Chapter 5: The American Nightmare
(I don't know who might be reading this so a trigger warning is in effect for Freddy's backstory)
Tatsuki wasn't sure what she was expecting to see when she joined a quarter of the Karakura High student body at the doorway of the school library but the old man from Urahara shop sitting at one of the computers with Ichigo and his friends by his side definitely wasn't it. She noticed Keigo and Mizuiro in the crowd and squeezed in after them. "What's going on?" She asked Mizuiro once she had shoved her way to his side. "Why did Ichigo bring Mr. Urahara to the school library?"
"I tried asking him that," Mizuiro answered. "All he would say is that they had to look something up on the Internet and that's it."
"Ok, but why is everyone gathering around like it's some sort of spectacle?" Tatsuki further questioned.
"Because for as smart as he is when it comes to all that Soul Society stuff, Mr. Urahara apparently sucks at surfing the World of the Living's Internet," Keigo answered just as a loud erotic moan sounded from Urahara's computer. "See!? He just downloaded a porn virus onto the computer!"
"That's the fifth time today." Mizuiro mused.
Tatsuki simply sighed. "Never a dull moment even when you're not off in Soul Society eh Ichigo?"
If Ichigo had been within earshot of Tatsuki's comment, he would have barked at her to shut up. But at the moment, he along with Sado, Orihime, and Uryu were a little preoccupied with keeping Kisuke from being arrested for public indecency. "How many times do I have to tell you, do not click on the stupid pop-ups!" He scolded the former Captain of Squad 12.
"I can't help it Ichigo," Kisuke whined in a tone that none of them could decide was genuine or coy. "How often do you just bump into hot singles in your area?"
"Kisuke! Take this seriously!" Ichigo growled.
"Okay! Okay!" Kisuke raised his hand in a gesture of surrender. "Just help me get rid of the virus and I'll stop clicking on the pop-ups. I promise."
Ichigo hesitated for a moment but did as Kisuke asked and moved the virus file into the trash bin. Once it was deleted, the group reopened the web page they were on before Kisuke downloaded the virus. Ignoring the pop-ups on either side of the screen, the group focused on the article sandwiched between them. The Legend of Fredrick Charles Krueger A.K.A The Springwood Slasher: What You Need to Know was the title.
"The Springwood Slasher?" Uryu whispered. "That's the kind of sensationalist name they give to serial killers in America."
"It would make sense for this Freddy bastard to be a killer," Ichigo grunted. "The only question is, why isn't he in Hell?"
"How horrifying." Orihime squeaked. Sado said nothing but nodded in agreement as Kisuke began reading.
"Born in May of 1942, Fredrick Charles Krueger was a man destined for evil. Although there are no official records on the matter, it is widely accepted that he was the product of the sexual assault of his mother Amanda Krueger who had been accidentally locked inside of Westin Hills Sanitarium during the holidays when the tragedy occurred."
"We haven't even gotten to Freddy's crimes and this is already the most disturbing thing I've ever had to read." Uryu trembled. Ichigo simply nodded in agreement.
"Not much is known about Freddy's childhood aside from the fact that he spent it in foster care but in the 60s, he would begin the crime spree that would earn him the title of Springwood Slasher and forever solidify him as one of America's most vile criminals."
Kisuke paused once more to let someone comment. When no one did, he continued reading and this time didn't stop until he had nearly finished.
"It is believed that Freddy murdered up to 20 children between 1961 and 1968 before being caught. However, due to a legal technicality, Freddy was released from custody and free to roam the streets of Springwood once again. He vanished soon afterward and as the years have gone by, it is safe to assume that the Springwood Slasher no longer walks among us. However, there are many legends surrounding his already terrifying legacy. One of the most accepted theories on Freddy's true demise suggests the parents of his victims, denied justice by the legal system, decided to take it for themselves by tracking him down to the boiler room where he committed his evil acts and burning it down with him inside."
"Burning alive huh?" Kisuke rubbed his chin. "That would explain the reports of charred skin." He continued reading the final paragraph.
"But perhaps the most disturbing legend of all is the rumor that his ghost still haunts Springwood. Not as a specter roaming the halls of his now empty house nor as a voice heard in the dead of night but within the dreams of the Springwood youth. They say that if Freddy kills you in your dream, you will die in real life as well. But hey, it's only a story...right?"
"I can't but feel that whoever wrote this article was having a little too much fun," Uryu commented as he pushed his glasses up.
"I agree," Sado replied.
"Doesn't matter. Thanks to this article, we now have info pertaining to our good pal, Mr. Krueger. Now we just need t-
"Hey!" The crowd of students that had gathered at the doorway scattered as a teacher with a balding head and fuming face stomped toward the gang. "Who are you?" He snapped at Kisuke. "You're way too old to be a student!"
"Umm...I was held back?" Kisuke weakly offered. Seeing that the teacher wasn't buying it, the owner of Urahara Shop turned off the computer and booked it out of the library along with the rest of the gang. Once they were far enough away from the teacher, they stopped to catch their breath.
"I...knew...this...was a bad...idea..." Ichigo said between breaths.
"Hey...it...worked...didn't it?" An equally out-of-breath Urahara replied. "At least now we have any idea of what we're dealing with here. All we have to do is relay this to Soul Society and come up with a plan of attack."
Just then, a Jigokucho fluttered near the group and headed towards Kisuke.
"Speak of the devil." He chirped happily as he lifted his finger and allowed the Jigokucho to land on it. "Probably Yoruichi relaying what her patrol...found...out.." He trailed off, his smile quickly vanishing and his eyes darkening.
"Kisuke?" Ichigo asked. "What's wrong!?" When Kisuke didn't respond, Ichigo grabbed his shoulders and started shaking him. "Answer me!"
"Ichigo stop!" Orihime grabbed Ichigo and struggled to pull him away from Kisuke. It was only when Uryu and Sado helped that they were able to get him off Kisuke who looked as if he had a thousand-yard stare.
Ichigo, realizing what his friends were trying to do, calmed himself down enough for them to let him go. "Kisuke." He said again with restraint in his voice "What's wrong?"
After what seemed like an eternity, Kisuke finally spoke and what he said shook everyone to their core.
"Yoruichi. She's been killed in battle."
The funeral was packed, to say the least. Captains, Lieutenants, lower-class Shinigami as well as Ichigo and his friends all stood before the two shrines at the end of the room, one dedicated to Yumichika and the other to Yoruichi.
"Fifth Seat of Squad 11, Yumichika Ayasegawa and Former Captain of the Stealth Force, Yoruichi Shihouin. Both of these brave Shinigami gave their lives in the line of duty against an enemy the likes of which we have never seen before. For this, they have our thanks." Genryusai spoke gravely.
"Why did they wait so long to mourn Yumichika?" One of the Squad 11 Shinigami muttered angrily. "We should have had his funeral days ago!"
"They were hoping to take care of this Freddy Krueger guy first so no one else would die." His comrade explained coldly. "Stop being so selfish!"
"How do you think the Captain's taking this?" One of the Squad two members asked her friend. "Shihouin was her mentor after all."
"Not well. That's all I can say." The Squad 2 Shinigami glanced at her Captain as she said this. Despite only seeing the back of her head, she knew what Soifon's face looked like. Stoic. As it almost always was. Refusing to shed tears even for her beloved mentor. That would have to wait until after the funeral when there was no one around to hear or see her. That was just the kind of person Soifon was.
Most of the other Shinigami, including most of the Captains, wore the same expression of silent mourning. As with Soifon, it was a façade that fooled no one. They all wanted to scream. They all wanted to rush out of the room right now, hunt down the monster that did this and destroy him without mercy. Aside from Soifon, the one who felt this rage the most strongly was Ichigo.
"That bastard!" He thought. "That bastard killed them!" Memories of both Yoruichi and Yumichika filled his head. the enemies they had vanquished together, the laughs they had shared, and even the occasional moment of utter stupidity. Of these memories, the ones of the days Yoruichi had trained Ichigo to unlock his Bankai filled his mind the most. "If it wasn't for Yoruichi, I would have never been able to save Rukia. And now, just like that, she's gone."
Ichigo's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of sudden bawling. He turned to his side and saw Orihime openly weeping, unable to hold her tears back any longer. Many Shinigami turned to look at her as well, some with disgust in their eyes and others with pity. One of the former, a member of Squad 9, stomped toward the crying human.
"Hey! Cut that out!" He demanded. "This is a solemn service meant to be held in silence! If you can't keep your emotions in check then get out of here!"
His rage suddenly flaring up inside him once again, Ichigo quickly moved between the Shinigami and Orihime. "What's wrong with you?!" He roared. "Can't you see she's mourning her friend? Have a little compassion!"
"Don't act all high and mighty just because you helped save Soul Society a couple of times!" The Shinigami barked back. "As far as I'm concerned, you humans shouldn't even be here!"
"That's enough!" Ichigo expected to see one of the Captains approaching them when he heard someone shout that and was surprised to see another unseated Shinigami, this one from Squad 3 walking toward him instead. "These humans were close to both Yoruichi Shihouin and Yumichika Ayasegawa. They have every right to be here." Once he was close enough to grab the Squad 9 Shinigami by the shoulder, he took a quiet glance at the still-crying Orihime. "And they have every right to weep for them."
"Whatever!" The Squad 9 Shinigami slapped the newcomer's hand away and returned to where his Squad was standing. After watching him vanish into the crowd, The Squad 3 Shinigami turned to Ichigo and the others. "Please forgive him. We Shinigami are used to holding in what we feel during times like this." Before Ichigo could even move his lips to say "Thank You." the Shinigami returned to his own Squad. Ichigo turned back to Orihime and placed and hand on her shoulder. In response, the orange-haired girl suddenly wrapped her arms around Ichigo and sobbed into his chest.
Not sure of what else to do, Ichigo returned the favor. As he did, he happened to glance at Rukia standing alongside Captain Ukitake in the front. She had been watching the whole spectacle and instead of a condescending look of disappointment on her face as Ichigo expected, she sported a look of utter sorrow, tears of her own fighting to leave her eyes and winning.
"I'll kill you, you bastard!" Ichigo thought as he held Orihime close. "I swear I'll destroy you!"
The funeral proceeded as normal and once it was over, everyone dispersed but not before Genryusai announced that there would be a Captain's meeting tomorrow to discuss the next course of action against Freddy Krueger. As the crowd left, Kisuke walked up to Genryusai's side.
"The old Yamamoto would have demanded the meeting take place right this minute and not even give his Captains time to mourn." He mused as he turned toward the Head Captain. "It would seem Ichigo's rubbing off on you."
"Perhaps," Genryusai replied without any hesitation whatsoever. "I simply feel it is best to give the Squads a chance to rest and recover from this experience before we proceed with our plan of attack. Speaking of which," He turned to Kisuke. "I trust you were able to find information on this Freddy Krueger?"
"A little bit," Kisuke answered. "Although I doubt it'll be enough for us to form a competent plan of offense against Krueger."
"Any little bit will help," Genryusai argued. "After all, you are one of the greatest minds to ever come from Soul Society. I'm sure you could find a way to make use of whatever information you managed to dig up."
"Maybe." Kisuke was still in doubt. "Really," He thought. "The only piece of information we learned that might be of use was the rumor that Freddy haunted the living in their dreams. Could he be...no. They're all extinct and a rumor is just that, a rumor." Kisuke opened his fan and held it over the lower half of his face. "But still.."
As the funeral guest dispersed, Ichigo and his friends found themselves outside the Squad 2 Barracks. Orihime was still crying although it had softened considerably since the funeral ended.
"This just doesn't make sense," Uryu stated. "This Freddy Krueger is just a normal human soul and yet he's been able to take out two Shinigami, one of which was a former Captain."
"He might be human but he's definitely not normal," Ichigo replied.
"Maybe he's a fullbringer." Sado suggested. "We've seen what they're capable of."
"Yeah." Ichigo agreed, thinking back to his time at Xcution and his final battle with Ginjo. He shook those thoughts aside and stood up. "It doesn't matter who or what he is! That bastard killed two of our friends and we need to-
"You need to what?" All eyes fell on a seething Captain Soifon as she marched toward the group, nothing but pure malice in her raven-colored eyes.
"Soifon," Ichigo uttered.
"Don't speak my name so casually as if we're close!" She shouted. "And the same goes for Lady Yoruichi!" She turned to Orihime and glared, pointing at the girl. "You should be ashamed for making such an embarrassing spectacle out of yourself at Lady Yoruichi's funeral!"
"Hey! Lay off!" Ichigo barked as he stood up to Soifon. "In case you've been living under a rock all this time, let me remind you that we were all Yoruichi's friends! If anything, you should be ashamed for not crying at the funeral! Wasn't she your mentor!?"
"She was more than that!" Soifon snapped. "She was my entire reason for living! I was born to serve her and be by her side! Humans like you could never understand that kind of loyalty!" With a single hand, she knocked Ichigo out of her way and continued onward toward her barracks as his friends rushed to his side. "That being said, I am now a Captain of the Gotei 13 as well as Commander of the Stealth Force. I, of all people, have the least right to tears."
Ichigo!" Orihime cried. "Are you all right?"
Ichigo sat up from the ground and spit a little bit of blood before glaring at Soifon. "Hey! Get back here!" He tried to stand up but his friends held him in place.
"Stop it Ichigo!" Uryu shouted. "The last thing we need right now is you picking fights with the Captains!"
Soifon took one final look at the orange-haired boy struggling against his friends, scoffed, and entered her barracks, demanding two of her subordinates to stand guard at the gate.
"Damn you!" Ichigo continued to shout. "You're not the only one who's grieving!"
"Stop it Ichigo! You fool!" Rukia demanded as she ran up to the group. "Can't you see it's pointless? Captain Soifon is set in her ways."
"Dammit!" Ichigo didn't seem to hear Rukia. "Dammit all!"
Soifon continued to walk toward her room, the sounds of Ichigo's shouting and his friends trying to reason with him growing fainter and fainter as she walked. At last, she made it to her bedroom and closed the door behind her, finding herself standing in the exact spot her mentor had been just the other day.
"Say Soifon, have you ever been to a sushi restaurant?"
Soifon slowly removed her Haori.
"How about after this mission is all said and done, we go out for some?"
"100 years." Soifon whimpered, the tears that had been wanting to escape from her eyes all day finally flowing down her cheeks. "For 100 years, I had to learn how to live without you. And now...just when I got you back..."
Soifon quickly put the Haori to her face and let out an anguished howl of sorrow. She knew this wasn't enough to completely muffle the sounds of her cries but she also knew that whoever happened to be close enough to hear it would know better than to come into the room. For the next few hours, until night fell and she forced herself into a sleepless rest, Soifon would allow herself this precious time to grieve.
The next morning, The Captains gathered in the Squad 1 barracks for the meeting that would decide their next move against Freddy. Kisuke would also be present to explain to them what he had uncovered about their enemy and had Ichigo and his friends sit outside the barracks before going inside.
"It goes without saying that whatever plan we come up with, you'll be a part of it Ichigo." He explained. "I want you here and ready to enter once the meeting's over so we can go over the details with you."
"Right." Ichigo nodded.
"It shouldn't take too long but I brought you something to pass the time just in case." Kisuke reached into his pocket and pulled out a deck of cards which he handed to Ichigo who looked them over with annoyance.
"Go Fish?" He asked in an irritable tone, not being too fond of the game since the time he played with Tatsuki as a child and got beaten up by her when he won. Of course, he wasn't going to tell Kisuke that but the Shinigami could sense his disdain for the cards regardless and reached into his pockets again.
"If Go Fish doesn't tickle your fancy," He chirped as he pulled out some manga with images of nude women on the cover. "I also have po-
"WE'LL TAKE GO FISH!" Ichigo shouted as he sent Kisuke flying into the meeting hall with a kick to the face. The manga flew out of Kisuke's hands and into the sky, never to be seen again.
"What an idiot!" Ichigo huffed as Orihime placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. Uryu, Sado, and Rukia simply sighed with disappointment at Ichigo's violent outburst.
"Heh. Just as rambunctious as ever, eh Ichigo?"
All eyes turned toward the bald Shinigami making his way to the group with bandages wrapped all over his body, his clothes over them in turn.
"Ikkaku?" Ichigo inquired.
"Who else were you expecting?" Ikkaku's already-faded smile dropped completely as he looked around the area. "Where's Captain Zaraki?"
"He's already entered the Meeting hall with the other Captains," Rukia answered. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait until it's over."
Ikkaku looked down and sighed in both frustration and relief. "Just as well," He looked back up toward Ichigo. "I think it's best you hear this from me before anyone else Ichigo."
"Hear what?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm sure it warrants no repeating that the situation concerning Freddy Krueger has grown dire." Genryusai began. "We have already lost many warriors to this bloodthirsty monster and every moment that he is allowed to live, he will continue to consume more souls and threaten the balance that holds our very reality together. When it came to light that Freddy was in fact a human soul with unusual powers, I asked the former Head of the Department of Research and Development Kisuke Urahara to research what kind of life he might have led in the World of the Living." Yamamoto turned to Kisuke who stood but two feet away from him. "He will now share what he has learned with us."
Kisuke bowed to Genryusai and stood before the other Captains. He cleared his throat and began. "Although it was a little taxing, given the hazards of surfing the World of the Living's Internet," Kisuke briefly thought back to the Hot Single Moms in Your Area ads, pushed them aside, and continued. "I was able to uncover our pal Freddy's past and let me tell you, it's not a pretty story."
"Get on with it, you imbecile!" Mayuri shouted. "We haven't got all day!"
Normally, Soifon would have jumped at the chance to add another layer to an insult someone slung at Kisuke, even if that someone was Mayuri. But instead, she simply kept silent and looked to the floor. Kisuke noticed this but chose to carry on with the explanation.
"As it turns out, this Freddy Krueger guy was a nasty piece of work when he was alive. He killed children for kicks and possibly even did...well...other things I don't wanna mention and you folks don't wanna hear."
There was murmuring among the Captains.
"Great," Kensei muttered. "Not only are we getting our asses handed to us by a mere human but by a depraved pervert at that!"
"This is no mere human." Rose corrected his friend. "He might have been at some point but now, that is simply not the case."
"Doesn't matter what he is," Shinji added. "The sooner we destroy this freak, the better."
"Easier said than done," Toshiro interjected. "Just look what happened the last two times we tried to hunt him down."
"Aww. Is the little midget getting afraid of the big bad bogeyman?" Zaraki taunted.
Toshiro angrily turned his head toward the Squad 11 Captain. "Don't be stupid! I simply meant that we can't charge at this Freddy Krueger guns blazing. We need a plan."
Byakuya overheard all of this but simply let out an exhale of contempt.
"Now, in the era that humans call the 60s, they caught Mr. Krueger but due to an error with the American legal system, they cut him loose. So the parents of the children he killed tracked him down and burned him alive."
"That explains the bad complexion from the reports," Retsu commented.
Mayuri simply scoffed, uninterested in the life story of what he hoped was his next research subject.
Soifon was still looking down at the floor, gritting her teeth as if she was in pain. "I don't care who he was in life." She thought. "He killed Lady Yoruichi! When I find him, I'll make him feel every ounce of pain she felt! I swear!"
"Now, for the most part, none of this information is of any use to us. All we can really gather from it is that Freddy Krueger was a sick man who died paying for his sins and by all accounts should have either become a Hollow or been banished to Hell." Kisuke pointed a finger upward before anyone could speak. "But there is something else I uncovered about Krueger. Something that, if true, could at least explain what he is."
"Very well then." Genryusai tapped his cane gently. "Go on."
Kisuke reached into his robes and pulled out a small device. "Apparently, there is an urban legend surrounding Freddy back in his hometown of Springwood, Ohio. One that insists he lives on after death as a Dream Demon."
The eyes of several of the Captains grew wide. "What did you say?" Toshiro uttered.
"A Dream Demon," Kisuke repeated. "As in a being that invades the dreams of their victims and kills them in their sleep, causing their deaths in the real world as well"
All Captains murmured amongst themselves once more.
"A demon that kills humans through their dreams?" Ukitake shivered. "What a horrifying being!"
"I agree." Shunsui tipped his hat. "A man should be completely safe when he's taking a nap."
Mayuri's grimace, which he had been wearing since the meeting began, suddenly and violently transformed into a smile encompassing the entire lower half of his face. "A Dream Demon!? Kukukuku! How interesting!"
"What are you saying Kisuke?" Kensei butted in. "That this Freddy Krueger is some sort of dream Hollow?"
"Well, yes and no," Kisuke replied. "To date, there are no reports of Shinigami or Hollows with the ability to invade the dreams of other beings, living or dead. However, there was at one time a species of spirit closely related to Hollows that had such an ability." With this, Kisuke pressed a tiny button on the side of his device and a projection began to form from it. Once it had finished taking shape, the Captains found themselves staring at a serpent-like creature with a head resembling a fish's skull.
"Meet the Yumi No Seirei." Kisuke declared. "Although that's actually just one of many names these creatures go by. Bakhtak. Pandafeche. Alu. I could go on and on but the point is, that these creatures would enter the dreams of humans and devour their souls from within the dream, killing them. Then a few decades ago, for some unknown reason, they all died off."
"How come we're only finding this out now?" Kensei complained. "This seems like the kind of thing the Gotei 13 would be on top of."
Kisuke responded with a simple shrug. "Perhaps they just weren't seen as much of a threat considering they were pretty rare to begin with. In any case, the last recorded sighting of these Yumi No Seirei was in the late 60s shortly before Freddy was murdered. Now, this is just a theory but suppose a few of these remaining Yumi No Seirei decided to merge with another spiritual being in order to survive in some shape or form. Of course, being weaker than most Hollows, they would really only have the choice of merging with a human soul, say one that just recently passed?"
"You're not saying what I think you're saying," Toshiro uttered.
"I'm afraid I am. Freddy Krueger merged with the last remaining Yumi No Seirei and thus gained the ability to exist perpetually in the Dream Realm. This would explain how he managed to break free from the Cycle of Souls and remain undetected by us for all this time."
"But that doesn't explain how he's so powerful here!" Kensei barked. "This is the Soul Society, not the Dream Realm!"
"Maybe so but it does make sense if you take another theory into consideration," Kisuke argued. "The theory that the Dream Realm and Soul Society operate by the same rules."
Mayuri cooed. "Ah yes! I remember that theory quite well. It came about because people realized that the Dream Realm, much like Soul Society, is a place where only souls can exist."
Kisuke nodded. "When a human sleeps, they are basically entering a pseudo-form of temporary death. Their souls tend to wander during this time, hence the existence of the Dream Realm. It acts as a sanctuary, a pseudo-Soul Society if you will, for the souls of sleeping humans, and for several years, Freddy Krueger has been lurking in that sanctuary, hunting down the souls there and devouring them before they can make it back to their bodies, much like a Hollow. Now that's he here in Soul Society, it only makes sense that he would start the process all over again."
Most of the Captains remained silent, struggling to process what they had just been told.
"To think such a monster existed under our very noses this entire time," Genryusai sighed.
"As for how he wound up in Soul Society and why now of all times, I have to confess I haven't a clue," Kisuke admitted.
Mayuri scoffed loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"But that doesn't matter. What matters is that the more souls Freddy consumes, the stronger he gets, and eventually, if we don't put a stop to him, he'll be strong enough to shape Soul Society itself into whatever twisted version he sees fit. As much as I'd hate to say it, I think our best course of action is to once again rely on Ichigo."
Soifon was just about to argue that she should be the one sent after Freddy when the rumbling started.
Ichigo couldn't believe what he had just heard nor could any of his friends. It took him a full 30 seconds to ask Ikkaku to reiterate what he had just said. "I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch that. What did you just say?"
"I said I'm leaving Squad 11," Ikkaku repeated flatly. "There's no place for me there anymore."
"Ikkaku!" Rukia shouted. "You can't be serious! You love Squad 11!"
"That's why I have to leave it," Ikkaku replied while looking at the ground. "As of now, I'm nothing more than a burden. I'd only hold everyone else back."
"Is this about what happened to Yumichika?" Uryu interrupted, earning stares of horror from Rukia, Orihime, and Sado. "You can't blame yourself for what happened. It was Freddy, not you, who killed Yumichika."
Ikkaku suddenly rose his head and glared directly into Uyru's eyes. "I know that!" He barked. "But that only happened because I was too weak to take out Freddy when I had the chance! If I had just finished him off sooner, Yumichika might still be alive!"
Uryu fell silent, unable to respond to Ikkaku's rebuttal. "Ikkaku," Ichigo uttered as his friend turned around.
"There's something else as well." He uttered. "The main reason why I can't fight alongside Captain Zaraki anymore."
"What is it?" Orihime asked, tears threatening to fall from her eyes yet again.
Without saying a word, Ikkaku turned back toward the group and unsheathed his Zanpakuto. "Grow, Hozukimaru!" He commanded as he poised his blade to strike.
Nothing. Not even a glimmer of light. Everyone's eyes grew wide as they realized what Ikkaku was trying to tell them.
"I don't know if he's traumatized by the fight or if he's just lost respect for me as a warrior." Ikkaku continued as he slid his sword back into his scabbard. "But no matter how hard I try, I can't get Hozukimaru to answer my call. How am I supposed to fight without a Zanpakuto?"
Speechless, everyone looked down to the floor, unable to think of a reply that would at the very least comfort Ikkaku or make him reconsider his decision. Everyone except for Ichigo that is.
"So that's it?" He asked angrily. "All those years fighting in Squad 11, all those battles! You're gonna throw them away just like that?"
"What other choice do I have!?" Ikkaku barked. "I couldn't defeat the enemy and now I can't even release my Zanpakuto! What the hell else do you think I can do?"
"You can stop feeling sorry for yourself and try to find out why Hozukimaru won't listen to you." A voice from behind Ikkaku spoke. Everyone looked up to see Renji approaching them.
"Renji?" Ichigo asked.
The red-haired lieutenant of Squad 6 ignored Ichigo and decked Ikkaku in the face, knocking him to the ground. "You idiot! Do you think Captain Zaraki will just let you go that easily!?"
Ikkaku quickly got back to his feet and wiped the blood from his nose before glaring at Renji.
"I know it's hard." Renji continued. "But if you left Squad 11, you wouldn't be doing them any favors, you would just be costing them another member of their ranks needlessly. At least, I'm sure they would see it that way."
He's right you know." Ichigo agreed. "Taking the easy way out won't solve anything."
Ikkaku looked back and forth at Ichigo and Renji before looking down at Hozukimaru. After a minute of silent contemplation, he finally sighed. "Maybe your ri-
The ground began to tremble underneath them, the air around them suddenly solid as if they had been trapped in quick-drying cement. The entire Seireitei shook violently and everyone struggled to stay on their feet.
"What's going on?" Ichigo asked. "The hell is this?"
"I don't know." Despite the immense pressure threatening to crush her from all sides, Rukia forced herself to look around and noticed that even the far-off buildings were shaking. "But whatever it is, it's affecting the entire Seireitei!"
"Dammit!" Renji cursed. "I...can't...move!"
As Uryu struggled to keep his own balance, he happened to look up at the sky just as a black line formed through it. He and the others watched in horror as the line slowly grew into a familiar chasm.
"Is that...a Garganta?" Sado asked. Nobody wanted to believe it but in their hearts, they knew it was true. A massive Garganta had somehow opened up through the Sekkiseki and now hovered over the Seireitei, threatening to swallow it whole. As the group continued to look on and the vibrations died down, white specks of light appeared from the darkness of the Garganta and rained down into the Seireitei. One of them crashed right in the middle of the group, knocking everyone backward. Ichigo quickly got back to his feet and unsheathed his Zangetsu, ready to face whoever or whatever had landed. His heart dropped when a familiar face walked out of the smoke rising out of the newly formed crater and sneered at him
"It's been too fucking long Kurosaki."
"G...Grimmjow?"
"What's going on?" Shinji asked as the entire meeting hall shook to and fro. Everyone struggled to remain standing as the mysterious vibrations formed cracks all over the room. One of these cracks split the floor, forcing Toshiro to jump before he fell into the newly formed hole. Then, as soon as it had started, it was over. The Captains could not even begin to catch their breath before the sounds of crashing and chaos filled the air around them. Whatever had just happened had left the Seireitei in disarray.
"What the hell was that?" Zaraki asked once he had his footing back. "Did an earthquake just hit this place?"
"An earthquake? Don't be silly!" All eyes turned to the man sitting at the end of the room nonchalantly peeling an apple with the blades attached to the gloves on his right hand. He ignored the dumbstruck Captains for a few moments as he finished removing the last of the fruit's skin before looking up at them with a gleeful yet sinister shine. "That was just me trying out my new power on your pretty little town."
(The perils of making a big story like this is that you forget you were setting up one thing and then do something different because your stupid brain can't be bothered to remember the first thing. Woe is me.)