Yoruichi narrowed her eyes as Yammy's Zanpakutō glowed. The blade disintegrated into motes of scarlet that swirled around him with all the force of a hurricane, completely enveloping the Arrancar's body. Wide-eyed, the former Captain's jaw dropped open as Yammy's body started to swell until it was almost the size of a Gillian. As the light faded, she saw that the redhead's mask had expanded to cover his entire lower jaw. Thin white fur had sprouted on the man's legs, his feet morphing into hooves like a satyr's. A long tail with a club-like end swished irritably behind the Arrancar, and dark, metallic protrusions jutted from Yammy's back.
… That is NOT a Shikai.
"Jesus fucking Christ." Grimmjow muttered, shooting his comrade an irritated glare. "Resurrección, seriously?"
"Drop dead, Grimmjow!" Yammy snarled, voice booming. "You might be the Sexta, but that doesn't mean I can't kick your ass!"
"Oh yeah?" A feral grin crossed the shorter Arrancar's face. "How about we make a competition of it? The one who kills the most Shinigami wins!"
Yammy's quickly matched his expression. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
"Grimmjow-sama." One of the weaker Arrancars cleared his throat. "What would you like us to do?"
A sneer crossed the blue-haired man's face. "Tch, think for yourself for once, Shawlong! Use your Pesquisa – surely you can find some decently powerful souls to kill!"
With a nod, Grimmjow's lackeys began to scatter.
Hitsugaya cursed. "Matsumoto, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Omaeda! Stop them!" As the Shinigami quickly flashed off in pursuit, he turned back to Yoruichi and Kisuke. "Can you three hold these two down?"
Soifon gave him a curt nod, a gale of wind blasting from her back as she activated her Shunkō. "I'll handle Yammy, you two can focus on Grimmjow. Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi."
…..
Uryū met the fallen Adjuchas' wide eye impassively, before cocking his pistol and shooting the Hollow through the head. Expression unshifting, he returned the gun to the concealed holster he'd added to his uniform. In sharp contrast to his doomed fight against Yammy, the Hollow had been easy prey. Still, the Quincy would be lying if he said he was in good condition. Despite Kurusu's patch job, Uryū's wounds from his battle against the Arrancar still ached, and the fact that he couldn't use his Heilig Bogen for killing blows anymore added an extra fraction of difficulty to his fights that hadn't existed before.
Sighing, the bespectacled teen adjusted his glasses and examined his surroundings. He'd intercepted the Hollow by the riverbank not too far from his apartment, and much to his relief, his fight hadn't caused any collateral damage except for some torn-up dirt. Focusing back on ground zero, Uryū frowned. Judging by the Reiatsu clustered at the park, the Shinigami advance force must have arrived, but it looked like the Arrancar had gotten reinforcements too.
A static buzz chimed in his ear, and Sakura confirmed his suspicions. "Fall back, guys – Snow's squad had turned up along with freaky Hollow people wave two, and all of you are waaaaaay too low on Reiatsu to be any help."
Uryū frowned but had to concede her point. He could barely sense the Phantoms scattered around Karakura.
"Hey, Skull has been hit pretty bad – he's gonna be alright, but I don't think he'll be able to shunpo all the way back to Shibuya." Takamaki's worried voice echoed in his ear.
"Joker isn't in a good state either." In contrast, Makoto's voice was curt, but Uryū could still sense her concern. "He's not hurt, but he's low on Reiryoku…"
"Go to Urahara's, then." Sakura stated bluntly. "Seriously, you need to get off the streets ASAP."
Uryū wavered, debating the pros and cons of following the hacker's orders. He had no intention of getting into any more fights, naturally – he wasn't entirely stupid – but unlike the other Phantoms, Karakura was his home. He didn't need to shelter at Urahara's - his spiritually reinforced apartment was five seconds away. Still, perhaps the shopkeeper's hidden fortress would be safer... he'd be closer to his team, at the very least.
Unfortunately, the moment's deliberation cost him.
A flash of Reiatsu suddenly appeared before the teenager, and cursing, Uryū leapt out of the way. The Arrancar who'd attacked him's fist smashed into the dirt, fissuring the ground – if the Quincy had been a microsecond slower, that would have been his bones. As Uryū landed, his foe straightened up, and shot him a sharklike grin. In fact, everything about the Arrancar could be described as sharklike, from his grey hair to the hammerhead-shaped mask fragment covering his head like a helmet.
"Arrancar No. 16, D-Roy." He introduced himself laconically, eying Uryū like he was prey.
The Quincy adjusted his glasses. "I assume you're not here for a chat."
"Nah." D-Roy's grin broadened, and in a blur of speed, he lunged.
Dammit! Uryū hissed, reforming his Heilig Bogen as he scrambled away. While D-Roy's Reiatsu wasn't as potent as Yammy's, Uryū had no idea how large the gap between the two Arrancar was. What he did know, however, was that he didn't have the energy left to fight anyone even nearing Yammy's level. The Quincy's muscles were aching, his Reishi reserves had been depleted, and his backup was out of commission. Uryū's mind raced as he attempted to formulate a winning strategy, but as D-Roy gained on him, Reiatsu bubbling with killing intent, he knew deep in his bones the Arrancar would catch up to him well before he could come up with anything useable.
It was then, however, that a whistling noise suddenly pierced the air and a bolt of blue struck the Arrancar's arm, blasting it off at the shoulder. Howling, D-Roy stumbled, clutching his stump with a whimper as blood splattered through the air.
"Tsk, Tsk. How clumsy… Uryū."
The Quincy froze, ice running through his veins. He'd recognise that voice anywhere. Slowly, the teenager turned around, desperately praying that this was just an awful joke, but as looked down the riverbank, however, his fears were realised.
"Ryūken." He gasped, the name tasting like gravel in his mouth.
The man's frown was as cold as always. "Is that any way to address your father? You haven't changed, Uryū."
If Uryū hadn't changed in the many months since their last encounter, neither had Ryūken. The similarities between the older man's face and Uryū's were striking, even if Ryūken's hair was cut shorter and was a pale shade of grey. As per usual, he was donned in a pristine white suit, entirely untouched by the blood that flew through the air – it was almost as if getting struck by it would have been beneath him, just like everything else was.
There was one difference between the man standing before him and the one in Uryū's memories, however. In one hand, Ryūken held a Heilig Bogen. Just like Sae's, the Reishi was so compact it almost seemed solid, but unlike hers, it was a dull blue short bow.
Uryū's eyes widened, and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. "That's… that's a Heilig Bogen. But how?! You despise Quincies – didn't you abandon your powers long ago?"
Just like he'd abandoned his child in every way that mattered.
Ryūken eyes narrowed as he pushed up his glasses. "You're a fool, son. I chose my words carefully – I'm not interested in Quincies, and you don't have the talent. Unfortunately, I am – whether I'm interested or not – the sole heir to the powers and skills of the late Ishida Sōken." Reaching into his coat pocket, he withdrew a Quincy Cross. "I am the last Quincy."
It was at that point that D-Roy roared, tears pouring from his eyes as he lunged at the newest threat. Ryūken turned around almost laconically, and something snapped inside Uryū as his vision turned red. Reaching out with his palm, he ripped all the Reishi he could from Ryūken's bow and D-Roy's skin, destabilising the former. Channelling it all into his Blut Arterie, satisfaction burned in Uryū as the red glowing lines extended beyond his hand and onto his pistol. Pointing the gun at D-Roy, he fired. The resulting shot drained the last dredges of Uryū's energy, but managed to disintegrate the upper half of the Arrancar's body, so ultimately, it was worth it.
Vindictive satisfaction flashed in his chest at the sheer and utter shock on his father's face. Whether it was due to Uryū's Blut or his gun, he didn't know, and quite frankly, nor did he care.
"When did you…?" Ryūken's eyes widened.
Uryū scoffed. "If you're talking about the gun, it was a gift from a friend. The Blut Arterie? Well, it turns out you're not the last Quincy after all – a fact that you would have known if you paid even a fraction of attention to me." He arched a brow. "Still think I'm untalented?"
Ryūken's loss of composure only lasted for a moment before his expression frosted over again. "You might have surpassed my expectations, if only because they were dismally low. Still, you can barely even stand – you're a fledgling who thinks it knows how to fly simply because it's left the nest." He paused, something assessing entering his cold eyes. "… If you're so determined to play Quincy, I could help you."
The younger Quincy blinked. He could barely process the sentence that had just come out of Ryūken's mouth. Just what on earth was his father talking about? He despised their heritage, so why would he make an offer like that? The teenager resisted the urge to rub his eyes - he always knew by the exhaustion that plagued him that this was no dream.
"You don't believe me. But I see no other choice." Ryūken stated flatly. "Despite our differences, I have no intention of letting you get eaten by some lowly Hollow - something that would have happened today if you hadn't been able to leech my Reishi. I'll give you the knowledge you so clearly crave, on one condition."
Uryū tensed, eyes narrowing. Of course Ryūken's offer had strings attached. Why wouldn't it? "What is it?"
Ryūken's lips thinned to a line. "You must swear never to involve yourself with the Shinigami or these so-called Phantoms ever again."
Automatically, the teenager laughed. Before the man had spoken, Uryū had actually contemplated listening to his father's demands. As he maligned the very same people that had reminded Uryū of his grandfather's dream, however, Ryūken's benevolent façade collapsed like a tower of cards. Of course. How utterly typical.
Uryū retorted before he could even process what was happening. "Fuck off."
Ryūken's eyes narrowed to slits. "… Excuse me?"
"You know, for a moment, I almost bought that garbage about you caring for my life. But you're not offering to teach me because you're concerned for my safety – you wouldn't have made it conditional if that was the case. You're doing this because I no longer need you. You can't control me anymore, and that is what terrifies you."
Uryū had clearly struck a nerve, judging by the way Ryūken's Reiatsu started to burn with fury. "Must you always interpret my actions in the worst possible light? It makes you look like a bratty child."
The blue-haired boy rolled his eyes. "Forgive me – it's just that the last time we had a serious conversation, instead of having a reasonable discussion about the ethical implications of our powers, you said you despised the Quincies because they didn't make enough money."
Ryūken pursed his lips, stiffening. "You were young – foolish. Brainwashed by those fairy tales my father spun you. You never would have listened to me if I told you the truth."
"Newsflash – I didn't listen to you anyway!" Uryū threw his hands up into the air. "And I might have if you actually bothered to try! I did when someone else talked to me about how awful our powers could be, after all!" Anger burned in the Quincy's chest as he turned up his nose. "As far as I care, my grandfather's only heir is me – at least I'm trying to do his legacy justice as opposed to drowning in my spite."
Spinning on his heel, Uryū flashed away without another word.
…..
Soifon withdrew her Zanpakutō and the blade shined, shrinking into a black-and-gold gauntlet connected to a stinger-shaped blade that jutted out above Soifon's middle finger. A cold smile crawled up Yoruichi's lip as she watched her once-apprentice. Yammy wasn't going to know what hit him. At speeds that even Yoruichi almost struggled to keep up with, Soifon flashed towards the gigantic Arrancar. As much as she'd love to watch the show, however, the shapeshifter had other things to focus on – namely, Grimmjow. Dashing forward, the Arrancar jabbed out a palm at Kisuke. Yoruichi quickly intercepted his strike – while the shopkeeper was no slouch at Hakuda, it was she who was the master.
As Yoruichi deflected Grimmjow's blow, she winced. "Sheesh – are all of you guys made of steel?"
Grinning, the Arrancar attempted to pummel her. "Never faced an Arrancar's Hierro before, huh? Well, don't worry – I'll kill you before you get the chance to break your bones on my skin!"
"Hmm." Kisuke rubbed his chin, and Yoruichi immediately knew he was going to say something offensive. "Judging by the way your Reiryoku swells before impact, it seems to be a primal form of a Quincy's Blut Vene. Not quite as powerful, alas. Well, I guess we can't all be good at everything!"
Suffice to say, that immediately caught Grimmjow's attention. "Yeah? Well, how about I smash my fist into your face and you can judge how good my Hierro is then?!"
Gratitude bubbled within her – those split seconds were all she needed to activate her Shunkō. The air crackled with electricity, a scent of ozone filling the air before a blast of lightning burst from the woman's back. Grimmjow barely had the time to look surprised before Yoruichi kicked him with enough force to send him flying from one end of the park to the other – the Arrancar's journey only ended because he smashed into a building.
Across the clearing, Yammy crooned at Soifon, his deafening voice catching Yoruichi's attention. "Hah! Is that supposed to sting or something?"
Soifon merely smirked, and when Yoruichi glanced at the Arrancar's arm she could see why. While it was a mere dot considering Yammy's size, she could still see the small butterfly-shaped sigil embedded on his bicep. It could have almost been a tattoo if it wasn't glowing a burning red. Yoruichi arched a brow as Arrancar continued to act unphased. Yammy must have more Reiryoku than she thought – most foes would be dead by now. Still, the fact that the sigil was shining meant his fate was already sealed, and judging by Soifon's cocky expression, she knew that too.
"Nigeki Kessatsu. My Shikai's special ability." The Captain's eyes glittered with triumph. "As long as I pierce my target in the same spot twice, they will inevitably die."
Yammy's eyes widened, but it was too late. Grimmjow flashed back into the clearing – uniform rumpled but otherwise barely even bruised – just in time to see his fellow Espada disintegrate into motes of scarlet dust.
The remaining Arrancar blinked, genuine surprise flashing across his features before his eyes narrowed to slits. Yoruichi frowned – while it was information the Arrancar probably had access to anyway if they were Aizen's foot soldiers, Soifon shouldn't have boasted about her Zanpakutō's powers like that. Grimmjow didn't seem to be the brainy type, but he clearly had more going on in his head than Yammy did, and probably was already planning how to exploit Suzumebachi's weaknesses.
"Neat trick, Shinigami." His lips curled up into a smile, as he reached for his katana. "… As long as you don't cut my skin though, I'll be fine!"
Grimmjow never finished withdrawing his blade, however. A crackle pierced the air as yet another Garganta opened in Karakura's skies, but this time, the figure that emerged from it was no Arrancar. Yoruichi stilled as she laid eyes on Tōsen Kaname. He'd released his braids from their usual ponytail, letting them flow in the breeze, and his Captain's haori had been abandoned in favour of a long white coat.
The ex-Captain flashed to the blue-haired man's side and placed a gloved hand on the Arrancar's shoulder. "Sheath your sword, Grimmjow."
"Why the fuck are you here?!" The Arrancar snarled, spittle flying from his mouth.
Tōsen looked fundamentally unimpressed. "I think you know the answer to that already. You intruded on a mission that was not yours, mobilising five Arrancars without authorisation and losing every single one of them." Grimmjow opened his mouth, ready to argue back, but the Shinigami silenced him with a glare. "Aizen-sama is not pleased, Grimmjow."
That cut off all of his complaints, and while the Arrancar's expression was mulish, he gave Tōsen a curt nod.
The former Captain turned away. "Let's go. We have achieved our objectives here. Your punishment will be decided in Hueco Mundo."
"Hold it!" Soifon snarled as the Garganta opened again. "If you think I'm going to just let you get away…!"
Yoruichi flashed to her former subordinate's side, and held her arm softly. "Leave it."
"But-!" Soifon stared at her, expression dismayed.
She shook her head. "It's not worth it. Use your senses - we're the only Shinigami in any condition to fight. Grimmjow can shrug off a blow from my Shunkō without using his Resurrección, and the only one of us who has a chance of countering Tōsen's powers is Kisuke. As long as they leave Karakura, it's a victory for us."
While Soifon didn't look at all happy, she remained silent as Grimmjow and Tōsen retreated into the Garganta, which snapped shut behind them. Still, despite Yoruichi's earlier words, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
Just exactly what was this mission Tōsen mentioned?
...
The mood in the Urahara Shōten was grim. Ryuji laid on his back, half-unconscious, head resting in a worried Ann's lap. Akira occupied a spot in the room's corner, half curled up into a ball as he sat on the ground. Judging by the way the others gave him space, they could tell he was in no mood to talk. Occasionally though, the frizzy-haired teen felt Makoto's stare burning into skin as she paced around the room nervously. The Shōten's atmosphere didn't improve when Ishida stormed in, Reiatsu bubbling with anger.
Thankfully, his furious demeanour was enough to distract the student council president. "Uryū-kun, are you okay?"
The worry in her voice doused the Quincy's fury, and his shoulders slumped as he thumped himself down next to the kotatsu. "I'm fine. Sorry – I ran into an Arrancar, and then had an unpleasant encounter with my father."
Despite himself, the bitterness in Ishida's voice caught Akira's attention. The Quincy had mentioned his father occasionally, and exclusively in a negative context. Still, as much as their culture demanded that one respect their elders, as Futaba had pointed out a long time ago, the Phantoms were rather lacking in good parental figures. If anyone was going to understand Ishida's anger, it was them.
Ryuji jerked his head in Ishida's direction weakly. "I get it. If my dad rocked up while I was fightin' a Hollow, I think I'd have beat him up too."
Some tension fled the Quincy's posture at the lack of judgement. "Honestly, I was tempted."
"I'm gonna call Futaba." Ann announced, brow furrowed. "She can probably sense that we're fine, but it might be good to confirm things for her."
Akira gave her a subtle nod. As much as he didn't feel like socialising, he supposed it wasn't a bad idea.
"Hey guys, what's up?" After several rings, Futaba's voice chimed from Ann's phone. "… Yeesh, I can sense the enthusiasm."
"Sorry." Ann sighed. "Honestly, it was pretty rough – I thought we'd gotten pretty strong in the Soul Society, but…"
"We were way out of our depth." Makoto concluded with a grimace.
"So, what's the deal? I only thought schlub-level Hollows came to the World of the Living."
An uncomfortable silence descended on the Shōten, and Akira could feel everyone's eyes prickle at his skin as they waited for him to speak. Turning away, he gripped his sleeve as a storm of emotions churned in his stomach. He couldn't do this. Not right now. Not after all the unpleasant revelations that day.
When it became clear Akira didn't want to speak, Makoto took the reins. "… They weren't Hollows. At least, they weren't led by Hollows."
A voice chimed from Ann's phone, but it didn't belong to Futaba. "Arrancar." Rukia's voice echoed through the room, and Akira instinctively perked up – it seemed the blonde had called the Phantoms group chat instead of dialling the hacker directly. While it was a bit staticky and there was a slight delay, the Shinigami's words were legible. "Hollows who have removed their masks and Shinigamified themselves. They tend to be primitive lifeforms though, barely more sentient than the average Hollow."
Ishida frowned. "There was nothing primitive about Yammy or Ulquiorra at all, sans their personalities."
"Yeah." Ann furrowed her brows, staring down. "They… they were practically human."
Akira couldn't help but flinch. It was easy enough to downplay the similarities between himself and Iceringer – the latter had basically been a Hollow in clothes – but he too had seen the Arrancar Ishida was referring to, if only for a moment. Were they capable of kindness, humour, or justice? Or were they simply malicious, unfeeling beasts wearing a human's skin?
So far, it seemed much more like the latter.
(And just what exactly did that say about him?)
Rukia sighed, snapping him out of his thoughts. "I believe they're likely creations of Aizen's – he did say he wanted to cross the boundaries between the species, after all. Unfortunately, if he's camping out in Hueco Mundo, he'd have more than his fair share of test subjects"
A glimmer of interest cut through Akira's despondency. "You think Aizen sent them? But why? How does an attack on Karakura further his goals at all?"
He almost heard the Shinigami's shrug. "Haven't a clue. He could be testing his army's powers, or perhaps simply gauging the Gotei 13's response time. After all, if it wasn't for Futaba's warning and Captain Ukitake convincing the 12th to skip adding Reiatsu limiters this one time, it could have taken hours for us to deploy."
Akira shuddered, and he wasn't the only one. A single Gillian had been serious enough that the White-Masked Killer had offered the Phantoms his aid. The Arrancar could have levelled the entire city if they were allowed to run amok for that much time.
"Also…" Rukia's voice trailed off. "Akira is moping, isn't he?"
"Hey!" He whined at the accusation.
Ryuji looked up at Akira, then nodded. "Yep."
"If I was there, I'd slap you." She stated bluntly. "I just asked Renji – he would too."
"… Really, now?" Ishida muttered, but everyone ignored him.
"You of all people should know that wallowing in fear and misery will not grant you the absolution you seek. If you are scared of your power, learn to master it! If the Hollow inside you is so terrible, then get strong enough to crush it! No matter what obstacles you've faced, you have always persevered, Akira, and this is nothing but yet another trial. You CAN overcome this, even if right now, all hope seems lost."
The passion in her voice was raw and palpable, and while the smile that slowly crept up his face didn't reach his eyes, the once-suffocating weight on Akira's shoulders felt lighter. "… Thanks. Your inspirational speaking skills leave a little to be desired, but I suppose they got the job done." He grinned, muscles uncurling as he stretched. "Don't worry too much about me though, okay? I'll admit I'm a bit shaken, but I'll be alright."
Makoto frowned, scanning him up and down. "Is there any cure for Hollowfication?"
Akira already knew the answer before Futaba replied. "Nuh-uh. Crossing the soul-species line is a one-way street for now. I know Urahara and mum have been looking into it, but…"
"It's okay." Akira interrupted. "Look, I probably just need to do some really intense mediation. Besides… even if this means I might not be able to use my Shikai again, it was worth it." At everyone's concerned expression, he forced a laugh. "It's not like we're going to have to fight a bunch of high-powered Hollows and Arrancar again, right? The Shinigami have things covered."
Even to him, however, his words rang hollow.
The conversation didn't exactly move on to more lighthearted things, but the atmosphere in the room was less tense as they continued to talk. Rukia and Futaba both hung up shortly after the latter gave them the all-clear - it seemed the Gotei 13 had come through and saved the day. Afternoon had started to melt into evening by the time the Arrancar retreated - it was time for the Phantoms to return to Shibuya if they wanted to avoid getting questioned by well-intentioned non-spiritual family members. While he was still emotionally rattled, physically, Akira was functional. He'd be able to get back to Leblanc without collapsing, at the very least. The only one not fit to travel had been Ryuji, and mustering his nerves, Akira crossed the Shōten's floor and bolstered the blond's Reiatsu with his Kaidō. Thankfully, the spell flowed smoothly through his fingers with nary a trace of the Hollow's darkness.
The gaggle of teens was just about to leave when Akira heard the store's front door slide open, and a gust of Reiatsu flooded into the shop. He could detect Yoruichi, Urahara, and Soifon's distinctive auras, along with several other people who felt vaguely familiar but he couldn't quite place.
"Come on." The frizzy-haired stated. "We should probably say hi on our way out. Don't want to piss off the Gotei 13 any more than we already have."
As the group of teens entered the store's foyer, however, Akira halted in his tracks. There was a stretcher was laid out on the floor, and Tessai was in the midst of setting up another. A bald Shinigami Akira didn't recognise laid in the first, but Ryuji clearly did, judging by his sharp intake of breath.
"Ikkaku?" He hissed, eyes wide as he scrambled to the man's side.
Akira's eyes widened as he instantly placed the name. The man had been wounded so badly, however, he was almost unrecognisable. Ikkaku's skin was a patchwork quilt of scratches and burns, and Akira could smell the rusty scent of his dried blood from metres away. Yumichika stood at his companion's side, and in sharp contrast, didn't even have a hair out of place.
"Don't worry, Sakamoto." The dapper man smiled, something slightly condescending in his expression. "They're all shallow wounds, even if Ikkaku's handsome features have taken a beating." The man's lips curled, but it was less a happy smile and more of a predatory one. "Besides, it was a glorious fight. Vanquished by the flames… it would have been a beautiful way to go."
Ryuji gave him a flat stare. "Y'all are fucking nuts."
"Hey, I heard that!" Ikkaku slurred, and Akira's anxiety quietened. If Ikkaku was cognizant enough to banter, he was probably going to be fine.
Tessai had finished setting up the other stretcher by then, and Hitsugaya's busty blonde Lieutenant lowered the young Captain onto the thin mattress. He wasn't as heavily wounded as Ikkaku, but still had two rather nasty-looking gouges on his chest. Frowning, the teen crossed over to where Urahara and Yoruichi were talking to a grim-faced Soifon, a bulky man who must have been her Lieutenant standing behind her.
"… This much damage, even without limiters…" Soifon muttered, but broke off as she saw Akira approaching and gave him a curt nod. "Kurusu."
"Hey." He turned to face Urahara. "Sorry for interrupting, but do you need help healing anyone? Ann and I still have some Reiryoku left, even if it's not a lot."
Urahara shook his head, a soft smile crossing his face. "Kind as ever, Kurusu-kun. But don't worry – Tessai is a capable healer, and we've got plenty of medicine in stock."
"You've contributed more than enough." Soifon commented flatly, though Akira got the impression it wasn't he whom she was truly annoyed at. "This is the Gotei 13's battle now – your only obligation is to the Shibuya ward."
Slowly, Akira nodded. As much as he didn't like leaving Ikkaku and Hitsugaya injured, he supposed they had a point. While he and Ann weren't wounded, they were both running on fumes, and it was abundantly clear the Arrancar were well beyond their league. This wasn't a war they'd be useful in.
Giving the Shinigami a nod, he turned away, and once Ryuji finished checking in on Ikkaku, the Phantoms set out to leave once again. Before they could do so, however, the Shōten's door suddenly flung open. Standing there was a middle-aged man in a red shirt, with short, spikey black hair, and light stubble. He breathed heavily as if he'd run a marathon, but his skin was eerily pale and clammy instead of flushed red. It was his eyes, however, that struck Akira to his core.
He'd never seen anyone look so broken in his life.
Hitsugaya sat straight up, a wave of gusty cold Reiatsu bursting from the wide-eyed boy, but it was quickly quashed by Urahara's spiritual energy, which swirled in a maelstrom of shock and fear.
"No." The shopkeeper's voice wavered, eyes wide in horror.
The newcomer burst into wet, choking tears. "They took him from me. They took my son."
…..
Renji marched into the Captain's Assembly Hall, heading to his spot by Unohana's side. As he settled in beside the woman, she gave him a polite nod which he reciprocated. Swallowing his nerves, he straightened his shoulders. Two hours had passed since Soifon and Hitsugaya left for the World of the Living, and neither of them was back yet, which wasn't particularly surprising, but the redhead was a bit unsettled by another notable absence. Namely, that of the Captain Commander.
"So, uh… are we just meant to start without him?" Renji scratched the back of his head, already feeling like a fool.
Kyōraku smirked, eyes glittering in amusement. "As much as I'd love to get back to my darling Nanao-chan, unfortunately, it's rather hard to hold a meeting when none of us know what it's about."
Renji frowned and decided it wasn't worth pointing out that Ise would still be with the other Lieutenants right now. "Isn't it kinda obvious? We're trying to figure out why Aizen attacked the World of the Living, right?"
Ukitake rubbed his chin and ignored the exceedingly bored-looking Kenpachi by his side. "Truthfully, I can't help but find it odd. If this was a test of his army's strength, it wasn't a well-thought-out one. The combat conditions between the Worlds are incredibly different, not to mention, it was mere luck the Gotei 13 managed to react in time. Any information gained about the Arrancar's combat efficiency would be dubious at best."
"I believe we're about to get our answers." Komamura's ears twitched, the wolfman having abandoned his helmet since it got trashed by the Ryoka.
He was right – Renji picked up the Captain Commanders fiery Reiatsu but a moment later. The elderly man strode into the hall, cane clicking against the hardwood floor. Soifon followed him, which explained his tardiness – he must have met her at the Senkaimon. Renji paid her little heed, however, more interested in who he saw behind her. It was Nemu. The 12th's Lieutenant trundled a strange device into the hall with the aid of her Division's Third Seat. As she wheeled it passed Renji, he saw it was a large rectangular object comprised of wooden slats and paper sheets. In fact, now that the Captain thought about it, it looked oddly like a Senkaimon, albeit a very small one. Yamamoto moved to the side, watching the proceedings as Nemu and the Third Seat lifted the device from its trolley and slowly set it up at the spot where he usually would have resided.
Soifon marched to her usual position, before turning to face the rest of the Captains. "Urahara has pressing information he believes is best discussed live. To summarise the situation, upon our arrival in the World of the Living, the initial raiding party received backup in the form of additional Arrancar. In total, eight entered the field, two of them belonging to the first wave of attack. Six were eliminated, one escaped, and one…" She frowned, voice trailing off. "Well, you'll find out soon enough."
"What about the Phantoms?" Renji asked. "Are they alright?"
Ukitake perked up at the question, and Soifon rolled her eyes. "If their status was of any concern, I would have mentioned it. They're fine – in better health than Captain Hitsugaya and Third Seat Madarame, in fact."
Renji settled down, relieved. While he wasn't super close to the humans, Rukia was, and they'd done him a solid when they'd busted into the Soul Society. He had no more time to think about the Phantoms, however, as Nemu whispered something to the Captain Commander and left along with her Third Seat.
A creaking noise echoed through the hall as the frame-like device slowly opened, just like the Senkaimon Renji had compared it to earlier. Instead of showing the gap been realities though, it displayed a flat image of a grim-faced blond in a striped hat and black haori. Now that he thought about it, Renji realised it was nigh identical to those TV things Rukia had told him about.
"Hello? Is this thing working?" Renji raised a brow as Urahara's voice emanated from the device and the blond tilted his head.
"We can hear you, Urahara Kisuke." Yamamoto rumbled.
"Excellent, excellent." The man smiled, but it didn't meet his eyes. "As the charming Soifon probably explained, we're facing a bit of a predicament."
The 2nd's Captain scowled ferociously at that description, and judging by the way his lips twitched, Kyōraku barely resisted chuckling. It wasn't the 8th's Captain that spoke next, however, but Komamura.
"Are you talking about the Arrancar?" His wolfish brows furrowed. "If Aizen made them with the Hōgyoku, I assume they possess powers far beyond those of the Arrancars that have appeared in the past."
"An astute observation, Komamura-san." Urahara tipped his head. "They're almost perfect hybrids, even if they favour their Hollow halves. The silver lining to this mess is that we've managed to learn a lot of details about these new foes. They possess human-level intellect and intelligence, can fire Ceros, and possess a new ability known as Hierro – they can reinforce their skin with Reiryoku to mitigate physical blows. Most importantly though, the Arrancar wield Zanpakutōs."
That earned a few surprised murmurs, including one from Renji himself. The idea of a Hollow with a Zanpakutō… it was a total contradiction. Urahara paid the Shinigami no heed, however, and moved on.
"Instead of Shikai, upon releasing their blade they enter a state called 'Resurrección', which causes them to regain the abilities of their original Hollow form. In terms of power, I'd place it somewhere between Shikai and Bankai. We don't know if their Zanpakutōs possess a secondary release state, but circumstantial evidence makes that seem unlikely."
Soifon took over from there. "The Arrancar seem to be organised into two categories, Fracción and Espada. The Fracción are foot soldiers, each designated a number from eleven onwards, based on their order of creation. The Espadas seem to be the commanders of Aizen's army, and are numbered from one to ten based on their strength, with ten being the weakest."
Ukitake's expression turned concerned. "How strong are they? If Aizen's managed to gather ten Vasto Lordes…"
Renji swallowed. If that was the case, the Gotei 13 would be fucked.
"I killed the Diez Espada – with the aid of my Shunkō and Suzumebachi, it wasn't particularly difficult. In terms of Reiatsu, he would have been on the higher end of the Adjuchas scale." Despite her decisive win, Soifon's lips were drawn tight. "The Sexta Espada was there as well, however, and if their strength scales linearly… Suzumebachi would be rendered ineffective against Espadas four to one."
Renji did some quick maths. If Soifon's analysis was correct, the weaker Espada would be high Lieutenant level opponents, the middle ones Captain class, and the stronger ones… well, above Captain class. Little wonder she hadn't seemed too pleased – it wasn't the worst news possible, but it was hardly reassuring either.
"Truthfully, as important as this knowledge is, it isn't why I've contacted you." Urahara interrupted. "I know why they attacked Karakura."
"We were discussing the matter earlier." Ukitake admitted with a frown. "I personally couldn't divine Aizen's motives."
"It was a diversion." The former Captain stated bluntly. "Have you all heard of Shiba Isshin?"
Renji blinked, completely caught off guard by the non sequitur. He knew who the Shiba were, of course – a former Great Noble House who were stripped of their position after a slew of tragedies reduced their numbers to but a mere handful. Out of those handful, Shiba Kaien was a household name, but while Shiba Isshin sounded vaguely familiar, his brain was drawing a blank.
Thankfully, Unohana must have sensed his confusion and deigned to give the gathered Captains a refresher. "He was the former Captain of the 10th – Captain Hitsugaya's predecessor." Her lips dropped into a frown. "He went missing twenty years ago on an unauthorised expedition into the World of the Living, and it was believed he was killed by a Hollow. I suppose that must have been an erroneous assumption if he's somehow entangled in these events."
Urahara waved his hand in a so-so gesture. "Yes and no. He WAS grievously wounded by a Hollow, but instead of death, it led to him losing his powers. As he was unable to return to the Soul Society in his condition, Isshin decided to settle down in the World of the Living with my help."
Renji's lips pursed. Even though Urahara had tried to justify his actions, the redhead found it hard to picture this Isshin fellow as anything but a deserter. Of all the crimes a Shinigami could commit, it was one of the most grievous. It was clear he wasn't the only Captain who was left feeling wrong-footed by the news - Soifon was bearing a wicked scowl, and he could see the slightest hint of Komamura's teeth. Kyōraku had tipped his hat down, leaving his expression unreadable, and Unohana's slight frown masked whatever was going on in her head. Meanwhile, Ukitake seemed troubled, and in sharp contrast to the rest of his colleague's demeanours, Renji was pretty sure Kenpachi was beginning to take a nap.
Yamamoto opened a single eye, staring down Urahara impassively. "Well then, what exactly does this tale have to do with Aizen's actions?"
"Because Isshin had a child." Flickers of surprise crossed all the senior Captain's faces at Urahara's announcement. "A son who possessed some rather unique, albeit dormant, abilities. I have never met a soul with such a capacity for exponential growth. If his powers were awakened… he would be able to eclipse more than half of you in terms of raw Reiryoku in a matter of months."
"That's ridiculous." Komamura bristled, more shocked than angry.
"I find myself agreeing with Captain Komamura." Yamamoto arched a brow. "That some mere half-human child would possess such power…"
"I have screenings of his Reiryoku levels lying around – I can send them to Nemu-chan if you'd like." Urahara shrugged. "They'll just confirm what I've said. Kurosaki Ichigo possesses enough latent power to rival multiple Captains put together."
A slither of unease trickled into Renji's stomach. "Okay, but like the Captain Commander said earlier, why is this important?"
Urahara's mouth thinned into a grim line. "Because Kurosaki Ichigo is dead. An Arrancar - Ulquiorra - killed his human body while we were distracted with the rest of Aizen's forces and dragged his soul into Hueco Mundo."
A profound silence followed the former Captain's words as everyone digested this latest revelation.
Ukitake covered his mouth with his hand, an awful grief entering his eyes. "Aizen is planning on turning him into an Arrancar, isn't he?"
It wasn't a question, not really. Urahara still nodded in response.
Well, shit. Renji's shoulders sagged, an awful knot forming in his stomach. His prior antipathy towards Isshin evaporated, replaced by nothing but pity. No experience was meant to be quite as painful as losing a child, let alone when said child's soul was then captured so a madman could mutilate it into a monster. Deserter or not, nobody deserved to suffer through something like that.
"It's the reason why only Omaeda and myself returned." Soifon announced. "Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Matsumoto wanted to stay behind to console their former Captain."
Yamamoto nodded, before turning back to Urahara. "Tell them they are to remain stationed in the World of the Living for now, along with Madarame and Ayasegawa. Back up will be sent over the following days."
A flicker of intrigue crossed Urahara's face. "You've made progress in your research?"
Renji blinked, confused, as Kyōraku answered his question. "Something like that. Things are slow going, but… Aizen's end goal is looking more complicated than we initially imagined."
Urahara gave him a nod. "Keep me updated. On that note, I better not delay you any longer – in light of recent events, we have no time to spend dilly-dallying."
With that final farewell, the light in the not-Senkaimon suddenly snapped off, leaving behind a dark expanse as the wooden frame slowly began to close. While the Captains deliberated for a little while about what the shopkeeper had revealed to them, sooner rather than later, Yamamoto brought the meeting to a close.
Renji was greeted by a picturesque autumn sunset the second he left the hall, and the discrepancy between the lovely day and the foreboding news gave him whiplash. Unohana strode past him, and Renji couldn't help but furrow his brows as he saw her approach Kenpachi. Why the hell are those two hanging around each other? The mutual dislike between their two Divisions was legendary.
He was distracted from them though by the sound of chatter, and several Lieutenants rounded the corner. It seems their meeting must have just ended too. A slight grin crept up the redhead's face as he saw Izuru, and he gave his old friend a nod. The 3rd Division Lieutenant returned the gesture wanly, but sincerely. Even after being cleared of all wrongdoing, Izuru had been utterly despondent since Ichimaru's betrayal and Momo's death. It seemed like some colour was finally beginning to return to his skin, however.
Isane was at the blond's side, and Renji paused as he caught sight of her baffled expression. Blinking, the Lieutenant stared at Kenpachi and her Captain, clearly caught off guard just as much as Renji had been by the strange pairing. As the two Captains disappeared in a flash of shunpo, something odd crossed the Lieutenant's face, and after a moment's hesitation, she followed suit. Still, whatever the hell was going on between the 4th and 11th Division Captains really wasn't any of Renji's business. After a brief conversation with Izuru, it was his turn to go, and he flashed away in the direction of the 13th Division.
It didn't take him too long to find Rukia – now that her Reiatsu was hale and hearty, she was easy enough to track. Walking into a large office with over a dozen desks and equally as many filing cabinets to boot, he wove his way through a throng of unseated officers and over to where she was hurriedly filling out a form, expression contorted in concentration.
He tapped her shoulder, and couldn't help but chortle as she jumped upright with a yelp. "R-Renji!" She hissed, cheeks blushing. "What on earth are you doing here?!"
He laughed. "Just thought I'd let you know that Akira and the others are alright. Soifon told us at the Captains' meeting."
Rukia's expression turned condescending. "… You do realise I can contact the Phantoms whenever I please, right?" A smug grin crossed her face. "In fact, I was talking to them barely thirty minutes ago!"
… Oh. He blinked, and this time, it was his cheeks that burned red. She'd mentioned that Urahara had beefed up her Denreishinki, but he hadn't realised the former 12th Division Captain had upgraded it that much. Renji opened his mouth, ready to retort, but the words died in his throat as the smile slipped off Rukia's face, replaced by a worried frown.
"What's wrong?" He asked instead, dragging over an empty chair from an unoccupied desk nearby.
Rukia sighed, massaging her brow. "Physically, they're all alright, but… it's Akira. His Hollow half has been acting up."
A shudder ran down Renji's spine as his mind flashed back to the Sōkyoku Hill, Tasogare no Dorobō plunging into his gut as a white-masked, golden-eyed Akira watched him impassively.
"Can't say I envy him." The redhead winced. "Still… Akira's tough. I'm sure he'll pull through." He'd managed to claw himself back to his senses that day, after all.
Rukia didn't look entirely convinced, however. "I'm not sure… I tried to cheer him up, but there's only so much I can do over the phone. I wish I could just go to his side and knock some sense into him."
A laugh bubbled out of the Captain's throat. "Hah, get a promotion, and you might just be able to!"
For a moment, she stared at him. "… You know what, Renji? I think you might be right."
…..
Later that night, Rukia swallowed her nerves. Lieutenant's armband in her hand, she knocked on her Captain's door. As it slid open Ukitake greeted her with a smile, eyes drifting down to the object in her grasp.
"Come in, Rukia-chan. I see you've considered my proposal?"
She nodded, ignoring her fluttering heart she perched down on the sofa. "Yes. I accept."
Warmth shone in Ukitake's eyes as he lifted the badge from her hands, and tied it around her bicep. "I look forward to working alongside you, Lieutenant Kurusu."
Slowly, she found the corners of her lips rising into a smile. "Likewise, Captain Ukitake."
…..
Uryū fidgeted nervously, stomach tying itself into knots. It was the day after the Arrancars' attack, and the students of Karakura High had been ushered into the gymnasium first thing that morning for an emergency assembly. The Quincy had an awful, awful suspicion about what this was going to be about. Urahara had basically kicked the Phantoms out immediately after the crying man arrived, but it was easy enough to put two and two together.
Trembling, he stared down on the floor, wondering just which name the principal was about to read out. There were at least half a dozen students at his school who had enough Reiatsu to catch a Hollow's eye if they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. As the principal cleared his throat, the chatter filling the gymnasium died, and swallowing bile, Uryū forced himself to look upwards.
"Students and staff. While I wish I brought you happier tidings, unfortunately, today I am the bearer of nothing but sad news. I am sorry to inform you all that first-year student Kurosaki Ichigo has passed away."
A series of horrified whispers filled the gymnasium, and Uryū felt like he'd just been punched in the guts. Of course – he should have figured it out before. Out of all the students in the school with fledgling spiritual powers, Kurosaki had the most Reiatsu by a mile. Still, given his almost preternatural ability to avoid Hollows, Uryū had assumed he knew what they were and how to escape them. Then again, an Arrancar was a whole different kettle of fish. Poor Kurosaki – he probably hadn't even known what hit him.
The principal continued his speech, talking about his family's request for privacy in these trying times, but Uryū could barely hear the words over the static in his ears. Guilt crushed his stomach like a vice, and the screams and sobs of Kurosaki's friends were like hands choking at his throat. As soon as they were finally dismissed, Uryū made a beeline to the bathrooms, slammed the stall shut behind him, and promptly vomited into the toilet's basin. For a moment the Quincy stood there, shaking. Logically, he knew he wouldn't be able to protect everyone – there'd been fatalities the second the Arrancar stepped foot in Karakura. Still, just because there likely was nothing Uryū could have done to save Kurosaki, that didn't mean he didn't feel terrible about it.
He was his age, for god's sake. Crass, but bright, with family and friends who loved him. Now though, they'd never see him again. Kurosaki would never complete high school, start a career, or have a family of his own. he'd barely had the time to live before he had died. Perhaps that was why Uryū was feeling so shaken, or perhaps it was because he'd known the boy, if only as a distant classmate. Either way, he wasn't entirely sure.
Leaving the stall, he splashed water over his face. Get your act together. This isn't about you.
As Uryū walked to his classroom and slowly opened the door, Ochi-sensei barely raised a head at his late arrival. "Ishida." She nodded. "I thought it was best if I let everyone cool off for a little while."
He nodded faintly. Most of Kurosaki's friends had been in this class, after all – no one was going to get any work done today. Most of the students were clustered in one group, whispering quietly to each other, but others had formed their own separate pockets. As he walked towards a distraught Inoue Orihime and Arisawa Tatsuki on the way to his desk, Uryū's heart twisted. While Arisawa was practically a stranger to him, he knew Inoue from the crafts club. The girl was bubbly and kind, if a bit eccentric, and even though Uryū tended to keep others at a distance, she'd always welcomed him with open arms. Now though, her usual peppiness was nowhere to be found as she sobbed muffled tears into her friend's shoulder.
Ah, that's right. Uryū grimaced. Inoue-san had a crush on Kurosaki, didn't she?
Arisawa was hardly in good shape, either – her eyes were red, puffy with tears, and Inoue was holding her up as much as she was supporting Inoue. As Uryū crossed by them, the two girls pulled apart.
"I'm going to make sure Keigo's alright. I know Mizuiro and Sado are with him, but…" Arisawa's voice trailed off, brows furrowed in concern.
Inoue nodded, sniffing. "You should go. I'll be alright."
As Arisawa left, Inoue's eyes landed directly on him. Uryū stiffened, realising he'd been staring. For a second, he almost hurried back to his seat, but instead, the Quincy mustered his courage and approached her side.
"… My condolences, Inoue-san." For Kurosaki's passing, and the fact that I couldn't save him.
She shook her head, forcing a smile. "That's okay, Ishida-kun." Her expression wobbled, and Uryū felt like a blade was being shoved into his chest. "I'm being ridiculous, really! I-I barely even knew Kurosaki-kun. He's been Tatsuki's friend for all these years, and yet…"
"You're mourning the fact that you never got the chance to know him better." Uryū pointed out. "There's nothing ridiculous about that."
Inoue's smile softened into something more genuine. "Thank you, Ishida-kun."
A sudden impulse struck him as Inoue's tears and the grief on Kurosaki's father's face flashed to the front of his mind. "Do you think his family would appreciate any help? I wouldn't want to interrupt their mourning, but…" He knew what it was like to lose a family member, after all, and how it could completely shatter one's life.
Someone cleared his throat behind him, and turning around, he found himself looking at Arisawa. She'd folded her arms, something suspicious shining in her eyes. "That's nice of you, but why? You didn't even know Ichigo."
As she looked between him and Inoue, expression wary, a jolt of realisation flashed through him – Arisawa was worried he was trying to take advantage of her friend's grief. Uryū quashed the prickle of anger the insinuation caused him - given the fact that Inoue was a beautiful woman known for being a bit ditzy, and, as Arisawa said, Uryū barely knew Kurosaki, it wasn't an entirely unfair assumption.
"I saw Kurosaki's father yesterday, not long after he received the news. I wasn't sure whose parent he was at the time, but... well, he was in a rough state." Uryū confessed with a sigh. "Also, I… I know it's ridiculous of me, but I feel somewhat guilty about the whole situation – I was in the area when it happened, and yet, I was powerless to do anything about it."
Arisawa exchanged an unreadable glance with Inoue, but the tension sapped out of her shoulder, and she gave Uryū a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Well, if you're keen, Sado and I were talking about making a small care package for his family. Food and photos, things like that."
A lightbulb popped in the back of his mind. "Actually, if you're looking for food, I have a friend who lives in a café – he makes an excellent curry. I'm sure he wouldn't mind preparing a few batches if I told him why."
"That would be great, actually." Arisawa rubbed her chin. "Easy to store and reheat…"
"Very well." Uryū nodded, some of the guilt weighing him down lifting like a cloud. "I'll let him know."
Even if he couldn't bring Kurosaki Ichigo back from the dead, he could at least do this.
