A/N: Apologies for the original upload here - it was formatted terribly. As a compromise I endeavoured to redirect you all to my AO3 version (which is the same as this one, don't worry). Anyway, for my fans, here is the long awaited Chapter 24.

Arc Two: Chapter 24 – By the Honour of the Quincy!

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"Now let us begin in again, eh?"

Masaki took a firmer stance. She knew he only tested her before. Now was the real battle.

"HRAHH!"

Mayuri launched a wide assortment of unconventional and off putting attacks; combining sword attacks, kidō, flash step, explosions (he set traps) and...bodily weapon extensions. Such as a brain-sickle deployed from the left side of his head.

Disgusting but effective!

"Hehehe~" Mayuri hummed; not casual but clearly enjoying himself immensely.

"You move well Quincy!" he chimed in, while aggressively attacking his foe.

"Sure, but I expected more speed and power from a Soul Reaper Captain." She replied while dodging (and countering).

The two fighters went at it for a good few minutes, manoeuvring around the street block, from cobblestone floor to rooftop. Masaki sustained no damage while Mayuri (though pretty fast), couldn't dodge all of her attacks. He was lucky though, because most of her strikes barely missed the pressure points and tendons, that would've immobilised him. Thanks largely to his own wily movements.

This Quincy is incredibly skilled...I'll have to resort to that!

Back with Chad and Orihime

"I see..." Shunsui Kyōraku knew the situation around the Kuchiki girl was weird to say the least. Sure, she broke the law, but it was honestly minor in the grand scheme of things. However, considering what they (as in Central 46) did to his friends (over a century ago), he wasn't surprised it took some children to get justice for the girl. Even if they were very wet behind the ears.

"Then...you'll let us pass?" Orihime shakily asked. She thought this Soul Reaper looked reasonable, but her gut feeling told her that a Captain wouldn't let this intrusion slide. Likely made worse by Chad launching his Third Seat skyward. Even Chad looked nervous.

"Well...I can't. I have my reputation as a Captain to uphold. However, if you would retreat or even give up on this pursuit for that Kuchiki girl...I would let you leave."

The girl who threw the flower basket at him, immediately appeared behind him.

"But Captain! You can't just let these intruders...these ryōka get away like that!"

The Captain (okay so he was a Captain despite his weird dress sense), glanced behind him and answered his Lieutenant: "I can...they're not so much enemies, as they are against the imprisonment of that Kuchiki girl. I...can sympathise with that." And indeed he could. After former Captain Urahara and Kidō Corps Commander Tsukabīshi were marked for exile and imprisonment (as well as the disappearance of Captain Shihōin) and his other friends were to be executed; he thought long and hard about what justice in the Soul Society really meant.

"Y-You'd just let us go?" Orihime was shocked to say the least. From what Yoruichi said about the Soul Society, they were ruthless to intruders. With no qualms in killing even kids if it meant protecting Soul Society. Perhaps, Yoruichi didn't account for a Soul Reaper like this 'flower guy?' Or (seeing as she was a Soul Reaper herself), Yoruichi didn't want to get their hopes up. That she knew one or two Soul Reaper's might be...nice enough to at least let them retreat. But, the majority wouldn't be. That meant their friends were likely in danger.

"Why yes I would, if you retreat now and think about giving up on rescuing Rukia."

He directed his attention at the strawberry blonde girl. He knew she was likely the weak link in this pair. With the young man perhaps being amenable to her own change of mind? He certainly hoped so. It'd be a shame to...

Orihime looked tentatively at Chad. She knew they had to find and rescue Rukia but...

Chad spoke softly to Orihime.

"I know you want to at least hear this guy out, but even if he agrees to it, would that lady over there seriously let us go? I think she's his subordinate, but it does look like she has a rebellious streak."

A small bead of sweat dripped down the side of his face.

"This guy...he's a Captain. Even if we get a reprieve for now, he'll be sent after us again. I don't think there's a real choice here."

Orihime knew as much. They needed to get to Rukia, and if this guy wouldn't let them pass, they'd have no choice. The big problem...they weren't ready to face Captains!

Masaki vs Mayuri

Mayuri backed a good distance away from his opponent. He was honestly shocked by how advanced her skills were. At the very least, his shikai wouldn't be enough and he'd need to resort to other methods to break her composure.

"Hehe..."

Masaki glared in response, "what's so funny?"

"It's just...every other Quincy I've met, has been nothing more than a minor nuisance. Always complaining when I cut them into little bits~!" He emphasised the last few words, accentuated by his creepy hand gestures.

A small flash of red crossed her vision, her heart rate increasing in tempo.

"And they kept carrying on about...By the Honour of the Quincy 'I'll do this' or By the Honour of the Quincy 'I'll do that!' Clearly delusional until the end." A big wide grin coloured his face. Hoping to make himself look as creepy as possible. And to get her to lose herself just enough...or even for the boy to leap out and make a mess for her. Anything to get her to lose focus.

Masaki's heart beat harder and, she became sweaty. She knew this monster wanted to rile her up, and honestly it was working. However...even anger when directed can still be composed. She also knew that Uryū would feel the same as her. So...she sent him a calming stream of energy, enough to hopefully keep him cool.

Back in the storage house, Uryū was struggling with his emotions. He heard enough of what this Soul Reaper said. Enough, to make him wretch and shake with fury! His own spiritual power was starting to flare, but...he then felt a calming wave of energy wash over him. Aunt Masaki?

He was surprised that she would still try and help him, even when engaged with a dangerous enemy.

Mayuri felt just a tinge of this energy and realised: 'this Quincy is trying to keep the boy calm with her own spirit energy? And it seems to be working too...' His last shot was to pull out the pictures! They would do the trick for sure. Nothing like bruising that Quincy honour and pride with his delicate work.

So, as a last ditch effort he reached into his shihakūsho, revealing what looked to be..? He tossed them towards Masaki's direction, his eerie smile growing ever wider. He wanted to see her squirm, cry in pain, rage at him! And in doing so, remove any chance of defeating him. For a fighter who loses control, loses their life!

As the first of the...pictures (?) floated and weaved their way to the cobblestone floor, Masaki began to notice them. The mutilated bodies, dismembered limbs with blood splattered on surgical benches. It made her feel nauseous, sick.

All those people. Monster!

However, as more of the photos fell, she could see why this psycho was smiling. It was her people. The Quincy!

She didn't recognise any of her brothers and sisters. How could she when this monster made them unrecognisable!? It was here, where Masaki felt rage. An emotion she was unfamiliar with. Every image etched into her eyes, broke her self control just a little more. That was until she saw the last pictures.

At first, she could only see a single hand, dismembered and caked in blood. However that Quincy medallion was immediately recognisable to her. And then she saw his face.

It was so much older than she remembered, fully greyed-out hair, wrinkles...what struck her was how his eyes were still open, after all he suffered from this Soul Reaper. Horrified eyes, lifeless eyes, eyes which had contained the very wisdom of the Ishida family.

"Ahh...I see you recognise this one!" Mayuri cackled.

"Yes...he was a rather troublesome subject. Continuously prattled on about his young student and also about a niece of his. Someone he failed to save."

His smile elongated his face, as he took in the reaction from this Quincy woman. It was evident that these exquisite images were having the desired effect.

"Even though he was trouble, his body held no secrets that I hadn't already gleamed from the others. A...shame." He poured it on thick for sure. His whole demeanour poised to make this Quincy falter...and become easy prey for his designs.

However...

KRAKOOM!

A massive explosion of spiritual might, centred around the still form of Masaki. Only her silhouette could be clearly seen, as a blinding column of light continued to erupt from her. Spiritual pressure continued circulating around her, as the immediate environment cracked and crumbled – before seemingly converging towards the tower of energy. The column itself seemed to resonate with the infalling debris, as pulses of energy beat across the battlefield.

Each beat shaking the air, as Mayuri had to brace himself from the shockwaves.

'What is this!? This incredible pressure?' He struggled to think, as the pressure emanating from the column – from this Quincy woman became harder and harder to bear. So...he decided to retreat a short distance to catch his bearings.

After a few seconds – Masaki became more visible, as the light began to slowly subside.

It was clear she had...transformed. Her silhouette was greater, as the outlines of what appeared to be wings and a head adornment could be seen.

As the light subsided, Masaki had indeed changed. A subtle iridescent glow, cloaked her form. Pulsing as the column faded.

Then, what seemed to be angelic wings protruded from her back. They curled around her – almost – protectively.

Finally, a crown of some description, adorned her head. Though it was floating and looked more like a halo – painting a vivid image of a divine messenger...or destroyer.

Masaki dispelled the rest of the energy like one would throw off a coat. And her eyes.

They bore deep into the rotting soul of Mayuri Kurotsuchi. He flinched in response...unbidden and unwelcome. A primal fear beginning to take hold of him.

And then she spoke. Thunderous and clear.

By my honour as a Quincy...I will make you PAY for your crimes!

End of Chapter Notes: Masaki has exploded into her Voll Stern Dich, which she only calls Holy Form (or Quincy: Heilige Gestalt). Was about time, since Mayuri is pretty much scum of the Earth (in Masaki's eyes).