Chapter 3

"INOUEEE!" Ichigo screamed on the top of his lungs. However, his shouts seemed to have been drowned out by the rampaging winds that wreaked havoc all around him. He stopped momentarily as he was assaulted by one tail of the tornado.

"INOUEEE! INOUEEE! INOUEEE!" He repeated, looking frantically. The world seemed to close unto him, with only the violent winds visible. He began to panic, his breaths drawing short as he anxiously spun around to get a glimpse of Inoue. "INOUEEE!"

"Snap out of it, Asshole!" Zangetsu's handle pulsated beneath his tight hold. "Think and feel for her Reiryoku! You can do that much, right?"

Against the chaotic background of the whirlwinds, everything became quieter for Ichigo. He took one large exhale and began extending his sixth sense to locate Inoue's familiar Spiritual Energy.

There! He dove downward and sped, using the large blade of Zangetsu to shield himself from the force of the wind.

Ichigo continued to resist the immense force pushing him away until he reached the cliff in which Inoue and Rukia were. He can only gape at the sight of a crying Rukia behind the triangle of the Santen Kesshun shield. And…and…the state by which Inoue's limp body was floating midair.

She was the source of the huge explosion. It was her Reiatsu pouring wildly against the wind.

Belatedly, Ichigo realized what Ginjo had said to him before, when he was about to unlock the final form of his Fullbring. "The moment a Fullbring is completed, somebody has to stay close, and control that outburst of energy, with putting their own life on the line. The soul that was until then suppressed inside of the base tool releases itself and the torrent of energy can ruin the user's body. That's why I needed you to complete your Fullbring where I could see you."

Immediately, Ichigo's free arm thrust forward towards the violent torrent of Reiatsu. He ignored the blazing sensation that coated the skin of his arm in burning soot. He poured his own Reiryoku, hoping against hope that he could succeed in what Ginjo did…to stabilize this Spiritual Pressure.

A second passed.

Ten seconds passed.

Half a minute has passed.

"What if Inoue is not a Fullbringer?" A voice goaded at him. It was not the voice of Old Man Zangetsu, nor the Hollow Zangetsu. Strangely, it was his own voice. It was his own voice that taunted him to give up hope.

Thud. Blood sang in his ears as his heart drummed ominously against his bones.

Inoue's eyes were wide open but they were blank, staring at nothing but the sky above.

Thud. Thud.

Inoue's body bent as if she was a stick about to break.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Inoue's chest showed no signs of breathing.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

Ichigo's knees gave out.

"-go! Ichigo! ICHIGO!"

SLAP! The sharp sting of the slap reverberated through his senses, sending a jolt of electric shock down his spine. It was as if time suddenly jump-started, waking him up from his stupor. "What the hell, idiot!"

It was Rukia. She was kneeling in front of him, on the other side of Inoue. "Don't give up yet, stupid." Her voice cracked at the last word before Renji appeared behind her.

"Ichigo," Chad's deep voice came from behind him. Ichigo turned to face the presence that appeared behind him, and he once again found himself gaping. Chad and Ishida have reached them already. Chad continued, "We've signaled Urahara and the others to come here."

Ichigo nodded. What Chad said was a good call. Urahara-san may be able to think of a way to stop Inoue's Reiryoku from spilling out. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind did Ichigo sense Urahara's Reiatsu. Their mentor had just arrived a few meters from the base of the cliff.

'Finally,' Ichigo breathed. Then, as quickly as the pillar of Spiritual Energy came, it ended. And Inoue's body slumped. Ichigo caught her before it could hit the ground.

WHOOOOOOSHHHHHHHH! All the wind surged above, threatening to take them in its violent course.

"FUCKKK!" Renji's voice echoed. Through narrowed eyes, Ichigo saw Renji using his body to cover and protect Rukia.

'Huh?' Ichigo noticed something amiss. 'Where's Inoue's Santen Kesshun…I thought it was just behind Rukia after she slapped me…'

"איפה הוא" A voice spoke like a whisper above them.

Ichigo immediately spun around, his right hand gripping the hilt of his Zanpakutou, while his left arm cradled Inoue's body against his. He angled to protect her from any stray attacks.

"איפה הוא" The voice repeated again in that breathy yet clear bell-like voice.

In his periphery, he saw that his other friends had also assumed a battle stance. He glared at the figure floating in the sky, straining to see against the blinding golden light.

But it was quiet once again…too quiet.

It was peaceful…it was too peaceful.

Immediately, Ichigo felt the hairs at the back of his neck and on his arms standing up. Blood once again pounded thunderously in his ears as his heart hammered against his chest. It seems as if his body and soul is screaming at him to stay fucking still.

"What is this…" Hollow Zangetsu's voice was marred with something raw…something that he has Ichigo never thought Hollow Zangetsu could ever express. Dread.

The light pulsated once again. "אהובי," the light said, its tone seeming like it was asking something.

"My love?" Ishida suddenly said. His face was also riddled with questions before explaining. "I think that light is saying 'my love.' No…it's looking for this 'my love.' I think?"

Ichigo shot Ishida with a confused look.

"It's speaking in Biblical Hebrew...I think. It was saying איפה הוא a while ago… It means 'where is he?' The light is looking at someone."

The world seemed to tilt counter-clockwise for a moment and…quickly snapped back into place? Or did it make a full 360-degree revolution?

"Did you feel that?" Chad asked, unsure.

"Y-Yes," they all said in unison, reflecting their own confusion.

"Where is he?" the voice said. "My love?"

Alarmed, their eyes shot back at the source of light. How the heck did that light suddenly know how to speak in their language?

"Kurosaki!-san" Urahara-san's voice echoed in the clearing.

The light pulsated again, like a heart beating in a crescendoing tempo.

Thud. Ichigo felt a wave of Spiritual Pressure emanate from the glowing golden orb that washed over him.

"You…" the voice seems to address Urahara-san.

How Ichigo knew that was also beyond him.

"Kurosaki!" Urahara called again, this time his voice was louder. "What's wrong with I-"

WHIZZZ!

"URAHARA-SAN! RUN!" Without any prior reason, Ichigo barked a warning.

A stream of golden light passed by them, zeroing towards where Urahara-san stood.

WHIZZZ!

"URAHARA-SAN! RUN!"

Those were the words that Yoruichi heard before a golden beam shot from the source of light above the cliff. It paved its trajectory in such a straight line, and at such an impossible speed and velocity that it breaks all the laws of physics.

The beam of light closed dangerously towards Kisuke's chest area, and warning bells rang throughout Yoruichi's veins.

"KISUKE!" she cried out, activating her Shunko technique to further boost her speed and block the beam of light. She placed herself in front of Kisuke, and put her palms against the beam of light and exerted lightning-based Kido to counter its force.

The beam passed through the lightning, her palms, her arms, her body as if it did not exist. Yoruichi did not feel anything from the beam of light. By instinct, she jumped away, observing that Kisuke had released one of his Zanpakutou Benihime's defensive techniques: Chikasumi no Tate .

"There's no damage to the shield," Yoruichi muttered to herself, suddenly feeling relief before the blood-red hexagonal shield faded.

Rustle. Kisuke's knees gave out, and it hit the concrete with such a sickening sound that Yoruichi reeled.

Clang. Benihime dropped to the ground as did Kisuke's body. His palm rested against the ground, propping him up. His head hung low, but his expression was that of utter shock as his eyes stared at nothing and his mouth slightly agape.

"There's no damage to the shield," Kisuke repeated Yoruichi's statement, disbelief evident in his voice. "There's no damage to the shield," he repeated again, seemingly unable to recover from the initial shock. He began grasping at his chest area with his left hand.

"N-No…" Kisuke's body began to shudder. "H-How…"

"Kisuke?" Yoruichi stepped forward.

Air and light pulsated one again, and a voice eerily familiar and devoid of emotion spoke, "A warrior who has lost his strength will only get in the way."

From her periphery, Yoruichi saw Kisuke flinch.

The wind picked up again, and the voice changed once again. This time, the voice garbled into nonsensical sounds before morphing into that of Aizen's arrogant way of speaking. "Aizen-sama," it said in such a condescending and patronizing tone towards the direction in which Aizen's body collapsed after the battle against Yhwach.

Yoruichi stood in place, finding it strange that a voice belonging to Aizen is speaking to Aizen in such a manner.

SHINGGG! A large golden dome erupted from where Aizen was currently being sealed by some Shinigami Officers.

Yoruichi would recognize that dome from anywhere. That was Soten Kisshun . Immediately, she barked towards the place where she felt Inoue's presence. "INOUE, STOP HEALING AIZEN!"

"Yoruichi-san!" It was Ichigo's voice, but something was amiss with his tone. Normally, his way of speaking is that of a petulant and defiant kid. This time was different. It feels like Ichigo is holding himself back. "It's not Inoue. Inoue…She's not waking up."

A chill ran down Yoruichi's spine, and she once again saw Kisuke flinch. She had had enough of Kisuke's pathetic little act. "What are you waiting for?" She directed her question towards the man beside her. "Stand up and think."

A large amount of Spiritual Pressure surged from the golden dome, hitting Yoruichi from head to toe. It knocked the wind out of her and pushed her a new inches away. Some Shinigami Officers flew backwards.

"Kisuke," she said through gritted teeth. "Go!" she exclaimed.

"I…I…" The idiotic man was still in stupor, glancing and observing his hands ever so absently. "I can't"

Yoruichi's patience snapped, and she took the man by his waist and flash-stepped towards the cliff.

"ARGHHHH!" Aizen's agonized scream filled the air, and Yoruichi's attention was once again drawn to the huge golden dome.

Aizen's convulsing body was floating mid air within the Soten Kisshun shield. His face contorted into pain that seems indescribable. Against the backdrop of the warm light, something slowly separated from Aizen's chest.

"That's!" Kisuke exclaimed. "That's the Hogyoku."

"No…" Yoruichi sped up, reaching the cliff.

When she got there, the youngsters were in such a battle formation that Yoruichi would probably applaud them if the situation was different. They were ready to pounce on any incoming enemy while keeping their core and their defenses tight. Their body spoke of readiness to do battle. They are alert and tense all the same, but their eyes were weary and traumatized beyond compare.

"Yoruichi-san…Urahara-san…please…" Something in Ichigo's voice broke as he cradled the unconscious body of Inoue, offering for her and Kisuke to observe. "Please help."

"Oh, my children,..." Yoruichi wanted to say but she held it back because she herself is unsure of how her voice would come out. With all the battle that these youngsters are forced to endure in their age, she is not sure if she can keep herself from shedding tears.

"GRAGHHH! STOP!" Aizen continued to beg, unable to move from his position. The Hogyoku has now separated from his body and gradually floats away from him.

The air hummed again, and light flickered above them. The orb of light spoke once again in Aizen's voice, "What's wrong? Such a heartbroken expression." Then in a tone that teases, taunts and belittles, it continued on to say, "Smile. Everyone is saddened when the sun darkens. All you have to do is smile and wait here for a short while."

The Hogyoku then faded into nothingness before the golden dome of Soten Kisshun shattered, and Aizen's body stopped from moving before dropping to the ground with a loud thud.