Chapter 50: Gotei 13 Invading Arc: Fighting Reigai

Byakuya's POV

"BANKAI! DAIGUREN HYOURINMARU!"

Silvery blue reiatsu solidifies into ice, spreading out from his back to his arms and legs, forming dragon-esque claws while the ice along his back shapes itself into the large wings that have always been the most notable part of his bankai, well, appearance wise. He moves in to attack as I ready my blade, leading me to think that he would charge in to strike his blade against mine.

My thought was made void when he sent an ice dragon my way, the large beast letting out a loud roar as it emerged from the tip of his zanpakuto, its red eyes trained on me. I swing my blade to counter it, Senbonzakura quickly scattering into thousands of blades to stop the attack from reaching me. When the two attacks finally clashed, they combusted into a large cloud of smoke, obscuring the view I had on my opponent.

When the dust finally cleared, Reigai Hitsugaya was no longer in front of me. Instead, he was above, moving fast to launch his next attack.

"Sennen Hyourou!"

Ice pillars erupt from the ground around me, but I shunpo out of the trap before it could crush me. Noticing an opening, I appear before the reigai and strike, but I knew that something was off as soon as my blade made contact with his body.

"Enough!" I say as Hitsugaya's left wing slides to the ground, the rest of his body turning to ice before crumbling to dust. "I know I should not expect you to lose this battle so easily Captain Hitsugaya."

"And I know that you're not one for falling for such easy tricks like my ice clone Captain Kuchiki." I hear him say from somewhere behind me. New ice pillars appear from the ground, but I move to confront the reigai before he even has a chance to fully launch his attack. Our blades clash for a few strikes before we come to a standstill, and it gave me the chance to really look at the being before me.

The reigai were designed to be exactly like the real person he or she was based on, and from what I've seen so far, they were certainly living up to their name. Appearance wise, the reigai before me was an exact replica of the real Captain Hitsugaya. The demeanor he has shown to me so far backs it up. What I still cannot comprehend, is that if the reigai are meant to be like us real shinigami, from looks to mentality, why were they working for Kageroza?

"I have a question to ask you."

"It's rare for you to have any questions at all, especially during a battle."

He does make a good point master.

"Be quiet Senbonzakura."

"Why would you willingly serve that man?" I ask, his eyes widening for just a split second. "Why would you willingly work for someone like Kageroza Inaba?"

"Does it even matter?" the reigai asks. I don't even bother to answer his question. "Oh alright . . . There is something here in the Soul Society that I need to protect at all costs. I don't care about what I have to do, as long as that something is safe."

He parries my blade back before jumping back a few feet. He calls forth the same attack he used previously, so I try to move away, but Hitsugaya pushes me back with a quick swipe of his blade, making me come to a stop right in front of the ice pillars.

"I see . . . He's trying to limit my range of movement, minimizing my options with his Sennen Hyourou."

"You weren't the first person I was hoping to face today Kuchiki. My original is the desired opponent I seek. He wants to protect the same thing I want to protect, but he's too weak to do so. Thanks to Kageroza and the strength he has given me, I can do what my original can't," says the reigai, his voice noticeably getting more aggressive by the second. "Until I face the original Hitsugaya, I can't lose to anyone, including you . . . HYORYU SENBI!"

"Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi"

With a drop of my blade, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi dutifully appears. Some of his blades appear within the ice columns themselves, shattering them until there was nothing left. Others appeared just in time to prevent his ice attack from hitting me. The destruction of the pillars leads to a large fog of icy cold mist appearing on the battlefield. However, considering who I was up against, I knew I couldn't keep my guard down just yet. Hitsugaya was holding the clear advantage at the moment.

"You are willing to do whatever is required to further your specific endgame, even going as far as to use the powers of another to help you in your goal?" I ask, the words the reigai spoke previously still running through my mind. "My apologies, but I will not be defeated by someone who would give up on their pride so easily."

Minata's POV

"Ah Lady Fukudome! I'm honored that you have decided to grace my shop with your presence!"

"Oh Urahara-san, you don't have to use the 'Lady Fukudome' title with me. We have known each other long enough that formal titles are not really necessary," I couldn't help but say as I stepped into his shop. With nothing for me to do at the moment, I figured stopping by an old 'acquaintance's' place for a quick visit wouldn't be such a bad idea. Besides, a little part of me has always wondered what the former 12th Division captain has been up to ever since his exile began. "Besides, 'Lady Fukudome' is more so my grandmother's title than my own."

"But you both come from the same clan, and therefore have the same last name. 'Lady Fukudome' is as much your title as it is your grandmother's," he counters, his fan obviously hiding the amused smile he had on his face. "But then again, you are right. We have known each other long enough that formal titles have become a little unneeded. You were always a little annoyed with me when I addressed you as such whenever you were at the Shihoin Manor to train with Yoruichi."

"Speaking of Yoruichi, I'm guessing that she's in the Soul Society to help with the Kageroza issue?" I couldn't help but ask as he looked over his stock of assorted candies.

"And your guess would be right. However, if you're wondering if I'm able to get in contact with her, you're a little out of luck. I haven't spoken to her since she left."

"If you're unable to get in touch with her, then it would probably be a waste to ask you if you've been in contact with the captains that left on the mission earlier."

"And you would be right on that account as well. I haven't talked to them since they went into the Dangai," he tells me with the simplest of shrugs. "However, I'm sure everything is going fine over at their end . . . Anyway, would you and Mizukiri like to join Tessai and I for tea? It's been awhile since we had someone that wasn't Yoruichi or Ichigo and his friends over for a chat?"

"We might as well accept Master. There's pretty much nothing else we can do for the moment with the Dangai being compromised. We might as well bide our time well," I hear Mizukiri suggest. "Plus, I'm actually a little thirsty."

"I guess some tea wouldn't hurt," I say in mild defeat as Urahara moves his fan away from his face, revealing his ecstatic grin. "But I'll admit, a little part of me doesn't feel too right about sitting on my butt drinking tea while the others are out there trying to stop Kageroza."

"Trust me, you're not the only one who feels that way," says Urahara as we follow him toward the back of his shop. "But I'm sure the others are doing just fine, including your 'good' friend Captain Kuchiki . . . So, I've been hearing rumours that you two are now in a relationship? Care to spill the details? I won't tell a soul."

"Shut up Urahara!"

Byakuya POV

Are you okay master?

The wounds that I have are superficial at best, and I can always change out of this torn uniform at a later time. Other than that, I'm fine. I tell my zanpakuto as I continue to look forward. I had just finished my battle with Reigai Hitsugaya, and honestly, I am still in a bit of disbelief that I didn't come out of the fight looking and feeling worse than I am now, considering who my opponent was based on. Most importantly, we need to make our way to the Squad 12 barracks and stop Kageroza before he causes more trouble.

I agree master, but we may be a little delayed getting there. Someone is coming our way.

Yes, I see him too. I say as I see the figure standing about 30 feet away from me. I knew I was going to face this person eventually, mainly because some of the reigai have shown a tendency to face the person he or she was originally based on. If this person was anything like I expected him to be, I knew I would be in for quite the duel.

"I knew if I made it far enough, I would face you eventually."

"My thoughts exactly," says the other figure, his gray eyes staring into my own. "Are you injured?"

"Merely flesh wounds. They are none of your concern," I say. "You will allow me to pass. You will not stand in my way."

"That is not an option." the figure says as he readies his blade. I too do the same.

"The world only needs one Byakuya Kuchiki!"

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