(Sereitei, The Next Day)
"Two lieutenants?!" One of the wise judges that made up Central 46 questioned. Captain Commander Kyōraku was currently in the meeting with the rulers of the Sereitei, and so far it was not going well.
"That's right." Kyōraku responded. "Third seat Okikiba knows the 1st Division inside out, but lieutenant Ise understands better than anyone how to deal with me. I'd like to have them both support me in my new position." Murmurs were heard all around him.
"Preposterous!" A male voice said. "What right have you to demand-"
"The right to appoint lieutenants rests with their division captains." The black haired man interrupted. "I believe that right was granted by none other than yourselves." Silence filled the room after that statement. Kyōraku inwardly smirked. The individuals surrounded him always followed the rules to the latter, so they wouldn't dare break them. "Now then, shall we continue?" He quietly spoke, adjusting his eyepatch, but his voice echoed throughout the hall. "For my first act as Captain Commander, I intend to have Captain Kenpachi Zaraki be taught the way of the sword."
"What?!"
"Is this some kind of joke!?"
"Preposterous!"
'Somehow, I knew that was going to be their reaction, and who keeps saying preposterous over and over again because it's getting repetitive.' Kyōraku thought to himself. "This is no joke. Captain Kuchiki and the others have been sent to the Reiō's Palace, but there is no guarantee that they will return safely. Captain Zaraki is still a major asset. I cannot allow it to be wasted."
"Outrageous!" Another male voice said. "If that man becomes any more powerful than he already is, he could lead a rebellion and nobody could stop him! Need we remind you, when Genryūsai had the same idea in his head, we ensured that he relented within a single day?!"
Kyōraku looked up at where he thought the male voice was coming from. "Then what do you propose? As the situation stands, Soul Society cannot hope to survive the next invasion. Or do you suppose that you will be able to protect yourselves when the time comes?"
He knew he had them when there was deafening silence in the room.
"It seems that I have the permission I seek." He then turned to look behind him in the darkness and said, "Please come on in. I would like to leave the matter of Captain Zaraki in your hands. I think Muken is the best stage for you both, don't you think?"
Footsteps were heard, then a figure emerged from the shadows with a stone faced expression.
"Captain Unohana, or should I say, the First Kenpachi, Ms. Yachiru Unohana."
A chuckle came from her, but it was not the same light-hearted, cheerful chuckle that people were used to. This one was cold and filled with malice as she undid her braid, revealing her true face and the lone scar she kept hidden on her chest. Even Kyōraku felt a small amount of fear in his heart as he stared down the former Eleventh Division captain.
"From now on, you may call me Yachiru, Captain Commander." She said, then turned around and walked out the hall to help her successor recover enough.
Kyōraku spoke, "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
He then began to walk out of the hall.
XXXXXXXXXX
Haschwalth, with his cape flapping around behind him as if it had a mind of its own, made his way towards Yhwach's throne room in deep thought as to why His Majesty summoned him and also thinking about Kurosaki. He had a hunch that one of the battles ahead would have Ichigo fighting him, his Majesty, one of the Schuzstaffel, or one or both the two new recruits.
Speaking of the two recruits.
He understood why His Majesty chose to recruit the girl. Kurosaki would never harm his own family members, because that was the kind of man he was, and that was his greatest weakness. Yuzu would get him to lower his guard and get himself killed or get his power neutralized. He still did not understand why His Majesty wanted that man's power sealed and be kept alive instead of killing him. Would it not be better to kill the boy after he gets his power sealed? It would seem he would have to wait and see what happens. Uryū, on the other hand, was still a mystery to him. He had his suspicions as to why he joined the Wandenreich, but until Ishida made the first move, he could not act upon them. He did not know for certain, but he would wait and see what the future holds. Before he knew it, he had reached the throne room. He entered the room and bowed his head.
"Your Majesty."
"Haschwalth. Alert all of my children to gather at the biggest cathedral we have as I have an announcement to make. Attendance is mandatory." The elder grumbled.
The Sternritter Grandmaster once again bowed his head and left the room, leaving Yhwach alone.
This meeting was going to be interesting, that was a guaranteed certainty.
(Cathedral, a couple of minutes later)
The Quincy King entered the cathedral, noticing that the Schuzstaffel was on the stage with his 'second half' and every single Soldat, including the Sternritter, were present.
"All members, present your crosses!" Haschwalth spoke. Everyone stomped their leg and stood at attention, all silent as Yhwach walked across the stage and stood in the middle of the four people that were on stage with him.
"Salute... His Majesty Yhwach!"
Again, everyone stomped their feet.
Yhwach grunted, "Have all the Sternritter gathered in front of me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" All of the sixteen Sternritter that remained yelled.
"A thousand years ago," Yhwach began, "we Quincies were savagely attacked by the Shinigami. We lost many brethren and our very existence was threatened. We survived hiding in the Schatten Bereich, endured utter humiliation... and waited for an entire millennium. Soon, the final battle will commence. The time has come for us to annihilate the Soul Society and the Shinigami, and reinstate the honor of the Quincies." He paused, pleased to see that everyone was listening intently. He continued, "In advance of the battle, I have an announcement to make." He turned to look back at the tunnel he came from.
"Come forth, my children."
Two sets of footsteps were heard, indicating two people were about to be seen. They got louder and louder until the two figures revealed themselves.
'What is this?' Bambietta thought, confused as to why they were on the stage.
"What the hell is he doing there?" Bazz-B growled.
"I'm confused. Why are they on stage as His Majesty?" A loopy faced girl asked herself as the two people stood next to Yhwach.
Without looking at them, the elder man said, "Uryū Ishida. He is the last surviving Quincy in this world, while the girl standing next to him, Yuzu Kurosaki is the sister of Ichigo Kurosaki, the one who is on top of the list of the Special War Threats. I..."
'Here it comes.' Haschwalth thought.
"Hereby appoint them as my successors."
To say that almost everyone gathered there was confused and shocked was a HUGE understatement.
"Why?"
"What the?!"
"What... did His Majesty just say?"
"His own successors?!"
"Why two Gemischt Quincy that we barely know about?"
"That man and woman? Geh, heh, heh."
'What the hell is going on?' Bazz-B thought as he looked at his former best friend, who was staring at him, as if he knew his thoughts. 'Jugo.'
"I will accept no objections, and you need not worry. In the battles ahead, all of you here will most certainly have an opportunity to witness my children's powers for yourselves. That is all." And with that, Yhwach walked off the stage, followed by Uryū and Yuzu.
XXXXXXXXXX
"What the fuck is going on!?" Bazz-B shouted, punching a hole in the wall. "I don't get what His Majesty's thinking! Why the hell did he choose those two!? Can someone give me a proper explanation already?!" He looked around at the Sternritter who had gathered.
"Explain? Who, exactly, should do that?" Sternritter S, Mask De Masculine grumbled. He had a very large, muscular build. He wore the standard Sternritter uniform, with the addition of a yellow and red-orange luchador mask covering most of his head and face, leaving his chin and nose exposed. His mask had a star pattern on the forehead and thick markings around his eyes, nose and cheeks. His boots and gloves were red. He had brown eyes and a blonde mustache. In addition to that, he wore a wrestler champion's belt with a large round buckle rather than the standard Wandenreich belt buckle. The buckle bore the Wandenreich insignia.
"I am afraid that only His Majesty himself could provide that." The robot that fought Suí-Fēng, BG9, spoke mechanically. It was a tall individual that wore a white helmet which concealed its entire head and its single, glowing eye. At its front, the helmet had a peak at the center with slits on both sides and it also wore a white, high collar cloak with the Sternritter uniform.
"Explain what, you dipshit? It's the first time anyone of us is hearing about a successor, you cockscomb head!" Liltotto Lamperd answered. She was a petite young girl with chin-length blonde hair and purple eyes. Her attire was a variation of the Sternritter's typical white uniform that consisted of a skirt in place of the signature trench coat, gloves, patterned leggings, and a white cap with gold trimmings, which featured a black peak and the Wandenreich insignia emblazoned on its front. She also wore a golden heart buckle on her waist.
"Shit! I refuse to accept this!" Bazz-B angrily spoke as he walked towards Yhwach's throne room, passing Bambietta and Candice.
"Where do you think you're going?" The green haired woman asked.
"To go see His Majesty! I can't let this slide without saying anything!" He yelled, trying to walk past but he was stopped by Bambietta who blocked his path.
"Are you sure there is no other reason?"
Bazz-B raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"His Majesty told us, including you, that he won't accept objections and not to worry. You usually don't object to any of His Majesty's choices, so why now?"
"Also, why do you hate the two, Yuzu specifically? Is it because they were named his successors? Or maybe," Bambietta looked dead in Bazz-B's eyes, "you hate them because they remind you of Kurosaki, the way he easily kicked your ass, the way he beat you with a single bitchslap?"
At this point, almost all of the Sternritter had turned their attention towards their fellow Sternritter, interested to see where this led.
"What do you think you are doing?" A voice spoke, making everyone turn their attention to it. Haschwalth stood at the end of the room with a disapproving look on his face.
"Let me ask you a question right back, Jugo." Bazz-B said, brushing past Bambietta. "Haven't you got anything to say to this bullshit? Because I always figured that if His Majesty was going to have a successor, it would be you." As Haschwalth continued to stay silent, Bazz-B continued, "I doubt any of the Sternritter would've been able to complain if His Majesty chose you as his successor. So how come you're so calm about this?!"
"Because," Haschwalth calmly answered, "His Majesty's will is all that matters. It is not my place to dispute his decision."
The Heat's eye twitched. "Tch. So you're a goddamn coward. I'm very disappointed in you." He then got into a battle stance and grinned. "In that case, I guess you won't mind if I take that position from you! If you've got no problem with some newcomers coming out of nowhere and taking what oughta be yours, then I'll go and take it for myself!"
Haschwalth calmly grabbed the hilt of the sword and quietly said, "You need to calm yourself, Bazzard."
"Heh?! I am calm! Way more than you!" Bazz-B shouted and rushed forward with a fist covered in flames towards the blonde haired man who unsheathed his sword and struck... only to stop as a purple sphere appeared in the air right in front of them. Both of them stopped advancing towards each other and looked at the man who was slow clapping.
"That's right, you are calm." The man spoke sarcastically, still slow clapping. "You didn't rush in head first. Very calm, very calm indeed."
Bazz-B glared at the man. "Nakk Le Vaar, what do you think you are doing?"
Askin just smiled as he walked towards the sphere. "I was trying to save you. Fighting is no good. Let it go, both of you. There's nothing to gain from fighting like this." He finished as he dispelled the purple sphere. "In fact, it can be toxic for someone like you. You already know that, don't you, our next Emperor?"
Haschwalth stayed silent as Askin stared at him.
"Grr, fine." Bazz-B grumbled as he went past Haschwalth and exited the room. "I won't go to His Majesty's throne room, but this still pisses me off!"
"What do you think, Bambi?" The loopy faced girl asked Bambietta. She had blue eyes and long, black hair extending down to her lower back, with two strands sticking up like antennae. Her attire was a variation of the Sternritter's typical white uniform that consisted of a trench coat with long sleeves, white shoes, and black leggings. She also wore a blue heart buckle on her waist. This was Sternritter Z, Giselle Gewelle.
Bambietta, however, didn't respond. She just exited the room, a certain curly brown haired girl on the forefront of her mind.
XXXXXXXXXX
'Damnit! Who the hell does he think he is?!' Bazz-B thought as he wondered around the long corridors of Silburn, trying to make sense of the entire situation. He wouldn't have complained if Jugo was named His Majesty's successor, hell, he would have been fine if one of the Schuzstaffel or ANY of the Sternritter, like Accutrone were named his successor. So why the hell would His Majesty choose two outsiders, who were Gemischt Quincy no less, to be his successors?! It just didn't make any sense!
One other thing was bothering him though, and it was what Basterbine said to him.
'Also, why do you hate the two, Yuzu specifically? Is it because they were named his successors? Or maybe you hate them because they remind you of Kurosaki, the way he easily kicked your ass, the way he beat you with a single bitchslap?'
He growled as he knew that deep down, that woman was right. He hated Uryū for being chosen instead of Jugo. He hated Yuzu because she was blood related to that man AND for being chosen instead of Jugo. But the one thing he truly hated about them?
It was the fact that they reminded him of his fear towards Ichigo Kurosaki.
He bitterly smiled. He never thought there would come a time where he, Sternritter H, The Heat, Bazzard Black, would be afraid of an opponent, let alone a mere Substitute Shinigami. But Ichigo in his Hollow form terrified him. He didn't even know how he gathered up the courage to even use Burner Finger 1, and that resulted in his jaw getting broken from the most painful bitchslap he had ever felt in his entire life. He still was curious as to how the doctor was able to fix his jaw, and very quickly too, but at the same time, he also... kinda didn't care? If he could talk clearly without having to feel any pain, that was fine by him.
He continued to walk until he reached the end of a particularly long and wide corridor, and turned the corner... and almost bumping into Yuzu Kurosaki as she too turned the corner.
They stared at each other for what seemed like a lifetime, when it was really only a couple of minutes. Yuzu then slightly bowed her head and politely greeted.
"Bazz-B-san."
The man with the red Mohawk just growled.
"Kurosaki."
The young woman just rolled her eyes at his attitude and was about to walk past him when she was stopped by his next words.
"Why you?"
"Excuse me?"
He narrowed his eyes and put his hands on his waist. "Why did His Majesty choose Ishida and you, of all people? Jugram has been His Majesty's right hand man for a thousand years, it made sense for him to be chosen as his successor. Both of you come out of nowhere and take what oughta be Jugo's, so tell me," He leaned forward until their bodies were almost touching. "What the hell is so special about you?"
To her credit, she didn't flinch or avert her gaze, successfully maintaining eye contact with him.
"I don't know."
And with that, she pushed past him and continued to walk down the corridor, not noticing two of Bazz-B's fingers glowing red. He shouted, "Where the hell do you think you're going?!" But Yuzu simply ignored him and continued to walk.
'That does it!' He thought as he opened his legs not far apart, one of them slightly behind the other as he pulled back his two fingers and pushed his arm forward, swiping the air with his two fingers.
"Burner Finger 2!"
Two thin lines of fire barrelled towards the young woman, who was still walking. To his surprise, his attack disappeared right before it reached her. She then stopped and turned around, her stone cold expression caused the man to feel a bit weary.
"Fighting between the Sternritter is forbidden. If it wasn't," she almost instantaneously disappeared and reappeared directly in front of her fellow Sternritter, her broadsword pointed at his throat, eyes glowing purple as she stared him down.
"Your head would have been severed from the body, and I would not feel the slightest shred of emotion." She finished her statement with an innocent tone that held malice and ill intentions in it. She then sheathed her sword, turned around and walked away, leaving behind a stunned Bazz-B.
(Sereitei)
In the Soul Society, particularly within the walls of the Sereitei, many grand mansions stood as testaments to the nobility's wealth and power. Most of these mansions, especially those belonging to the Four Great Noble Houses, were places of luxury and influence. However, after the Sereitei was invaded by the Wandenreich, many of these homes were either severely damaged or completely destroyed. Yet, among the ruins, there was one mansion that remained untouched, standing proudly in the heart of the Sereitei like a sore thumb—an enormous structure, untouched by the chaos that had befallen the realm.
Aura Michibane walked through the opulent halls of this mansion, her eyes scanning the walls adorned with magnificent paintings that depicted lavish lifestyles and endless wealth. The artwork was a silent testament to the indulgence of the house she was visiting, and despite herself, she couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at the extravagant displays. As she walked past, the servants, who were scattered throughout the mansion, offered small, respectful bows. Aura paid them no mind; she knew that in the presence of him, they would continue their ingrained behaviors no matter what she said. They would never listen to her.
She came to a stop next to a young woman who was diligently cleaning the floor. With a curt nod, Aura addressed her, her tone firm but polite. "Where is he?"
The woman didn't hesitate, merely pointing toward a door at the end of the corridor. Aura gave a soft "thank you" before making her way toward it, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the empty hall. Upon reaching the door, she raised her hand to knock, but before she could, a smooth voice called out from the other side.
"You can come in."
Aura's hand lowered, and she opened the door to step inside. The room was large and meticulously decorated, with a round glass table dominating the center. A slender man with medium-length dark green hair sat at one of the chairs, his posture relaxed but commanding. His green eyes met hers, and he gave a small smile. His hair was slightly disheveled except for a braid tied neatly along the left side of his head. He wore a loose black Shihakushō, a white haori draped over his shoulders, though unlike most captains, there was no symbol on his haori.
He was not alone.
At the opposite side of the table stood another man, tall and imposing, his long black hair tied into a ponytail secured with a golden band. Two strands of hair hung down from his forehead, giving him an almost regal appearance. His narrowed eyes studied Aura with suspicion, as if trying to gauge her every move. The captain's haori he wore was unique, with a golden mantle embroidered with black markings that wrapped around his neck and trailed down the edges, connecting at the midsection. His bell-sleeves were long and had small cuts above the elbows, and his thick golden belt, fastened by four locks, added an air of authority to his presence. Beneath the haori, he wore a standard Shinigami's uniform, though his attire seemed to carry more significance than a mere captain's.
Floating in the room with an ethereal grace was a woman, striking in her beauty. Her tall, curvaceous frame was accented by long black hair, which was fastened into an elaborate braid, styled to fan out behind her. Two more braids fell to the side, framing her face. Curiously, she wore straps across her eyes, covering them completely. Her lavender robe had large, billowing sleeves and black lining around her shoulders, with a plunging neckline that exposed her cleavage.
Aura bowed her head in respectful greeting. "Tokinada-sama."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada, head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, leaned back in his chair with a soft chuckle, his gaze never leaving her. "Welcome back. I trust your mission went well?"
"It was… interesting, to say the least."
"Well, that can wait until we make proper introductions," Tokinada said smoothly, gesturing toward the two men. "Michibane Aura, this gentleman here is Azashiro Sōya, the 8th Kenpachi and former 11th Division Taicho. Azashiro, this is Aura Michibane, a Fullbringer from the World of the Living." Azashiro merely nodded curtly in acknowledgment while Aura offered a deeper bow in return.
Aura's curiosity got the best of her, and she asked, "Who is the woman floating around the room?"
Tokinada looked at her, his expression a mixture of confusion and amusement, but it was Azashiro who reacted. His eyes widened slightly in surprise. The woman stopped floating and turned her head toward Aura, intrigued by her presence.
"You can see her?" Both Azashiro and the woman asked in unison, their voices tinged with disbelief.
Aura responded simply, "Yes."
Tokinada, who had been inspecting the room with mild disinterest, quickly noticed that there was no one else present, and his confusion turned into a sharp suspicion. The woman, as if sensing his unease, made herself visible, materializing beside Tokinada with a mischievous grin. The noble flinched in surprise, and his voice grew cold.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?"
Azashiro's smooth, almost soothing voice interjected. "Calm yourself, Tsunayashiro Tokinada. This woman is my Zanpakutō spirit, Urozakuro. She is normally invisible, only seen by me. But it seems you were able to see her clearly despite her not being visible. Interesting."
Aura wasn't paying attention to Tokinada's confusion. Her eyes were fixed on the strange woman, who was now circling her with evident curiosity.
"Strange," Urozakuro remarked in a playful tone, her voice carrying an edge of amusement. "You're a human. It's rare to see one in the Sereitei. You seem strong too."
Azashiro's voice broke through the momentary silence. "It would appear that even humans can be useful at times."
The comment struck a nerve with Aura. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that?"
Azashiro smirked, unfazed. "Your race is so pathetically weak, it makes me sick to my stomach. Don't think that just because you're spiritually aware and have some powers, you are an equal to a Shinigami." He spoke with a monotone indifference, shrugging off the pressure that seemed to grow heavier in the room.
Aura's response was sweet yet laced with venom. "Would you like to find out for yourself if I am, as you say, pathetically weak?" As she spoke, a green aura began to swirl around her, giving off a palpable pressure that made the atmosphere tense. Urozakuro cheered her on silently, watching the exchange with interest.
Tokinada, sensing the impending conflict, clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Now, now, no need for hostility," he said, his tone shifting to one of light amusement. "We are all allies here." He then turned toward the more serious subject at hand, his expression turning somber. "Speaking of allies… He did not accept our invitation, did he?"
Azashiro's voice remained calm. "He was not interested in affiliating with us. When I asked why, he said his reasons were his own. That is all."
Tokinada sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "That's a pity. He's an unpredictable man, but we do not need him for now."
Aura raised an eyebrow, sensing the underlying tension. "What do you mean by that, Tokinada-sama?"
The Tsunayashiro leader's smile returned, though it was laced with secrecy. "All will be explained soon enough. Please, take a seat and tell us about your mission, Michibane-chan."
With that, Aura sat down, a sense of unease swirling within her as she prepared to explain her mission. The game had just begun, and the stakes were higher than she had imagined.