"Here I come, Ichigo Kurosaki." As soon as the words left his mouth, he shunpo'ed towards me. My blade snapped up to meet his, and sparks flew. As we fought, I was reminded of one of my many bad habits. Somehow, I always forgot how fast Byakuya was. I was always reminded by it when I saw it in action, like now. While I was purposely going slow now, and I was overwhelmed by my own reiatsu originally, Byakuya was keeping up. Of course, I was moving faster, but he was making up for that gap by reacting faster. I'd blitz around fast enough to leave three separate after-images, but he'd block in the direction they were leading to, rather than where they were.
"What's the matter?" The nobleman asked, his voice halfway between insulted and speculating. "You seem to be moving much slower than when we started." Shit, he can't be allowed to realize I'm slowing down on purpose.
"Oh, yeah?" I sassed, hoping that my tone implied that I was calling bullshit on his analysis. "I can still block your sword! You know, when you move, it's almost like you ain't moving to me!" His sword actually was moving to me, far faster than I expected it. I really need to stop forgetting that while his wasn't as intense as mine, he did go through Yoruichi's speed training. My muscles instinctively tensed to dodge.
'No. While I hate to see it happen again, this is where Byakuya turns the tide.' Well, shit. I forced my body to relax and sucked in a breath, just as a pink blade ran through my foot. I tuned out Shiro screaming bloody murder. No, literally, he was describing how he was going to slowly and painfully eviscerate Byakuya. I felt a finger press against my right shoulder.
'Oh, I remember this.'
"Hadou Number Four: Byakurai." I bit through my lip keeping my arm from bisecting Byakuya through sheer instinct. It was nearly as difficult keeping my regeneration from activating, and my arm still twitched, though I could tell Byakuya just pegged that as a result from the injury.
'I do hope the reason Byakuya favors Byakurai so much isn't because their names are similar.' Thank you, Old Man, for always knowing just what to say to calm me down. The absurdity of the thought (that actually seemed more plausible the more I contemplated it) was enough to get my instincts under control enough for me to pay attention to my surroundings.
"It's over for you, Kurosaki Ichigo." Oh, my God, my previous revelation was correct.
"That's what you think. I'm pretty damn good at exceeding expectations." His eyes narrowed, but he otherwise didn't react.
"I gather you thought my movements became faster after activating my Senkei." Oh, thank God, he actually believed my act. "That is not the case. All that technique does is compress my numerous sword fragments into whole swords to explosively increase killing capabilities. I haven't gotten faster." Now that I think about it, how does reducing the amount of projectiles increase killing ability? It's not like he can have each of the fragments making up the blade move while cut into the enemy…
'...We're never telling him that.'
'Not unless we're in a desperate situation. Also, Ichigo, he's awaiting your response.'
'Oh, shit. Thanks Old Man!'
"So you're saying, that what actually happened is that I got slower?"
"There's nothing to be ashamed of. This is expected, really. You have gone far beyond what anyone believed you were capable of, defeated many high-level Shinigami, and even temporarily survived my Senbonzakura." Well, Aizen straight-up planned for all of this to happen. Kind of. The original event, not the version that included time-traveling. Wait, what if he did? "But you can feel it now, can't you? Your body is weak, and tired. Everyone has limits, and you have long since passed yours. I will give you the honor and respect to ask you now: Accept defeat. You are at your limit, you can do no more. Understand this, and die a respectable death."
Byakuya summoned another sword, raised over his head in a one-handed execution.
"This is your end, Ichigo Kurosaki." His blade fell, only to be stopped by my palm, thickened by my Hierro. His eyes widened. "Impossible."
"The way you speak, about my reaching my limits." I started, looking up at him. "It's almost as if you're saying that one should give up just because they're at their limit." My blade snapped out, faster than I had gone in this whole battle to cut across his chest. The noble retreated a few steps, clutching his wound. "It I had done that at any point until now, I couldn't have gone this far. If I didn't keep going after my body told me to stop, there's a lot of things I wouldn't have achieved." My eyes narrowed, and my reiatsu leaked off of me. "If I accepted that I couldn't do something, I wouldn't be here."
Byakuya's eyes filled with confusion, understanding my words spoke about more than what he had seen me do. He knew at this point that I wasn't in the midst of some second wind, or anything of the sort.
"I…don't think either of us have enough strength to continue to fight much longer." His confusion between my words and a lack of information rendered him unable to properly judge if I was tired or not. "Let us finish this off with one final attack." I humored him.
"All right. First though, I wanna ask you a question." The raven haired man raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't you save Rukia?" Last time, when he gave out his answer, it started him on a path that ended with him as a proper brother. Things had already changed since then. I was hoping I could change a little more. He was mute as he contemplated it, before meeting my eyes firmly.
"If you succeed in defeating me, I will answer you." I nodded in agreement, and he shifted to a kendo stance. Answering his silent call, the dome of blades surrounding us shattered into its petal state and flew to him and the single remaining blade in his hands. Whatever couldn't fit along the blade formed the angelic wings and halo-esque ring on his back.
"Shuukei: Hakuteiken." It was equally as beautiful as it was powerful. I thought about the respect he began to give me over the course of the fight. Originally, I wanted to repay him but couldn't due to lack of any other ability than Getsuga Tensho. Now, I just might be able to.
'Old Man, are they watching?' My inner world was silent for a beat.
'...Even if they are, it will not change anything. Only he would understand it for what it is, but he is too over-confident to pay attention to it.'
'…Good.'
"That's incredible." I finally breathed. "I believe it would be nothing short of insulting if I didn't respond in kind. I apologize in advance: my sword isn't beautiful or elegant. It's my will to protect others, sheer power for the purpose of keeping those I care about from harm." While it didn't go into a smile, Byakuya's face did soften.
"You claim your blade is neither beautiful nor elegant. Its purpose speaks otherwise." A smile warmed my face, as my heart stung. I was already making changes, it seems. That sounded a lot like the Byakuya I knew, after all. I gripped Tensa Zangetsu with both hands, and slid my right foot back as I brought back the blade to swing upwards. My body filled with as much power as the false Bankai allowed.
"Thank you, Byakuya Kuchiki. Are you ready?" He breathed in and nodded. "Then here I come!"
We charged, white encompassing his form, while absolute black wreathed mine. I made sure to keep laser focus on the distance between us, waiting until the very last possible moment to use it. His blade was falling, a mere hairs width from my body when I brought my blade forward. I did my best to aim as much towards the sky as I could, and I saw Byakuya's eyes widen at the name of the attack.
"Mugetsu." Just as I remembered, imperial white followed the wake of Byakuya's strike, encircling the whole of Sokyoku Hill. Unlike what happened originally, the black of my Getsuga Tensho did not swallow half of the Hill in an amazing mirror. Instead, my Mugetsu devoured the sky. My ultimate attack, one whose uses could be counted on one hand. It was immensely powerful, so great was its strength that even when used in my false Bankai, it painted the protected sky of the Seireitei black. It took a minute, likely a frightening one to everyone except me, for all of the whisps of reiatsu to fade. In a numb daze, Byakuya stumbled past me, the heavenly light of his Bankai slowly fading away. I craned my head over my shoulder to watch him, purposefully ignoring the deep gash in my side from the strike that actually landed this time. I would've turned to face him, but I had to paint the image that I was more wounded than I was. Up until the point in which Aizen was dead, it was always the safe bet to assume he was watching, and he wouldn't come out if he saw I was less injured than I should've been after fighting a captains Bankai for the first time ever. While using my own Bankai. For the first time ever. Being slowed down by my own power made a lot of sense in hindsight.
Byakuya's stumbling steps finally stopped, and there was enough of his blood on the ground that it made me question how the fuck he managed to flash step all the way to the 4th Division in such a state. Pride is one thing, stubbornness is another, but from the looks of things, he shouldn't have been able to travel the several miles it was to the only hospital in the Seireitei.
"…You wanted to know, why I would allow Rukia to be executed. Criminals must be brought to justice. They are given a punishment befitting of their crime, and it is carried out. That is the way of the law." This. Right here. This is where I had messed up last time. Last time, I questioned his priorities. I can do better this time.
"And what if the law is wrong? You said criminals are given punishments correct for what they've done. Is execution the right punishment for saving a family?"
"It…matters not what I believe. She committed treason, by interacting with humans, and more importantly, sacrificing her powers to one. The Kuchiki clan is one of the four great Noble Families. We're duty bound to act as examples for all Shinigami. How can we enforce our laws if we ourselves disobey them?"
"As a noble, it means everything what you believe. You, above everyone else, have the power to make the law fair and just where it otherwise isn't. Things are not black and white. This is a prime example. I understand you won't accept the word of a Ryoka. Ask Rukia next time you see her: why she sacrificed her powers to me? Read over the law books again, and ask yourself: are these fair?" A soft gust of wind passed by us, tugging at the edges of our coats as silence rang between us. Byakuya would slowly open up, but in my time, the laws of the Central 46 never changed. It was only due to the war conditions that they couldn't do whatever they wanted, and by the time they able to, there was nothing they could do.
"Ichigo Kurosaki. Through your spirit and drive, you have broken my sword. You have won. You have my word; I will pursue Rukia no longer."
"Thank you. But what about my words?"
"…That will be left for another time." I swallowed and tensed, feeling Orihime rush out from the trees atop Sokyoku Hill, blatantly ignoring the fact that the enemy was still there. Byakuya seemed to sense her as well, from his barely heard amused scoff before he shunpo'ed away. I stood there, unmoving for a couple seconds, staring at where the noble previously was. Then a wave of dizziness hit me. Oh, yeah, there was a giant fucking gash in my right side that miraculously didn't hit any organs that I decided to tough out. Good thing Orihime was gonna slam into me right about now.
"Kurosaki-kun!" My legs gave out, and I leaned back thanks to the Old Man reminding me that I fell backwards into her. She did her best to catch me, but she was a small, weak girl that was less than a hundred pounds and I was an over six foot tall wall of muscle that easily weighed over 150. It wasn't meant to be. We hit the ground, she quickly scrambled out from under me, and tried to help me up for all of until she saw my wounds. Her absentminded apologizing halted completely, and she immediately began looking me over. I mentally thanked her worrisome and ditzy nature, as it gave me ample time to keep myself from falling apart. That would wait until later. And preferably when I was alone. Before that, I needed to kill a couple certain someone's, and then try to not sound insane as I explained I was from the future. Orange filled my vision and I looked down to see Orihime's healing dome covering my gash. Shit. I had to stay injured until Aizen revealed himself. Excuse, excuse, yes!
"Inoue, not yet! We're not done yet. My injury can wait, Renji has Rukia."
"But Kurosaki-kun-"
"When everyone's safe. We can't afford to stop, not now." I heard Uryu, Ganju, and Chad run up behind me. I purposely didn't turn their way. I was barely managing to keep myself in one piece just knowing they were alive again, I didn't want to run the risk of actually seeing them alive. I stabbed the tip of the false Tensa into the ground and pulled myself up, biting back a pained hiss from my injuries. I felt some hands holding my back. The small set was clearly Orihime's. The huge, calloused ones I pegged as Chad's. I waved them off.
"I'll manage. I'm not bleeding that bad, and I can ignore the pain."
"…Kurosaki, why are you taller?" I was taller? Oh, yeah, I slowly grew taller than Uryu as the years passed. Oh course he would notice. I sighed.
"I-I'll explain, just later. Now's not the time. When we're done." I hadn't turned to look at him yet, but I could still feel his suspicion.
"…I'll hold you to that." I was grateful for his acceptance, I didn't think he was so trusting so early in our friendship. I lifted my blade from the ground and took a step. I stumbled lightly, but I managed to catch myself just as Orihime and Chad grabbed me again. I held my hand up and they retreated, but kept a close eye as I took another step. I didn't waver, but it took three more before I felt comfortable walking without a crutch. I tilted my head back so everyone knew I was talking to them, but not enough to actually see them, before I began speaking.
"I passed Rukia off to Renji while I caused a commotion. Yoruichi took one of the captains somewhere else, I beat three lieutenants and Byakuya, and the last three captains and lieutenant disappeared during my fight. I don't know where they are, and we need to regroup with Rukia and Renji to keep them safe. Any of you know where they are?" I couldn't do anything until Isane unveiled Aizen's plot, so I improvised. I wasn't supposed to know that Kyoraku and Ukitake dragged Yamamoto away to help out with Rukia's escape, nor was I supposed to know that Yoruichi was only able to drag Soi Fon away due to their history. I also was supposed to be shit at sensing reiatsu, meaning I wasn't supposed to know that Rukia and Renji were seconds away from encountering Tosen.
"I can sense Rukia with a reiatsu signature I'm not familiar with." Uryu announced
"Renji, probably. Hopefully."
"Then what are we waiting for?! Let's meet up with them!" Ganju yelled, because I wasn't sure if he knew what talking normally was. I had only ever heard him speak in anything other than yell once, and I don't think about that. I nodded in response to his statement, and began walking, doing my damnest to not make it obvious that I was avoiding looking at anyone.
"Kurosaki." I grunted in response to Uryu's voice. "The way down the hill is in the opposite direction." Well, I didn't mean to do that, but it at least cleared some of the suspicion on me.
"Oh, sorry." I shuffled around and did my best to rush past them without raising my head. "Come on then, we're in a hurry." Moving so fast with such bad injuries and no capabilities of regeneration turned out to be a bad idea. I tripped over my own feet and nearly face planted, if it weren't for Ganju and that 11th squad guy that Orihime accidentally kidnapped. Ganju wheezed as he threw my left arm over his shoulders.
"What the shit, man? You weren't this heavy two friggin days ago!" I rolled my eyes. I couldn't be that much heavier compared to my younger self.
"Like I said, I'll explain, just not now. Hurry it up, the sooner we're with Rukia and Renji, the easier this will be." With a clearly exaggerated grunt, Ganju lifted me up to my feet with the help of the 11th squad guy. After a bit of trial and error, the three of us managed to hobble forward as smoothly as we could. With us leading the pack, there weren't really any complications until we reached the steps, where we had to re-learn how to hobble. Luckily, we were still high enough up on the steps to see the trees atop the hill when there was a noticeable tug in the back of my head. One everyone felt, considering Ganju's and 11th squad guy's reactions. Then a voice filtered through, clear as day thanks to Isane's skill in Kido.
'This is it.'
'Where the one of the most significant of alterations will occur.'
'Fuck 'im up. For everything.'
'I will.' I didn't hear Isane's speech this time. I didn't need to. The tug released, and I could feel the tension rise amongst our group.
"You think all of that was true?" Chad inquired.
"Maybe," Ganju grumbled. "But it could also be a Shinigami trap."
"Not impossible," Uryu announced. "But the reiatsu that just appeared near the execution site is making me lean towards 'truth'. Rukia is there, along with the signature that was with her earlier. It's fading slowly. Most importantly, there's a third one that's captain-level." I didn't hesitate. I whipped around, throwing my arms off Ganju's and the other guy's shoulders and blitzing past Uryu and the others up the stairs. As soon as the stairs stopped and the flat ground started, I slipped seamlessly into shunpo. I didn't bother tracking Renji's and Rukia's reiatsu signatures. I knew exactly where they were. Before, I stumbled when I saw Renji on his knees and soaked in his own blood. I didn't this time. Aizen was fast enough that I barely stopped his blade in my false Bankai.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Like everything was going according to his plan, Aizen's face was passive as ever. They were, as far as he knew. He shifted, clearly making sure I could see it as he began his strike. Playing along, I pushed his blade back so Renji and I could retreat as best we could with our injuries. Breathlessly, the redhead beside me spoke up.
"Ichigo."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry you had to come."
"Don't be. This is meant to happen." I spoke softly so Aizen wouldn't hear. Renji flinched.
"What?!" Gathering myself as best I could, I turned to meet Renji's confused and slightly angry eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure everything ends up alright. None of you are going to be hurt anymore. That's a promise." Renji's shock was so great that his grip on Rukia loosened enough for her to push away from his chest and gasp for air.
"You think I'm trying to set a new world record for holding my breath?!" she screamed.
"Sorry 'bout that. I didn't think you wanted me to interfere, Aizen, so I let 'im by." I heard Gin explain to the man he wanted dead.
"No matter; its fine." The megalomaniac with a god complex soothed. "When you're cleaning the house, it doesn't make any difference whether there's one piece of dirt, or two." Renji's head snapped up upon hearing the insult, and I was already facing the walking definition of arrogance.
"This the Aizen guy I just heard about?" I asked, feigning ignorance. In hindsight, what the hell was I thinking? I had barely come out of the fight with Byakuya alive, and I thought I was still physically up to fight another captain-class fighter?
"Yeah, that's him." Renji confirmed.
"You think you still have enough in you to get away?"
"I've got enough in me to stay and fight. It's damn useless to try and run. Zabimaru may be broken, but he's got a surprise or two up his sleeve. I don't think we can win, but I'm confident we can slow him down enough to get out of here." I sighed to keep up the act. I could let Renji and Rukia in on it, but I absolutely couldn't risk tipping Aizen off, especially not this close to the best opportunity we'll have.
"Good enough." I announced. I saw Renji give me an odd look out the corner of my eye, and I thoroughly wanted to punch him in the face for being so obvious. Luckily, he dropped the glance in favor of getting into position for his Higa Zekko.
"I can only pull this off once, but if it works, you'll have a second or two where he'll be wide open. That'll be all I can give you, so don't waste it."
"Understood." With my acknowledgement acting as confirmation, Renji slammed his blade into the ground, his reiatsu permeating the area.
"Here we go, Zabimaru! Higa Zekko!" His reiatsu was absorbed into the pieces of shikai, causing them to float, turn to face Aizen, and rocket forward. Gin didn't so much as blink, either correctly assuming that the ability wouldn't do crap, or humoring Renji's efforts by letting it happen. I kept myself a fraction of a second behind the rain of metal, painting the illusion that I was trying. Just like last time, Aizen promptly knocked away each piece of Zabimaru before holding out his finger to stop the false Zangetsu completely. My eyes widened in surprise, not because he stopped the fake Bankai, but because I didn't know until now that Aizen also stopped Zabimaru without his zanpakuto. This time, I watched as Aizen drew his blade, cut across my stomach, flick the blood off, and sheath his weapon so quickly even Yoruichi would've missed it.
"Oh?" Aizen raised an eyebrow. "I thought I would've cut you completely in half. It seems I didn't strike deep enough." Bullshit, he wanted me alive. He wanted to drive out my hollow by making me weak enough to be unable to fight back. Last time, he treated me controlling my hollow powers as a happy accident. I was tempted to use my hollow powers to kill him, but then I realized that the Captains would probably attack me instead of listening to what I have to say. I fell painfully to the ground, in such a way that I caught a glance at Aizen cutting down Renji just as quickly as he struck me. I blacked out from the pain for the briefest of instant, and the megalomaniac was holding Rukia by the collar. I shifted slightly, something the brunet didn't miss.
"Poor thing," he mocked. "Are you actually still conscious? I'd applaud your endurance, but your spine is all that is keeping you in one piece. If you wish to remain alive, I suggest your remain still. It's up to you, though. You've already served your purpose, and I no longer need you alive."
"I've served…my purpose?" He watched me for a moment, like a scientist would his project. He decided to humor me, just like last time.
"Correct. I knew you were coming. I even knew from where: the West Rukongai. I do hope a certain feline mentioned the increase in security, else my efforts on that front would have been in vain. I instructed Gin to go there as well, just to ensure everything went smoothly. I rearranged a couple squads and their shifts in such a way that your only possible form of entry would be through Kukaku Shiba's cannon. Flashy, loud, and most importantly, bold enough to divert all attention onto you. It helped that at least two of you were skilled enough to get past the captains. The Quincy, I believe, was the one to take out Kurotsuchi. Thanks in no small part to the turmoil you caused, there was almost no fuss over me when I faked my death. Though, I am the one who pushed your group to such an action, so technically the thanks should be for me."
"Hold on." I gasped, goddamn that hurt. "How did you know…we would come in through West Rukongai?"
"Why, because of Kisuke Urahara, of course. That is his headquarters, in the Soul Society, at least. That is the only place in which you can enter through a Senkaimon without alerting the Seireitei." I glared. "Oh, come now. You cannot play fool with me. You work for the man, you must've been sent here under his orders." Amused realization appeared on his face. "Unless you weren't. Oh, my. Did you truly believe that Kisuke Urahara would assist you in rescuing Rukia Kuchiki out of the kindness of his heart? That he would send out mere children to tackle the whole of the Gotei 13?" I had gotten pissed at the blonde upon realizing that. Once I returned from the Soul Society, Yoruichi watched with a glass of milk as I stomped on the madman's face until I realized he was unconscious. He only calmed me down by explaining that he couldn't have left without leaving Karakura unguarded. When I later confronted him after meeting the Vizards, he explained that they avoided interacting with hollows, in fear of the hollow reiatsu inciting their inner hollows. Aizen lifted Rukia, forcing me away from my thoughts.
"Oh, well. Since this is the end anyway, I'll tell you one last thing. In case you were uninformed, Shinigami have four basic fighting methods: Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kido. Those are the four, but there is a limit to how strong a Shinigami can become in any one of them. No matter which subject they chose, there comes a point where they will have mastered it, and all their growth will stop there. As a Shinigami, they have reached their limit." Well, in order for a Shinigami to reach their full potential, they must master themselves, but explaining that to Aizen was akin to telling a fish how to fly.
"However, for some, it is possible to break past that wall, and exceed the limit that's built into all four techniques. And to do that, there's only one way: the Shinigami must become a hollow. Either that, or a hollow can become like a Shinigami. Either way, what is required is the removal of the barrier between the two existences. That is the key to making the spirit's power greater. The idea seemed plausible, so I studied it secretly. I began testing; focusing mostly of the transformation of hollows into Shinigami. Because none would notice a disappearance of hollows, of course. I was successful in creating hollows which came close. Hollows who could hide their reiatsu, hollows with zanpakuto-like abilities, even one that could destroy zanpakuto and fuse with Shinigami." Rukia's eyes widened in disgust and horror, but couldn't talk because of Aizen's grip on her neck. "But, in the end, none of them worked out as well as I had hoped. It appeared the theory was only that, destined to never be a reality. But, loathe as I am to admit, Kisuke Urahara succeeded where I had failed. The mechanism he invented removes the barrier dividing hollow and Shinigami, instantly making one into the other. It defied all logic within Soul Society. It is called the Hogyoku.
I knew immediately how dangerous it was. I believe Urahara came to the same conclusion. He attempted to destroy it, but found himself unable. Lacking any ability to destroy the Hogyoku, he created a shield around it, activated it, and hid it within a Konpaku in order to hide its location from those who would use it." He met Rukia's eyes. "You know, don't you? Why I want you, that is. With all the clues I have given you, you must've solved the puzzle by now. The place Urahara hid the Hogyoku is within you, Kuchiki Rukia." Her eyes widened in horror.
"When I learned that you disappeared in the world of the living, I realized right away that Urahara had something to do with it. All Shinigami in gigai are traceable by Soul Society, no matter where they go. But the gigai given to you by Urahara was untraceable, created without Reishi. It was one of many reasons why he was cast out of Soul Society, after all. Another is that a gigai made without Reishi would constantly be in the process of breaking down and devouring the Reishi of the Shinigami using it. They would never be able to recover reiryoku after using it, and eventually, slowly, the Shinigami would be reduced to a human. Do you understand? Urahara never wished to help you. He saw an opportunity to rid himself of a powerful tool, and used you to do it. Fortunately, we recovered you before it was too late, and I managed to go to Central 46 before you were presented to them. I killed-" Komamura surprised me, as I was entirely focused on keeping myself alive and waiting for the perfect opportunity. I was pretty much conscious in name only for most of the confrontation, but I managed to hear Aizen returning his focus on me.
"I apologize, I hadn't finished explaining everything yet, had I?" I faintly heard Uryu's voice, and I had just enough sensibility to warn him to not come closer. Orihime spoke, but Gin appeared in front of them, stopping all of my friends in their tracks. Soon, I realized. Almost everyone was here, Aizen was almost done. And then I could stop with the lies. The lies about how strong I was, the lies about how this was all new to me, the lies about how Aizen was winning.
"Now, Rukia Kuchiki, after I found you in the World of the Living, do you know what the first thing I did was? I went and executed the Central 46. I imagine you heard somewhat of a different story from Isane Kotetsu. She likely told you I faked my death and hid my whereabouts, and then slaughtered Central 46. Now, she was mostly right. However, she got one thing wrong. I killed the Central 46 before you were even captured by Abarai and your brother. Now, I assure you, it wasn't the easiest thing to act as the whole of the Central 46. Until I faked my death, either Gin, Tosen or I remained within the meeting chambers at all times. We made such decisions as sending Abarai and Kuchiki to ensure your capture, and the destruction of your gigai. To acquire the Hogyoku, I determined execution via Sokyoku to be the safest way. Since I knew Urahara would send someone to return the Hogyoku to him, I planned for the execution to fail. When a foreign object is planted directly within the soul, there are only two methods by which to remove it: Intense thermal disruption-like the Sokyoku-to evaporate the soul around the object, or some other method which breaks down the soul's cohesion and allows them to be separated. In the event of the execution failing, I searched for that other method." He pulled something from his robes. I couldn't tell all that well, as I was trying not to pass out. That cut from Byakuya was really making all the difference in staying awake compared to last time. I seemed to miss some of his monologue, because I saw the green spikes rise out of the ground without hearing him explain how he got the device. I blinked, and the Hogyoku was in Aizen's hand, a massive hole in Rukia's chest that, luckily for Aizen, would close pretty quickly.
"…expect it…Hogyoku…astounding technique…Kill her, Gin." Most of what Aizen said slipped past my ears, and I would've jumped up to stop the snake had I not known Byakuya was going to do that anyway. Kukaku appeared out of nowhere, and then finally, finally, Yoruichi and Soi Fon appeared with the Gotei 13 on their asses. The sheer anticipation of what was to come brought me to full wakefulness. With the false Tensa in a reverse grip, I stabbed it into the ground and fought my way up. The pain from my wounds was gone, but the wounds themselves were still there. For now. A garganta opened, and Yoruichi and Soi Fon jumped away just in time to not get trapped within the Caja Negacion. I lifted my head to glare a hole through Aizen's head, and he watched me as I pulled myself up to my feet.
"Didn't I inform you that remaining still would be all that would keep you alive? Or have you given up in attempting to live?" I could feel the confusion in the air, as none except Rukia, Renji, Gin and Tosen knew what the megalomaniac was talking about.
"What I've given up, is playing along." Everyone who wasn't focused on me now was, and I could see a wide variety of emotions centered on me. Yoruichi was horrified at my condition, but she was also the only one who wasn't appalled at what I was doing.
"Playing along? Whatever do you mean?" I could see genuine confusion hidden somewhere in Aizen's tone. With a painful grunt, I lifted Zangetsu from the ground and turned it in my hand so the point was directed at the brunet who thought he was untouchable. Carefully, I brought my left hand up from across my abdomen to the hilt of my sword.
"What I mean is," My reiatsu exploded around me. More specifically, the brilliant, pure blue of my Quincy powers. To Byakuya's surprise, it rose to the level I was at when he and I fought. To everyone else's, it didn't stop there. Black manifested around me, and after I heard the sound of a chain snapping within my mind, red completed the trio. Most of the lieutenants present fell to their knees as my reiatsu skyrocketed without showing signs of slowing down. I could see some of the captains begin to sweat, and Yamamoto cracked an eye open when I rose above Kenpachi's level with his eyepatch off. Ukitake leaned on Kyoraku due to his illness, Rukia passed out, and Aizen's composure broke. Then I finished speaking.
"Shatter Fate, Zangetsu." The wind picked up and kept me from everyone else's sight. I felt my clothes shift to the set Senjumaru gave me, and I pushed a little reiatsu into healing all of my wounds. The blood still clung to my skin, but I was no longer on the verge of dying. My blade shifted, and my hands were forced away from each other, each holding a hilt. The oversized trench knife representing my Quincy powers was held in my left hand, the large Khyber knife embodying my hollow powers in my right, and both a solid black to visually display my Shinigami powers. I flicked my Quincy blade, and the wind dispersed near instantly. No longer desperately trying to keep myself up, I stood to my full height, still just shorter than Chad. However, my reiatsu was hovering at around the same level Yamamoto kept his, something the bearded man appeared to notice. Before anyone could react, and more importantly, before Aizen could do anything unexpected, I shunpo'ed at my fastest speed while still in this form. Only Yoruichi was able to see anything, and the only thing she managed to catch was a black and white blur. All of the hollows within the garganta were cut to shreds, and both the garganta and the Caja Negacion dissipated because of it. Without slowing down, I appeared in front of Aizen, bisecting him from left hip to right shoulder with my Quincy blade. Tosen, oddly enough, was the first to move. He rushed at me, cursing my name. I hooked my Quincy blade around his Suzumushi and flipped him across my shoulders and onto his back on my right. He was swiftly decapitated with my hollow blade, and I remained still from there to fully take in what I had done.
I stopped the Winter War. Before any of my friends and allies could die, before Orihime could get captured, before she and Uryu could watch helplessly as my hollow rampaged on Ulquiorra, before Gin would die in vain attempting to kill Aizen, I stopped the War. That's three years of fighting, undone. Already, so many lives had been saved. Starrk, Grimmjow, Peshe, Yumichika, Omaeda. Lillinete wouldn't have to live without her literal other half, Nel wouldn't mourn next to a grave for nearly a month without eating, Ikkaku wouldn't have to get a liver replacement from drinking so much. Rukia wouldn't have to learn how to live with one leg, Kyoraku wouldn't lose an eye, Momo wouldn't attempt suicide multiple times, Uryu wouldn't have to learn how to use a crossbow after losing an arm, Dondochakka would keep his ability to walk. Orihime wouldn't-
"…Ichigo?" Yoruichi's soft and emotionally pained voice dragged me out of my thoughts. My head twitched towards her automatically, then I looked at her fully when I realized she spoke. She had a somber look on her face, like something terrible had happened and she was just now realizing it. "They weren't the first you've killed, were they?"
Oh. My shoulders sagged at her words, everything I had done in the past 10 years searing their way through my mind. I couldn't keep looking at her, instead turning away to stare at the bleeding halves of Aizen, his face permanently filled with shock. I didn't want to respond to that. I could feel the wave of nausea rear its head and I slammed it down. I didn't want to answer her, but I couldn't do that to Yoruichi. Tasting bile rising up the back of my throat, I opened my mouth.
"…No." The word came out as more of a croak than human speech, and I clamped my jaw shut.
"Ryoka." Yamamoto called out. Oh, right, he didn't know my name yet. I tilted my head just enough to show I was listening. "I trust that I don't have to force you to explain yourself." I nodded, and mentally thanked Zangetsu for remaining silent right now. I felt their acknowledgement of my thanks, as well as the warmth of their support flow through my body. Taking a steadying breath, I opened my mouth for no sound to come out. I closed it, inhaled one more time, and tried to speak again. A soft rasp crawled out of my throat and I shut my eyes in frustration. A third try it was.
"Captain's meeting." My voice was grating from my failed attempt to keep my emotions in check.
"Of course."
"My friends are joining."
"You are not in the position to make demands, Ryoka." I took in a shuddering breath. I wanted to argue that yes, I was in position to make demands, but now wasn't the time.
"Please. My friends need to know as well and I'm not sure I'll be able to explain again."
"We take priority over-"
"Silence, Captain Soi Fon. Ryoka, I accept your request. Your friends are permitted to join this Captain's meeting, and this one only." For now, that'll work. I'll find a way to convince him later.
"Thank you." With that settled, most of the Captain's began their leave. Kyoraku and Ukitake remained, actually walking over to me, from what their reiatsu signatures described. The silver haired man carefully placed a reassuring hand on my right shoulder. He stood at the very edge of my vision, staring mournfully at Aizen's corpse.
"…He did something terrible to you, didn't he?" Despite how much I fought it, my eyes burned as tears streamed down my face.
"…Yeah." Ukitake's gentle hand squeezed just the smallest bit on my shoulder. I would never be able to make it up to the fellow dual-wielder for his kindness. I sheathed my swords moments before Yoruichi appeared from under my left arm and hugged my side tightly. I could feel her tears wet my clothes, and her hands hovering over where my injuries previously were. Thanks entirely to my hollowfied senses, I picked up her soft gasp.
"Your injuries-!"
"Are gone." I soothed.
"But-"
"I'll need a bath, but I'm otherwise fine." Clearly not believing me, she snaked a hand under my armor and pulled away my shihakusho to reveal a lot of blood and no wounds. The Goddess of Flash stood, blinking uncomprehendingly. Kyoraku appeared, his head peering over my left shoulder.
"My, my, you seem incredibly skilled in Kaido for a Ryoka. Unless that's the power of your zanpakuto. Either way, quite an accomplishment."
"Little bit of both." I admitted. "I mostly attribute it to great teachers."
"Oh? And who might they be?" At the playfully toned question from the 8th Squad Captain, I sighed. It was helping that I wasn't looking at anyone's faces, but I was managing to calm down.
"You'll find out at the meeting."
"Goodie for us, then. Yama-jii ordered the meeting to start in an hour." My head dropped in exasperation.
"Of course he did." I sighed.