I have to say, I am truly honored at the attention this story is getting in the digital creator community. I have been contacted by at least six digital creators that want to turn this story into a comic or have visions for an updated cover art. I am truly shocked and humbled that people believe my writing is that good. Thank you all. At the moment, I do not have the proper funds for artwork commission, though I do wish I did.

On to the story: The captains of the Seireitei: I had to do some research on some of them as many of them do not interact as much as the few that tie in with the story. I tried my best to conform to their style of speaking so I hope I did them justice here. Dragonball is all about larger than life characters thus I had to add a bit to the Captains' personalities to fit with this style. Allowing Kira to stay in the mortal realm had to have conditions, as the Seireitei is very strict in following rules so I had to have a good reason and well, it just made sense. I think it ties everything together honestly. Also, I wanted the Seireitei to have an arrogance about it as it sometimes does in the show and the manga.

Disclaimer: The Dragonball Franchise and Bleach, their characters, settings, etc., belong to their respective creators. All original characters, settings, etc. belong to ME.

Chapter 26: The Seireitei

Kira couldn't breathe, Rukia's words filling every crevice of her being.

Power up…Or die…

Her grandfather wanted her to die? Not just die…but apparently receive the worst death imaginable. All this time he had wanted to help her and now…Now he wanted to kill her just because she wasn't improving faster than he liked!?

Rage, her old friend, returned abundantly. This guy was insufferable! All of this was his fault to begin with and now he was making ultimatums to her!?

"I want to speak to him." The words came out cold, like her stare. "My grandfather."

Rukia nodded. "It would be unwise for him to come to the mortal plane…But…I can take you to him." She smiled. "It is about time you ventured into the world of your birth. Come…" She took her hand. "We will go to the Seireitei."

Kira hesitated. She knew very well he could come to the living realm, he did it before, albeit for a short time. Was this a ploy to get her into the Seireitei without her consent?

"You are starting to mistrust others…Good…" Rukia chuckled. "You are thinking like a shinigami. To dispel your worries…" She turned to Gohan. "Would you like to accompany her?"

Gohan balked. "What…?" Wasn't the Seireitei like…THE spirit realm? The place where only ghosts go?

"Mortals are capable of venturing into the Seireitei." Rukia explained. "With your strong life force you will be fine. You are her anchor to the mortal plane…It seems only fitting that you join her in this confrontation." She huffed and folded her arms. "You might even be able to kick the Commander down a peg or two but who knows." She shrugged.

Gohan took Rukia's words to heart. She did NOT want her granddaughter to participate in the World's Tournament. She didn't want him to go and just be Kira' support…No…She wanted Gohan to knock some sense into the Commander.

"Um…I don't know if I'm…the best for this…" Gohan was uneasy about this. "I'm not…very intimidating." He paused, and looked at Kira. "But…If you want me to go, I'll go." He smiled. "You're my sister after all…"

Kira went silent for a moment, then…slowly nodded.

"Please…" She all but whispered to him and he sighed.

"Alright…" He looked toward Rukia who had a satisfied smirk on her lips. He dreaded her smirks, this shinigami, with an utmost passion. "So…How do we get there?"

"If Gohan is going then so am I." Piccolo remarked, making heads turn to him. "Unfortunately, I've been knee deep in this crap since the beginning."

"Very well." Rukia nodded. "An escort of epic proportions indeed."

The way to the Seireitei involved a gateway…One that resembled traditional sliding paper doors that opened to nothing but an expanse of bright light. Once venturing through, Gohan's face was a mixture of sheer shock and awe at the scenery before him.

They were standing in the middle of an expansive courtyard made of white stone. Around them stood towering white buildings that seemed to be made of the same material; a city. Gohan floated up a few feet, shocked that the city stretched well beyond what his eyes could see. He did notice the towering wall behind him that stretched all around, disappearing into the horizon while encircling the city. Everything felt…Cold almost…No life, no energy, just a stillness that no mortal could comprehend.

This…Was the Seireitei…Home of the Shinigami. This didn't feel like a home to Gohan…No…This expansive place…Felt like a military compound.

"Welcome to the Seireitei…" Rukia stated as Gohan touched down. "I assume you enjoyed the view?"

Gohan couldn't speak a word. This place was amazing yet…worrisome all the same. Every building, every alley they passed, Gohan could feel eyes on them. Noticing how tense his mentor was, Piccolo could feel it as well…The eyes…They were being watched, or rather…studied? Spied on? Who knew in this place that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention. It made it worse to think that, even if they were attacked, Gohan or Piccolo would never know…This was a place of the dead…There was no ki here which made Gohan and Piccolo's senses go haywire. It felt like they were in a tunnel of nothing…and that truly scared Gohan.

Well into the bowels of this massive complex they reached a set of large double doors, simple, yet elegant in structure. Everything here was pristine and clean as if all were created yesterday.

"Behind these doors is the meeting room." Rukia stated as Hitsugaya Toushirou, who had come with them, walked past them and into the depths of what lay behind the doors. "Here all 12 captains meet with the Commander."

Kira frowned at her mother. "You knew…"

A shake of black hair. "No…But I had a hunch a meeting such as this would happen sometime." She eyed Kira. "Your great uncle is in there as well, Byakuya Kuchiki. I warn you now, Kira…Once you go past those doors, not even Piccolo-san or Gohan-san would be able to save you. In there, you will be scrutinized, treated as nothing more than a child having a tantrum. You WILL bow before the captains, you WILL prostrate yourself in front of the Commander, is that clear?" She looked toward Piccolo and Gohan. "And you two, you will be silent and small. Stay in the shadows until you are called to stand before them."

Gohan was about to say something when Piccolo stopped him.

"We are on their turf and we know nothing about what is going on here, Gohan." Piccolo told him. "It is best to play their game until we know the rules…So we can determine which ones to break."

Sighing, Gohan agreed then stared at Kira. "You can do this, Kira. Show them no mercy."

Kira could barely breathe. She hadn't really expected this type of confrontation. In the back of her mind, she was screaming to leave and forget this and just go home. When her worries began to increase, she felt it…A presence standing behind her. Turning around she saw no one there.

A voice, one she could barely hear, whispered into her ear.

Be…Strong…Kira…

The spirit of her Zanpakutou…It was trying to give her just as much support as Gohan and, to her surprise, Piccolo as well. It was a stark contrast to the intense anxiety the spirit displayed just yesterday during training.

Gathering her courage, she squared her shoulders. "Okay…Let's do this…"

Inside, the air felt heavy. The expansive space was lit by gentle candlelight, or what Kira thought to be candlelight. There were shadows everywhere here and it made her nervous.

All of a sudden Rukia straightened her back, and bowed at a ninety degree angle. A traditional deep bow made for those higher than you.

"Kuchiki Rukia." She spoke with reverence. "I bring Kurosaki Kira."

Kira was about to correct her when the space filled with bodies in white overcoats. These were the captains of the Seireitei. There were 12 in all, Hitsugaya Toushirou being the only one Kira recognized though in here, despite his short stature, he appeared taller and much more overbearing. They formed two lines on either wall, creating a pathway to the central figure at the end of the hall.

There he stood, in all black, his orange hair tied neatly behind him. Kurosaki Ichigo, Kira's grandfather.

"So…This is the prodigal grandkid…" There was only one that didn't wear just white and black. Hanging around his shoulders was an elaborate pink kimono. "She's grown up." He actually gave her a smile. "Nice to meet you!"

Kira blinked. That was unexpected. Rukia told her they would look down on her…

"A spoiled child coming to demand more leniency of us…How utterly ridiculous." This one was a woman with hard eyes and short black hair. She had a permanent scowl written on her face.

"Give the kid a break, Sui-Fon." Kimono guy shrugged. "She got an order to basically fight or die. Not very nice if you ask me."

A taller one with long spikes for hair and an eyepatch snorted. "Feh…Kid doesn't look all that strong to me…Oi…Kurosaki, you sure this is your offspring?"

Kira just stared in confusion. What the hell…Were they talking about her, while she was standing here!?

"What of her progress, Hitsugaya-taicho?" Kimono guy stated.

"She has been hearing the voice, though only recently." Toushirou stated in a monotone voice. "Though it is slow progress, she is making it."

"Not enough it seems." The next to speak was near the tallest of the bunch and certainly the oddest in figure. He held a black and white face with yellow eyes that stared at her with such intensity it seemed he was not only observing her but trying to study every bit of her being. His ears, if he even had ears, were covered by yellow cones. "Perhaps I should experiment on her…It could prove useful, the data."

"You will hold your thoughts on my niece, Kurotsuchi-taicho." The one with long black hair that stood near to her grandfather spoke next. This was apparently Rukia's brother, Kira's great-uncle.

"Apologies Kuchiki-taicho. I was merely suggesting." Kurotsuchi-taicho grinned.

"Oi…Enough." Her grandfather's voice echoed in the chamber, snubbing conversation immediately. He strode over to Kira, towering over her form. "You will enter the tournament. End of discussion. Go home."

Kira paused.

Then she let him have it.

"That's it!?" She gapped. "You're not even going to let me freaking speak!?" To hell with the bowing and prostrating crap.

"Kira!" Rukia admonished but Kira wasn't listening.

"I'm not some damn soldier you can order around. I'm your freaking granddaughter!" Kira yelled at her grandfather. "You wanted to protect me and NOW you want to kill me? What kind of crap is that anyway!?"

"So the brat is scared for her life…" Soi-fun raised an eyebrow.

"You damn hell I'm scared!" Kira admitted. "My own grandfather wants to basically kill me! Wipe me out of existence!" Her stare turned into a glare. "I bet you've wanted me gone for a long time…I cause you too much sadness don't I? I make you remember the past that you want to bury. That's why you really want me to do this…So I can finally just go away."

It made sense. Her grandfather had always been sad every time he glanced her way. He never truly connected with her and knowing what happened Kira couldn't blame him for those feelings. Yet, now, effectively wanting to put her in a situation that could potentially harm her…

"I bet you WANT me to not get this shikai or bankai or whatever the hell it is just so you can personally take care of me." Kira glared into his brown eyes. "You forgot who you asked to be my guardian! Goku will come for your butt if that happens…" Her eyes widened in sudden realization. "And…You're expecting…."

In the shadows, watching the confrontation, Gohan froze, Kira's words making a harsh connection. Kira's grandfather…wanted to clash with Goku?

"Kakkorot of the Sayajin race has become vastly overpowered by mortal standards." Another captain stated. "This was the stipulation to allowing you to remain within the mortal realm."

Pause.

"What?" Kira looked towards her grandfather.

"We made a deal…" Kimono captain stated. "You, dear, could stay within the mortal realm…but…"

"You're using me…To get to them." Kira gasped. She had been a pawn basically, a way for the Seireitei to make contact with Goku and his friends without a skirmish.

"Of course! It was my idea." Kutotsuchi-taicho was proud of his words. "An observation of great proportions. I would love to have some of this Sayajin DNA if possible. Perhaps some can be extracted by one of your escorts. I wouldn't mind a vile or two of that Namekien blood either."

"Powerful mortals must be observed." Another captain stated. "They could throw the balance off."

"Not to mention that little icky detail of going to the past…twice." Kimono guy sighed. "Man, they really like to break rules in Universe 7…Hey, Tetsuzaemon-taicho, you really need to reign in on your universe."

A captain with black hair and a mustache spoke. "Goku has been an asset to his universe. We have watched him closely since he was a child. There is no need for concern. However, I do agree…Kurosaki Kira needs to improve and quickly. If the Captain Commander believes entering this tournament is proper, then so be it." He turned his head towards Piccolo and Gohan. "Would you two not agree?"

"Um…Gomen Nasai…I'm truly sorry…" Gohan approached, standing behind Kira. "Why this push to get Kira to power up as soon as possible? It might help us understand…"

There was a silence before the Captain Commander spoke.

"Oi…Leave." He commanded and the role became empty of all save for Kira, Rukia, her escorts, and the Captain Commander.

"Rukia…Take her away too." The Captain Commander stated.

"Hai…" Rukia nodded and grabbed Kira. "Come.."

"What? Hell no—" Kira protested.

"Oh shut up and just come, we'll wait outside." Rukia huffed, dragging her granddaughter out of the vast room.

With the women gone, Kurosaki Ichigo set his eyes on Gohan and now Piccolo, who had also revealed himself from the shadows.

"This is about her power…Isn't it?" Piccolo frowned. "Her ability of time."

Again, Gohan froze. That's what Piccolo told him before they got here…Kira's abilities involved time…

Kurosaki Ichigo remained silent for a long time then, "Speak a word of this, and you both will die. I do not care about you, I only care about her."

Gohan nodded, Piccolo folded his arms.

"Do you know why her reiatsu, the power we shinigami have, is black? Why it feels neutral?" Of course he would know about this. "She is…a product…One that should not have been created."

Gohan pondered his words then his eyes turned worried. "You're concerned Beerus-sama and everyone else…Will find out about her power? That she isn't supposed to exist? But they will if you put her in the tournament!"

"I see…" Piccolo grunted. "You want them to see her…Because you want them to fear her." He raised an eyebrow. "You can't seriously think gods and angels would be afraid of a little shinigami girl. Ridiculous."

Ichigo turned to him. "Neutral power is neither good nor evil…It is the most dangerous of power, reiatsu or ki respectively. Now that it is known she will have time abilities, what do you suppose will occur to someone with neutral power who could possibly not only stop time…but also reverse it?"

Pause.

"Her grandmother was able to reverse time." The Captain Commander explained. "She used it as a way to protect and heal. Mine…" He paused. "I suppose, in your viewpoint, it would be of a warrior with too much power. To put it simply, she did not inherit her powers from her parents…She inherited them from me…and my late wife."

"And that concerns you?" Piccolo asked.

"A being with the ability of time, a quincy, a hollow, and a shinigami…I would say it concerns everyone, including you."

Quincy? Hollow? Whatever that was, it was part of Kira's family and contributed to her vast power.

"The only way to keep her safe is for her to accept her powers and grow." Kurosaki explained. "Right now, she is vulnerable to anything."

"Okay but…She's already contacting that spirit…" None of this was really making any sense to Gohan. All that mattered was his concern in putting Kira in this tournament. "Isn't that enough for now anyway?"

"No…It is not." Kurosaki Ichigo stated. "She needs to obtain Bankai as quickly as possible." With that he turned his back to them and began to walk into the darkness of the room.

"I will not allow those idiots to destroy anymore of my family…Damn them to the bottom of hell."

Next Time: Tournament of Power