|UBWR|
-Use Bleach When Required-
Jū nana: Goddess of Lightning
Any betrayal you can see is trivial, what is truly frightening and much more lethal, is the betrayal that you cannot see.
-Aizen Sōsuke
Sanae was no stranger to the pain that came with injuries. During her academy days and trying to master the skill of Kidō she was sent to the medical room more times then anyone else. And then with her time in the Gotei Thirteen and climbing up the ranks in her squad, she had always been rash and competitive. She was the first one to always jump into a fight with a Hollow and was normally always the first one to get injured.
But this—getting smacked like a rag doll and plunging off a hundred foot cliff took the metaphorical cake. She lay on the ground, her head ringing and her back feeling like it had just been snapped in half. Her sapphire eyes lazily glanced up to the top off the cliff, where she could see bright lights and puffs of dust explode up top, telling her that battles were ensuing up there.
She had expected for the Head Captain to be a little bit mad at her sudden arrival, but she didn't expect that the old geezer would launch her off the cliff before she had a chance to say her piece. Now that was just rude. Sanae sighed and attempted to push herself up so that she was sitting. Her whole body screamed at her as she groaned and grit her teeth in agony. Finally, she managed to sit up as she cradled her tender head. The ringing in her ears just wouldn't stop, and she had the sudden urge to empty her stomach contents all down herself. She breathed in deeply and rubbed at her temple.
Sanae tilted her head to look up at the cliff. She needed to get back up there, she needed to help Ichigo with whoever he was going to fight to get Rukia out of there. She wasn't going to abandon him this time.
Just as Sanae had decided to pick herself up, two familiar faces appeared next to her. "Kyoraku? Ukitake?" She exclaimed in surprise. The two captains were looking over their shoulders in worry. Kyoraku held onto his hat with one hand and then grasped Sanae's arm and flung her over his shoulder effortlessly. "What the hell are you doing?" Sanae cried out.
"Time to go, Sanae-chan!" Kyoraku sung.
"Hurry!" Ukitake yelled. They sensed the large and powerful reiatsu of the Head Captain following them as all three of them disappeared in impressive Shunpō.
While Sanae was tossed over Kyoraku's shoulder, she glanced over at Ukitake who was keeping up with Kyoraku's speed. "Why are you taking me with you? I need to go back and help Ichigo!"
"It won't do much good if the old man incinerates everything up top, Sanae-chan. He's not wanting to punish just you anymore!" Kyoraku informed her breathlessly.
"We're doing this to keep everyone safe." Ukitake continued. "And from what I saw of your friend, it doesn't look like he'll need much help from you anyway."
"Trust me, he'll screw it up somehow!" Sanae yelled over the sound of the rushing wind. "Ichigo is brave and smart, but he's also incredibly reckless. He'll push himself to the brink of death if it means saving Rukia!"
"Then what have you got to worry about, hmm?" Kyoraku added.
Sanae opened her mouth to protest but found that nothing came out. She couldn't argue with him on that one. Right now, she had to think about herself and not get killed by Yamamoto before she had a chance to tell him the evidence that she had found. She could worry about Ichigo, but she had to believe in him that he would be able to do this on his own. She released a sigh of defeat and allowed Kyoraku to continue to carry her on his shoulder as they raced away from the Seireitei.
The place where they stopped was one that Sanae recognized. They were in a derelict part of the Seireitei; Shinigami would come here often to train on their Kidō and Shikai's, and that had caused the ruins that surrounded them. Sanae herself had come to this place many times as a seated member of the Gotei Thirteen. Kyoraku and Ukitake had picked the perfect spot to challenge the Head Captain.
Kyoraku dropped Sanae onto her feet as she wiped her head and managed to stand up straight. She wasn't as sore from her fall but she was still aching. Another figure appeared next to them. It was Nanao. The Lieutenant was panting; she had pushed herself to the limit to keep up with the two Captains.
Sanae turned her head so that she could look at Nanao. Their eyes met and Sanae felt bad at the fact that she was about to be subjected to wrath that was Head Captain Yamamoto. Even Sanae was worried about getting killed. If anyone had the power to do it, he could. Speaking of the Head Captain, he suddenly appeared in front of them all. Sanae readied herself as she stepped back so that she was in line with Kyoraku and Ukitake. Yamamoto stared them all down with his intense gaze.
"I'm surprised you survived my attack and the fall, Igarashi Sanae." Yamamoto spoke quietly but you could hear the anger in his tone.
Sanae clenched her fists at her sides. "It'll take a lot more then that to kill me! Are you not willing to listen to what I have to say?" Sanae asked him desperately.
Yamamoto slammed his cane down onto the ground. It caused a shockwave to go over them. "You had your chance two-hundred years ago. If you wanted to prove your innocence, you should've done it then!"
"But I didn't have proof then!" Sanae argued. "You never would've believed me back then if I had said it wasn't my fault!"
"And what makes you think that I can believe you now?" He questioned seriously. Sanae huffed in annoyance and glowered at the Head Captain in indignation.
All of a sudden, Kyoraku and Ukitake stepped in front of her. Both men had faces of earnest conviction as they held their old sensei's gaze. "Because we believe her, Sensei!" Ukitake and Kyoraku chorused together. Sanae stared at their backs in adoration. She felt the tears well up in her eyes at their declaration. Sanae shook her head, diminishing her tears. She wasn't about to get emotional now; Yamamoto could still kill her in the blink of an eye.
"Fools." Yamamoto muttered.
Unexpectedly, they all felt heavy reiatsu fall upon them. Yamamoto was unleashing his full extent unto them now. Sanae's knees buckled slightly as it suddenly became difficult for her to breath. She could see Ukitake and Kyoraku both succumb to his pressure also, albeit not as intense as Sanae was feeling it. Or even Nanao for that matter.
Sanae had almost forgotten that she was there. But the small whimper that came out of the Lieutenants mouth had her sympathizing with her. Nanao collapsed to her knees, her eyes wide and her lips quivering as she tried to withstand the power that was Head Captain Yamamoto. Kyoraku noticed this too and immediately went to his subordinate's side. He cradled her carefully and then disappeared with her in his arms.
Kyoraku was barely gone for a few seconds before he was back at their sides, a smirk on his face.
"You have let this woman cloud your judgments. I'm disappointed in you, Shunsui, Jūshiro…I thought I had taught you both better then that…"
"You taught us to follow the path of justice, Sensei." Ukitake stated fiercely.
"We only did what we thought was right." Kyoraku added. "That is what you taught us from the very beginning, was it not?"
"Sanae never forced us into doing anything we didn't want to. We wanted to protect her." Ukitake said.
"Protect a murderer?" Yamamoto questioned.
Sanae barged passed her two friends. Her anger was at boiling point now. She extended her hand, pointing her finger at the Head Captain. "I didn't kill them! I would never hurt my friends!"
Yamamoto shut his eyes for a brief moment. "It seems that asking you all to stand down will not be an option. Very well…" Yamamoto opened his burgundy eyes and stared at the three of them before he raised his cane off of the ground. "Prepare yourselves…"
They watched as the wood around the cane disintegrated, and Yamamoto's Zanpakuto was revealed to them. Sanae swallowed thickly. She felt Kyoraku pull on her arm. "You should get out of here, Sanae-chan. In your Gigai form you'll never be able to take him on."
"I don't want to run, not anymore."
"You'll die if you stay." Ukitake stated firmly.
Sanae whirled around to them both. "I'm going to die anyway!" She yelled. "It doesn't matter if it's now or then! What matters is how I choose to die! I will gladly go screaming at the top of my lungs that I was innocent. So that when he—" She rounded back on Yamamoto who was listening intently—"realizes the truth, he'll know that I was always loyal to the Gotei Thirteen to my dying breath!"
"Reduce all creation to ash, Ryūjin Jakka." Yamamoto commanded his Zanpakuto as almighty flames erupted from his sword and engulfed the area. Sanae stared in awe at the display. She had never had the privilege of seeing the Head Captains Shikai before. She knew that both Ukitake and Kyoraku had, but to her it was the most impressive thing she had seen. The flames circled them threateningly. Sanae twirled head around; there was no escape now from his clutches. She would either die here, or Yamamoto would come to his senses and blind sightedness and realize that what Sanae had said was the truth.
"Looks like we'll have to get serious too, eh, Ukitake?" Kyoraku mused with a sad sigh.
"He can't be reasoned with right now…" Ukitake muttered. "He's too stubborn to change his views on you, Sanae-chan."
Sanae's expression was grim as she watched her two friends draw their Zanpakuto's from their waists. "Well then, you'll just have to beat him for me."
Ukitake looked down at her, stunned. "You're not releasing you Gigai?"
Sanae beamed and then jerked her thumb at her chest. "I want him to know that even in my Gigai, he won't be able to lay a finger on me."
Ukitake sighed in exasperation at her. "Even after two hundred and fifty years, you're still just as hubristic as before."
"Hey!" Sanae chided him. "You're forgetting that even though Yamamoto trained you two personally, you both trained me. So by rights I'm just as good, if not double."
Kyoraku chuckled. "She's got you there."
"Don't goad her on, Kyoraku!" Ukitake scolded. Kyoraku's response was to chuckle at his friend as he extended his Zanpakuto's out before him.
"When the flower wind rages, the Flower God roars, when the wind of Heaven rages, the God of the Underworld sneers, Katen Kyōkotsu!" Kyoraku's Zanpakuto's formed into his two duel swords, one slightly bigger then the other.
Ukitake followed suit as he grasped his Zanpakuto in his hand. "All waves, rise now and become my shield, lightning, strike now and become my blade, Sōgyo no Kotowari!" Ukitake pulled his Zanpakuto apart as it morphed into two blades tied together by a red rope with five silver charms dangling along it. Sanae watched in awe at her two friends. It had been a very long time since she had seen their Shikai releases. It brought back cherished memories from long ago. The three stood defiantly in front of the Head Captain as he studied them all with withered but keen eyes.
Sanae narrowed her gaze at the old man and then took off at him like a bat out of hell. Ukitake reached out for her but knew that it was pointless to try and reason with her when she was like this. Kyoraku sniggered. "Always the first to rush in…"
"She learnt that from you, idiot!" Ukitake snapped.
X
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed into slits as he saw Sanae approaching him. He brought his Zanpakuto up and sliced across. A line of flames swept towards Sanae as she readied herself for it. She dropped down and skidded underneath the searing flames in a fluid motion and then shot back up and ran at the old man once more.
"Hado #31: Shakkahō!" Sanae shot out with her hand in a fist as a large burst of crimson energy came shooting out. From the expression that Yamamoto had on his face, he was slightly impressed with the sheer size of her Kido attack. But it wasn't going to hurt him in the slightest.
Yamamoto directed a wall of flame to protect him from Sanae's Kido spell. The spell hit the flames and it exploded, the force of it pushing Sanae back slightly. Sanae brought her arms up to shield her face from the falling dust, when she did the wall of fire suddenly heading straight for her at an impeccable speed.
It was so fast that she barely had time to register it. It was almost upon her when she was hit in the side and dragged out of the way, Kyoraku being her savior. Ukitake jumped in front of the flames at the same time Kyoraku had gotten Sanae and the white haired Captain held his left sword out just as the flames reached him. Ukitake's Zanpakuto absorbed the attack, and in a split second he held out the right sword and shot them back at the Head Captain. The flames were larger and faster then they had been on the attack.
Yamamoto didn't even flinch as the flames reached him. He held up one hand and swatted the wall of flame away like it was a pesky fly. Yamamoto regarded them calmly. "I remember your Kido being much more powerful back then." He commented mockingly towards Sanae. The girl in question gritted her teeth in frustration and moved out of Kyoraku's shielding arms.
"Sanae-chan. Let us handle this." Kyoraku said softly to her.
Sanae shook her head from side to side. "No. I'm not gonna stand by and watch my friends fight for me. This is my battle too."
"Let her, Kyoraku." Ukitake muttered. His gaze was still on Yamamoto but he was speaking to them. "She's right."
Sanae smirked over at Ukitake. Kyoraku stared at his white haired friend for a moment longer before realizing what he was getting at. Ukitake had always said there were always two battles in their world, the battle to protect life—and the battle to protect pride. Ukitake and Kyoraku were fighting for their life, but Sanae was fighting for her pride, and those of her comrades.
Sanae sat on the bridge, her legs dangling over the edge as her toes almost skimmed the calm water. Her long blue hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and reached the edge of her waist. Her Zanpakuto was strapped to her waist as she stared at the horizon as the sun began its slow descent. All around her, humans went about their business; they walked across the bridge, never even glancing in Sanae's direction. She sighed and leant her elbows on her legs and then rested her head in her hands. She was miserable. Every year, around the time her incident had happened she would return to the town where she had escaped from Soul Society. Karakura, that was its name.
She would sit and reminisce about her old life, about how peaceful and happy she had been. It had been over a hundred years since she had left, and it still wasn't any easier. She would remember the faces of her fallen friends, they would always be smiling at her, cheering her on. Then they would morph into looks of terror, silent screams and bloodied bodies.
Sanae shook her head from the gruesome thoughts. She tried to focus on something else, anything else. A koi fish suddenly jumped out of the water at her feet and splashed back into the pond. Sanae smiled down at it. It reminded her of the pond at Ukitake's barracks, the one where they used to sit for hours and drink tea and talk about the daily happenings around Soul Society. Most of the time Kyoraku would appear to ruin the moment, causing Sanae to belt him with her fists or another hard object that was lying around.
It was strange to admit, but she even missed Kyoraku begging her to go out on dates with him. It was the normal thing that he always did, and Sanae missed normal. She missed everything about Soul Society.
"Oh? Fancy seeing you here."
Sanae heard a voice nearby but didn't pay any attention to it. She just assumed that it was another passerby. It was only when a face appeared from overhead that she yelped in fright and gave the strange man an uppercut. The man in question cried out in pain and reeled back. Sanae whirled around, getting to her feet as she did so. Her guard dropped instantly when she realized who was standing in front of her.
"Kisuke!?" Sanae was sure it was the man she knew from Soul Society. He hadn't changed all that much, except instead of wearing his Shihakusho and haori he was in a pair of loose dark green robes and a black coat. On his head was a white and green stripy hat.
Urahara was currently cradling his chin as tears ran down his cheeks. "Sanae-san, so cruel."
A laugh echoed from a little further away. "Well that's what you get for creeping up on a former Shinigami, Kisuke." Stepping onto the bridge was a beautiful dark skinned woman with short purple hair and gleaming amber eyes.
"Yoruichi? What are you both doing here?" Sanae asked both of them, her head bouncing between them curiously.
Yoruichi, garbed in a black one piece crossed her arms. "Looks like you're not the only one to go missing from Soul Society."
"You both left?" Sanae asked in confusion, her eyebrows knitting together.
"Unfortunate circumstances…" Urahara mumbled, rubbing at his chin a few times before dropping his hands.
Sanae couldn't believe her eyes. She breathed out a laugh and then rubbed the back of her neck. "Is it bad to say that I'm glad? It's been kind of lonely out here in the human world not knowing anyone."
"You missed me?!" Urahara clasped his hand together and gave her puppy dog eyes.
"Idiot!" Yoruichi yelled as she punched Urahara in the back of the head. The man recoiled and fell to the ground, clutching at his skull. "Have you forgotten why she's in the human world in the first place?"
"Yoruichi…you didn't have to punch me…"
"Wait!" Sanae exclaimed, throwing her hands up before her. "I didn't do what you think I did. You have to let me explain, please." Urahara ceased his writhing on the floor and stood back up. Yoruichi gave Sanae a skeptical glance. "You can make your own decisions after you've heard my side of the story, but please, give me a chance to explain myself." Sanae begged desperately. She already knew that the whole of Soul Society despised her. If she could just have one person on her side in the human world, then maybe exile wouldn't be so bad after all.
Yoruichi sighed and waved her hand at the blue haired girl. "Alright, let's hear it then…"
Sanae raised her head as she panted heavily. Sweat was dripping from her forehead as she dodged another fire strike directed at her. Kyoraku and Ukitake were a little further up, taking on the Head Captain together. While the old man was fighting them, he never seemed to forget about Sanae. He kept on sending out strikes towards her, keeping her away from the main fight so that she couldn't interfere with her Kido spells.
Sanae couldn't help but be impressed by the Head Captain. He was truly the most powerful Shinigami she had ever met. To be able to keep her two best friends at arms length while also barring her from getting close was such a feat…and he didn't even look exhausted. Not like the three of them already did.
Sanae dropped to one knee in her exhaustion. Her vision was going blurry but she forced herself to keep awake. It was so hard to withstand the heat from Head Captains Ryūjin Jakka. It felt like all the moisture in the air had disappeared. Even the air that she was trying to breath in felt heavy and ashy.
So this is Head Captains power, she thought ominously.
Yamamoto had taken note of her tired state and sent another wave towards her. Sanae watched it come but didn't have the energy to dodge. Instead she tried to fling up a barrier Kido. It appeared, but as the flames hit it, the barrier was destroyed and Sanae went flying a few feet away and rolled onto the burnt ground.
"Sanae!" Ukitake called out desperately. The sickly Captain had looked her way, but then Yamamoto made to strike against him and Ukitake was drawn back into their battle.
Sanae lay on the ground, feeling defeated and hopeless. One of her arms was extended out on the ground; ash and dirt covered her pale arms so much that it looked like she hadn't bathed in days. She knew that the bottom of her black shirt also had singe marks from near misses from the flames. Her jeans looked like she had been in a fight with a lawn mower, and the mower had won.
Glinting in the blazing red flames sat her bracelet still on her wrist. Sanae stared at the piece of jewelry longingly. It was her only chance to get back up on her feet. She needed to release herself from her Gigai. Her other hand slowly inched towards her bracelet. She was so tired and drained from everything. All she wanted to do was sleep but she knew she needed to get back up. She needed to help Kyoraku and Ukitake…and Ichigo.
She had sensed him release his Bankai a while back. She was proud of him for getting that far in such a short amount of time. He was fine right now, but she needed to think about herself. She needed to defeat Yamamoto so that he would finally listen to her, so that she could explain herself and what she had found.
The smiling faces of her comrades spurred her on as she latched onto her bracelet. Her fingers tightened on the silver charms just as she heard Ukitake yell for her once again. Sanae turned her head, seeing a stream of fire heading right for her. It was coming fast, and Ukitake was heading over to her position to try and help her. Sanae's heart rate picked up as she started to tug on the bracelet.
"Attention Captains, Lieutenants, Seated officers and the Ryoka. This is Kotetsu Isane with an important announcement from Unohana-taicho and myself."
Sanae's grip slackened as the stream of fire suddenly halted inches from her nose. She swallowed and rolled out from underneath the fire and pushed herself onto her feet. She noticed that the fight between the three men had stopped suddenly also.
"Aizen-taicho is a traitor to Soul Society. He is alive and faked his death. He has slain the Central Forty-Six and has been influencing the Gotei Thirteen with his counterparts Ichimaru Gin and Kaname Tōsen. He has also slain Hinamori Momo and injured Captain Hitsugaya. His motives for these misdeeds are unknown but he needs to be taken into custody to answer for his crimes."
Sanae shook where she stood. Aizen had been…he had been outside the Central Forty-Six compound when she had left. She had been inside the compound, his base of operations. Had he known it was her all along?
Was he the one behind it?
Sanae spun on her heel and faced the Head Captain. Her anger was palpable towards him. "Do you believe me now you stupid old man!?" Sanae screeched at him. Yamamoto stared at her impassively as Sanae growled in frustration and threw herself in the other direction and headed back towards where she could sense Ichigo's reiatsu. As she reached the wall of fire, she was prepared to jump through it but the flames parted for her. She didn't stop to thank the old man, he didn't deserve it, and she leapt through the hole and began to Shunpō her way back to the Sokyoku hill.
Sanae wiped the sweat off her brow as she glared at the distant hill. She could sense a variety of reiatsu on top of the hill. One was Ichigo, another—was Aizen. Sanae balled her fists up. If Aizen was behind what had happened to her as well, there wasn't going to be anything left of the Captain when she got done with him.
"You can kill her now, Gin." Aizen commented coolly as he held Rukia by the red collar around her neck. Rukia's eyes widened as she whimpered helplessly as Gin brandished his Zanpakuto.
"Shoot to kill, Shinsō." Gin's Zanpakuto was heading straight for Rukia as the dark haired girl snapped her eyes shut in preparation for the hit to come. It never came. Instead, she felt herself being grabbed by someone new. She heard the Zanpakuto impale flesh as they released a heavy grunt. Rukia's eyes opened as she saw blood dripping down the white haori of her adoptive elder brother.
"Nii-sama!" Rukia exclaimed in a panic. Byakuya held onto Gin's Zanpakuto with his free hand, which had inadvertently stopped the blade from going completely through his shoulder. "Why? Nii-sama…" Rukia whispered to him. The Zanpakuto retracted out of Byakuya as the Captain stumbled and almost collapsed if it hadn't been for Rukia holding him up.
Ichigo watched helplessly from the sidelines. He was trying to stand, but found he didn't have the energy or strength left in him anymore. Aizen had cut him down so effortlessly. He couldn't do anything but watch now. His heart was hammering against his ribcage. He needed to protect Rukia! Aizen was advancing towards the brother and sister, intent on cutting them both down. He needed to stand.
Move! He screamed in his head as she tried to push himself up onto his hands and knees. Move! Move! Move, dammit! Aizen was standing before Rukia and Byakuya, his sword raised. Ichigo yelled in frustration and anger at his own helplessness.
"Hado #78: Zangerin!"
A shot of blue light came from somewhere behind Ichigo and shot at Aizen. The former ally turned enemy dodged, moving his head back slightly. Ichigo watched with avid fascination as Aizen's bespectacled eyes shifted from Rukia and Byakuya and over to something behind Ichigo. The orange haired Shinigami turned his head, groaning as he did so. He wanted to see where the shot had come from too. Ichigo's thoughts shattered and his throat dried up when he saw who was marching towards them. Sanae…
Ichigo took in her disheveled state. She looked like she was covered in dirt—or ash. Her shirt was singed at the bottom and little chunks had been taken out of it. Her jeans had rips all over them and the tiniest thread was holding parts of them together.
"No, Kagawa-san!" Rukia screeched at her. "Run away! You can't face him!"
Sanae didn't adhere to Rukia's advice as she kept on walking towards them. Her vivid sapphire eyes were locked onto Aizen, and they didn't waver from him as she walked passed Ichigo who was bloodied and beaten on the ground by her feet. "Run away!" Rukia tried one last time as she screamed at the brown haired girl.
Aizen held Sanae's deadly gaze with ease. A smirk decorated his face as he turned his body to face her. "I was wondering when you would come to greet me, Sanae-san. It's been a long time since we've had a chance to properly talk. The previous day excluded, of course." Aizen's tone was condescending and underlying more then what he was letting on.
Sanae's balled fists began to shake with rage. "Aizen, you piece of shit. It was you, wasn't it?"
The cunning Captain chuckled at her. "I knew you would be back eventually. It was only a matter of time before you showed yourself once more."
"Sanae…" Ichigo groaned, hoping to get her attention. It worked; she angled her head slightly towards him. "You can't…he's too…powerful." Ichigo again tried to push himself up but failed. He flopped back onto the dusty ground heavily. Sanae turned a little bit more, so that she could meet Ichigo gaze. Their gazes met, tawny and sapphire.
Sanae gave him a weak smile. "I'm sorry, Ichigo. I wish I'd just told you the truth from the beginning."
Her smile was shattered when Aizen made his move against her. He disappeared from his spot in an instant. Sanae spun around and in a move that Ichigo found bizarre, she lifted her wrist to block Aizen's Zanpakuto as he appeared in front of her. A shield of reiatsu appeared from the bracelet that Sanae wore on her wrist, effectively blocking Aizen's sword from slicing off her arm.
Sanae's determined gaze bore into Aizen's dark brown eyes; with a mighty push she thrust Aizen back a few feet as the Captain smirked down at her. "Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to interrupt a conversation?" Sanae chided him sarcastically.
"I merely saw an opening, and I took it. Isn't that what you taught us academy students back then, Igarashi-senpai?"
Behind Sanae, Ichigo's eyes widened astronomically. Senpai?! He shrieked in his head.
Sanae chortled and then shifted her defense so that her legs were a little more spread out. "This is gonna hurt." She muttered to herself. Sanae extended the arm that had the bracelet on over the top of her head. The charm jingled together as she brought her other hand over and clamped it on top of the silver jewelry. She took a deep breath. She was ready for this. It was finally time. "Kai!" Simultaneously, Sanae pulled at the bracelet. It broke. There was a moment of pure silence before Sanae was suddenly engulfed in a bright blue light. It shot up into the sky. The force of her reiatsu forced Aizen back and also made Ichigo grip onto the ground to stop himself from sliding away. Rukia fell back but Byakuya managed to catch her wrist and pull her back to him. Aizen's henchmen, Gin and Tōsen stood back, both slightly impressed with the force of reiatsu that was being emitted.
Aizen's smirk grew as he watched the beam of light suddenly disappear, but the dust cloud remained. The air swirled with electricity, as there was sound of a Zanpakuto being unsheathed. Aizen prepared himself just as a figure darted out from the dust cloud. Sanae's Zanpakuto was clasped tightly in her hand as her katana clashed with Aizen's head on.
X
Ichigo couldn't believe his eyes. The girl in front of him looked like Sanae…but she was so different! It was hard to believe that she was the same person. His eyes settled on the long blue hair that touched the edge of her waist. She now wore a black Shihakusho, traditional for all Shinigami. Instead of a white obi around her waist, she had a light blue one.
But that wasn't all…
The thing that shocked him the most was the white Captain's haori on her back. "Cap—Captain!?" Ichigo spluttered in complete befuddlement.
Sanae didn't have time to look back at see Ichigo's reaction to her reveal. Her Zanpakuto strained against Aizen's while the Captain of Fifth division looked completely at ease. "It's a pleasure to be crossing swords with you once more, Goddess of Lightning."
Sanae cringed at the stupid name that the Gotei Thirteen had once branded her with. She pushed against Aizen's sword as she jumped back, settling herself beside Ichigo's injured form. She could feel his questioning gaze on her, but she couldn't take her eyes off of Aizen for a second again.
"Not now, Ichigo." She grumbled. "I'll answer all your questions later. But first." Sanae straightened up and flicked her Zanpakuto out in front of her, the yellow ribbon that was attached to the navy blue hilt of her sword dancing in the wind. "You!" She pointed her sword at Gin who was standing a little further back. The silver haired fox looked stunned and pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"Yeah. You picked the wrong squad to be Captain of." Sanae threatened. "I'll never forgive someone for tainting my division Three!"
Aizen chuckled. "Igarashi Sanae. The second Captain of Division Three, fiercely protective of all those under her command."
Gin smiled evilly. "So much so that she slaughtered twenty-four of those under her command. A tragedy, isn't it, Aizen-sama?"
"It is, Gin. All those lives lost, all for what? A failed experiment."
Sanae seethed with rage. So it was him. Now she had all the proof she needed. Aizen was the cause of her suffering and the death of her subordinates. "Aizen, I'm gonna fucking kill you for what you did!" Sanae put as much malice into her voice as she could as she launched herself at the fallen Captain.
"Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle! Hado #63: Raikōhō!"
Before Sanae could reach him, she halted in her tracks when Kukaku descended upon them, hitching a ride upon Jidanbō's shoulder. The yellow Kido spell exploded out of the Shiba woman's hand and fired at the spot where Aizen had been standing.
Aizen landed a few feet away, but was then apprehended by Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng; Gin was captured by Rangiku and Tōsen by his Lieutenant Hisagi. Sanae stood back and watched as more Captains and Lieutenants arrived on the hill. She looked around at some familiar faces and others not so much. Even Yamamoto was here, and his infuriation was no longer directed at her, but Aizen. Ukitake appeared next to Sanae, relief on his face as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Sanae fixed her stare back on Aizen, who had started to laugh at his predicament.
"Forgive me, but my time has come." He muttered darkly.
Yoruichi's eyes widened in fear, "Sui-Fēng, get away!" She commanded to her partner. The two women jumped away just as a bright yellow light shone down from above and encased Aizen. Sanae craned her neck back to see a Garganta opening up in the sky above them. Two more columns of light surrounded Gin and Tōsen as their captors jumped away from them, lest they be caught in the light.
From inside the Garganta, Menos Grande loom out of the rip, their screams echoing all around. The Captains and Lieutenant's are all stunned into silence as they watch as Aizen and his subordinates are risen into the air on the very ground they stand on. Sanae bared her teeth in anger and rushed forwards towards the light. "Aizen! This isn't the end. There will be nowhere you can hide from me, I'll always find you!"
Aizen pulled his glasses off his face and held them between him fingers. He smashed them and with his other hand, slicked back his hair, leaving one part curling down his forehead. "That's the idea, Sanae-san. You were the first experiment. I'd hate for the fruits of my labour to go unnoticed."
Sanae wanted to ask him about what he meant by that when the Garganta snapped closed with a deafening boom. Sanae was panting, her mind reeling. Experiment? What was he talking about?
Sanae…
Her back went rigid suddenly as she heard a voice from deep within. Ikazuchi?
Sanae…it's time…you're ready now…
Sanae's brows furrowed as she scowled at the place in the sky where Aizen had disappeared. Time for what? She asked her Zanpakuto spirit.
Time for you to know the truth…it's time for me to show you…what really happened that night two-hundred and fifty-six years ago…
ok
ok
ok...where do I begin? I can't freaking believe that this chapter is finally out! ahhhhhhh ok but how many of you thought that Sanae was gonna be a Captain...i've been dying to reveal this information for AGES. Like AGES and how many of you thought that it was gonna be Aizen behind it all...because let's face it, Aizen was always behind everything the handsome bastard.
But geeeeez Im actually nervous to see your guys reactions, I hope you all like the chapter! And yes, her Zanpakuto will revealed next chapter but I did give you the name Ikazuchi! And thats not all. Next chapter will be a complete flashback of her past. I know some people might not be into it but it is essential for the story and it will have vital information about Sanae that will become relevant for the rest of the story! omg i still can't believe it.
Anyway, and also the feedback I got for last chapter was mindblowing! I had 10 reviews for just that last one...like wtf guys thank you so much. I appreciate you all like you wouldn't believe!
REPLIES
Maryam Clarus - This story is howling, calling, crying and screaming my name right now. I don't intend to slow down for a while now so expect updates weekly! I'm sorry to hear that corona is pretty close to you, please stay safe friend! God that scene with yama had been in my head for years, I'm just so happy to have it out now! lol Thank you and see you next time!
Kaizuka-Michiko - Thank you! :D
xXThatRandomKidXx - They are just too precious, aren't they? I love writing friendships between people. and honestly they just give me sibling vibes ( i wish me and my brothers were like that xD) Hope you enjoyed this chapter! :D
Wanderstar - annnnnd he still didn't give her a chance. stubborn old men gah! I'm glad you like their friendship with one another, I do too! I love writing them all together-makes my heart happy! stay safe and enjoy!
Savage Kill - pesky cliffhangers. I know I hate to read them but I love to write them! xD I'm a horrible person I know! originally i intended to stop this chapter as she was revealed to be a captain but then thought not as that would be anothher horrible cliffhanger for everyone! Thanks so much for your feedback, I appreciate it!
HeavenlyCondemned - She definitely wasn't safe, and is she still? We'll have to find out later! Thank you and stay safe!
FriendlyNeighbourhoodHufflepuff - duuuuuuuude, you have no idea how much i freaking laughed at this review! xD It is honestly the most amazing review I could ever get and it still has me laughing as i go back and find it xD Thank you so muchh for making my whole week!
Nixxion Mysterio - omg when I saw your name pop up in my emails do you know how giddy I was? extremely! I thought you were gone for good but then you returned and i was just so happy! Im so happy you're just as pumped for the anime as I am. I watched tthe live stream and legit cried tears of joy as they revealed it. gahhh even now it just makes me so happy! I'm so happy you're still enjoying the story! Thank you so much for sticking around :D
nyctophillia57 - Aw thank you! I appreciate that so much!
hi - Thank you so much! Means a lot me and i appreciate it so much!
I'm honestly so honoured by how many of you reviewed last chapter. It made my freakin week to see so many of you enjoying the story as much as I do! Let me know your thoughts on this chapter, I can't wait to hear them! xD