Chapter 14: Sins of the Grandfather
"I will not tolerate any excuses!" Head Captain Yamamoto, the strongest Shinigami in history was on the verge of losing his composure and unleashing hellfire upon his own barracks.
He is now scolding members of the Onmitsukidō who were sent to investigate Kyōgoku and figure out what is going on, and hopefully find the Shinenju but his stealthy subordinates couldn't even find the entrance to the other dimension. The doorway into Kyōgoku should be easy to find because of the immense amount of power it radiates that even the lowest peasant with zero chance of ever becoming a Shinigami could find it because the high concentration of Reishi of that dimension is greater than the amount in Soul Society and Hueco Mundo combined.
The location where the portal will appear is almost random but it's usually located within the Districts of Rukongai nearest to the Seireitei but even that has escaped the notice of the Gotei 13.
"SIR!" The members of the Onmitsukidō replied in unison, bowing their heads in shame for their failure and shunpo'd away from the Assembly Room of the Captains.
Right now only ten Captains of the Gotei 13 remain due to the absence of the treacherous Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tōsen, ironically making them feel ''hollow'' with the open space between the captains that are split into two horizontal lines.
"Dammit…" Soifon cursed the latest misfortune that had befallen them.
"As if things couldn't get any worse," Ukitake frowned looking the saddest out of everyone when compared to Yamamoto's rage. Out of all of the Captains, Jūshirō is the one who volunteers the most when accompanying the Shinenju and thus has a close bond with the famed goddess.
"Speaking as the least experienced among us, just how dire of a situation are we really in for?" Tōshirō asked.
"Best case scenario. Hueco Mundo is the only place left for us to hide in if no one here is prepared to face the death penalty," Shunsui responded casually.
"That is a crude way to put it, but yes, we more than the Tenrai-chō (Divine Chieftain) hold the responsibility of protecting the Shinenju from harm. The last time the Shinenju descended from the Palace, it earned the attention of a pack of Adjuchas," Retsu said.
"I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was a good fight," Kenpachi grinned, having been chosen to previously guard the Shinenju. He abhors the idea of being a bodyguard and constantly argued with the Head Captain when he was selected before ultimately relenting. His sheer boredom turned into euphoria once they entered Kyōgoku only to be greeted by fifty Adjuchas. What followed was a glorious bloodbath. By themselves, the Hollows were decent but fighting more than one was worth all the gruesome paperwork when the mission was over.
"I remember it differently," Mayuri scoffed, glaring daggers at the Captain right in front of him. He too was among the Shinenju's bodyguards and was livid that he only managed to capture two Adjuchas because of Kenpachi's rampage. Those were some good test subjects with wonderful results to be sure but still the least interesting compared to the one that he deduced mid-battle was on the verge of becoming a Vasto Lorde.
The Head Captain had to be called in to restrain Mayuri and Kenpachi when they started attacking each other.
"If we can't find the Shinenju in the Soul Society then perhaps she is somewhere in the Human World," Sajin suggested. "It can't be a coincidence that Karakura Town happens to be the location that Kyōgoku is projecting above the Seireitei."
"Yes, you raise a valid suggestion, Captain Komamura," Yamamoto nodded to this.
However, he suspects that Karakura's appearance above them has more to do with the land that the town was built upon happens to be the current Jūreichi (Important Spirit Ground), the singular point in the Human World that contains the highest amount of Reishi. The amount still pales in comparison to the spirit worlds but it's no coincidence either why so many spiritual happenings like Hollow activities have always been so high, though the nature of that land is kept secret to all below the Captains for legal reasons.
"We will send a small team to investigate the Human World for possible signs of the Shinenju as soon as we are able, and I appoint Captain Hitsugaya to lead this team," He declared, with the youngest Captain bowing in compliance. "Pick whichever capable soldier you deem fit, it does not have to be from your Division alone."
"Head Captain. I am appalled for bringing this topic up but I'm afraid that our search for the Shinenju is not our only issue and we must also address the matter with the Shisonka," Byakuya said with reluctance, referring to another issue they'd been dealing with before their latest crisis that has been giving the Captains a headache, especially Byakuya who loathes when his duties as a Tenrai-chō and a Captain collide. He prefers to comfortably keep both of his occupations at arm's length to allow himself moments of peace.
"And here we go again," Mayuri sighed.
Although the Gotei 13, Central 46, and the Nobility are the high powers of Soul Society, keeping law and order at the top, it's no secret to Rukongai that cooperation between the three powers is laughably abysmal. The Nobles hold the most authority, Central 46 was more concerned with pleasing them to fill their own pockets rather than doing their jobs, and the Shinigami were treated as no more than attack dogs, with the Head Captain alone being given proper respect but even he has too many grievances.
In this case, the Gotei can't object and accept their ire. The ordeal between Ichigo and Rukia was more embarrassing to the nobility since the latter is a member of one of the greatest clans in Soul Society. Her adoption was met with harsh criticism and ridicule, and even if Aizen hadn't turned out to be a despicable man, Rukia might've still faced execution from their demands.
When Aizen took control of the Sōkyoku and sent it on a rampage across the Seireitei, the district where the Nobles live received more damage from the fires than anywhere else, almost like it was intentional, and no one would be surprised if that were so. Many lives were lost in the hellfire, including members within the Shisonka, injuring one of the Clan Heads and killing another.
To say that the Shinigami have become unpopular in Soul Society because of this would be an understatement, to say nothing of the fact that it took a Ryoka, who just so happens to be an unnatural hybrid of human and Shinigami that originally started the disaster as a pawn of Aizen ended up being the one to save the Seireitei.
If there is a silver lining to any of this is that with Central 46 dead and the wartime protocol still in effect, Head Captain Yamamoto is granted supreme authority in Soul Society until all immediate danger has ended, and they know that Aizen will be back and with an army. He still has to answer to the nobles but he has the final say and with the full support of the Kuchiki's Tenrai-chō he will be able to keep things from getting worse for the Gotei 13. Though a part of him is telling him that's wishful thinking.
"Very well, bring him in," Yamamoto complied. Shūhei Hisagi entered the room in a few moments, vowing before the Head Captain.
"Lieutenant Hisagi, reporting for duty, sir!" He said respectfully.
"On your feet, lieutenant. You have enough on your shoulders as it is," Yamamoto stated. When a Division is without a Captain, all responsibility and leadership falls to the Lieutenant until a new Captain can be assigned, and the 9th Division has it harder than most since they are also in charge of managing the Seireitei Communication, which gives monthly magazines across the Soul Society.
With Kaname Tōsen gone, the responsibility of Editor-in-Chief also falls to Hisagi and him having his hands full is no laughing matter. Soifon and Mayuri, who have other managements besides their Gotei Divisions would wordlessly agree that Shūhei has it harder than them. Publishing is a serious business.
"You know why you are here?" Yamamoto asked.
"Yes sir. The Seireitei Communication is to publicize the coming of two new Tenrai-chō of the Shihōin and Tsunayashiro Clans," Shūhei correctly deduced.
"Yes, two of the Shisonka have suffered the heaviest losses in the attack with only the Kasumiōji being spared from harm. The Shihōin Tenrai-chō requires extensive medical treatment and will be unable to fulfill his duties, hence why it falls to his only son to take the mantle as head of the clan," Yamamoto explained. "You are to interview the youngling, Yūshirō Shihōin, and publicize his ascension. The same goes for the Tsunayashiro Tenrai-chō."
"Consider it done," Shūhei said but there was almost no enthusiasm in him. He loves his job as an editor as much as being a Shinigami but the amount of work he has to put in when it concerns the Nobility is always unnecessarily long. This will be the first time he publishes someone so esteemed and one of the true leaders of Soul Society so he can imagine the stress he'll get from it. But that isn't the true cause of his worry.
"Forgive me for coming off as blunt, Head Captain. I know a thing or two about Yūshirō Shihōin, a promising youth with a lot of potential like his sister, Yoruichi Shihōin, who was supposed to be the 22nd Tenrai-chō of her Clan before deserting with Kisuke Urahara, and I'm sure things will go smoothly with him but I'm concern about the Tsunayashiros. Out of all the Shisonka, they've always been the most secretive and closed off from the Soul Society. Even the Administrative District don't have much to say about them, and not because they bribed or anything,"
"Yes, the Tsunayashiro are tasked with recording and maintaining the history of the world, with that comes more influence than any other Clan and secrets that it is within their rights to keep to themselves. It is understandable why you would be apprehensive about this," Yamamoto knew perfectly well and saw coming Shūhei's reluctance to do this interview.
The Shihōin are quite famous and loved by the masses but the Tsunayashiro are a topic of fear. Something that has personally irked Yamamoto is how despite there being many Shinigami in the family, not one of them are official members of the Gotei 13. They basically have their own splinter group popularly known as the 14th Division, something the actual Divisions refuse to acknowledge or entertain.
"As much as all of us would prefer to keep this matter on hold for now, I'm afraid that is not an option. We have been able to prevent the situation of the Shinenju's disappearance from spreading and we have to keep it this way and lead everyone into believing that the phenomenon in the sky is the cause of something other than Kyōgoku," Yamamoto said stressfully, he can't hide how much this is all getting to even him. "Our esteemed Captain Kuchiki knows more about the burdens of the Tenrai-chō than I, and has offered to assist you in your interviews."
"Understood," Shūhei nodded. "And what is the name of the next Tenrai-chō? The name Yūshirō is widely known in both the Seireitei and Rukongai but it is my understanding that all listed to be in line to lead the Tsunayashiro were killed by Kikōō, meaning that whoever is left to fill the position was never meant to have a chance to be leader."
"Tokinada Tsunayashiro," Kyōraku was the one who answered. He hid his face under his hat but his fellow Captains knew he was frowning. Jūshirō looked hurt by his malcontent.
"Tokinada…" Shūhei whispered, feeling like he had heard that name before.
The meeting went on for another half-hour before they were dismissed.
"How much do you want to bet that you know who is really in the Human World?" Kyōraku asked Ukitake as they and Tōshirō walked together, leaving the 1st Division Barracks.
"If not here, then where else? Certainly not Hueco Mundo, and if she is where she is supposed to enter then why hasn't the whole thing been sorted out already," Ukitake pointed at the obvious.
"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised at this point if we have to go to that bleak place to search. Nothing that happens next could top the end of the Kurosaki Invasion," Kyōraku said chuckling a bit at the name that was chosen for the event Ichigo's group caused. He can already envision Ichigo's flustered look when he learns about it, more so Uryū who angrily denied it when it was presumed that Ichigo was their leader.
"Unless you want to jinx us, I request you cease talking like that," Tōshirō insisted, not in the mood to entertain such thoughts. He just knows that things will get worse from what Aizen started. "Besides, the Ōin War remains our most brutal battle to date."
"Come now, Captain Hitsugaya, there's no need to say such things," Kyōraku mused. "By the way, have you already decided whom you will take to investigate Karakura?"
"Not yet, but I will be taking my Lieutenant with me," Tōshirō replied. "I regret leaving my 3rd Seat to supervise the Division for me, but I refuse to entrust Rangiku to do it instead. Even Isshin was never stupid enough to leave the Division in her hands."
"Since Karakura is where Isshin and his son live, it would be problematic if we sent anyone who might provoke them, seeing how the majority of our ranks still holds them responsible for the calamity," Ukitake said. "Whomever you bring, it better be those they will trust."
"I'm aware. It's why the Head Captain chose me for this mission because he knows Isshin will be at ease if he sees me," Tōshirō replied not happy for the reason.
He understands that Yamamoto wants things to go smoothly for them, regardless of his misgivings with Isshin and his human son. The only ones who the Shinigami should be fighting right now are Aizen and the occasional Hollows, anyone else is just a distraction. The problem is that Tōshirō doesn't like being chosen for a mission for any specific reason other than him being capable of the role, and he doesn't want to see his former captain yet.
"I wonder more about why we have to waste time entertaining the whims of the nobles when our top priority should be just Aizen," Tōshirō said irritably.
"Your frustration is not without merit but it is what it is. The Gotei 13 is just a military branch. The true position of leadership has always belonged to the upper echelon, more so the Shisonka. We're just lucky that the Shihōin and Kuchiki Clans have long since been stubborn supporters of ours," Ukitake explained. "Apart from the Kasumiōji who has their Viceroy with the sole heiress not old enough to assume her role, there is comfort in knowing that the Shihōin Clan is in good hands. Yūshirō is young and brash but I know he'll grow into a fine and strong leader."
"And what about the Tenrai-chō who stands above all noble houses?" Tōshirō asked. "I've been tasked with bodyguarding several members of the Tsunayashiro since I was a 3rd Seat and am more or less acquainted with the clan to know what they're like but I have never heard of this Tokinada."
"That's…" Ukitake couldn't bring himself to answer and stopped walking as a result of his reluctance.
"Complicated. That's the best way to describe Tokinada, apart from being a genius in almost all aspects of being a noble and Shinigami," Kyōraku replied for him while fighting the urge to say more but doing so might land him in trouble because what more he wanted to say was all negative, and it was because of that Tōshirō knew that perhaps Aizen might not be their main problem after all.
"Hey! I'm back! Where are you?!" Ichigo shouted after entering the mall once more. He didn't expect Senna to still be here, but he had to check, looking around to see how busy the mall seemed to be.
Not surprising since school will begin soon so parents have to prepare for their kids but he can't help but feel like something else is going on. He quickly pushed the thought away and was about to leave when suddenly a familiar voice shouted out.
"Wow! You came back just like you said!"
Ichigo spun around to see Senna leaning forward against the ledge on the second level waving at him with a grin on her face. She wouldn't admit it to him but she had more fun running around with him than spending time alone in the mall. So she was quite pleased to see that he had kept his word and came back.
"Of course I did… I still have some questions I need to ask," Ichigo retorted bluntly.
"Okay! Well, then you're it!" Senna laughed and ran off.
"Damn it… that little…!" Ichigo groaned and chased after her immediately heading for the stairs.
She had a lot of fun being chased by Ichigo but when she saw the large crowd in the entertainment center she couldn't help but perform her own act. Everyone had been mesmerized when she walked along a single wire high in the air before she fell off and disappeared before everyone's eyes. Thanks to her ability to use Shunpo it was easy to trick them all and she appeared on a pillar, shocking the crowd. Unfortunately for her, Ichigo was finally able to grab hold of her and now she was here, eating dinner.
"You could've saved us both a lot of time… If you said you were treating, I'd have answered right away," Senna said happily before taking a large bite of her roll.
"You don't have any money received from Soul Society for the duration of your stay here?" Ichigo asked her repressing the sigh that had built up.
Senna shook her head, her mouth was currently too full to reply.
"Okay… What do you know about them?" Ichigo questioned her getting to the point quickly.
"Who are you talking about?" Senna replied after swallowing her food.
Ichigo grunted in annoyance, "I just explained it to you. The Blanks and the Shinenju? Remember? You need to tell me everything you know."
"I would if I could. It's the first I've heard of them," Senna told him honestly and she followed up with a sigh before asking, "So someone is using those pixie head things to try and find this, uh… this shinen-na-ma-bob?"
"Shinenju,"
"Right. They were using them to find it?" Senna asked him curiously.
Ichigo nodded, "Apparently, this Shinenju is some kind of goddess of the Soul Society who is now missing and it's important for everyone that we rectify this crisis."
"So who is this baddy?"
"That's what I wanna know," Ichigo replied with a dull look on his face.
"Why does he want it?"
"Well, I imagine it's to acquire tremendous power, if it really is a deity, that is,"
Senna raised an eyebrow, "And what does the Shinenju look like?"
"No clue, but if it is treated as a goddess and princess, I imagine she is a sight to behold," Ichigo replied bluntly.
Senna smirked and leaned back in her chair, "What, you expecting to find a bombshell of a woman for you to claim as your girlfriend?"
"That's not funny," Ichigo half-growled.
"It actually is," Senna started laughing.
Ichigo sighed in defeat, taking a quick sip of his drink.
Seeing the look on his face, Senna smiled and said, "Don't worry. I'll help you, I'm a Shinigami, therefore this Shinenju is my Goddess as well. In exchange…"
"Here we go," Ichigo moaned just as Senna stood up and pointed to something behind him.
"Take me for a ride and I'll help you with whatever you want,"
Ichigo turned his head and looked dully at the Ferris wheel that Senna was pointing to. "You really like high places, don't you?"
Senna nodded, "I like it when I'm way up high. All the things that seem confusing or messed up suddenly become clear."
"That's really inter—Hey! That ribbon!" Ichigo suddenly exclaimed when Senna turned her back to him and he noticed the change in the ribbon that tied her hair up.
"Oh?! You noticed," Senna said happily. "Don't you think that red looks a lot better on me?"
"Yeah, but how did you get it when you have no money?" Ichigo asked her curiously.
"I wandered into some shop to look at stuff and tried this on to see if I liked it. I guess I must've forgotten I had it on. It happens all the time," Senna shrugged indifferently and jumped off her chair and back onto the ground.
"Not on my watch!" Ichigo declared standing up. He quickly grabbed her wrist and began dragging her off.
"Hey wait! Aren't you going to pay that check?!" Senna shouted.
Ichigo stopped in his tracks and placed the required amount of cash on the table. He signaled one of the waitresses and received a nod in return indicating that she understood.
"I'll take this," Ichigo said placing the red ribbon that Senna had stolen on the counter.
"Present for your girlfriend?" The woman behind the counter asked with a grin.
"Not quite," Ichigo informed her with a slight blush on his cheeks.
"Do you want it gift-wrapped?"
"No, thank you," Ichigo told her handing over the money for it. The woman nodded and walked over to the register to put the money in. Ichigo on the other hand glared over at Senna after he noticed her almost take another item. She flinched slightly at the look and withdrew her hand.
"Thank you very much," The woman said to Ichigo after returning with the change. Ichigo took the ribbon and nodded gratefully to her before leaving the store with Senna following him.
"Here," Ichigo handed her the ribbon once they had left the store.
"I can't believe you did that. You're so uptight," Senna pointed out accepting the ribbon.
"I hate that kind of thing! Just take it and shut up," Ichigo told her.
"Thanks so much, Ichigo," Senna said gratefully, "Now let's go on the Ferris Wheel!"
"Yeah, right. Forget about it," Ichigo informed her indifferently.
"Meany!" Senna pouted sadly.
"I need to save up my money, okay? I don't plan on going home tonight so shut up," The Shinigami Agent informed her.
"Hmph!" Senna scoffed and began walking off.
"Hey!" Ichigo said annoyed.
"I'm going to the restroom. Is that alright with you?" Senna huffed before turning the corner and heading into the restroom.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep up with her," Ichigo muttered to himself.
In the girl's restroom, Senna looked into a mirror and tied the red ribbon around her hair.
"He's not a bad guy once you get to know him," Senna giggled and began posing in the mirror. She liked how the ribbon looked on her. "Sweet! Alright!"
Just after she had left the restroom she walked past a window where the river could be seen. This caught her attention as a memory of her father flashed in her mind and she hurried out of the building towards the cemetery. She just knew that her father would be on a gravestone along with hers. This was the town she had grown up in.
"This day gets more unpleasant by the minute," Getsuhime said.
'You're telling me. If I have to put up with this girl any longer I'm dumping her at Uryū's house,' Ichigo whined.
"It's not her. Those around us, the amount of them has me worried,"
'Worried how. I'd understand if it was a school night, in which case 7 pm of the night is not ideal for this many people to be at the mall but there is still time before summer ends,'
"You misunderstand my meaning. I don't think they're people in the sense that they're really here," She warned forlornly.
'What are you talking about?' He became a little spooked by her words. Instead of waiting for her answer, he turned around to see a man behind him and went to talk to him but as soon as he got closer, the man vanished from his sight.
"What?" He gasped.
It wasn't just the man but the hallways that had been full of people were now completely vacant and the lights were off as though the mall had been closed. There was no way that everyone had left the mall in the last couple of minutes.
"What is happening?" Ichigo uttered in confusion.
"Ichigo, look at the time," Getsuhime instructed and Ichigo stared at the nearest clock, further shocked to realize that it was actually 3 A.M.
"I… I don't understand," Ichigo couldn't believe this. His perception was way off. "How could time fly so much without either of us noticing."
His thoughts shifted back to another concern. "Senna!"
"This is where I was buried…" Senna muttered to herself, having made it to the cemetery, drawn there by the memories of her human life that made her believe that her father would be here but as she got closer she realized that the image of her parents was off completely as they bore many faces. Memory after memory about her family but none of it feels right, and now she is recalling the day of her funeral.
But how could she have memories of that day unless she was still a Plus when it happened, and again her grieving parents look different again. What is happening to her?
"Recalling something that doesn't feel like your own?" A voice from behind her startled her and on impulse, she backed away.
"Backflip-backflip-backflip!" She panicked while doing exactly that.
"Apologies for the scare, milady but I'm on a tight schedule," Said the man whom Orihime encountered.
"Who are you?" Senna demanded, expecting a fight.
"Ganryū is the name. Ganryū Ryōdoji and you are exactly who I have been looking for," He introduced himself. "Again, I apologize for the way that sounded, I'm afraid I lost my skills in conversations in my long solitude."
"Okay… I forgive you but whatever you want from me, I'm not interested," Senna said still feeling threatened by this man and unnaturally entered her Shinigami form by removing her Gigai without the use of a Gikon, with the Gigai turning into autumn leaves and disappear.
"I do not wish to get violent but your consent is needless," Ganryū said, manifesting a blade to take her by force if need be.
Senna unsheathes Mirokumaru and without hesitation charges to attack first. Ganryū couldn't hide a smirk because of how easy this all was. She's strong but has no real skill.
Senna is stopped from waltzing into danger by Ichigo who grabs her by the red ribbon on her waist that he uses to pull her away from Ganryū and next proceeds to attack him with Getsuhime who blocks her with his Jian.
"Ichigo!" Senna uttered.
"It can't be…" Ganryū gasped in shock upon seeing Ichigo's face, feeling as though he was staring at a ''ghost''. The irony is not lost on him.
"About time I'd find you," Ichigo said noticing that the man's appearance fits with Orihime's description. He makes another swing that pushes Ganryū several feet away from him and Senna.
"What the hell are you doing here, dumbass! I had this under control," Senna snapped at him while she got on her feet after being tossed aside.
"Shut up, you troublesome rat. Who told you to sneak off out of my sight," Ichigo criticized, never turning his eyes off Ganryū. "You're in way over your head, this guy is no joke. So stay out of this and let me handle him, okay?"
"That face… are you from the Shiba Clan, boy?" Ganryū demanded, catching Ichigo off guard for a bit, and recalled how he resembled his paternal grandfather.
"Yeah, from my father's side, back when he was referred to as Isshin Shiba," He answered.
"Isshin? I see, so you're Kisara's grandson, and the son Rentaro had with her was accepted into the clan after all," Ganryū pondered this information while gazing at the sky that still has the reflection of the Seireitei. "How interesting. I'd be happy for Rentaro if he wasn't rotting in Hell where he belongs."
"And what do my blood ties have to do with you anyway?" Ichigo asked.
"More than you can imagine, boy. Alas, I'm not so heartless and cowardly that I would punish a child for sins committed long ago by his forefathers, so I suggest you not interfere any longer and walk away," Ganryū offered.
"Sorry, but I have a policy of never leaving girls alone with strangers," Ichigo declined, ready to attack again.
"Of course, you'd make a response like that. How could I expect anything more from a Shiba," Ganryū sighed, having already known that he would have to fight Ichigo from the moment he laid eyes on him one way or another.
In preparation, he lets loose his Reiatsu which takes the form of a dark green pillar that reaches the sky, towering over all of Karakura. The great surge of power awakens every spiritually aware person in the town from their slumber.
"No way!" Senna gasped, having never felt Reiryoku as high as Ganryū's.
"Be as wary as you were against Aizen, Ichigo. He feels like a Shinigami but also like a Blank somehow. He's more of an anomaly than we are," Getsuhime warned.
"I won't lose," Ichigo scowled, clutching his hands tightly on Getsuhime, and inwardly glad he removed his limiter before coming here.
Without another word, Ichigo and Ganryū fight. The clash of their swords triggers a burst of both their Reiatsu and Senna is blown away out of the cemetery. The combatants damaged a portion of the cemetery before they take their fight to the sky while Senna watches but she can barely see them because of how fast they're going. Only able to catch glimpses of the two backing away from each other twice from the force of their swings before getting closer again.
Ichigo swings Getsuhime with all his might, five strikes from him push Ganryū further up in the air but he doesn't seem phased by any of it and just moves forward, parrying any other swing Ichigo gives before moving behind the Agent and delivering a swift kick to his right abdomen, sending Ichigo flying half a mile away and crashes into the rooftop of a skyscraper.
It only takes the Shinigami Agent a millisecond to recover from this and instantly return to face Ganryū, aiming for his neck. The Rogue Shinigami evades this lethal blow by lowering himself and then using Shunpo to appear above Ichigo to pierce him from the top of his head. Ichigo countered in time but lost sight of Ganryū again, and yet instincts aided him in the right move to evade another aim for his head and only got off with a gash on top of his right eye that was quickly bleeding and blocking his right view.
Ganryū keeps his distance to use Kidō to strike down Ichigo but is given little time with Ichigo rushing him faster than he can cast a spell. He parries another strike from Getsuhime hard enough that Ichigo is blown down, almost crashing into the ground but he maintains his footing in mid-air before heading back up again.
"Ōkasen!" Ganryū extends his arm at Ichigo and fires a blast of yellow flame at the Shinigami Agent.
"Purge, Getsuhime!" Majestic light pours from Ichigo's sword and engulfs him for an instant before Getsuhime assumes her true form. The Agent swings his blade, firing a slash of light energy that overpowers Ganryū's Kidō.
"Zangerin!" Ganryū readied another spell to use after Ichigo rushed him with superb speed that he only barely managed to parry and the clash of his Kidō and Getsuhime's light released a shockwave that pushed the two away from each other but to Ichigo's relief, they weren't blown too far.
"Jingetsu!" Ichigo summons multiple light swords and sends them all after his foe.
"Enkōsen (Round Lock Fan)," Ganryū extends his left hand in a blocking motion generating a dull yellow energy, which takes the form of a large spinning disk of condensed Reiatsu that blocks all of the blades of Jingetsu.
'Aren't people supposed to say which type of Kidō they are using along with their number before actually using it?' Ichigo questioned while he Shunpo'd behind Ganryū to surprise him with a bigger swarm of Jingetsu.
The stranger unfortunately reacted much faster before the blades could even be launched.
"Shitotsu Sansen!" Ganryū inverts a yellow triangle and fires at Ichigo sending the Agent flying away, the light blades all fading away because of the technique being abruptly interrupted and Ichigo moments away from being pinned into a building.
"It's more out of a habit because of the sheer importance of Kotodama than an absolute," Getsuhime commented while Ichigo broke free from the Bakudō in a similar manner to when Momo used the same spell on him, stopping inches before crashing into the building. "As long as the true name of the spell is said properly, the mention of its type and level are irrelevant."
"Good. The fewer mouthfuls the better," Ichigo said before gathering more power and again charging after Ganryū. "Getsuga Tenshō!" He shouted, firing a huge burst of his Reiatsu.
"Sōren Sōkatsui!" Ganryū unleashed a stream of blue flames greater than the version Byakuya used on him, and the impact triggered an even greater explosion that Ichigo was thankful was far away enough that it wouldn't harm the town but the shockwave would cause some damage to the buildings.
"My, my. You aren't short on means of destruction. That last one was a splendid attack. Hearing you scream that name brings back memories," Ganryū mused while his armor received a little damage from the blast but otherwise, he was unscathed, unlike Ichigo who got bruised and burned from the aftermath.
"You've seen someone else use the Getsuga Tenshō?" Ichigo questioned, taking a breath after enduring the force of the explosion.
"Of course. Getsuga is a power of destruction that originates from the Shiba Clan but not everyone is born with it, and those that are must first become Shinigami to harness it through a Zanpakutō," Ganryū explained. "Your Getsuga Tenshō is not as strong as your grandfather's but I commend you for being able to use it. Rentaro's loveless daughter, Hotaru, couldn't use it and I'm sure her offspring are just as worthless."
"Is that right?" Ichigo said unamused by the man's banter. "None of that matters to me, anyhow, so why don't we hurry and wrap this up—"
Senna's screams consume Ichigo's thoughts and for an instant, he turns away from his opponent to see what is going on with the troublesome girl to see that she is surrounded by a flock of Blanks that snuck up on her while she was distracted watching his fight. She should be able to handle them herself but from the way they've ganged up on her she has no freedom to move and needs help.
"Gengetsu!" Getsuhime shouted, never losing sight of Ganryū, and briefly took command of the fight on time to make Ichigo intangible the moment Ganryū took advantage of his young opponent's blunder and attacked him with a spear he manifested aiming for his chest. "If you want to continue being a protector, I suggest you learn to prioritize your life once and a while so that you can continue to fight as you assured me you would."
Inwardly cursing himself with every vulgar tongue known to man for his inexcusable mistake, Ichigo takes the chance presented to him, grabbing a confused Ganryū by his chest plate so he doesn't get away from a point-blank Getsuga that he immediately fires before his opponent can do anything, triggering another explosion that did more to Ganryū this time.
Afterwards, Ichigo rushed back down to save Senna, cutting down each of the Blanks in a flash, their bodies disintegrating instantaneously. He regrets doing harm to these lost souls but he can't risk letting Senna come to harm because of his own inaction.
"Senna!" The Shinigami Agent returned to her side who again lay on the ground and he helped her up.
"What happened to that man?" She asked a bit spooked from how quickly the Blanks caught her off guard.
Ichigo turned to see where Ganryū landed but there was no sign of him. Ichigo looks around trying to track him down but he can't pinpoint his Reiatsu.
"He left. I suppose he realized he was outmatched and decided it was better to fall back and rethink his options," Getsuhime surmised Ganryū's wise course of action. "Still, he was formidable, next time he'll be more dangerous."
"I know," Ichigo sighed, glad that the fight was over, and turned to inspect Senna for injuries. "Are you injured?"
"You dummy! Are you seriously asking me that when you're the one who just had an explosion to the face," Senna protested, her confident façade replaced with a frightened one worried for her defender.
"My injuries are manageable, you're the one who was crying out for help," Ichigo reprimanded. "What were you thinking ditching me like that in a closed mall?"
"Closed mall?" Senna questioned just as confused as he was about the issue.
"Forget it, we'll discuss this later," Ichigo sighed, so done with this night. He imagines that Orihime was woken up from all the volatile surges of Reiatsu from him and Ganryū but he'd hate to come to her only to treat his wounds at this hour.
"You're gonna have to regroup with everyone to discuss the current situation anyway so she might as well fulfill her assigned role regardless, " Getsuhime said too stuck up for Ichigo's liking. Then again, he too would rather Orihime stay away from the frontlines and remain as the group's Healer indefinitely so does he really have a right to reprimand his partner's choice of words.
"As soon as we fetch my Gigai, we're going to Urahara Shop where it will be the safest place for you,"
"Wow, those were some pretty lights," Yachiru cheered, watching the sky bubble that was flashing with blue lights.
"That was Ichigo. He fought someone. Someone strong," Kenpachi smirked as the battle that happened in Karakura was seen from the Soul Society but it was not a good view.
"Boy, whoever that guy is, he really gave a hurting to the kid," Ikkaku said as all of the 11th Division watched.
"Ichigo?" Rukia said, also a witness to the spectacle in the sky from the 13th Division Barracks.
"Great, like we needed more problems," Sentarō said, not liking the sight of this.
"Do you think this has anything to do with the Shinenju?" Kiyone wondered.
"Hard to say but this still gives us more of a reason to go to the Human World," Jūshirō frowned, dreading what was to come. He has been pondering for a while about requesting the Head Captain to accompany Tōshirō to find the Shinenju as he feels that there is more to the new situation than just her being in danger, and now he is adamant about just that.
"Dammit Ichigo, you couldn't help yourself but start more chaos so soon after the last bash of madness," Renji hissed, standing on a rooftop beside the Kudō Twins.
"I wouldn't hold it against him too much, he's more like the kind of person who dangers wants to come after rather than the other way around," Matsuri said.
"Yeah, like that makes things any better," Fujimaru bemused.
"You think this has anything to do with Aizen?" Renji asked.
"Doubtful. I mean it is too soon for him to mount an attack after getting away from our grasps. Whatever he's planning, he'll need an army, which will take some time unless we underestimated him further and he was already prepared," Matsuri noted. "Right now, Karakura is our concern so we better hurry over there before Ichigo—"
Matsuri ceases her words and begins to groan, clutching her head tightly with her hands.
"Matsuri?" Renji said worriedly when he saw his friend in pain.
"Shit! Another migraine and it's one of the bad ones," Fujimaru cursed while holding his sister by her shoulders as she fell to her knees. The pain in her head is really bad but things escalated when her eyes begin to glow with a white light and she starts to see visions of a place far removed from the Seireitei.
She sees a rocky area with many canyons and mountains. Numerous Shoji-type structures, with white tassels attached at the tops, embedded into the cliff sides, and at the center of everything is a long wooden pole.
The sky above was sunny but with a lot of clouds. Then time starts to move forward at a rapid pace and now everything goes dark with a violent storm that affects the land below it. A huge portion of the valley soon crumbles apart as something huge emerges from underneath.
A gargantuan beast, standing over 50 meters tall. Its skin is a deep purple with a figure that is slander but with a fair amount of muscle, possessing four arms with the upper left hand having talon-like blades instead of fingers and the lower right arm is a tentacle. Its lower torso is elongated like a snake tail with no legs. Lastly, the head has four ox-like horns and it lacks a face, instead, there is a hole in its head with nothing but inky darkness within.
The hideous beast howls with merciless fury and hate into the sky, provoking the storm clouds to shout out more thunder and bolts of lightning to shoot out from the ground.
Below the monster is a small group of Shinigami that stand against it with Captains Ukitake and Hitsugaya among them. The latter is using his Bankai, and preparing to face the mysterious monster that is not a Hollow.
"GETSUGA SHUKENJA!" Ichigo screamed as he entered the battlefield, pointing his Zanpakutō into the sky with his Reiatsu skyrocketing. Descending from the black clouds, a creature of raw power emerges, the Dragon who embodies Ichigo's full strength returns and both were ready to rip the giant monster to shreds and lung themselves forward.
Matsuri sees one last vision of a massive, beating black heart, most likely the monster's heart, followed by a name that is whispered to her before the vision ends and her eyes return to normal.
"Orient…"
She takes a deep breath, glad that the whole thing was over and the migraine ended.
"Are you okay?" Renji asked her.
"What did you see?" Fujimaru said being the only one who understood what his sister was going through.
"I need to go check on the Daireishokairō,"
"Are you off your ruckus! Or are you still glutton for punishment," Renji reprimanded, as her intention would land her in more trouble with the Captains than she already is in. Simply requesting to enter the most important library in the Soul Society should earn her a blade to the heart.
"Trust me, Renji, being off my ruckus is how I've stayed alive for this long and the real danger hasn't even started."
"Ganryū Ryōdoji? Talk about a blast from the past," Tessai said, pondering everything that Ichigo had told them.
As soon as Ichigo and Senna arrived, group was already waiting for them, and his dad and friends also arrived at the shop to be debriefed on what was going on.
"You said before that the Shibas and this guy's clan were buddy buddies before things went south but you didn't say anything about my grandpa being involved," Ichigo said to Kisuke.
"It's not really a story I like to think about, and it's not really mine to tell," The Shopkeeper replied.
"I didn't learn any of this from my old man. I heard everything from the academy like everyone else," Isshin said bothered to realize that their new foe was connected to his late biological father. "Some say that Rentaro and Ganryū were blood brothers in a sense and they both boasted about making the Rukongai as grand and beautiful as the Seireitei, which earned them a lot of targets on their backs from other nobles who wanted to keep the poor in the dirt."
"Not that it isn't a beautiful dream or anything but why would a pair of highborn nobles who command their respective clans care about wanting to empower the people?" Uryū asked.
"Like my dad and Byakuya, Ganryū married a Rukongai citizen but unlike Rentaro, Ganryū got away with it due to having the complete faith of his clan that he would always do right by them. He was a naturally born leader and his silver tongue was an honest one so he was arguably more popular than the Shisonka, and he wanted to give his wife and unborn daughter the world," Isshin explained.
"But then the wife and unborn baby were assassinated in response to his dream," Kisuke said next with sadness, earning horrified gasps from Orihime and Senna, while the rest frowned in disgust at this information. "You didn't hear this from me but it was the Tsunayashiro Clan who gave the order."
"One of the Shisonka? Figures Byakuya's ilk would be involved," Ichigo muttered.
"And in the end, Ganryū went mad with a vengeance. My old man made the heavy decision to support the very people who pushed his friend over the edge and before long the Ryōdoji Clan were banished into the Dangai where the Kōtotsu was expected to consume them," Isshin continued.
"But they survived, or at least Ganryū did. When we were fighting, his Reiatsu felt unnatural, like I was fighting a Blank," Ichigo explained, earning a dumbfounded expression from Kisuke.
"A Blank? So the Ryōdoji managed to hide away in Kyōgoku all this time,"
"But if that's true then how can they retain their memories and identities? Only the Shinenju should hold sovereignty in that valley," Tessai questioned.
"Who can say? Right now, I'm more worried about the other matter you mentioned. You say you lost track of time while you and Senna were at the mall," Kisuke said wanting to hear more of Ichigo's shocking dilemma.
"I know it's hard to believe but I returned to pick up Senna after our last meeting around 5:30 PM. After which I endured more of her shenanigans," Ichigo said with a half scowl, provoking Senna to show him her tongue in mockery. "After eating and being forced to pay for a ribbon she stole, she left to use the bathroom. She couldn't have been gone for too long, I looked around to see I was surrounded by lots of people, a bit more than there should be at that hour but then out of the blue everyone vanished and the mall was closed with the hour being 3 AM."
"You were in the mall by yourselves for six hours and nobody noticed?" Uryū said, not sure how to believe that, except to take Ichigo's word for it over how seriously this has spooked him.
"Now that you brought it up, I experienced something almost identical with a patient today," Isshin said. "Though it didn't happen to me."
"Seriously?" Ichigo muttered.
"It was one of our neighbors. Her son fell off his bike and scraped his arm. Not so bad that he needed to go to the hospital but still something that needed immediate care. I bandaged him up nicely and instructed them to have a proper rest, and if all goes well he should be healed up before school starts," Isshin explained. "Once they left I was going to carry on with my day until three minutes later, the same neighbors came in and acted as though the kid's accident just happened. She repeated everything she told me like when she actually first arrived, and I was just aghast by the whole thing, especially how did she not notice that her son was already treated."
"This is getting uncomfortable real quick," Uryū uttered, now even more unable to process this dilemma.
"I hate to bring up more bad news but something similar happened to me too," Chad added to the drama. "I was with Harutoki and Gitano rehearsing a new song that took us four hours to finish. Once it was all said and done we were going our separate ways when Gitano suddenly called us back, protesting why were we leaving when we hadn't even begun with our new song. Harutoki and I just looked at him like he grew a second head, and convincing him that we were already done was a hard conversation that left me confused the whole night."
"So this is happening everywhere in Karakura," Orihime said mortified by this unnatural pandemic of random short-term memory loss.
"At least this proves that the Shinenju is here with us, and is inexplicably causing more harm to the people. It's only a matter of time before violent accidents occur because of this," Kisuke frowned, not believing that the situation had grown to this horrible rate. "Thus far, Ichigo and Senna's case seems to be the worst, with them remaining in the same area without ever realizing it, meaning that this could be like trapping someone in a time loop. Such is the incredible and terrible power of manipulating memories."
"Okay… all is not really dire, right? All we have to do now is contact the Soul Society. They'll know how to handle this problem better than we can," Senna suggested.
"Right you are, little miss. Unfortunately, our situation can only get worse," Kisuke said, fighting the urge to scowl and maintain his composure. "Contacting the Soul Society is not an option at the moment because all communication via devices like the Denreishinki is still not operational because of Aizen's virus, and what's more Kyōgoku has also had an effect on the Dangai, preventing the Senkaimon from being open from our side but I'm sure it can be opened from their end so for the moment all we can do is wait and try to maintain order in this town."
"Un-fucking-believable," Ichigo hissed, with all of them on edge. This memory problem could happen to any of them at any moment and they would be none the wiser.
Ichigo and Isshin's main concern is the rest of their family who is still away. They have got to resolve this soon before they return and get caught up in this madness.
"Even though it was against my wishes, you will be staying with me and my dad, until further notice," Ichigo said as he begrudgingly allowed Senna to stay with her when she refused to stay at the Urahara Shop.
Not that he doesn't understand her immediate dislike of Kisuke but he is so fed up with Shinigami staying in his house for free, and he really wants to punch his dad badly for humoring her and discreetly giving him consent to have ''fun'' with her in his room.
"You can sleep in my sisters' room but be careful with their things. Karin isn't so forgiving when it comes to her possessions," He warned her. The two are currently in his room to talk things out some more.
Senna looked around the room dully, "Boy's rooms are always so drab and boring,"
"Gimme a break," Ichigo muttered not liking someone take a potshot at his room. He had enough of that from when Rukia was staying here.
"It seems like you've got a nice dad, though," Senna informed him after plopping down on his bed. "I bet your mom and sisters are just as fun."
"That's a matter of perspective. And dependent on one's sanity," Ichigo said dryly.
Senna laughed at his rude comment. "You can deny it, but you're lucky. My dad was waaay different,"
She froze suddenly when the memory of her father abusing her flashed in her mind causing her to grasp her forehead for a moment.
"Are you okay?" Ichigo asked concerned. He had noticed her flinch in pain for a moment.
"Yeah, I'm fine,"
"So, do you have any ideas as to why Ganryū wanted to take you away?" Ichigo inquired hoping to get her mind off whatever was bothering her.
"Like I told you and the others before, he came to me, claiming he needs me for something and my consent is needless," Senna replied remembering what Ganryū told her. "If you hadn't come by when you did, I might've learned more." She indignantly put all the blame on him.
"Real mature, you ungrateful rat. Hey, what're you doing? You can't sleep in here!" Ichigo protested when he noticed her take off her shoes and lie down on his bed.
"There's nothing wrong with it," She shrugged.
"Put your damn shoes back on!" He demanded while getting closer.
"Oh? Is this the part where we can have the ''fun'' your dad promised?" She teased seductively.
"Do not indulge him! And you do not look the right age to be even thinking about that crap," He hissed in disgust.
"I may look like a fifteen-year-old girl by human standards but I'm a Shinigami, remember? I'm old enough to be a grandmama," Senna joked.
"No, I am not listening to this," Ichigo backed away from her and turned around to hide his mad blush. He is not prepared for this and he will not be degraded into a perv.
"Let's try something else then. Why did you run away into that cemetery?" Ichigo questioned.
"I didn't run away. I was… finding myself," Senna admitted forlornly, recalling her past again.
"What…" Ichigo said confused.
"My entire family was buried in that cemetery," She confessed, shocking the Shinigami Agent.
"That's crazy," Ichigo declined, not sure what to make of this. Sure, Rukia was originally human before her death and now she's a Shinigami but her human death was over a century ago. Even if Senna's death was only a few decades ago, that particular cemetery was built ninety years ago and the oldest bodies buried there are all elderlies, and as far as he knows no one below the age of eighteen was ever buried there.
He learned this when he attended the funeral of Keigo's grandmother who passed away a year ago due to old age, his loudmouth and annoying friend was horribly unresponsive and the only reaction anyone could get out of him were silent tears. His uncle started monologuing random topics as a way to cope with his own heartache and ranted about the history of that cemetery and mentioned that no one who's died young in Karakura was ever buried there.
"I'm telling you the truth," Senna insisted now with a sad smile. "I remember my human life, though it's still all hazy. I…"
Senna gave in to her exhaustion and fell asleep. Ichigo can't blame her for being so tired. This has been quite the ordeal for all of them.
"I knew that the crazy would come soon but I never would've imagined it to be this bad," Ichigo sighed, also exhausted but didn't feel the need to sleep and if he kept absorbing light he wouldn't have to so he could stay on guard for the rest of the night.
"Stressful, I know but what we have gathered might be enough to give us a clear picture of what we need to pull through," Getsuhime assured him. "You didn't tell the others about how it was me who snapped you out of this time loop."
"It's not that it slipped my mind but I didn't see the point in bringing it up. I know you can't stand to be around Kisuke, even if I don't get why, I won't bring you any unnecessary attention," Ichigo sighed. "That and everyone is afraid of you."
"Fair enough, and I did fail you by also being under the influence of this so-called goddess," Getsuhime said disappointed with herself.
"Don't do that to yourself, you already have enough crap to deal with carrying me around during a battle," Ichigo scolded her lightheartedly, hoping to ease the mood a bit. "What do you make of Senna's claim about her once being a resident of Karakura?"
"Either she's an impressive soul or she has it worse than the rest of us,"
"Meaning?"
"I'm saying that out of all the Shinigami around this world and the next, 99.9% of them are all Pure Souls while the remaining 0.1% are Spirits that were originally human," She confessed.
"What?" Ichigo was caught off guard by this, not because it was unbelievable but really odd to him.
"The threat of the Hollows is serious because they stand in the millions, if not billions but for the Shinigami, it's unheard of for their numbers to be in the five thousand because the amount of Reiryoku needed to be one, even an unranked shock trooper is more than the combined spirit energy of a hundred souls put together can afford. Rukia is a rare example of a spirit from the Human World who eventually matured after decades in Soul Society to be accepted into the Shinōreijutsuin and become a Shinigami," Getsuhime explained. "For all their power, boast, and pride, Shinigami are small and feeble toothless worms masquerading as dragons, and those with a real bite choose to hide behind their weaker subordinates, saying that they must ''trust'' in their own abilities when they are being led into pointless deaths without ever lifting a finger to help them. The drunken clown Kyōraku and Ukitake who I question why would anyone allow an eternally ill be a captain are the best examples I can give you."
"Okay… so, what I'm getting from that is that you think Senna is either a liar or her mind is more scrambled than Keigo's," Ichigo muttered, needing to lie down and process everything.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying,"
"Then keep it short next time, for fuck's sake!"
Far removed but still close enough to the Human World and Soul Society is Kyōgoku, a great white rocky valley that goes on seemingly forever. There alone stands Ganryū staring at a huge pole that he means to use to carry out his lifelong plan. For better or worse, he will see it through to the end.
"Should I be honored to be in the presence of such a legend of Soul Society's ever-growing dark history," Commented a man who approached him. His voice reeked of what Ganryū perceived as more evil than what he intended to do.
"I think I'm the one who should feel ''honored'', given that it is because of the chaos you wrought that opened the doors of revolution that everyone stuck in the underworld has waited for so long," He turned around to face his visitor. "Sōsuke Aizen."
Indeed, Aizen makes his return to resume his reign of terror on Soul Society. He no longer wears his shihakushō, he now sports a long white robe edged in black and a thick belt of purple cloth.
The two walk closer to each other and shake hands.
"I am pleased that you accepted my offer of an alliance. Given you're stubbornness, I was worried you'd refused," Aizen smiled.
"For what I have in store for the Seireitei, I'm in need of competent friends who can carry their own weight," Ganryū stated.
"I have many useful friends, but the weapon I am offering you will be more to your liking. Think of it as an experiment that I want you to run, and a possible failure won't be because of ''it'', I assure you,"
"I'll be the judge of that. Answer me this first. If I succeed in my mission to purge the Seireitei with the Shinenju, your rebel army will be rendered obsolete, won't it?" Ganryū questioned. "I'd hate to ruin another man's work."
"Not quite. You see when you succeed in eliminating the Gotei 13, the Kidō Corps, Onmitsukidō, and all the Nobles, that won't be the end of my war. There are other enemies that must be eliminated if the Soul Society is ever to embrace the new dawn," Aizen corrected.
"You mean the legendary Zero Division?"
"Them most of all, but another threat who slithers in shadows darker than the ones we're familiar with," Aizen claimed. "Once your ambition is fulfilled, return to the darkness, I'll handle the rest."
"Alright," Ganryū nodded in agreement. "Show me this new weapon of yours, this so-called Titan."
Finally back. Though sadly, this one isn't as long as I prefer Chapters to be but I'm not in the finest of moods as of late, aside from finally getting a chance to play Star Wars Jedi Survivors but that is neither here nor there. Also, with the way I want to process Memories of Nobody, I'll take it slow, both in story and out.
Pinkypi: I don't know if I'll be able to make it that far. Honestly, I'll be lucky if I even reach the Winter War, so for the fun of it, I'll make another story, not necessarily linked to this one about the Blood War and Ichigo being involved in the loathsome Zombie affair.