suì-Fēng right now! Why hasn't she released her Bankai! They're having a hard time fighting the Arrancar. He's at least thankful that Captain Hitsugaya was taking care of the Quincy. Also, not to mention that his little sister is facing Zangetsu!
She scowled but said nothing, not when Captain Kuchiki was right, but he was wrong to think she would use her Bankai! Grasping onto her Zanpakutō with her right hand, the petite Captain says, "Sting all Enemies to Death, Jinteki Shakusetsu!" The entire sword glows white and shrinks in size. When the emitted glow dies out, it reveals that Suzumebachi has now taken on the form of a black and gold gauntlet, with a small chain linking it to a stinger-like blade on Suì-Fēng's middle finger.
Carefully watching all of Ulquiorra's moves; the quick right turns to dodge Byakuya's Bankai, the almost unnoticeable fast moment on his neck when he's going for a nosedive, the small flick on his right pinky when he creates another one of his Luz de la Luna to launch at Byakuya. She watched everything carefully.
Noticing the sudden sharp movement on his left wing, Suì-Fēng Flash Steps towards Ulquiorra's left side. She smirks upon seeing the shock look on his face. 'Got you by surprise huh, Arrancar?' The 2nd Division Captain noticed how the muscles on his left wing stopped and spotted movements on his right one. 'He's trying to slow down his speed to redirect himself.' What would his best course of action be? The Hollow can't afford a second to stop and rethink its strategy. Either Byakuya's Bankai will shred him to pieces or she'll find the opportunity to use her Shikai's ability with just this small opening. 'Doesn't matter what you're thinking of doing. I'm going to be one step ahead of you!'
'Damn this woman.' Ulquiorra cursed himself. Seems he had misjudged the 2nd Division Captain. 'She's fast.' He halted his actions for half a second and started rethinking his strategy. He can't expect to dodge left now, who knows what Captains Suì-Fēng's gauntlet-blade could do and he can't stop for more than a second since Byakuya's Senbonzakura Kageyoshi would leave him wounded and open for any of the petite Captain's attack.
With both his sides blocked, Ulquiorra went forward by using a Sonido since his wings won't react in time.
'Just like I thought!' Suì-Fēng kept her smirk as she moved herself again, this time appearing in front of the Arrancar as he exited from his Sonido. Her Shikai is already aiming towards his heart. "I got you now!" Watching as the Hollow's wings made a flicking motion, she brought her blade and arm up to use her forearm to protect her neck from Ulquiorra's wings who was using them as a set of blades. 'Damn it, what a quick thinker!'
Ulquiorra didn't even try pressing his wings on her; he could already sense the way Captain Kuchiki's Bankai was coming. He left his position, escaping Senbonzakura Kageyoshi by taking flight.
"Are you okay?" Byakuya asked the petite Captain, his hands up and guiding his Bankai. Even with the speed boost, he still couldn't catch the Hollow. 'It doesn't help that he's using both his wings and that weird Shunpo variation.' Thanks to his wings Ulquiorra could make quick, easy and sharp turns to dodge his blades and if corner, the Hollow will then use that Shunpo style move to escape his trap. However, something else was bothering the Kuchiki Clan head. 'Where are his counter-attacks? All I'm seeing from the Hollow is how it's just defending itself. What is he waiting for?' His thoughts came to a stop upon seeing snow falling down. 'This must be Captain Hitsugaya's Bankai.'
"I'm fine, Captain Kuchiki." Suì-Fēng replies, tearing the bottom hem of her Captain Haori to wrap it around her left arm—the one she uses to block Ulquiorra's wing. While it was not a deep wound, the fact he cut her skin when she had her Reiatsu enhancing it made her think about how the Hollow could have easily amputated her arm. But he didn't, why? She scowled. That's not how a Hollow thinks. Forgetting about the idea that this Hollow may be kind and ignoring the snow, she pointed a finger to Ulquiorra's right wing. "He's only one step away."
Byakuya narrows his eyes to see a butterfly-shaped stamp on Ulquiorra's wing. "So now what? Do we wait for the effects of your Suzumebachi?"
"There are no effects. If I get to stab him again at the center of that stamp, he'll die." The 2nd Division Captain said as she gave her handmade bandage one last tight squeeze.
"And that's all? He'll just die?" Byakuya asked, his Bankai still following Ulquiorra but as he sees the Hollow create another one of his green javelins and throw it, he brings his pink petals back to shield them. "Wouldn't it have been better if you released your Bankai instead?"
She scowled at his words. There's a reason she won't use her Bankai, and that's because it offends her pride as a Covert Ops agent. It is too large to hide, too heavy to move, and its attack is too flashy for assassination. Clearing the look on her face, Suì-Fēng said, "If things go smoothly and he leaves himself open again, then I won't need to use my Bankai."
Ulquiorra looks down at the Shinigami from the safety of the sky. His instant regeneration had healed the deep wound on his wing by the petite Captain's sword; however, the strange tattoo was still there. "You, woman, just what is that you left on me."
She smirks and lifts her bladed-hand up. "How about you come down here and I'll tell you."
"How annoying." He raises his left hand and with his index finger, he creates a black Cero with a green outline. "Cero Oscuras."
Both Captains' eyes widened.
Tōshirō VS Ryūken
One pull and he already launches one-hundred arrows, but what good does it do when he can't even hit the Shinigami Captain? 'At least this was my opponent.' Ryūken thought. By what he has seen with Ulquiorra's opponents, they were far more experienced than the boy in front of him. Gathering Reishi under his feet, Ryūken dodges Captain Hitsugaya's ice dragon with a Hirenkyaku.
"I'll be honest with you, Shinigami. I'm glad that you're my opponent. It has been quite some time since I have picked up my Heilig Pfeil so I'm a bit rusty." Pulling back his bow, the white-haired man says, "Mind helping me polish my skills?" He stops pulling the string on his bow when the sunny sky becomes dark. 'What's going on.' Feeling as something cold landed on his cheek, Ryūken uses the back of his left hand to remove it and see what it is. "Snow? In the middle of summer?" He looks up to see more snow falling down.
"I'll be honest with you, Quincy. I'm also glad I'm fighting you. If Captain Kurotsuchi's right and Kurosaki turns out to be more Quincy than I thought to believe, then fighting you should give me the experience I'll need when I face him again." Captain Hitsugaya finished by sending another ice dragon; this time his attack came out stronger and faster.
Ryūken dodges to the far left, aims and fires his bow. Captain Hitsugaya countered it by creating another one of his Woven-Ice Wall. "Ichigo? A Quincy?" He was a bit puzzled by Hitsugaya's words. With another Ice-Dragon being launched at him, he dodges to the right. "You know it's very unlikely for Kurosaki to be part Quincy. The boy is a Hollow now, know it or not, Quincy and Hollow can't be mix without the fear of Soul Suicide." Ryūken scowled upon remembering the time Isshin came to ask him what sort of abilities Quincies could perform. 'Well, that explains why he would ask me. So the boy was able to keep a part of Quincy's heritage then.'
Tōshirō turns his head around, watching as one of the four petals from the three flowers melts away. "I'm done talking to you, Quincy." Gripping his Zanpakutō, he launches himself towards Ryūken, the two large wings sprouting from his back allowing him to close the distance between them in seconds. "Hyōryū Senbi!" (Ice Dragon Swirling Tail). Hitsugaya swings his sword in a linear direction, creating overflowing ice from his blade in the form of a crescent towards Ishida.
Just because he was years out of practice didn't mean the Shinigami caught Ryūken off-guard, his body reacted instinctively, he leaps up into the air and fires a couple of arrows.
Seeing projectiles, Tōshirō controls his Hyōryū Senbi technique and sends it up, intercepting the blue arrows.
With no limiter set on Captain Hitsugaya, the young-prodigy Bankai's release affected the weather within the immediate vicinity, creating a thunderstorm/blizzard. Allowing him to control his surroundings and use the environment to his advantage. Freezing the surrounding water into an array of icicle-like daggers, which float around him in formation, Hitsugaya swings his Zanpakutō in an arc, launching the daggers toward the Quincy at high speed. "Guncho Tsurara!" (Icicle Flock).
This time the attack caught Ryūken off-guard, Hitsugaya's Icicle Flock came at him with startling speed. He escapes the dangerous ice daggers with a quick Hirenkyaku, however he hisses when he feels a burning sensation on his right cheek. "Frostbite."
With his right hand on his Heilig Bogen, Ryūken fired a multitude of powerful arrows while his left hand went inside his coat suit, pulling out a Seele Schneider (Soul Cutter). Noticing the fact that Captain Hitsugaya used his ice-wings to protect himself from his attack put his usual frown back on his face. 'He's no longer dodging my arrows now.' He narrowed his eyes and fired another set of one-handed arrows. 'Were those wings always strong enough to withstand my Klavier? (Piano)' But why now? What made this situation any different?
Feeling another drop of snow on his cut cheek, Ryūken finally understood. 'So that's how it is. The weather has allowed him to gather enough water for him to freeze and enhance his ice. What a troublesome opponent.'
"I hate using this." Tōshirō said quietly. "Tensō Jūrin (Subjugation of the Heavens)... my most basic power and my strongest. I admit this aspect of my power is not fully mature and I haven't trained with it enough to keep it under control from killing everyone in the vicinity, but, eventually, I will end up using it against Kurosaki, so I need to master it. I'm sorry if I kill you, Quincy."
Ryūken slightly narrows his eyes. "What's this? A Shinigami showing sympathy? What pity and sorrows could you understand from me, Captain? I lost everything because of your kind! YOU, Shinigami, promise to protect us remaining Quincies! My father, who was under protection from the Shinigami, died by a pack of Hollows and now my son, the only thing I have left, got taken by one of your kind from me!" He grinds his teeth and allows his Soul Cutter's second ability to take action. "Anhäufer!" (Gatherer)
Captain Hitsugaya watched Reishi soar towards the Quincy's weapon. 'What are you trying to pull off now?' His narrowed eyes widened when the ice from his Bankai broke down into Spirit Particles and absorbed into the Anhäufer. 'WHAT!?' Looking around him, the ice wings and tail were materializing too. "What are you plotting, Quincy!" Tōshirō yelled at the taller white-haired man who was now holding a Gatherer that was sporting a glowing blue blade.
Not bothering to respond, Ryūken loaded the Gatherer into his white Heilig Bogen and jumped up while stabilizing himself to hover in mid-air by gathering Reishi on his feet. "This is how I would get my message across your heads." He let go and his Seele Schneider soar towards Captain Hitsugaya.
His turquoise-eyes expanded as the arrow appeared to be piercing and shifting the air itself. He Flash Step away, escaping the explosion when the Soul Cutter hit the spot he was standing on. Coming out from his Shunpo, another explosion going off made his head turn towards the direction where Captain Kuchiki and Suì-Fēng were fighting the Arrancar. "Damn it." He cursed quietly and turned his head to look up at Ryūken hovering in the air. 'We're fighting in a big open area, this is allowing both Quincy and Hollow to move around to their liking.' Keeping his fellow Captains' well-being in mind, Captain Hitsugaya raises his Zanpakutō, summoning ice-pillars all over the park. 'This should give Captain Kuchiki and Suì-Fēng some cover.' With that done, the 10th Division Captain went back to fighting the Quincy. Unaware that he just saved his lieutenant's life.
Ichigo VS Lieutenants
Why were her hands shaking? Why was a cold sweat running down the side of her forehead? 'AND WHY CAN'T I HOLD MY SWORD STRAIGHT DAMN IT!' Rukia gulped audibly. The Hollow standing right in front of her was none other than Zangetsu himself. She was sure that there wasn't any other infamous Hollow out there who had orange hair with black and yellow eyes.
Truthfully the only reason she and her small group of fellow lieutenants even ended up crossing paths with Zangetsu was that he felt the weakest of the bunch of Reiatsu that were battling out at the center of the park. But to see him this close? Things felt different.
It was one thing to sense his weak Reiatsu, though something was telling Rukia that he was mostly concealing his powers, however, basically to be face to face with the monster that defeated not one, not two, BUT THREE CAPTAINS! She understood the dire gravity of the situation dearly. What can a bunch of 2nd seats and one 3rd seat do against someone like him?
Then there was the look in his eyes. There was only one thing set in his golden and black eyes, and that was determination, but why though? Why would that emotion be there? And why is that sending her mixed signals!
She couldn't spot any kind of killing intentions in them, yes there was a scowl on his face but it looked natural though, like it belongs there and that's what's killing her! Where was it? The hate that Zangetsu had towards the Shinigami that she heard so much about!? Why wasn't it there! And it was because of that lack of an inch of killing intentions that were giving her mixed feelings about this Hollow! Why can't she spot any hatred in his eyes, the reason he attacked the Captains and mutilated her brother! WHERE IS IT AT!
Then there was the fact that confidence seemed to replace his hatred. She notices the way Zangetsu took out one of his blades instead of both of them. This was telling her that he was naturally a dual-wielder but to use one sword meant something else to her.
Zangetsu's stance looked sloppy and there were plenty of open spots that they could break through, what with the way he's weakly holding his sword with both hands. Was he baiting them to attack him first? His stance made it look like he never used one sword to fight, it could mean that Zangetsu was ready to fight them with possibly zero experience yet, the look in his eyes was telling her that he felt enough self-confidence to fight them and win. Was the scowl on his face directed towards himself then?
If his intentions aren't their deaths, then what is it?!
She subconsciously took a step back. "We... we... can't fight this thing." She sputtered and let a leak of fear coat her words.
Ōmaeda couldn't help but agree with her. He was thankful it was the petite Shinigami who voiced his thoughts though. "I agreed with her! We can wait for a captain to come here and fight him instead!"
"And miss a chance like this?" Renji said, a weak cocky smirk molded on his face. "Do you know what kind of reputation we might gain by just fighting Zangetsu?! A promotion, women, sake, popularity? Or just about anything that the Captain-Commander could offer us!"
With all those reasons laid down to him, the 2nd Division lieutenant smiled and raised his blade. "Women and a promotion, huh? Heh, maybe I'll finally get to lead my squad fill with nothing but beautiful women."
Rangiku groans but she was at least happy that Ōmaeda will fight alongside them and not run away. She has been waiting for so long to meet the Hollow that her captain seemed to have become obsessed with and if she's been honest with herself; she was rather disappointed. This Hollow doesn't look anywhere close to the beast that Captain Hitsugaya had mentioned before. Zangetsu looks normal. "Are you with us, Rukia? 'Cause I can't believe Ōmaeda is showing more courage than you right now. Aren't you angry with what Zangetsu did to your brother? Don't you want a bit of payback?"
Rukia's face rushed towards the strawberry blonde. Is not like she's wrong but still. "Are you kidding me right now?" Her eyes shook with the same tempo as her body. "We can't fight Zangetsu! He'll overpower us!"
Renji was about to aid Rangiku, but Ichigo interrupted him.
"Oi, are we going to do this or what?" He drove his black blade through the ground, the hilt leveled to his waist for quick access. Leaning on his Zanpakutō, the redhead says, "I understand if you guys would rather run away, so I won't go after you guys if that's the case."
"You'll let us walk away, just like that?" Asked a curious Rukia, is he honest or was it just a lie so that he could cut them from their back the moment they turn around?
Shrugging his shoulders and losing some degree on his scowl, Ichigo says, "Well, yeah, I mean, I have a very important… task to do and if I waste time fighting you guys, then I'll be putting my brother and uncle in danger." He scratched his left temple. Was he right about calling that man his uncle? He means, if the man was sort-of-kind-of his mother's cousin, then they're family, right?
Hearing the fact that Zangetsu has a brother, Renji tries using that to provoke Rukia to fight. "He has a brother, Rukia! If we can't take revenge on him for what he did to my Captain—and your brother—then the next best thing to do is stall him long enough until his brother drops dead! We don't have to even listen to this monster!"
Her ears listen to her friend's words carefully. A small part of her wanted to call Renji an idiot. Stall Zangetsu? How long will that even last, a minute or two? And they may even end up dead too! In her own opinion, there was nothing wrong with taking Zangetsu's offer, but the problem is convincing the rest of her colleagues. Ōmaeda got easily baited, so if he tried to change his mind at the last second, Renji or Rangiku would just lure him back in. Rangiku's reason was hard to understand. Does she want to fight Zangetsu for the same reason Renji wants to fight too? To reclaim her Captain's honor? At least she knew that was Renji's reason for wanting to fight Zangetsu.
And that's all. Her common sense was the only small part of her that was against fighting the infamous Hollow, but irritation was clouding her judgement. What gave Zangetsu the right to tell them what to do! Why was she even listening to him! Asking them to turn around and run so that he could not put his brother in danger!? What a selfish asshole! Byakuya risked his life fighting him, so why can't his brother do the same?
She raises her blade against Zangetsu. "You're right, we don't have to listen to him." Who knows, maybe by stalling him for a minute or two might be enough time for her brother to return Zangetsu's kindness, by cutting the redhead's brother's hand clean off—or better yet, death.
His yellow-eyes narrowed down to dangerous levels, just when he thought they would run away they all raised their blades against him. However, that's not what's pissing him off. Who's the girl's brother?
...
Ichigo felt stupid for asking that. Captain Hitsugaya was definitely out, the same with the petite woman, and he's sure as hell positive that the eye-patch wearing Shinigami was out. So that only leaves one person left.
"Is your brother the pretty boy with the stupid headpiece on his head?"
"Is not a 'stupid headpiece', it's a kenseikan, and it symbolizes his nobility as the head of the Kuchiki Clan!" Rukia shouted, now feeling annoyed. "And his name is Byakuya!"
"Captain Kuchiki." Ichigo felt a bitter taste coming to his mouth by just saying that man's name, and he remembered why, oh he remembers. He was the one who almost killed Lily. His left arm reached for his white-color blade now. "Looks like I get to return the favor."
The lieutenants got confused, and they kept growing confused when the redhead planted his other sword.
"Oh crap! Here he comes!" Ōmaeda panicked, damn it, why didn't he just listen to his gut!
"Quickly! Release your Shik—!" The busty blonde cut her words off, completely getting stunned by Ichigo releasing his Reiatsu on them.
With that wake-up call, the lieutenants' common senses came back, but it was already too late.
Rukia didn't blink and still, she didn't see it coming. She doesn't even know what happened. One second Zangetsu was standing meters away from her and now she was on her back, lying on the ground with her own Zanpakutō impaling her right shoulder, the hilt of her Soul Slayer touching her and Zangetsu's Hollow-eyes staring deep into hers. Did it take him only a couple of seconds for him to disarm her and nail her to the ground, with her own Zanpakutō no less?
With another second passing by and Rukia's nerves finally sending the message to her brain, she let out a scream. Bringing out the other Shinigami from their stun moment.
"RUKIA!" Renji yelled and ran a hand above his Zanpakutō's blade. "Howl, Zabimaru!"
Ichigo Sonido, standing back to where he planted both his blades. He watches as the tattoo man's sword changes to a 6-part segmented blade; each segment wider than the one preceding it from the hilt, with 2 pick-like protrusions on the front and back of each segment, with the ones on the front much longer than the ones on the back. He turns his head upon hearing the busty woman call out her release; her sword turned into a cloud of ashes. His attention went towards the man with the purple collar who's still stunned.
He didn't waste any time; he rushed towards him and punched his stomach, causing him to bend down and with that action, Ichigo hit his chin with the palm of his hand, knocking out Ōmaeda.
'Two down, two more to go.' Ichigo's eyes move to his next target.
It took the Arrancar ten seconds to put both Rukia and Ōmaeda out of commission. 'So this is what Captain Hitsugaya has been training for. To fight a monster like him.' Rangiku no longer felt any confidence now, she didn't even want to take her chances in fighting him. Her top priority now is to get everyone out and safe from Zangetsu! She Flash Step next to Renji, redhead looking like he was ready to kill Zangetsu if only the fool would see how impossible that was.
"Renji, listen to me! You need to go help Rukia!" Rangiku couldn't believe how quickly things had turned around, they would run away now, doing just what Zangetsu told them to do from the start. The only problem now was if he would let them go.
"I know that! I know that! I KNOW THAT!" Renji yelled back.
The strawberry blonde glared at him and said, "If you know that, then why are you still looking like you're trying to fight him! Come on, Renji. I know your eyes are open now! WE CAN'T FIGHT HIM!" Chewing the inside of her cheek, her gaze locked on to Rukia's figure. The petite 3rd seat was trying to remove her sword to join the soon-to-be fight. 'What fight? All we're going to get is a beat down.' Closing her eyes and shaking her head, she took a deep breath. "Renji, listen to me closely." She got them into this mess and now she'll get them out, opening her eyes again, she continues. "I'm going to use Haineko's abilities to gain Zangetsu's attention. When that happens, I'll lure him far away from here."
"Can you out-run him?" Renji interrupted. "It's not like I'm trying to say you're slow but… Zangetsu's fast, you saw what he just did within so little time." Hearing no response, Renji turns to her and grimaces. "Don't tell me you're trying to pull some self-sacrifice cliché crap right now."
Rangiku went back to chewing the insides of her cheek. "All I need to do is stall him for a couple of minutes." Before she could open her mouth and called it a go, she spotted a snowflake gently landing itself on her nose. She looked up, the skies no longer blue as the color of her eyes but now black as Zangetsu's scleral. "Captain."
"The hell?" Ichigo said, surprised that snow was falling. "We're nowhere near winter. Why would it be snowing?"
"Neko Rinbu(Cat Round Dance)!" Rangiku yelled, calling out her ash cloud to enclose Ichigo before turning it into a tornado. "Go, Renji!"
"Right!" He ran past Rangiku and straight to Rukia, the petite woman still trying to remove her sword. Before he could reach her, Zangetsu appeared right between them. "DAMN IT!" How the hell did he escape Neko Rinbu?! "Get out of my the fucking way!" He swung his sword, the segments of Zabimaru extended and grew in numbers—each segment connected by a stretchable thread. The redhead was now using his Zanpakutō as a whip instead of a sword, but did it make a difference? 'This… this bastard caught Zabimaru's blade with his bare hands!' Renji grunt as he tries pulling back his Zanpakutō, but Zangetsu wasn't letting go. "What kind of monster is he?" he whispered, still trying to pull back his sword-whip.
Ichigo looked at the blade that was inches away from his neck. "You know." he tightens his grip, causing Renji's sword to break, half the blades falling down to the ground while the rest stay attached to his Zanpakutō. "You guys are weak. I was expecting a lot more than this." Feeling a sensation going around his body, he looked down and noticed sparks. "What's this?"
"Why can't I cut him?" Rangiku clenches her teeth tightly. "Your cover in my ashes! Why can't Haineko cut you!"
Hearing the blonde's words, the teen raises a brow. "Cut me? Honestly, stop, it's starting to tickle me." Ichigo mocked, causing Rangiku to once again engulf him in an ash-tornado.
Rukia raises a hand to cover her eyes, the violent winds of the vortex throwing all kinds of debris around.
"Rukia!"
With her name called out, the petite Shinigami notices Renji appearing next to her side, kneeling down and a shaky hand weakly gripping her Zanpakutō.
"I'm going to pull it out on three, got it?" Watching her nod and pursing her lips tightly so that she won't scream, Renji grabbed the hilt. "Okay. One, two, th—!"
Ichigo lowered his foot after he sent Renji flying towards a tree. "Sheesh, you people are annoying. I kind of feel bad just kicking you around."
The redhead Shinigami tried getting up before his left hand went towards his right ribs. "Bastard broke a couple of ribs." Renji groaned as he finally stood up, Zabimaru held by his opposite hand. 'He's not even using his swords to fight us and we're still having so much trouble!' Letting go of his ribs, Renji pointed a hand towards Ichigo. 'Crap, crap, crap! How does that stupid Incantation go?' Gritting his teeth, Renji started chattering about what was hopefully the incantation. "Strike the Heavens, ye who lose his ignorance, who broke darkness and light. Pace from the south to declare ye intentions. Hadō #4. Byakurai! (Pale Lighting)!"
He kept staring at the illuminating light. It was the same move that Captain Kuchiki used, the one Lily protected him from. Ichigo glared at the approaching Hadō Spell. This was a perfect time to see if Zangetsu was right.
With the two extra weeks before preparing for his return to the World of Living, Ulquiorra helped him improve his timing on activating his Capa Cero. Raising his right hand, he coated it with a layer of white and with it he absorbed the upcoming lighting with his Capa's ability; Devorar (Devour).
Devorar was an ability that would allow him to devour any Reishi and Reiatsu based attacks. Szayel hypothesized that this ability works in two ways, first, there was the fact that his power doesn't "devour" Reishi, what it does instead is break down the attacks to Reishi particle-level size. Then came the 2nd part of Devour, something that even Zangetsu didn't tell him about, because the man didn't know or rather never bother telling him, anything that Devorar gets to "consume" becomes stored.
As his ability finished eating the Hadō Spell, Ichigo looked at the back of his hand, now decorated by a small pale-blue flame that was moving within a lazy sway motion, the storage that held all the Reiatsu from the spell. He learned the 2nd part of his ability during his time training with Ulquiorra in Hueco Mundo. After he was able to coat his hand in a couple of seconds, his pale-skinned brethren decided that now was a good time to learn how to switch between his different abilities. His Capa Cero seems to always seem set to hide his presence, which is the 1st of the abilities Zangetsu talked about; Capa. The tricky part was how to change between all three of them. His Inner-Hollow once said that he could only use one ability meaning that he couldn't possibly stack them. He still remembers the way it went.
Flashback, A week before coming to Karakura Town
"You want me to do what now?" Ichigo's face was bland, Ulquiorra was joking, right?
The green-eyed Arrancar turned around and started putting some distance between the two. "You heard me, now that your timing has improved we must now discover the way to activate your other abilities." Turning back around, now a considerable amount of space between them, Ulquiorra said, "These abilities that Zangetsu mention might become very useful for our mission. The number of enemies we might face is unknown to both us and Urahara-san."
"You're joking. Do you know how long it took me to learn how to turn off Capa Cero!? And now you want me to play catch with a Cero!? Just to see if I can pull off one of the other two abilities?!" Ichigo yelled. To remove his Capa, this only reasonable option was to overload his white armor with his Reiatsu, which led to his hand blowing up. Yeah. Lily did not like that.
So what did he do to stop hearing Lily's bickering? Well, he went towards Szayel for advice and by the look in his eyes, he seemed to have already figured it out. So what did he do? He just did the opposite of what Zangetsu told him to do; he absorbed it back in. From what he remembers, Zangetsu mention that by pushing his Reiatsu and absorbing it to his skin would he activate his Capa Cero, however, Szayel theorize that because the white substance is still Reiatsu, his nonetheless, then to remove his Capa all he must do is absorb it back in him and BOOM! It worked. He has never been glad to have Szayel with them.
With nothing coming from the pale-skinned Arrancar, Ichigo frowned. "Okay. Fine." He raises his left hand, the one coated with his Capa.
Ulquiorra raised his right and created a weak Cero. "Remember Ichigo, just let your instincts guide you."
Seeing the approaching energy blast coming, Ichigo stood still, his coated hand ready to catch the Cero. 'Just let your instincts do all the work.' As the Cero made contact, Ichigo got engulfed by smoke.
Ulquiorra didn't move from his spot, even when he took his attack head-on. Ulquiorra knew there was nothing to fear. There was no power behind his Cero.
"Damn *cough* it, that was actually strong, you could have *cough* kill me."
"But did I?" Ulquiorra casually replies, already creating another Cero. "We're going to keep trying until you're able to at least use one of your abilities. The moment I see any signs of Devorar or Exoesqueleto then we'll call it a day."
Ichigo panicked. "Wa-ait! I'm not ready!"
The pale-skinned Arrancar ignored his words and fired his attack. Seeing as he dodge the Cero instead of trying to use his Capa, Ulquiorra started creating another one. "What are you doing, Ichigo?"
As he dodge again, Ulquiorra started focusing on a Bala instead and as he fired, he hit him.
"Damn it, Ulquiorra, you're going to kill me! Give me a heads-up or something!" He yelled, causing the other Arrrancar to frown.
"A heads-up? Do you think the Shinigami will warn you? Do you think they're going to let you catch your breath?" With another Cero made, the Arrancar continued. "They want us dead, Ichigo. You need to at least have some form of mastery with your powers because if you can't show any improvements I'll just ask Starrk to let me handle the mission alone."
They kept going at it for another 4 hours, still no signs of improvements coming from him. 'We have at least another week before the mission.' Hopefully, by then he will finally be able to do something. Kneeling and breathing heavily, he looks up to see Ulquiorra turn around.
"Come now, we're done. Tomorrow we—"
"Again."
Ulquiorra stops and turns his head to see him back on his feet again.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"No, we're done."
He narrows his eyes. "No, we're not."
Turning his body back around, the green-eyed man said, "Yes, we are, you're not showing any signs of development and pushing your limits will not help you."
"One last Cero then we can call it quits." He replied.
"... Very well then."
His eyes widened. Ulquiorra was forming a real Cero with enough power to destroy a mountain. As it shot towards him, he clenched his teeth. Raising his coated hand, Ichigo waited for that sensation to happen. Four hours of target use, he was able to feel a pull. It felt a lot when he removed Capa by absorbing back his Reiatsu. As it got closer, he felt the pull, as if his hand was trying to leach out to the Reiatsu that came from Ulquiorra's green Cero.
His green eyes widened, a strange stream of green light was leaving Ulquiorra's attack, and it was all becoming absorbed into his Capa hand. He stops and lowers his hand to see the last bit of the Cero vanish.
While feeling exhausted, he was smiling as he raised his hand towards Ulquiorra, showing him the moving green flame on the palm of his hands. "See... I... got it.."
Before he could drop, Ulquiorra Sonido to his side and catch him. "You did good, Ichigo."
End of Flashback
Left stunned as a ghostly pale blue stream started leaking from his Kidō, Renji watched as the other redhead's skin sucked his spell. "What… what the hell did you do."
Instead of answering, Ichigo raises his coated hand and starts creating a Cero.
"OH SHIT!" Renji started panicking before his stomach turned to knots, Zangetsu was aiming towards Rukia instead of him. "Don't you dare do it bastard!"
The petite Shinigami went back to trying to pull out her sword the moment Zangetsu aimed his attack at her. 'No, please!' She couldn't even try to pull it off before the pain stopped her. Just giving up and clenching her eyes, Rukia waited for the attack to go off.
Watching accepting her fate, Renji appears next to Rukia and bent down to cover his friend with his body. This causes Rangiku to use her Haineko to create a box of ashes around her friends, leaving her defenseless.
Something that Ichigo was hoping for. With his prediction coming true, Ichigo aimed and fired his Cero towards Rangiku, catching the busty blonde off guard. However, just before his attack could reach her, an ice pillar appears from the ground, shielding Rangiku from most of the damage.
The tribal tattoo man watches as the ash walls disappear just in time to see the 10th Division 2nd seat hit her head on the hard surface of the ground. "Rangiku!" He rushed towards her before Zangetsu appeared before him, right arm coming down with his black blade cutting him across the chest. 'When did he have the time to retrieve his sword?'
Rukia watches as her last friend drops to the ground defeated by Zangetsu. As he turned his eyes and started walking towards her, Rukia felt her death approaching. Before she could go back to pulling her sword, Zangetsu grabbed the hilt of her Zanpakutō and roughly pulled it out. "AHH! Damn it..." She groans and tries to use a Kaidō Spell to heal her shoulder but Zangetsu grabs her around her neck with his right hand and lifts her up to his eyes level.
"Tsk, so this is all a bunch of lieutenants can do?" Ichigo looked to her left shoulder and noticed the lack of a white badge showing her rank. "What's this, you're not even a lieutenant?" Now that he thinks about it, the only one that he remembers seeing wearing that badge was the fat Shinigami. "Oh, now I feel bad for picking on a bunch of weaklings." He smirks to the petite woman before she spits at him, her fluids landing on his cheek. "All right then." He raises his left arm and starts creating a small Cero. "Don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to kill you but, this is my way of returning your brother's generosity for what he did towards Lily first."
"You're a monster." Rukia choked her words out.
He kept staring at her eyes, even in the situation she was in her eyes still held enough strength to glare at him. But does it matter? "Yeah, you're right." Ichigo fires his Cero, creating a small hole in Rukia's stomach; the size of a bottle cap. "I am a monster." Throwing away Rukia's unconscious body, Ichigo took a slow breath and walked to retrieve his other blade. "And I'm done here."
"Impressive, Kurosaki Ichigo."
The teen quickly turns around to see a cloaked figure behind him. "Who the hell are you?" He glared at the mysterious man before noticing the way he couldn't detect his Reiatsu. 'Is he hiding it? Or is it the cloak?' He carefully watches the man walk towards all the unconscious Shinigami, a pleased smile was the only thing that the cloak allows to reveal.
"Hmm, four lieutenant-class Shinigami easily dealt with in the matters of minutes." The man turns his head towards Ichigo and says, "Though perhaps you could have dealt with them much sooner if you chose to actually fight them." The curved ends of his smile grew large as he felt Ichigo trying to stun him with his Reiatsu. "It's satisfying to see that you exceeded my expectations."
"H-how are you not affected by it..." Ichigo was in disbelief. This easily stunned the Shinigami's so why didn't it stun this man. 'Unless.' The redhead pointed a finger at the figure. "You're a Captain, aren't you?"
"My, how observant." Removing his hood, Aizen finally reveals himself. He chuckles as Ichigo's body becomes tense. "There's no reason to feel alarmed around me, Ichigo."
Narrowing his eyes, the redhead says, "How do you know my name? If I remember right, the only thing the Shinigami got on me is my alibi; Zangetsu." There was the fact that he told Captain Hitsugaya his name but that was about... 10 minutes ago. 'How long has he been here?' Was he there from the beginning of his fight... or from the moment he set foot in the World of Living? Growing irritated, he yells. "Damn it, answer me, Shinigami!"
The 5th Division Captain chuckled again. "Why are you so hostile now and towards me of all people?"
Before responding, a hand shot towards Ichigo's head as a painful headache came suddenly. "Ugh, damn it. What are you talking about?"
"You should feel grateful. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been born. Though I will admit that I never planned for your existence either." Aizen's calm and easier demeanor changed, showing a bit of concern towards the redhead as he held his head with both hands now. "Is something wrong?"
"WHO ARE YOU!" Ichigo couldn't help but yell, the pain in his head started feeling as if someone was poking needles on his brain.
Aizen walks closer to Ichigo, the redhead on his knees while still holding his head. "With the attitude you're talking towards me, you're making me believe we met before." He jumps back as Ichigo wags his white sword from left to right. Watching as the boy charged at him, Aizen unsheathed his Zanpakutō and stopped Ichigo's left-handed sword. "You're acting barbaric right now." Watching as the redhead screams his head out instead of attacking with his other Zanpakutō, his lips form into a puzzled frown.
"What… what do you mean by never planning my existence?" Dropping the sword in his right hand, Ichigo brought his hand back to his head. Images of a white void in his mind. 'What the hell is going on!'
The 5th Division Captain smiled. "If you want answers," he pushes Ichigo away and takes a leap back. "Then don't look away. Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
Was he seeing things? Did the pain make him hallucinate? Why did the Shinigami's Zanpakutō break into a million pieces once the tip of the blade hit the ground? 'Fuck, I'm seeing things!' Ichigo bites down, closes his eyes and digs his nails on his head, the painful headaches putting the images of a white void again in his head. Opening his eyes again, the redhead notices the reappearance of the man's sword. 'Damn it, it's just the pain!'
"You said, not to look away, now give me MY ANSWERS!" As he finishes with a scream, Ichigo launches himself towards Aizen, clashing their blades and this time using both swords; both blades swing down but Aizen blocks them.
Aizen shook his head with mirth. "It's so amusing to think where I should start. From the beginning, perhaps?" With his free arm, Aizen draws a symbol in the air, his entire body permeating red energy which then engulfs Ichigo, paralyzing the redhead. "Bakudō #9. Geki." Watching with amusement as the teen tried breaking himself free, he said, "What's the matter, Ichigo, can't break a simple Kidō spell without its incantation?" As the boy quits and glares at him, he chuckles. "Right, you want answers. From the beginning is what I promise, no?"
Ichigo blinked once and the entire environment seemed to have changed to a different scene. He was floating above a city he had never seen before. 'What's going on, how did I get here?'
"Let's start with the day two unlikely souls meet." Aizen pointed over towards his left, making Ichigo's eyes look towards the direction where his experiment, White and Isshin fought. "It all started with a simple experiment. I unleashed White into the World of Living to see its powers in action. I will admit though, your father appearing in Naruki City was not part of my plan, but fate has funny ways of setting things in motion."
The redhead watches as a much younger Isshin fights off an almost black Hollow. It has a white mask. Two long, forward-pointing horns protruding from the sides of its head, and its Hollow hole seemed filled with a strange substance. Two blades in place of its forearms. He tried asking a question but his mouth wouldn't move. 'What's the whole point of showing me this.' He kept watching his father fight the Hollow before out of nowhere someone cut down Isshin from the back.
"I praise your father for making me step in. I usually wouldn't care about my experiments, but White was a special case. The trouble I went through to find the main base of his Reiryoku was troublesome, but it was all worth it. Because of White, I was able to better understand the line between Shinigami and Hollows. My Hollowfication experiments also help me understand it better, but nothing to the degree that White did."
He couldn't help but wonder why the Shinigami was talking so passionately about White. What made that thing so special? And what trouble could it be that he went through? How was White even an experiment? 'Did he create him?' He'll get his answers the moment he's able to devour the Reiatsu that's paralyzing him. However, he couldn't feel any pull. He looks to both his hanging arms, still holding the position when they clashed their swords. He could still see his left hand coated in the white layer, so why can't he absorb? 'Damn it, what's going on!' Ichigo went back to watching the event played on while still trying to free himself.
Aizen watched as Ichigo glared at the illusion, his mind wondering if he could feed disinformation to the boy. If Isshin had told Ichigo everything, then trying to trick him with Kyōka Suigetsu would prove challenging. His Zanpakutō does not mess with someone's memories, just their senses. He'll think of something, in the meantime, he's more curious to see the boy's strange ability a little more up close. He can't help but wonder if this was one of White's many abilities. He remembers using several Shinigami's soul to create him. 'And to make sure White utterly became a Hollow, I had to search for decades all over Hueco Mundo to find the perfect specimen.' But there was more. White's discovery bloomed many things. Far too many.
He moves closer to Ichigo's hand. 'What a strange and yet magnificent ability. Could it perhaps be one of White's original powers? Before the consumption of Shinigami's souls?' It took him quite some time to create White but far longer to find him. How long ago was that? A little over 100 years? Yes, about over 100 years. That's when he discovered the mask fragment of White either stored, locked, or hidden away deep inside the ruins of a palace.
Not trying to recall any unnecessary memories, Aizen's gentle and yet sharp brown eyes stared at Ichigo's Hollow mask. Why black? That was not what he found. The mask's color was white. So where did the odd coloration come from? 'Is this some form of defect?' He closes his eyes and sighs; it doesn't matter, he's satisfied. The boy turned out to be what he had planned, the perfect hybrid. Looking at Ichigo's eyes, he notices the way they tremble with rage. What was it that he was showing the redhead, anyway? 'Ah, that's right. By now, my illusion should have finished showing him all the events that happened that day.' That would explain the look.
Ichigo set his eyes back to Aizen—unaware that he was only looking at an illusion. The man had just finished showing him the last moment in which his mother killed White.
"And it's on this day that you should feel grateful towards me. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been born." Seeing as Ichigo had something to say, the Aizen-illusion drew another spell in the air, allowing the teen to use his head only.
Finally able to put on a facial expression, the redhead glared at the Shinigami Captain. "What the hell are you talking about bastard! You never planned for me or anything like that! You even said it yourself!"
"Rationally, you're right but I'm also right, in my form of state." A crooked smile molded itself on Aizen's lips, here's where he plays with the boy's mind.
Does he want to ask? Does he even need to know what the man might say? They could be all lies, but still, why was a small part of him curious to hear him speak? Ichigo frowns before asking. "What do you mean?"
His wicked smile rises higher. "I want you to think about it like this, Ichigo, what could have happened if I never released White into Naruki City—or better yet, into the World of Living, what would have happened then?"
"... My parents would have never met." The redhead spoke with a shocking tone.
Chuckling and shaking his head, Aizen said, "There's a little more to that. Come on now, you know what I'm trying to say."
"Me... if White never attacked and infected my mom with Hollowfication then dad wouldn't have risked losing his powers to save her in the first place, because there wasn't anything to save her from. Then they wouldn't have met and gotten together... and never had me..." Ichigo grinded his teeth. "BUT THEY COULD HAVE ALWAYS MEET IN A DIFFERENT SCENARIO AND—"
"And fallen in love?" The 5th Division Captain interrupted, feeling great pleasure in the boy's mental distress. "Your father, Isshin, who walks in the path of a Shinigami and your mother, Masaki, a Quincy. Two different beings that live worlds apart. Both are the opposite of the same coin. Tell me, Ichigo, in what other kinds of an event could they have met?"
The silence was Aizen's only answer; the teen had looked down at the ground instead of him. "Exactly, you're only existing because of me." Is he going to stop now? No, he wants to make sure Ichigo feels pitiful, so once the boy realizes just how small his existence means, he can easily snatch him away and use him for his own plans. "Ichigo, did your mother love Isshin?"
Ichigo snapped his head up, looking back to Aizen's eyes. He was about to answer when the image of the white void appeared for a second, but this time there was more. There was a woman there with short blue hair, a body emitting a strange green glow. Then it vanishes. Shaking his head and forgetting about the strange vision, he quietly says, "She loved him."
"Hmmm love is such a powerful word, maybe I was wrong for using it. Well, let's say 'love' is a factor in your parent's chemistry. Do you think your mother 'loved' Isshin to where she wanted to settle down with a Shinigami, the race that led to the almost-extinction of the Quincies, to have a family?" Aizen waited for the boy to say anything but nothing came from him so he continued. "I don't see how your mother could love a killer of her race, maybe because there was never any love. Perhaps your mother gave herself to Isshin in a show of gratitude for saving her and nothing more. They never planned your conception. You are what they call a 'Happy Accident'."
Ichigo finally had something to say. "No, it wasn't an accident! They wanted me! If they never planned children, then why would I have sisters!"
"Perhaps your father wanted more children, and your mother, who was only alive because of Isshin, went with it. What would happen to her IF Isshin left? So she gave him more children, to keep Isshin around." Aizen smirked as he could see the light in Ichigo's eyes fade, his hope beginning to vanish. 'I can still do more damage.' "While your mother's love for your father is questionable, one thing she loved, however, was you, Ichigo. But to what point could she love her little guardian? Perhaps to where she gave you a purpose in life. You know what they say, a child born with no purpose could only live for so long. So she, just like your father, set you a goal; to protect. Protect everything that she can't." Seeing Ichigo go puzzled, Aizen continues. "How much longer do you think your father would have wanted to stay with your mother? 'Till death do us apart'? No, eventually Isshin would have left and with his departure, he would have shattered the soul link that kept your mother alive. Causing her death and that's where you come into her plans. After feeding you nothing but lies, you would've kept your sisters safe because that's what you're supposed to do, protect them."
"My dad would never leave us! You don't even know him well enough!" Ichigo exclaimed, feeling a rise in his anger.
Aizen smirked. "But you do? Is odd that your father set you down the same path as your mother's, almost as if he was preparing you for something. I wonder what."
The redhead stares in disbelief. "How do you know something like that…?"
"Because unlike your parents, your existence matters to me. After learning of you, I started watching everything from the day you were born to the day of your death. You could say I was your guardian angel." With a smirk still present, Aizen extended an arm towards the boy. "Come with me, Ichigo. I can truly give you a purpose in life. You owe me your existence so you might as well repay your life debt."
His yellow-eyes stared at Aizen's hand. There has to be something that he could say. "M-my dad is still here watching over Yuzu and Karin... even after I died he never left them behind."
The 5th Division Captain sighs, his patience running low. "Your father is quite a wary man. Has he ever told you the penalty for giving your powers to a human is death? If he was to leave your sisters and head back to Soul Society, our Captain-commander would have deployed an investigation team. They would find evidence. Isshin would then either get thrown to the Maggots Nest or executed. As for your sisters, they may get taken away and given over to the 12th Division and trust me when I say this Ichigo, death is a better option than getting sent there."
The real Aizen watched everything from the sidelines, a small frown on his face. The Binding Spell got consumed by the boy's Capa. He's lucky that Ichigo is under the hypothesis of his Kyōka Suigetsu. Feeling as it took him longer to win the boy over to his side, Aizen sped up the process.
His illusion smiled and said, "What do you think your mother would have wanted for you to do?"
A bittersweet laughter left Ichigo's lips. He looked down to the ground and answered. "If only I could find her I would ask her myself..."
Both the illusion and the real Aizen stared at Ichigo with a puzzled look. "What are you talking about?" Did Ichigo not know what he did? Or could it be that Isshin never told the boy?
"My... dad said that when she died, unlike me, she was able to crossover to Soul Society..."
Even though Ichigo's sight could only see the illusion of himself, it didn't matter because if he could just look up to the Shinigami Captain's illusion he could completely see the shock look on his face. It shocked even the real Aizen. 'He doesn't know! Isshin never told Ichigo what truly happened to his mother!' The new smile born on his face was wicked and filled with misdeed. "Oh? Your mother's peacefully living in Soul Society? Why, who fills your head with such a lie?"
"Lie?" The redhead looks up and yells. "What are you talking about! What's a lie? It's not a lie!"
Aizen's head tilted forward, his eyes shadowed. Two things will either happen, the 1st would be that by learning of the truth he could mentally and emotionally devastate the boy and that could either be good or bad. Bad because he wouldn't be able to use him anymore but that's also good since then Ichigo wouldn't get used against him. The 2nd scenario would be a total mental breakdown, which could lead the boy to go complete mayhem.
Seeing no reason for keeping Ichigo under his illusion, he releases the boy causing him to fall on his knees. "Do you know how a Hollow takes consciousness? No? Well, let me tell you. During any time of their evolution, if a soul they consume becomes conscious of their existence then both souls would then go into a battle of wills. Whose soul is stronger will then devour not just the current conscious soul but every other one."
Why was he telling him this? What's the point of it? "Where are you going with this?" His eyes follow Aizen as the Shinigami walk circles around him.
"Remember how I mentioned that I was watching over you, even to your death?" He stops behind Ichigo and uses his Kyōka Suigetsu, bringing the teen to a distant and yet familiar place.
Ichigo stood up and looked around. He was no longer at the park; the day turned into night, and it was raining hard. "This is the day when…."
"Get away from there!"
The redhead turns around to see a younger version of himself running down to save the girl. But as Ichigo was finally more spiritually aware now, he could see the head of Grand Fisher slowly surfacing from the current of water that he was hiding at. "No."
"ICHIGO!"
"No..." Ichigo started panicking, and he doesn't even know why. This has already happened and he can't do anything about it. So he watches as his mother protects him, and as consequences, she dies. Is he ready to talk about it? No. He would never be ready to talk about it, let alone see it happen with his eyes. But as he kept watching, his stomach turned to knots, and his blood ran cold. His eyes watched as the Hollow grabbed another version of his mother, one with a chain sticking out from her heart and then it ate her.
Standing up, Ichigo started talking small steps forward. "That's... that's not what happened… Dad, he said a Shinigami was able to help her..." Grand Fisher was about to leave before he noticed his younger self trying to wake his dead mother and then, he killed him. Just like his mother, his spirit spawn before Grand Fisher ate him.
Aizen was standing behind Ichigo; Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion was cut off. "Remember what I said about how a Hollow becomes conscious? Grand Fisher, the Hollow that killed and devoured both your and mother's soul headed back to Hueco Mundo for his next stage of evolution, however, you, Ichigo, won the battles of Wills. You devour Grand Fisher's soul and with it your mother's." He smirked as Ichigo's eyes became lifeless, he leaned over and whispered. "Isshin said she was living in Soul Society, but now you know the truth. He lied to you Ichigo, your own father kept the truth hidden from you. What else could he be hiding from you? Tell me, how does that make you feel?"
How does he feel? HOW DOES HE FEEL!? 'He lied! That bastard lied to me! Damn him! DAMN HIM!' Ichigo's world went dark.
Soul Society, 12th Division.
The alarms were going off. A tall man with short, spiky black hair, with a distinguished hairline running through it and three small horns protruding from his forehead. He's wearing a laboratory coat over his standard Shinigami shihakushō. Akon, the 3rd seat of the 12th Division, was trying to keep things organized. "DAMN IT! POWER UP THOSE BARRIERS AND INCREASE THEIR RESISTANCE!" Turning around to address another member of the 12th Division, he says, "Send a letter to the Captain-Commander! We need to deploy more Captains!"
"Now what's going on here?" Captain Kurotsuchi spoke, wearing a pair of bloody rubber gloves. "How can you expect me to work, Akon, when you haven't turned off all these annoying alarms!"
"But Captain, it's Zangetsu! He's doing that whole transformation thing again!" The 3rd seat yelled back, taking a seat behind the main computer. "I already ordered to reinforce the barriers and asked someone to head over to the 1st Division to—"
"And who gave you permission to do so?"
"W-what?" Akon turns around, completely confused. "Captain, what are you talking about? If we do nothing, then we will lose three Captains."
Mayuri scoffed, "Pfft, and what?" With a sigh and a scowl, the 12th Division Captain removed the gloves. "Well, it's about time I finally get to see Zangetsu's abilities up close. Hopefully, this trip will prove useful."
Akon watched his Captain leave, most likely heading towards the Living World when another alarm started going off, this one showing that a Garganta was opening. "Damn it, what now!? ... You're joking." He felt like pulling his hair right now. "Another powerful Hollow appeared!" He started working his fingers, trying to find the location of the Garganta when he noticed something completely off. "Why would it—"
"Found something new, Akon?"
The 3rd seat turns around to see a well-endowed woman with green eyes, black hair pulled back into a long braid, with slightly parted bangs. With her melancholic stare, Akon started feeling uncomfortable. "Lieutenant Kurotsuchi, well, umm, there seems to be another Hollow reading but our radars show that this Hollow is appearing two towns away from the park." He frowns before continuing. "The level of Reiatsu we're getting from the Hollow seems to be equal to Zangetsu right now." Hearing the 2nd seat walking away, Akon asks, "Where are you going?"
"Captain Kurotsuchi might need some assistance."
Akon ran both his hands down his face and muttered into them. "Damn it, why did I join this Division..."
Living World
"For fuck's sake." Shinji cursed as he glared at the Shinigami Captain in front of him. "Can you please just move out of the way already?"
With a smile and cocking his head to the left, Gin says, "Nah ah ah, I can't let ya do that, Captain Aizen made it clear to me about not lettin' anyone gets past me."
"So you're working with Aizen then?" Urahara said, his hand going towards his Zanpakutō.
Hacchi, a very large and rotund man who's wearing an olive-green tuxedo with a yellow bow tie, turns his golden eyes towards the ex-shopkeeper. "Urahara-san. Do you feel it?"
The shaggy blonde nodded. "It's happening again. Ichigo is transforming." Just as he finished, a Garganta opened behind Gin.
"Eh?" Gin turns around with a frown. "Now, what are you doing here, Baraggan-san?"
With his ax resting on his right shoulder, Baraggan says, "Do not worry about my reasons for being here, Shinigami."
- X-
Everything was white. Why was it white and where was he, anyway? He doesn't even know if he's looking forward or not.
"Are you okay?"
Did he hear a voice? It was a voice he heard, right? Or was it just his imagination? Oh, Kami why does his head feel dizzy now.
"Wow there, calm down."
He heard it again; it was a voice! A woman's voice if he heard it right. Now his head felt like someone grabbed it with a pair of hands.
"Don't spin your head so fast now."
His vision finally seems to adjust because he was seeing something–no, someone, there was a blurry face of a woman not even inches away from his own. Why doesn't he pull his head away? Is not like her grip on his head was strong. So what is it then? Maybe it is the pair of forest green emerald orbs that are her eyes that have him so captivated.
"You're okay, yes?"
She asked again, leaning her head closer and narrowing her eyes into slits. With his personal space being invaded, his heart started racing. He's supposed to reply, right?
"Where..." Why can't he say more? No, is not that, it's more like... he doesn't know what word comes next. "You.." He tries once more but again, the words get lost. Watching as the woman leaned her head back and took her hands away from his head. He takes a peek around. Everything was a white void, all except for the woman in front of him. Looking back towards her, he notices her short light-blue hair and pale skin. No clothes on her but her body was emitting a green glow around her.
She sighs before saying, "You're feeling fine, right? 'Cause I'll be honest with you. I honestly didn't know what I was doing." Looking down at her hands, she started flexing her fingers. "This... was the first time I ever have done anything like this."
Frowning, he asks. "Where... are we." Did he speak a full sentence?
"I... wish I knew too. I don't remember how we got here... I wish Bann was here."
"Baan?"
Laughing, the woman pokes him on his forehead. "No silly is pronounced, Bann. B-a-n-n. Bann."
"Who's... Bann?" Why did that question bring a smile to her face?
"Uh! Bann is this smart man! Like, there's no one—"
The scenario changed, yet there wasn't much of a difference. Everything was still white, and he was glaring at the endless void. 'Fucking annoying...'
"Neh, how long has it been?"
He sighs before turning around to look at her, a beautiful smile on her face. "I don't know... I think around... 100 years? Sheesh, I don't know why you ask me. I just remember how to count."
Her green orbs light-up. "You remember how to count?! Then do you remember your name then!?"
Groaning, he planted his head between his hands and grumbled. "Ugh! How many times do I have to tell you! I don't have a name!... And don't need one!" Watching as the woman pouted, he couldn't help but think how cute she looked.
"Then it's about time I give you one!" She happily responds before going back to pouting. "Umm, let's see here... what's a good name for you... Sevva!"
"What!? Hell no! It's that even a real name?!"
"... Vadden, Judd, umm Uzziah?"
"Can you just stop?" He asks, a blank look on his face. "You're not even trying... you're just trying to give me a name." Hearing everything go quiet again, he goes back to counting.
"I got it!"
'Oh Kami' He was about to say something when she blurted out.
"All right! Listen up, buddy! I got your name! It's—"
"Neh, how long has it been?"
Again? Why can't she ask anything else? "I don't fucking know... 5 or 600 years, lost count after 400." He replies with a harsh tone. While he was looking forward, he could still see the way she turns around to send him that beautiful smiles of her.
"C'mon now, don't be like that. I know that you're lying."
"Damn it! Can you stop smiling for once! I have been looking at that ugly smile of yours for the last 958 years!" 'And nothing will get me tired of seeing your smile.'
"AHA! YOU DID KNOW!"
Releasing a sigh, he looks back at the white void they have been living in for over 900 years. "Yeah, now what? What good does knowing give you?" He hopes his response didn't sound so gloomy? Something tells him that she will pick it up.
"Don't be like that. Eventually one of us will get out."
Yep, there it is. He could feel her body hug him from behind. "You have been saying that for the last 845 years." He doesn't even need to move his head to see her eyes and smile.
"And is true, but I'm sure the one that will get out first will be you, Luna."
Damn it! Can't she NOT call him that! Pushing her away, he sends her a glare. "Can you stop calling me that already! I told you a million times already! I don't have a name, and I don't need one! So stop calling me that! Luna!" He doesn't want to sound like an asshole but still... that name gets to him... he has no right to use that name.
"Sorry, it's just sad that you don't have a name..."
"And I don't need one! And you shouldn't have named me with the same name as yours!"
"You know." He could see her going back to smiling. "One day someone will give you a name. A name that you will like, a name that will fit you, a name that you will wear with pride."
'Wouldn't that be nice?'
Again, the white void. How much longer must they wait... when will it happen? The day one of them gets to leave this place.
"Neh, how long-"
He turns around to see that Luna was standing up. "Is something wrong?" Was that a serious look on her face? And was she glaring? What's going on, he never has seen her like this before."Lun-!" His words came to a halt when he spotted black cracks spreading around the white void. "LUNA! What's happening?" As he looks around, he notices the way the strange root-like cracks were dashing towards him. He turns back around to look at her when he notices the sad smile on her face.
"It's happening... you're getting out of here..."
His eyes widened. "Me? Just me? NOT US?" He tries running towards her but his feet wouldn't move, looking down he notices the way the roots wrap around his legs. Looking back up, he notices the way the white dimension seems to break in half. His entire side was entirely pitched black. "No! NO! NO! I'm not leaving without you!"
"It's okay... Luna... you don't need me."
He couldn't even reply in time before seeing the way he was getting dragged away. As he looks back to her, he notices the small smile, but the thing that made him feel worried was the way she wasn't even moving from her spot. "What.. are you doing... Luna!" Getting no response, he yells out a promise. "I'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE TOO! SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, OKAY!? JUST WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER, LUNA!" Seeing tears in her eyes, he heard her yell back.
"That's a promise! I'll wait for you! And Luna, don't forget!? OKAY! YOU WERE BORN TO PR—"
Green? Where was he and was that water he was feeling? Is he in a test tube?
"Amazing."
As soon as he heard that voice, he turned his eyes towards the owner. A brunette wearing glasses.
"I'm expecting many great things from you, White."
Was he biting? It feels like his teeth were driving deeper into flesh. What was he biting? And what's up with that annoying blue light!
Black.
Great.
Where was he now! 'Damn it!' He was about to look around when he noticed the fact that he wasn't even alone. There was another Hollow here... 'A Hollow here? How?! What's going on? Could it be... my current host got devoured?' His eyes lit up. Luna told him about this! 'I'm stronger than him! That means I can take control!' He could hear the clear confusion in the Hollow's voice. 'Oh, this is going to be sweet.'
And it didn't work... 'Damn that brat...' He was sure it would work. 'It won't be long before he finally comes inside.' He went back to looking at the stars... The same ones he had been looking at for the past 6 years.
"LILY!"
He sighs. 'Okay, here we go.'
Ichigo's eyes shut open. That was him! The one time he called out to Lily when he was in-!
"Zangetsu!" The redhead looks around, trying to find his inner Hollow when he notices that he wasn't at the island... He was standing on the side of a building. "Where... Where am I."
"I have been waiting for you, Ichigo."
Ichigo turns around and says, "Who are you?"
The… thing standing behind him was a glowing figure of a man. No facial features, no hair, no nothing… It was just a white silhouette.
-X-
And that's a wrap for the 1st part.
Don't have much to say so~ let's start lol.
So yes, Ulquiorra had trouble against both Captains, why? The answer is quite simple. Even though he was the 4th Espada he would actually have a harder time against more experience Captains, now remember that the only person that Ulquiorra ever fought was Ichigo. So how would he fair against others is unknown. Also no, he doesn't have his Sengunda Entapa but he will.
Now, Toshi and Ryuken's battle was just gonna be simple. Nothing too fancy.
Was Ichigo's fight satisfying? I mean after all in this story he's as strong as Grimmjow and he was able to stun Rukia with his Reiatsu.
Got Aizen into the mix now which lead Ichigo into going berserk again.