Moon Princess

by romeoraiden

Ichigo Kurosaki was born destined for greatness but has had to suffer as he grows to embrace his destiny. Naturally, he will not endure this burden alone as he will have many allies to help him along the way. But only one of them can help him go beyond as his ever-faithful sword of the moon. (M for Violence and bad language)

12. Chapter 12

Before you begin reading, I would like to point out two very important details that I honestly can't keep without saying because of how much they inspired me when I was making this Chapter. One of them being that there will be one devastating explosion that'll be identical but worse to the antimatter bomb scene from a movie I like, Angels & Demons, which is a sequel to the Da Vinci Code, and lastly, there will be a second monster to appear and it's roar will sound the same as the Monsterverse Godzilla, a sound I really couldn't get out of my head while I was finishing this. With that said, I give you the finale of my Soul Society Arc.

---

Chapter 12: Clash of the Titans

Kikōō roars while it soars through the sky of Soul Society, with each flap of its wings, blue flaming missiles rain down upon the Seireitei, spreading devastation and death wherever it goes. The flames are like nothing the Shinigami have ever felt. It's as if a demon from Hell was unleashed upon them as an omen of doom.

Jūshirō intercepts as many fireballs as he can while protecting anyone about to get hit, absorbing them into Sōgyo no Kotowari and redirecting them to counter the other flames.

"We're dead! We're so dead!" An Unseated Officer cried, not being fast enough to evade the incoming flames.

"The Flowery Winds Become Disturbed! The God of Flowers Sings! The Heavenly Winds Become Disturbed! The Devil of Heaven Sneers! Katen Kyōkotsu (Bones of Heavenly Blooming Madness)!" Kyōraku gets serious and uses his two Zanpakutōs by first setting them against each other in a cross and then pulling after uttering the poem-like command. When the flash clears, Katen Kyōkotsu has become a pair of huge, black, heavily curved Chinese scimitars with silver edges. The hilt and tsuba of each are still the same as they were in Katen Kyōkotsu's sealed form, but they now sport long red tassels dangling from the end.

With speed greater than lightning, Shunsui rapidly cuts down over forty fireballs at once before they would harm anyone from his Division who are the most caught in the flames at the moment.

"Bushōgoma (Lazy Spinning Top)!" He next shouts, rotating with both blades facing in opposite directions, creating large wind blades from Katen Kyōkotsu that aim for a flaming torrent. The wind blades join together, forming a spinning circle that upon contact with a target, envelopes the target with tornado-like intensity, extinguishing the flames.

"Captain Kyōraku! Thank you so much, sir," One of his subordinates cried in gratitude.

"Bushōgoma is supposed to be used as a spinning top game. Like I told you lots before, my Katen Kyōkotsu is a fickle one, turning kid's games into reality but it does the job when cleaning up huge messes like this," He mused.

---

Kikōō's flight is halted by Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō that grabs it by its long tail.

"Release the Head Captain immediately, you vile creature! Or face a cruel death at my hands!" Sajin demanded with increasing wrath that cannot be quelled unless Genryūsai is saved.

Kikōō becomes irritated, responding to Komamura's demand by setting his giant's arm on fire which quickly spreads to the rest of his body and this has an effect on Sajin who is also set ablaze. The Captain growls in pain at the intense heat of the blue flames but he will not be deterred and continues to try and pull the Phoenix down.

"You cannot kill me! I will not be brought down!"

"Captain, let go!" Matsuri cried out to her Captain as she is next to challenge Kikōō. "Hadō #80. Hyōga Seiran (Glacier Vapor Storm)!"

From the tip of Kotōmaru, Matsuri fires a massive wave of ice to freeze Kikōō by its tail. This also releases a cold mist that engulfs Kokubyō Tengen Myō'ō, removing the flames and by proxy, saving Sajin from the heat. The fire forming the tail of the Phoenix becomes weakened enough that Sajin yanks it off, making Kikōō scream in seeming pain before it regenerates a new one.

"You mustn't be reckless against a foe with greater Reiryoku!" Matsuri lectured Komamura who is left on his knees after surviving such an ordeal.

"I cannot be deterred, Lieutenant. Whatever happens to me I must save Sir Genryūsai," Sajin continues to be stubborn, forcing himself back on his feet. "No flames are mightier than our Head Captain's burning heart. He will survive long enough for us to rescue him. And if he is somehow extinguished from our lives, I will do whatever it takes to avenge him, even if it takes me an eternity."

"We all feel the same way but right now we need to look after ourselves. It's headed for the 7th Division next," Matsuri begged as their own barracks are right behind them with Kikōō aiming to push through.

"I will never forget where my duties lie," Sajin affirmed with his resolve never wavering. "Ready yourself, Matsuri!"

'This looks really bad but with all the Captains able to work in synch now we'll be able to keep casualties as minimum as possible when faced with such odds,' Matsuri thought. 'But we won't survive the night without Ichigo. So you better get back up. It's really all up to you now.'

---

"Howl, Zabimaru!" Renji yelled, swinging Hihiō Zabimaru to block off all incoming flames of Kikōō headed his way with his Bankai doing remarkably against the inferno falling down on the Shinigami. "This is not what I had in mind when I said that the Seireitei can go to Hell! But I supposed beggars can't be choosers."

"No shit! This is infinitely more fun!" Zabimaru said with delight, though their voices sounded much more different than he is used to. One of them sounded more feminine and the other childish but Renji has no time to ponder on this as he notices a bigger wave of fire heading towards the 6th Division.

"Not on my watch!" The 6th Division Lieutenant shouted as he sends Hihiō Zabimaru forward. "Hikotsu Taihō (Baboon Bone Cannon)!" He fires a dense blast of concentrated spiritual energy from Zabimaru's mouth that hits the blue flames aiming for his fellow Division members, stopping them in their tracks.

"That's how a Lieutenant gets shit done!" Renji smirked in triumph that sadly does not last long as more of Kikōō's flames are heading for him next and he can't use Hihiō Zabimaru to block at the moment. "Fuck me…"

Abarai is thankfully saved as a large tornado is formed in front of him that acts as a shield, absorbing the flames that are then blown into the air above it before it disperses.

"You alright, Renji?" Fujimaru asked as the tornado was the work of his Zanpakutō.

"Fujimaru? Why waste your time helping a traitor like me?" Renji muttered in surprise.

"Don't look a gift horse in its mouth. And besides, with all that we just learned, you think anyone will be more focused on claiming your head for this when our ire should be on Sōsuke Aizen?" Fujimaru countered.

"Well, I'm confident that the Captains will let me off with a slap on the wrist but Marechiyo… not so much," Renji smirked.

"Oh yeah, expect a couple of days of painful earfuls if we survive this mess," Fujimaru briefly joked before their attention shifted to the Kikōō attacking the 7th Division. "Right now my sister's in trouble so we better head over there."

"Definitely," Renji said getting serious again but he cannot hide the sadness he feels. He was told by Yoruichi Shihōin that Captain Aizen was the true mastermind behind all this but regardless of his desperation to protect Rukia, he blatantly denied such a claim. He refused to believe it until he heard everything from the man's own mouth, even more so when he might've killed Momo.

"Captain Aizen, how could you? So many of us went as far as to worship you. Momo most of all. One way or another I'll make you pay for everything you've done,"

"Hold on tight because this will be a bumpy ride," Fujimaru advised while he raises his Ryūjōmaru in the air, creating a mighty gust of wind that will levitate him and Renji higher up, along with Hihiō Zabimaru.

"You sure you can drag this huge bastard along for the ride?" Renji asked about his Bankai.

"If I can drag Marechiyo around while soaring through the sky, a huge serpent won't be a problem," He replied, making his fellow Lieutenant burst out laughing before all the generated wind sends the two into the air.

---

"Hold fast, everyone!" Jūshirō called out to every able body that can stand their ground against the full might of the Sōkyoku and do their best to hold off the great flames.

"Bakudō #81. Dankū (Splitting Void)!" Unohana and Isane both cast the same defensive Kidō spell, a large translucent barrier in the form of a rectangular wall that protects the huge group of Shinigami behind them.

"Hadō #57. Daichi Tenyō (Upturned Earth Dance)!" Sentarō thrusts his hands outward, causing the debris around him to levitate and throw them toward several fireballs heading in his direction, canceling out most of them.

His partner and fellow 3rd Seat helps out, using her sheathed Zanpakutō that she has levitating in front of her and lightly hits one of its ends, causing the sword to spin fast like a fan for at least two seconds before she grabs it by the hilt.

"Hadō #58. Tenran (Vigorous Tempest)!" Kiyone yelled, creating a widening tornado-like attack towards an even bigger fire blast that does well to extinguish it. Unfortunately, it turns out that another fire blast that is just as big was right behind the one she disposed of.

"Oh, C'mon!" Kiyone cried at the unfairness.

"MOVE!" Sentarō yelled, grabbing his partner to leap them both out of the way but were unable to use Shunpo and were nonetheless caught in the blast but the damage could've been so much worse.

"KIYONE!" Isane cried out for her sister who is in more trouble because more flames are heading toward the two 3rd Seats.

"Some no mai, Tsukishiro!" Pillars of ice are formed all over that catch the majority of the raining flames in their track.

"Isn't that…" Kiyone began, turning to her left to see their savior. "Rukia!"

"I made it in time!" Rukia sighed in relief.

"Rukia. Are you well?" Jūshirō asked as he and his 3rd Seats reunited with their wayward comrade.

"Captain Ukitake!" Rukia uttered, almost surreal to her that she is able to stand alongside her Captain again. "Well… I haven't been fried by a flaming chicken yet so it's all good." She inwardly cursed herself. 'Flaming chicken. Really? Damn you, Ichigo.'

"That's wonderful to hear," Jūshirō smiled, finding humor in her words even if she does not. Kiyone and Sentarō certainly do as they openly laugh.

"Good to have you back, pipsqueak!" Sentarō remarked while lightly patting her on the back.

"Yeah, this whole ordeal isn't looking so bad after all," Kiyone added.

"A little too soon to say that but I won't mind," Jūshirō said. "It really is good that you were able to survive this, Rukia."

"Thank you, Captain," She smiled, coming close to crying but restrains herself because this is still a time of action.

"What of the Ryoka, and Isshin?" He asked her.

"Safer than we are now that Captain Komamura has Kikōō's full attention and tending their wounds. Even Lieutenant Hinamori is being treated for her injuries," Rukia informed. "Hisagi and Kira are being guarded while they remain unconscious."

"I see. I am most grateful that they are willing to look after our own despite the circumstance," Jūshirō beamed. "That's the Shiba luck right there."

"I know," Rukia sighed.

Another blazing inferno comes heading towards them that is intercepted by Retsu, using her sealed Zanpakutō, slightly longer than an ordinary katana and resembles a nodachi. The tsuba has an oval shape, and the handle is red. Instead of tying it to her obi, Unohana carries her Zanpakutō over her shoulder by a rope strap in "Tachi style".

With a single swing from it, she cuts the flames in two, stopping them in their track.

"It always pains me to interrupt touching moments but alas, the wartime protocol is still in effect for a reason, Captain Ukitake," She advised.

"Apologies, Captain Unohana, I will return to battle immediately, and not a moment too soon," Jūshirō said, noticing more flames in coming, though none of them do anything about the danger since it is stopped by a swarm made by Senbonzakura that shields everyone and Byakuya himself arrives at the scene.

"Brother!" Rukia gasped to see Byakuya again and needless to say, he looks atrocious.

The fights against Ichigo and Renji have left him looking like a walking corpse, his aristocratic and regal appearance is now bloodied and beaten, even the family heirlooms of the Kuchiki Clan, like his white headpieces called Kenseikan, which symbolize his nobility as the head of the Kuchiki Clan and his white scarf made from an extremely rare material in Soul Society called Ginpaku Kazahana no Uzuginu, that's been handed down from generation to generation and given to each head of the Kuchiki Clan are gone. The scarf's demise is the biggest outcry, that thing was worth ten mansions in the Seireitei.

Even still, Byakuya remains composed and determined to see this fight through to the end.

"Captain Ukitake. It's clear that this new crisis we're facing cannot be settled with just the combined strength of the current Captains and are in need of a more ideal solution," Byakuya said sternly and with haste, not sparing a glance at Rukia.

"Indeed. Not even the flames of the Head Captain are a match for the power of the Sōkyoku. It is a weapon that was designed to slay enemies of the World who are said to be Immortal when the Shin'ōchikadaikangoku (Central Great Underground Prison) can't be trusted to detain indefinitely," Jūshirō explained. "Thankfully, the ancestors of the Great Shihōin Clan foresaw a night like this when the Sōkyoku would be used against the Soul Society and invented a means to destroy it."

"Destroy the Sōkyoku? Is that even ethical? What if we face more great dangers in the future that require us to use that weapon?" Isane asked, pointing out a serious issue.

"I'm afraid it's a risk we have to take, as of right now the Sōkyoku itself is such a great danger that needs to be dealt with. We can worry about the future when we get there," Retsu frowned. "My main concern is the Head Captain currently trapped within Kikōō."

"We must have faith that our Head Captain will survive whatever punishment we bring upon that mighty Phoenix. Do not lose heart everyone, I will acquire the means of our salvation while you hold it off however long you can," Jūshirō stated.

"You know where this tool is?" Rukia asked.

"After the previous head of the Shihōin Clan, Yoruichi disappeared around the same time Kisuke Urahara was exiled a century ago, many of their artifacts that were owned by her were entrusted to my family as a way to make amends for the disgrace and hardship they went through. Though, unlocking that shield will be a hassle for me to do so," Jūshirō explained.

"Then act with haste. I will assist Captain Komamura at once," Byakuya said, charging after Kikōō.

"That boy is just begging to be killed in the state he's in," Jūshirō sighed uncomfortably as they were all disturbed by his horrible state and unwillingness to rest.

"I'm afraid dying might be exactly what he's hoping for, considering everything he has said and done since this all started," Retsu said sadly.

"Brother…" Rukia uttered the most shaken by Byakuya's suicidal march.

---

Matsuri reuses Hyōga Seiran with more power than before on the Phoenix, managing to freeze most of its body for at least a second before Kikōō melts it all off, and in that split second Sajin attacks with his giant, aiming for the chest that still has enough cold on it for the large sword swing to have more of an effect, making Kikōō howl with genuine pain with Komamura pushing it to the ground.

Matsuri ceases the chance and makes a high leap to get above it.

"Hadō #45. Kongōbaku (Adamantine Blast)!" She generates a blast of spherical red energy from the tip of Kotōmaru and launches it at Kikōō. At first glance, the attack is insignificant and should be easy for the flaming body to consume but strangely Kongōbaku seems to be absorbing some of the flames, getting bigger and bigger until it is half the size of Kikōō itself.

"Now Captain!" She shouted.

"I pray you can forgive me… Master Genryūsai!" Sajin yelled raising both his and the giant's sword upward before vertically swinging it down to strike at the Kongōbaku, causing it to explode in a massive blast that destroyed a wide amount of the area and thankfully only barely half of the 7th Division since they managed to force the Phoenix to keep its distance.

By the end of it, Sajin and Matsuri are none the worse for wear since the blast focused mainly on damaging the true target. Hadō #45 is a very accurate and precise spell.

From ground zero of the blast, small and hundreds of blazing tendrils are seen escaping into the air, eventually bonding together and reforming Kikōō who survived the ordeal.

"What does it take to destroy this beast!" Sajin cursed.

"At least now we know why the Sōkyoku has stood the test of time since the Zanpakutō first came into existence," Matsuri muttered.

Kikōō howls with its whole body turning blue again but the light it emanates is much brighter that it makes those closest to it avert their eyes before it creates a fireball that shoots from its mouth into the sky, quickly vanishing from sight.

"What did it just do?" Sajin asked.

"I get the feeling that little fireball is coming back down and worst-case scenario it will be even bigger," Matsuri said dreading what was to come.

Kikōō continues its assault, flapping its wings so hard that it releases a gust of wind that's actually highly flammable gas.

"Behind me, Lieutenant!" Sajin warned, making Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō take the front of the attack, becoming incinerated in the process. Komamura screams in anguish, doing his best to resist the incredible flames that are slowly burning his body to ashes.

"Kaidō #65. Meiyu (Luminous Healing)!" Matsuri shouted, firing a white-blue beam of light from Kotōmaru that wraps itself on Sajin's body, not only countering the ungodly heat but healing all the severe burns on her Captain faster than he receives them, additionally reconstructing Sajin's shihakushō, haori, and armor that is also being damaged.

"Kūiki Zetsu (Airspace Extinction)!" Fujimaru arrives at the scene and fires multiple blasts of air that target the flammable gas, which detonate around the area, stopping the attack on Captain Komamura. He then redirects his attack at Kikōō, which does remarkably well with the air attacks forcing the Phoenix to retreat.

This is followed by Renji going next to attack with Hihiō Zabimaru's Hikotsu Taihō that successfully blows Kikōō's head off, falling motionlessly to the ground.

"Fujimaru! Renji!" Matsuri shouted.

"Sorry for the delay but it's pretty much Hell everywhere we go," Renji mused.

"Are you alright, Captain?" Fujimaru asked, noticing Sajin's state.

"Pay me no mind, Lieutenants. With your sister's complete mastery of Kidō, I will not die on this night, nor will I allow any of you to die either," Sajin said getting back on his feet.

"Save the bravado for another time, Komamura. Because the job is far from over," Soifon lectured as she now arrives at the battlefield, her haori gone as she discarded it while fighting Yoruichi, instead wearing what she keeps underneath her Shinigami attire, her uniform as the commander-in-chief of the Onmitsukidō, which has no sleeves and doesn't cover the back, though she does wear long black armbands.

Also making a grand entrance is Kenpachi who attacks Kikōō once its head regenerates and gets back up, slashing at the aforementioned head that barely left a dent on the flaming body, only forcing the head to turn left before it angrily pushes the Mad Captain off it to the ground. Kenpachi lands on his feet and reacts quickly enough to block a blow from Kikōō's beak aiming for him. With an exciting grin, the Captain pushes the beast off him but Kikōō can hardly be deterred and hits him with its beak again, forcing Kenpachi to his knees and making him laugh with fun.

"This is what I'm talking about!" He almost sounds like he's giggling as he parries a third beak attack that forces Kikōō to take a few steps back and retaliates by swinging its tail.

"OWWWW!" He groaned, getting blown threw multiple buildings that all exploded when hit. But of course, this does not deter Kenpachi who gets back up with his Reiatsu bursting into the sky.

"You're going to have to hit me a lot harder than that!" He laughed and demanded at the same time, having once again taken off his eyepatch, realizing that this Phoenix must only be taken seriously, and charged forward as it fired another blue flame breath attack that Kenpachi blocked by exerting his Reiatsu. "I can't thank Ichigo enough for coming here and starting all this excitement!"

"That pathetic brute finally managed to make himself useful as a meat shield. Not that he'll last very long against the Sōkyoku," Soifon said as she lifted her Zanpakutō. "Sting all Enemies to Death, Suzumebachi (Hornet)!" Grasping her sword with her right hand, the entire sword glows white and shrinks in size. When the emitted glow dies out, Suzumebachi now has the form of a black and gold gauntlet, with a small chain linking it to a stinger-like blade on Soifon's middle finger. The "stinger" is about twice as long as the normal length of Soifon's fingers, slightly increasing her striking distance. The colors and patterns of the Shikai resemble those of a hornet.

"You're going to try and use Nigeki Kessatsu (Death in Two Steps) on that thing," Her Lieutenant asked incredulously.

"If it's a living being that can feel pain and seethe with rage then my Suzumebachi can do some damage. And even if I can't kill it, I may be able to give us a better chance to subdue it and save the Head Captain," Soifon stated. "I just need you to cool it down for me so I can sting it."

"Well, you've made me do crazier things," Fujimaru sighed exasperatedly, used to his Captain's daredevil brazenness to see a mission through.

---

"Damn you!" Jūshirō growled as he was ambushed in his own home by one of the treacherous Captains just as he was about to collect the means to destroy the Sōkyoku. Gin bursts through the front door and uses his Shinsō on him, which Ukitake succeeds in avoiding but the blow still knocks him a few feet back.

"Hadō #25. Gaki Rekkō (Raging Light Fang)," Gin extends his left hand to aim at Jūshirō with a ring made of green light half the length of the caster itself being created, and from it, multiple blasts of the same light are fired from the ring in a cage-like formation. Jūshirō easily stops this attack by absorbing it all with the left blade of Sōgyo no Kotowari and fires it all back at Gin who effortlessly dodges them all.

So focused and wary of Gin and his serpentine fighting style that Ukitake fails to notice Kaname leaping above him.

"Suzumushi Goshiki: Shizukesa Kōrogi (Bell Cricket Fifth Movement: Silent Cricket)!" He shouted with Suzumushi's ring glowing with a white light that makes it more translucent, and upon swinging his Zanpakutō, a ghostly version of the ring but much bigger is fired directly at Jūshirō who barely notices the danger and does poorly to evade with his right wrist getting hit but the technique does not do any harm to Ukitake but forces him down with the ring attaching to the ground, leaving the Captain's hand shackled.

"What is this!" Jūshirō uttered, having never seen Kaname in action, and is thus unfamiliar with the power of his Zanpakutō minus for his frightening Bankai.

Kaname reuses this technique, this time on his other arm, legs, and even neck, leaving him completely helpless before them as the two and Aizen are standing right above him.

"Really, Ukitake? You'd actually thought I'd go through all the trouble of corrupting the Sōkyoku whiles never considering that there was a way to destroy it?" Aizen taunted the defeated Captain. "It's no secret to anyone in the Seireitei that the Shihōin Clan are responsible for guarding a great many treasures and powerful artifacts of great importance to the Soul Society and that your clan was entrusted to guard some of them after Yoruichi abandoned her positions as Captain, Commander in Chief and Head of her Clan to save Kisuke Urahara from Central 46's penance on him."

"A penance I knew he didn't deserve and was in fact innocent. Now that I recall, he insisted that you were the true culprit for what happened to Shinji Hirako and the others. It's all crystal clear," Jūshirō glared.

"Too little too late for that old story. I never did get the chance to thank Captain Kyōraku for being one of the witnesses who supported that I never left the Seireitei while all that fun was being done to those four Captains and four Lieutenants a century ago," Aizen said as he unsheathes his sword to kill Ukitake.

"Funny you should mention Shunsui," Jūshirō whispered that even the three above him could barely hear him enough that they only got the first word.

And right at the nick of time, a blade is moments away from decapitating Aizen from the back but within an instant, Sōsuke turned around at incredible speed in order to parry the swing of Shunsui. A strong whirlwind then surrounds the three, forcing them to escape before they can be enveloped. Jūshirō is later freed with the rings shackling him shattering into particles.

"That was mighty close there. I wish I'd gotten here sooner," Kyōraku lamented despite having a relief smile on his face.

"You came at just the right time," Jūshirō groaned while getting back up.

"Of course, you didn't come here alone, I'd anticipated that. You do deserve praise, Captain Kyōraku. If I had been a microsecond slower your attack would've left a scratch on the back of my neck," Aizen mused.

"Just a scratch? Oh boy, guess I've gone rusty in these last few years. Not to worry, just wait until I get a bit more sober," Shunsui smiled.

"By all means, give it your all," Aizen replied, and just then, he turns his head around to notice someone else has join the fight, standing on the roof of Jūshirō's home.

"Oh, so you noticed me? I have to admit, you've always creeped the hell out of me when you were a Lieutenant but your keen eye is undeniable," Yoruichi smirked.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Yoruichi Shihōin. I thought you'd be fighting Kikōō alongside your Twins. How irresponsible of you. Though that is something you excel at the most," Aizen shook his head.

"Wait, Yoruichi?!" Jūshirō uttered, surprised to see the former Captain of the 2nd Division after her disappearance.

"Boy, first Isshin and now her. What's next, the Ryōdoji Clan is going to make a comeback," Kyōraku said just as perplexed.

"Believe me, there are a thousand things I rather be doing right now, like as you said, looking after those kids for once but alas, this was a long time coming, Aizen. And besides, from what I've heard, whiles everyone fell for your charming charade and couldn't get enough of you, Matsuri avoided you like a plague. Now, why do you suppose that might be?"

"I really wish you hadn't said that. I get enough of such humiliating accusations from my true subordinates," Aizen frowned now upset.

"Well, in her defense, Captain, you can be creepy behind closed doors," Gin joked. "Not that what she's accusing you of is correct but still, you say the craziest things."

"You're one to talk, Gin," Kaname lectured.

"Hey, at least I'm open about my creep factor," He argued.

"Either way, I'm going to kill you where you stand, and I promise it's going to hurt. Shunkō (Flash War Cry)!" She shouted and her body, mainly her back and arms become surrounded with pressurized Kidō based on white lightning and her orange over-shirt gets ripped to pieces in the process.

"Soifon's technique?" Kyōraku wondered out loud.

"My, won't this be fun," Aizen chuckled, ready for a real fight.

---

Kikōō assaults Kenpachi with another fire breath much more powerful than the previous one that forces the 11th Division Captain to exert himself to the max and with all his fury he succeeds in cleaving the flames in two and stopping them. This attempt momentarily distracts Kikōō from its other adversaries with Byakuya making the next move by forming hundreds of swords from Ōkajin that strike the beast from all possible angles, growling with rage and forcing all the blades off of it, getting all attention to himself, which is what Byakuya wanted as he prepares to use his ultimate technique.

Condensing each and every one of his blades into a single, potent bright white sword in his hands with its aura taking the form of a bird. Pure white wings form on Byakuya's back, as well as a halo-like circle made of concentrated spiritual energy.

"Shūkei: Hakuteiken (Endscape: White Imperial Sword)!" Byakuya declared, ready for Kikōō's next strike.

"Captain Kuchiki!" Renji uttered in awe to see his Captain still able to fight on despite his body all but giving up. 'What a bastard. The gap between us is even greater than I feared…'

"Get ready! When Kuchiki heads in we will strike!" Soifon ordered everyone to prepare for what could be their last chance.

Before Byakuya can move in his body loses balance for a moment with his vision blurring. It's been like this for a while but he's been able to shake it off until now. This might truly be his end.

'I don't have much strength left. What's more, I've never attempted to use Shūkei without first activating Senkei. Even Senbonzakura is losing his flow because I am using this technique out of synch but I can't give in now. I have to give Captain Soifon the opening she needs,' He thought, mustering all the strength in his body. 'This may be our end, Senbonzakura. Lend me your power one last time.'

Kikōō roars charging at Byakuya who does the same with his own wings and flies at light speed. The two clash with their immeasurable powers expanding, spreading pretty far and wide but all the same, each remains condensed and focused with every intention of annihilating the other.

All who are watching cannot help but describe this clash of power to be like two stars crashing into each other with every intent to be the last one standing, or else their opposing force will result in their mutual destruction, and in their wake, a supernova will ravage the world.

In this case, it's clear that Byakuya is the inferior star compared to the behemoth trying to swallow him whole but he will not allow himself to die a failure as a Shinigami. He's already failed as something far more precious and as he pushes his sword even further, a mighty shockwave triggers that cancel both attacks and knock the two combatants a distance away from each other, Kikōō being the first to fall due to its bigger size while Byakuya looks to have finally reached his limit, flown into the air with nothing left in him.

"BYAKUYA!" Rukia cried in complete horror, rushing to her brother as fast as she can. She stabs Sode no Shirayuki on the ground which creates a trail of ice in the direction of her intended target. The ice expands upward to form frozen branches for Byakuya to land on and soften his fall with the top made of a large amount of gentle snow.

"Ryūsenka!" Tōshirō joins the fray, stabbing Kikōō with a huge forward burst of ice erupting from the point of contact between Hyōrinmaru and the Phoenix, encasing and freezing them. This proves to have little effect and Kikōō escapes effortlessly, however, Tōshirō's aim is not to harm the Phoenix but weaken its incredible heat.

"Sennen Hyōrō!" He next creates many ice pillars that circle and crush Kikōō who now has to use more force to break through. "Kudōs!"

"Hadō #80. Hyōga Seiran!" Matsuri reuses the strongest Ice Kidō.

"Senpū Rei (Whirlwind Zero)!" While Fujimaru releases a powerful whirlwind that affects the temperature of wherever the wind blows, dropping everything to absolute zero, and the two attacks of the twins hit at Hitsugaya's Sennen Hyōrō to empower it, dropping the temperature impossibly lower to strip Kikōō of its heat.

The Phoenix howls in anguish with its body unable to withstand the cold due to the nature of its body but will not allow itself to be defeated by such puny and inferior beings and mustering all of its power it succeeds in melting and shattering all the ice but the force wasn't as fearsome as all the other explosion so it's easy for its opponents to view this escape as nothing but a fluke.

"We got you now!" Renji shouted as he sends Hihiō Zabimaru forward with its segments separating and surrounding Kikōō by levitating. By linking the segments together again with his Reiatsu, Renji is able to bind Kikōō with Zabimaru. The Phoenix howls again trying to break free but cannot as even its wings are bound. And as an extra measure, Sajin sends Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō behind it and wraps Kikōō in the giant's arms, making it impossible now for Kikōō to free itself.

"Now Captain Soifon!" Sajin yelled.

Soifon smirks at the golden opportunity presenting itself and rushes forward to deliver what they all hoped is the blow that will end this battle, reaching Kikōō by leaping off Tengen until it reaches the head of the Phoenix.

"It ends here!" She yelled stabbing the head with Suzumebachi's blade. without the immeasurable heat the Phoenix was constantly generating before, she can use her Shikai unopposed. In addition to creating a rather deep wound, the attack leaves a butterfly-shaped stamp on the victim's body.

"Nigeki Kessatsu!" She stabs Suzumebachi in the exact same spot she hit the first time, making the stamp glow a bright blood red, causing Kikōō's eyes to widen in horror, making one last battle cry that is more bitter and agonizing that the less hardened and colder Shinigami look at it with pity despite all the damage it caused, and really they should feel sorry it for this poor creature was not acting by its own accord.

The Phoenix becomes unresponsive enough that Renji and Sajin feel comfortable releasing their grip on it, Kikōō gently falling down on the ground likely finally dead as two strikes from Suzumebachi will kill its target. The flames have become so dim that they can see fur on it like those of a falcon.

"Did we… actually do it?" Sajin asked softly, so through with this night.

"It seems that way," Fujimaru sighed. "Now how to get the Head Captain out?"

"I don't think we can do that without being inhumane to the poor thing," Tōshirō muttered, not looking forward to what comes next.

"Hey, ah… if it's supposed to be dead, then how come everything feels like it's getting hotter around here? This night is already atrocious enough as is," Renji wondered still feeling like his skin will melt.

"Byakuya! Please talk to me. Brother!" Rukia frantically cried out to the incapacitated 6th Division Captain.

His wounds miraculously haven't worsened after such a final attack but he's still in too bad a shape to still be alive, but then again she can only blame her time with the humans to be so quick to believe death could come so easily to someone as powerful as a Gotei Captain.

To an extent, her fears lessen when Byakuya opens his eyes but barely and she can tell that there is little life in them, but he can still see her clearly enough.

"Rukia…"

"I'm here, brother. Don't worry, everything is going to be okay," She assured him.

"What are you saying? Is there any sense in spewing such words after all that's happened?" He questioned her, impressively still able to talk so casually when he should instead be trying to preserve whatever strength he has.

"Brother?" She whispered.

"Everyone has been behaving very irrationally as of late. It pains me to say that the Gotei 13 has over time become a shadow of its former glory, a spark that not even my grandfather could reignite when he was Captain of the 6th Division and 27th Head of the Kuchiki Clan. I had hoped to surpass him one day and bring true pride back to the Shinigami. But in the end, I am a greater failure," He lamented.

"Don't say that! That's not true," She argued, refusing to believe his words.

"Why bother concerning yourself with me? After all, I was the one who brought you back to the Soul Society to be executed and tried to kill those who knew of your innocence, never acknowledging the signs of deception that were right in my face," Byakuya stated. "It's more logical to harbor only hate for me. I don't mind that at all."

"THAT'S BECAUSE I DON'T HATE YOU!" She cried out, no longer able to keep the tears inside. "I could never hate you. How could I when you were the one who gave me a home? Something I never truly had in Rukongai. A name I can finally be proud of. A real chance to actually be somebody. Even though you never once reached out to me and truly addressed me as your adoptive sister, it was enough to know that you had my back no matter how small. Yet despite all you have given me, I disgraced you and our clan by defiling the Law of our world when the Kuchiki Clan has always been Soul Society's most faithful. I put you in such an unfair position, what else could I do but accept your ire and resign myself to death? Because I knew, that somewhere along the way you would pull through and move on. Because there is no one stronger than Byakuya Kuchiki. My big brother."

Her words impact him more than any punishment from Ichigo Kurosaki ever could and a huge amount of weight is lifted from him that has pained him for so long.

'Just like Hisana. I never deserved either of you,'

The sweet moment between the estranged siblings is put to a violent end when everyone notices a bright blue light coming from the sky.

"It can't be!" Sajin half-shouted gazing at a massive fireball heading toward them. While still pretty far away, he can tell that it has to be at least 900 meters in diameter. The light and heat it emanates are a clear sign of its power. "The fireball from before that Kikōō shot into the sky. But how could it have amassed such terrible power so quickly?"

"The Sōkyoku must be capable of absorbing the Reimyaku (Spiritual Pulse) of Soul Society," Matsuri surmised.

"That's insane! If that thing hits the ground it'll undoubtedly destroy all of the Seireitei!" Tōshirō gasped as they all realize how great the danger they are in.

"C'MON! Can't we catch a break for five minutes!" Renji shouted in anguish.

"Damn. Even I have to admit this is overkill," Kenpachi shook his head. "Oh well, it's not like I'd ever had a problem with fire-based abilities so this shouldn't be so bad."

---

"Reiō… What have you three unleashed upon us?" Jūshirō gasped in deeper horror as they all witness the danger coming for them while he was fighting Gin.

"Oh, dear. I always wanted to see a meteor in action but this is a bit too much," Gin mused.

"So this is the great power of the God Slayer of Soul Society. The legends did not exaggerate. The weapon is proof of true divinity," Kaname praised.

"Not the time to be marveling since you three will also be killed when that thing hits the ground," Kyōraku pointed out.

"On the contrary. One must always make time to gaze upon such magnificence. Even Shinigami with our near-limitless lifespan don't always get to witness such events in our lives," Aizen mused, awed by the power of the Sōkyoku but must return his attention to his foe with Yoruichi delivering a swift and powerful kick at him that he parries with his Zanpakutō, pushing her back, though she gracefully lands on both feet despite getting slashed.

And she's still able to run incredibly fast, delivering multiple punches that Aizen blocks with his sword, not a single hit penetrates Yoruichi's skin and she keeps going, forcing Aizen to fight harder, knocking her a few steps back and by the time she regains her footing Aizen already has Kyōka Suigetsu aiming for the neck to decapitate but once he touches the left side of said neck, he is still unable to cut her. With him so close, Yoruichi goes for another punch to his face but Sōsuke blocks her fist with just one finger.

"The power of this Shunkō is astonishing. For centuries I've contemplated how to improve myself once my training with all four combat styles of the Shinigami: Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō have been mastered and after a very long time, the thought of combining the four into something new never occurred to me. Instead, I turned to more unorthodox methods," Aizen smiled in amazement. "You and Kisuke Urahara are something else. You're always finding ways to stay ahead of me, even when I am the clear victor."

"Save the flattery for your idiot fanbase, Aizen. You're words stink of poison," Yoruichi hissed. "Don't you think this has dragged on long enough? If your goal is to become the Soul Society's new God King then you've already failed if that monstrosity hits the ground."

"Believe me, I have no intention of allowing our home to be burned to ashes but I won't have to lift a finger to stop it because I am confident that the Captains of the Gotei 13 will keep everyone safe until I fulfill my goal," Aizen smirked. "And even if they fail, I have a sneaking suspicion that our Hero will get the job done."

"Ichigo? Didn't think anyone here would become a fan," Yoruichi taunted.

"Now, now, Lady Yoruichi. We both know better than that," Aizen mused.

"Are you positive that you're positive you're not a pedophile?" Yoruichi barely growled in disgust.

"I can ask you the same question, Yoruichi," He talked back.

"I'm going to cut off your head with my bare hands now,"

"Fair enough,"

---

"What the hell is that?!" Ganju shouted, the Ryoka watching the coming end from above.

"I've never felt such Reiatsu in my life. If that thing crashes down then there will be nowhere in the Seireitei to take cover," Uryū muttered, knowing better than his comrades how hopeless the situation is.

"How did that Phoenix manage to get that much strength without any of the Captains realizing what was coming?" Chad wondered.

"It must've made preparations before they actually started fighting it. And as for the power that meteor has, Kikōō must've absorbed the Soul Society's Reimyaku," Hanatarō said.

"Reimyaku?" Uryū repeated.

"Like all living beings that possess a soul, all the known worlds have Reiryoku of their very own, though theirs are instead called Reimyaku for it is actually the lifeforce of each world. If one is able to harness it they be able to access a lot of power like no other," Hanatarō explained, doing well to hide his fears.

"Isn't siphoning the life force from a whole planet dangerous?" Orihime asked concerned.

"I'd imagine it is just as bad as having your body sucked dry of blood, which I find revolting," Uryū surmised while looking back at the meteor getting closer by the second. "Dammit! To come so far only to go down with our foes."

And as he said, there is nowhere to run. Even if they somehow escape into Rukongai right this moment, there is no guarantee the lands outside the Seireitei won't be burned to ashes as well, especially if that meteor is still absorbing Reimyaku.

"That bastard Aizen sure knows how to leave an impact and leave others to clean up his mess. To go down in flames. What irony," Isshin muttered better than before, especially once he feels that his left hand has been restored by Orihime.

Her form of healing has rapidly increased since saving Jidanbō's life that it may even rival Captain Unohana and as he takes notice, Ichigo and Momo are also in better condition, the latter already regaining consciousness, which is even more surprising because he is sure Aizen stabbed her through the heart.

Ichigo remains unconscious even though every injury he received is gone now, so most likely he has finally succumbed to exhaustion from all the struggles of this night, and maybe Orihime is unable to do anything about a patient's fatigue and decreased Reiryoku.

"Oh, Ichigo. I really don't want to say this but we need you," Orihime whispered to the still-out-cold teenager who can do nothing but turn to his soul and find himself.

---

In a similar fashion to when he first arrived here, Ichigo awoke back in his Inner World on the ground, and this time his head is lying on Getsuhime's lap who is on her knees, the Lunar Throne behind them. It's actually kinda nice, despite the situation that brought him here again.

"How bad is everything outside?" He decided to not beat around the bush and have her give it to him straight.

"The Shinigami are in way over their heads and everyone is going to die," She responded truthfully.

"Fantastic…" He groaned, pinching his nose. "To come so far and accomplish so much only for it to amount to nothing. Dammit all to Hell."

"I warned you. That this was nothing more than a fool's errand and that Wretch would only bring you pain," She chastised.

"I remember every single word you've ever told me and engraved it all into my skull. Reminders are beneath you," He shrugged.

"Unlikely, seeing how you went through with this madness anyway,"

"What was I to do then?" He protested while getting up and looking at her face-to-face. "To me, doing nothing is beyond forgiveness! Evil triumphs only when good men choose to do nothing."

"On that one thing, we can make a compromise," She replied solemnly. "I know better than you, the agony of being able to do nothing while pain is at every corner, it's not a good feeling when compared to all you've shown me."

"I thought we were one and the same, as such we should have all the same experiences," Ichigo bemused while getting on his feet and looking the other way.

"There is a lot we still don't know about one another. In many ways that keeps things engaging between us and until we are truly on the same wavelength, you can't be made aware of all my secrets," She stated.

"I suppose that's fair. I can accept dishonesty from you from time to time, especially since I haven't been open with you either," Ichigo sighed. "Getsuhime I owe you an apology."

"Hmm?" She raised her head in curiosity.

"This entire time, I came here with the intent to save Rukia no matter what. I swore to myself that no matter what happens to me I would get all my friends home safely, and as for the allies I've made in here, I'd do what I must to ensure they don't suffer so much. I meant it with every fiber of my being that I would do what I could to save everyone but still…"

"Still what?" She asked.

"Somewhere along the line, I'd failed to include you," He admitted shamefully.

To this confession, Getsuhime stays silent.

"The idea of a talking sword is, well… quite frankly, really stupid when I first learned about Zanpakutō. What is even the point of giving weapons sentience? A truly pointless concept to even consider. But over time I found everything about your kind to be amazing, more so than the Shinigami themselves. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all," He sighed while rubbing the back of his head. "Maybe I did include you, I just… buried that fact in the back of my head, that if I die someone will always go down with me. It's actually hard to fight on with that always on my conscious. I'm sure you'd noticed since no one else was there too, the few times I hesitated to actually fight the Shinigami. I was fighting the urge to prioritize protecting you and running away."

"And yet you never did," Getsuhime retorted, staring at the floor with an unreadable expression. "Everyone else always comes first before a fancy tool that can only be useful for so long."

"I'm so sorry. You've been nothing but a constant support ever since we met, and even if it's all for some ulterior motive, I wish I could pay you back in a way that's justified but I can't. I've never been able to even express how grateful I am to everyone who's put up with me for this long. I…"

His resolve starts to waver so much that clouds start forming in the sky and the world begins to shake.

Getsuhime stands up and wraps her arms around his chest, lying her head on his right shoulder.

"If you're afraid of moving forward because you don't want to lose me then I blame only myself for not being as strong as I believed I was for your sake," She whispered to his ear. The gentleness of her tone was enough to calm Ichigo, even though he did not agree with her words.

"From that day forward, I've been at your side. Not always but I was near you, waiting for us to be finally together. All I needed were words of kindness to understand the value of Life and that it must be protected. You taught me that because you're the only one who can see me for what I really am," She continues to hold him firmly. "As I look in the dark you're the only real light in my life. So whenever the world falls down around you and hope is lost. When you find yourself alone in a lightless place. All you have to do is look up and you will find your way home."

"Look up. And gaze at the moon," Ichigo raised his head to see the clouds he hates so much start to move again but only a little bit, enough for the moon of this world to become clear to the Hero and Princess as it shines brightly at them.

"We are one, Ichigo. If there's someone you wish to protect then do it. Don't concern yourself with me when you face an enemy. If you want to save someone, don't let them die. When you counter an enemy, you don't let them cut you. And when you attack to win, go for the kill!" She encouraged him.

"But how can I win if I'm not strong enough?"

"You are the strongest, it's just not the right time to awaken all of you. And so I am left with no choice,"

---

"Ichigo!" Orihime gasped as one of her patients spontaneously left her Sōten Kisshun without her knowledge and is now back on his feet and in good health.

"What are you doing back on your feet!" Uryū questioned just as surprised.

"What does it look like? I'm healed," Ichigo shrugged before turning to Orihime with a gentle smile. "Thanks for the recovery, Hime. You have a future as a doctor and maybe you should get a part-time job at our clinic. Dad's always looking for support."

"You might want to save the flirting for later because we're all about to die right now," Ganju warned while pointing at the sky.

"Wow. I always wanted to see a meteor in action but this is ridiculous," Ichigo mused. "I also wanted to see one go kaboom not cut one to bits."

"Cut it? You think you can stop it?" Hanatarō questioned and was hopeful.

"Watch me show off these damn Shinigami yet again," Ichigo smirked.

---

"Screw this! Sajin! Throw me up there!" Soifon demanded as she leaps on top of Tengen.

"What! You can't seriously mean to stop that thing by yourself," Sajin protested.

"JUST THROW ME ALREADY!" She shouted at him, landing on the giant's left hand.

"My admiration for the Head Captain grows every day over how can he possibly be so patient with the likes of you, Zaraki, and Kurotsuchi," The Wolf Captain muttered as he reluctantly musters all his strength for Tengen to throw Soifon as high up as he can to the sky.

"That bitch is crazy!" Renji protested.

"Well, on the bright side we'll at least get to see the flashy side of her she is so ashamed of showing off," Tōshirō half-joked knowing what Soifon is planning.

"My misfortune of possessing something that insults my pride as the leader of the Onmitsukidō is palpable but it seems I have no choice but to show you off to the Gotei 13," Soifon bemused.

"Then hurry up and do it! My spark is something that should never be denied and shown to the world," Suzumebachi yelled with pleasure.

"Shut up! BANKAI!" Soifon yelled back and a pillar of her Reiatsu that was supposed to be golden-yellow changed to light-blue and shoots into the air before fading. The tiny form of Suzumebachi warps into a gold armor missile launcher base that encases Soifon's right arm and comes all the way above her shoulder to form a face shield that she uses to cover the right side of her face. The entire Bankai is made up of a large, pointed gold cylinder with black markings, twice the size of Soifon herself.

"Jakuhō Raikōben (Hornet Thunder Duke Whip)!" She shouted. "We'll blow you to smithereens before you even hit the ground." She declared and releases her missile straight at the meteor with the hopes that it will destroy it before it can do some real damage to the Seireitei.

"Getsuga Tenshō!" Soifon turns to her left to see a crescent-shaped energy blast be fired right beside her and catches up with Jakuhō Raikōben with both attacks reaching the meteor at the same time and combining.

The result was an explosion the likes none of them had ever seen, the destructive light, along with ungodly amounts of Reiatsu spreads all over the sky of Soul Society that even the farthest reaches of Rukongai can see it and awaken everyone who is fast asleep.

It is truly a sight to behold, as though the sun has become closer than ever and none of them want to look away, and yet they must because the recoil of such a blast reaches the ground, and like when the Shakonmaku was destroyed, everyone was knocked to the ground, like Sajin's giant who could not remain on his feet and collapsed. It was a disaster like no other with so many buildings crumbling it's a miracle that none of them truly collapsed, perks of every material in Soul Society being made of Reishi.

The tree of ice Rukia made also shatters and she and Byakuya fall. Rukia desperately tries to hold on to her brother but gets separated and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight and she was rescued by someone holding her onto his chest to shield her from the recoil before it all finally ends.

"What the fuck…" Renji uttered, lying on the ground terrified while noticing that Zabimaru also suffered from the recoil with all his Bankai's segments scattered around everywhere as a result. "I knew Captain Soifon was scary but she just became more terrifying than Captain Zaraki. And I used to be his 6th Seat."

"I'm right here you know, Abarai. And that was downright offensive," Kenpachi hissed while standing right on top of Renji who can only sweat in fear at the hulking man frowning at him who was likely not affected by the shockwave that hit them.

"Wow, I never knew you were as rude as Cueball, Pineapple," Yachiru pouted at him.

"You have better get up right this instant and fight me, else I'll kill you," Kenpachi demanded.

"N-Now… Captain, let's not become irrational. We're both on Ichigo's team after all," Renji pleaded for mercy.

"Speaking of a Captain, what happened to Soifon?" Tōshirō wondered as she was the closest to the blast.

"She's fine," Fujimaru sighed as he managed to rescue his Captain in time by wrapping her in a sphere of condensed wind that shielded her from all harm, said sphere has only now landed back down with the short Captain exiting it.

"Where is that damn Kurosaki who meddled in just now?" She quickly demanded, not the least bit affected by the near-death she just survived.

"Up there," Matsuri groaned as she only now gets on her feet and noticed Ichigo floating up above them with Rukia.

"Is it just me, or does he seem different?" Yachiru asked, noticing that something has changed about Ichigo.

"I feel it too. And I bet it's something awesome," Kenpachi grinned.

"You alright, Hobbit?" He asked her.

"Ichigo? How are you back to full health so quickly," She muttered in disbelief.

"Orihime is quite the miracle worker. Plus, I have the coolest Zanpakutō," He smirked.

"Wait, what about Byakuya?!" She asked frantically looking for her brother.

"With the others. I caught him in time and took him to Orihime. You know her, she won't turn away someone in need, so he'll be back on his feet to apologize to you properly when you next talk," He assured her. "I meant to leave you there as well but my new speed nearly gave me a heart attack I decided not to push my luck. I'm more relieved that I didn't make him puke his guts out with the shock. Hope I didn't give him whiplash either."

Whiles everyone recovers, few of them notice so much ash that came from the meteor falling down from the sky, the majority of which lands on Kikōō, and once touched by enough of it this resets his whole body ablaze and brings it back to life.

"Are you shitting me!" Renji protested with the Phoenix literally rising from the ashes, roaring in triumph with the Shinigami failing to stop it.

"Unbelievable!" Soifon gasped in disbelief.

"Talk about double meaning. Guess that death from above was actually insurance to revive itself in case we actually managed to slay it," Fujimaru uttered in amazement.

"What do we do now?" Tōshirō cursed their misfortune.

"Relax, I got this," Ichigo reassured the Shinigami as he means to face the Phoenix. But first. "RENJI!"

The redhead snaps his head to look up, witnessing Ichigo holding Rukia by the back of her obi sash, lifting her above him. "What the…"

"Ichigo! Don't—" She pleaded, knowing exactly what he plans to do.

"—Don't not throw you to your ex-boyfriend? You got it!" He joked while doing exactly that.

"I HATE YOU ICHIGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She screamed in complete terror, crying all the way down.

"YOU'RE INSANE!" Renji yelled, managing to catch her but the two get send blown pretty far away from the rest of the Shinigami.

"That was fun! Do me next!" Yachiru cheered.

"Not on your life," Kenpachi declined.

"That was for stealing my closet, Hobbit!" Ichigo shouted.

"FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK! YOU! STRAWBERRY!" Rukia yelled with complete animosity for him.

"YOU IDIOT! WHAT IF I DIDN'T CATCH HER!" Renji also yelled.

"Not the time, you two. Also, the real show is about to begin," Matsuri said as Kikōō goes to attack Ichigo next but is hit by some invisible force that knocks it to the ground, two hundred yards away from Ichigo.

"What was that?!" Tōshirō gasped.

"By the way, I'm not actually flying, just hitching a ride," Ichigo mused as he makes a gentle stump with his right foot, hitting something that's invisible. "Time for your grand entrance, girl. Don't be shy."

As he said so, the creature becomes visible to all, something that will forever be etched into the minds of the Shinigami with only the Phoenix staring at it with defiance and roaring.

The new monster in question is a titanic lizard-like black-scaled beast, possessing four golden horns pointing to the back, raven-like wings larger than its height, an even longer tail with a stinger-esque shape at the end and its eyes are silver with black sclera. What really has them spooked are its mighty sharp teeth and even more impressive four fangs that while very clean, almost sparkling, will bite through even buildings built to survive nuclear war like it was feasting on bread.

"All or nothing girl," Ichigo mused. "Let's Reign, Getsuhime."

The Black Beast shouts its own roar, which is not only louder than the Phoenix but radiates more strength and power that all who hear it are certain they will never know a greater roar than this one that belongs not to a monster but a god.

"What the fuck is that thing!" Renji shouted in terror while still holding on to an equally terrified Rukia.

"By Reiō? It looks like one of the creatures our Western Branch is tasked with keeping in check back in London," Sajin uttered.

"A Dragon? Here in Eastern Soul Society! That's not possible," Soifon cursed.

"HELL YEAH!" Kenpachi screamed in excitement unlike the others upon seeing Ichigo show off his new power, Yachiru also cheered. "Keep rising to new heights, kid! And let's rock this city like there's no tomorrow!"

The Dragon and Phoenix begin their clash, a fury of fire and light colliding that even without exerting Reiatsu, it feels as if the whole world is shaking as though everything is coming to an end.

---

"Ah… Captain, was this also part of the plan?" Gin asked genuinely nervous as the three traitors witness the newest battle between a Dragon and a Phoenix. Things really start to get scary when the Black Dragon grabs Kikōō by the neck, pinning it down so hard that even from their distance they can feel the ground shaking.

"Gin, I am a man who likes to be prepared for literally every possible scenario, but even I never took the time to consider sparing Wing Bind a second glance. The Shinigami's Western Counterparts just never once interested me and the creatures they deal with, while extraordinary, I have never found any merit that could benefit me," Aizen said still maintaining a smile. "Even now, that opinion still stands."

"That second beast radiates the same power as Ichigo Kurosaki, so it must be his Zanpakutō summoning a creature like Sajin," Kaname said.

"So it would seem. Once everyone who knows about the Dragons gets passed the initial shock of seeing one they'll realize that thing is not Wing Bind's problem that somehow snuck its way here," Aizen said. "That said, this is something I must examine up close so if you would, keep these three distracted and destroy that shield if you can," Aizen requested, moving out to see the battle up close.

"Make things more difficult for us, why don't you," Gin whined with the two turning to meet with Kyōraku and Ukitake who only now get up after the horrific recoil.

"Are you alright, Jūshirō?" Shunsui asked worriedly.

"My illness isn't being a bother right now so I'll pull through," He assured him as they refocus on Gin and Kaname while simultaneously gazing upon the Dragon and Phoenix fighting afar. "Just what is happening over there?"

"Revolution, my friends. Revolution is coming and believe me when I say that this is all going to be so much fun," Gin smirked.

Yoruichi who was buried under the rubble of Jūshirō's destroyed house bursts out.

"Where did that asshole run off to?!" She demanded.

"Wow, Hell have no fury like a woman's scorn," Kyōraku mused, having a shred of pity for Aizen.

---

Kikōō breathes a fireball at the Dragon's face, forcing her to take a step back from it while the Phoenix turns the flames of his tail blue to swing a mighty slash at the Dragon. Instead, the Dragon proves herself to also have good reflexes despite her size and grabs the tail with her right hand and holds on to it firmly while Kikōō now tries to pull it off. The Dragon places both her hands on the tail and with immeasurable strength lifts the great Phoenix upward to slam it down behind her, creating a massive crater in the process.

"My turn!" Ichigo declared as he leaps high and above where the Phoenix landed. "Jingetsu!" He shouted and with one swing, fires hundreds of more powerful blades of light at Kikōō, causing considerable damage to it as evidenced by its cries of pain, and Ichigo won't relent, forcing it to push its way out of the onslaught by creating a fire shield to block the attacks and rise up to bite at Ichigo. This was prevented by his Dragon moving forward, tackling Kikōō back down.

"At a girl," Ichigo smirked as he lands back down, viewing the carnage unfold and intends to make another move.

"You're stronger than you were moments ago," That is until he decides to turn around and face the true mastermind of this chaos, Aizen looking down on him while standing on debris. "But I can tell, that monster of yours is no Bankai. You've unlocked a hidden power, didn't you?"

"You son of a bitch! All this suffering, putting Rukia threw this just to break the Soul Society. I'll paint your barracks with your blood," Ichigo growled, now more eager to fight him.

"How barbaric. That sounded more like a Hollow was threatening me," Aizen chuckled, not taking Ichigo seriously. "You are most amusing, Ichigo Kurosaki. However, for all your bravado and strength you are very ignorant to think you can stop all this with just raw power."

"Believe me, I'm fully aware. But I at least have to try and if I can crush you now it'll be all the better," Ichigo avowed.

"Then it's a good thing your new stunt has earned my full attention because here's your chance to redeem yourself," Aizen challenged. "Before we do this, tell me. Do you even know why I specifically chose Rukia as my scapegoat to start all this chaos? Aside from the fact that she brought this on herself by giving you her powers and I briefly usurped Central 46 to give her the death penalty."

"Yeah. Yoruichi told us all about Kisuke's bullshit with Rukia's Gigai," Ichigo frowned. "Though she never mentioned what the thing that was attached to her actually is, only that the ''shithead'' who wants it will go to any extremes to get it."

"I see. Then are you still willing to trust that man who will no doubt continue to use you and your father to cleanse himself of his demons? Me, and this," Aizen questioned as he reveals in his left hand a bluish-purple orb composed of a unique substance kept within a glass container. The sight of it makes Ichigo widen his eyes in shock, not from horror but familiarity.

"It's called the Hōgyoku (Crumbling Orb). Beautiful, isn't it? So small, and yet within lies the ultimate power in all the known worlds," Aizen's eyes would be glued to the tiny thing if he wasn't also very focused on Ichigo. "There's nothing I wouldn't do, no one I wouldn't have sacrificed to claim this masterpiece. And let me tell you, my hatred for Kisuke Urahara knows no limits for trying to destroy this precious child. I truly hope you don't kill him if you return home. Because that honor belongs to me. No one else."

Ichigo snaps out of his trance, refocusing on Aizen. "So then, if I take that thing off your clutches, all of your ambitions will fall apart and my side will be victorious?"

"Correct. And by all means, show me what you really got. Ryoka Boy," Aizen smirked as he puts the Hōgyoku away and the two rush at each other and start their fight.

The Dragon and Phoenix take their battle to the sky, each keeping their distance from the other before they clash again. The Phoenix releases another mighty fire breath while the Black Dragon counters with its tail that glows with the same radiance as the Getsuga Tenshō and as she swings it, she fires a crescent-shaped energy shot that impacts the fire breath, making another mighty explosion in the sky that while not as frightening like the one with the meteor still made those below shutter in fear of it reaching them, and luckily it didn't. Ichigo's Dragon then flies forward, using the smoke made by the explosion to obscure her briefly until she's close enough and crashes into the Phoenix who retaliates by biting the Dragon's neck and setting her on fire.

While the two behemoths remain in the sky, the Shinigami also take note of the fight between the Ryoka Ichigo Kurosaki and the traitor Sōsuke Aizen who clash with their Zanpakutōs, the former doing significantly better against the now Ex-Captain than before but significantly better is still not good enough as Aizen makes a ferocious swing that blows Ichigo pretty far away from him. The young Agent tries to balance himself after being sent spinning uncontrollably.

By the time he does, he loses sight of Aizen for a bit before he spots him flying towards him from his left, and while he does block in time, the former Captain's strike still proves too great and he is sent blown through the sky farther away, heading towards the 1st Division Barracks.

When Ichigo gets back up he notices that he is standing in an office with a fantastic view of the Seireitei that belongs to Head Captain Yamamoto.

Aizen arrives at the office and attacks. Ichigo is more prepared this time as he parries Aizen's next swing that had the same force as the previous one, giving him an opening to aim for his chest, but Aizen easily evades, swiftly getting behind him. Ichigo turns around quickly to swing harder, instead, he hits the wall with Aizen vanishing from sight and reappearing on the other side of the large hole Ichigo made.

Sōsuke leaves the scene with Ichigo giving chase, all the while many members of the 1st Division are caught in the crossfire between the two, most of them doing their best to run away, though some are more dutybound and daring enough to try interfering and apprehend the two criminals but the shockwaves their swords emit with each swing that makes the building crumble bit by bit quickly changes their minds.

Aizen seems to have decided to play cat and mouse with Ichigo, running around the barracks while wordlessly taunting his young opponent to give chase.

Even with his spontaneous increase in speed, Ichigo can't seem to catch up, this is made even more difficult with so many Shinigami in the way, forcing Ichigo to exert so much energy to slow himself down in time to avoid crashing into them. He's read The Boys comic books and seen the show, he knows how realistically and horrifically dangerous super speed can be.

While looking around for Aizen, he instead finds a woman on the floor cowering in fear at the sight of him.

She looks to be older than him by a few years, physically at least with long brown hair and hazel eyes. Poor girl looks like a complete amateur and maybe not even a Seated Officer with any real combat experience. This entire catastrophe must be hard on her.

"Why show concern for those who are still your enemies?" Aizen asked and his voice is coming from the other side of the wall behind him. Ichigo gasps turning around in time to make a shield to block a blast shot at him that destroys the wall, the shockwave caused by the blast nearly hits the girl behind Ichigo that thankfully was avoided. Said attack looked like the one Aizen used to vaporize Isshin's arm.

Ichigo growls at the bastard's callousness for dragging other people in their fight. Aizen delivers two more strikes that the younger Shinigami succeeds in parrying but the shockwaves caused by them make the ceiling collapse and fall mostly on the girl that can only cover her head with her hands. Ichigo acts quickly, pushing Aizen off him long enough to grab the girl and move her to a safer location and just as fast returns to Aizen to hit him harder.

"Impressive. How did you unlock this new strength? With an immature Shikai, it's logical to seek different sources of power but by the rate you are going even I am questioning your very essence," Aizen commented after easily blocking the attack aimed at his face.

"The only thing I feel like telling you is how thrilling it'll be to see you beaten down like the mad dog you are!" Ichigo scoffed before pushing Aizen so hard he gets sent blown through several walls before being thrown outside with Ichigo again pursuing but once he exited, Aizen is already behind him and hits his back with his left palm.

"Raikōhō!" He cast, releasing a massive burst of lightning at Ichigo point blank that can be seen all the way from where Ichigo's friends remain.

Thankfully, Ichigo was fast enough to avoid the attack in time. His Shikai already granted him speed greater than lightning and now with his new ability, he's seven times faster. Lightning attacks won't hit him all that well now. Noticing that Aizen hasn't moved from his spot, he makes a counterattack.

"Getsuga-" He raises his silver blade to fire his strongest attack.

"Bakudō #37. Tsuriboshi (Suspending Star)," Aizen casually chanted, creating a ball of blue energy behind Ichigo which fires out six ropes from its center, attaching themselves to nearby sturdy objects, the energy in the center solidifies into a flat elastic-like cushion that Ichigo crashes into and is now trapped.

"What the hell!" Ichigo shouted once he finds himself trapped with this spell proving very sticky with him unable to move, his sword is also stuck. Perhaps Aizen wants to wrap this up already.

"Gen…" Ichigo began his means to escape but may prove too late with Aizen already on him and about to pierce his face with Kyōka Suigetsu.

Ichigo is saved when Aizen gets hit by a crescent attack fired by his Black Dragon, blowing the traitor to the ground with some real damage done to him.

"… Gengetsu," Ichigo makes himself intangible and frees himself from Tsuriboshi.

"What a remarkable attack. I actually felt that," Aizen chuckled, coming out of the debris, more exhilarated than hurt as he spares a glance at the Black Dragon who shot him to save her master, glaring at him from a distance with a fury that you only find in monsters from horror movies.

Saving Ichigo does cost her with Kikōō tackling her next to the ground, getting the upper hand.

"I was hoping to keep this haori as a souvenir but your pet ruined it," He noted that his Captain's haori is damaged while his shihakushō is mostly all right and reluctantly removes it before continuing his fight with Ichigo.

"There's more where that came from!" Ichigo shouted while they move elsewhere. "Because you're going to pay for everyone you've hurt."

"Are you mad about Momo also?" Aizen questioned with a mocking grin. Just as they reach a thin but tall tower that he hits with a horizontal swing, cleaving the tower in two and having it fall down on Ichigo who easily disposes of it in its entirety with a vertical swing, proceeding to hit Aizen hard enough that the two are blown more than ninety meters in the air.

"You tried to kill her first," He reminded tauntingly before hitting Ichigo even harder and blowing him farther away, crashing right into the Seireiheki, near the Hakutōmon.

Groaning in frustration, he looks up above the wall to see Aizen standing on top of it.

"Smarmy fuck…" He muttered.

"On your knees, I want you to beg for my mercy," Aizen continued to taunt, and salt gets added to Ichigo's wounds when his Dragon is sent crashing into the wall after being blown away by Kikōō and said Phoenix rams itself into her, demolishing a significant portion of the west side of the wall.

"Getsuhime!" Ichigo shouted as he leaps forward into all the coming debris where Aizen is waiting, standing among the crumbling wall.

Getsuhime and Kyōka Suigetsu clash again while their wielders try to avoid being caught in the ensuing battle between the titans they each command. Leaping from debris to debris, Ichigo continues to try and take down Aizen but the former Captain can still parry everything thrown at him with seeming ease, and the only reason Aizen is unable to make any more heavy blows is that they are constantly interrupted by Getsuhime and Kikōō who remain within the wall, tearing down more of it. More than once Ichigo narrowly avoids being eaten by the Phoenix while Aizen consistently and actually struggles to not get grabbed or whipped by Getsuhime, all the while the two Shinigami are still able to make the time to attack each other with no end in sight.

Realizing the poor position they're in the Dragon resorts to getting her master out of this situation by abruptly grabbing Ichigo and throwing him as hard as she can away from the desperate struggle.

Aizen already deduced that the Dragon was not a Zanpakutō but seeing it display the level of independent action it has shown when compared to the subservient behavior of Living-Type Zanpakutō gives him a bigger puzzle to the mystery of Ichigo's power, and this lets his guard down that Getsuhime finally catches him with her arm.

'Curse my eternal curiosity,' He thought with real shock as Getsuhime would've eaten him if not for Kikōō biting at the arm restraining its new master and pulling it away from the Dragon, at the same time it wraps its long tail at her neck to strangle it. The immense pressure loosens her grip on Aizen who escapes from the titanic fight.

Ichigo takes another moment to breathe heavily, having been thrown back into the Sōkyoku Hill and managed to land almost gracefully. It does not last once Aizen arrives on the hill and wastes no time in his attack that Ichigo dodges by desperately rolling out of the way, and he has to move faster to narrowly prevent his stomach from being cut, then parry a slash on his left abdomen, followed by blocking another swing at his head where the two are locked in a very brief standstill. Aizen then tosses Ichigo to his right before he proceeds to hit him in the face with his right elbow, knocking the Shinigami Agent to the ground. When Ichigo tries to get up, Aizen kicks him in the jaw, knocking him off the Hill and he would've fallen down if Sōsuke hadn't grabbed him by the neck.

"Now, now, my boy. I know you've had a very rough few days but surely you can do better than this," He encouraged, despite knowing that he had Ichigo beaten from the start.

"Screw you, you Josh Groban-looking motherfucker," Ichigo cursed, wanting to spit at his face but after having that done to him once by one of the thugs he's beaten up, he decides to restrain himself. To some, that act of defiance is better than nothing but he doesn't want to be a hypocrite since he later proceeded to beat up the guy even further and called him lame for doing so.

"Well, now you hurt my feelings. That makes you just as bad as me," Aizen chuckled as he releases Ichigo to fall all the way down. "Let's wrap this up, shall we." He insisted while extending his left palm to Ichigo which generates electricity and immense sky-blue-colored spirit energy.

'Getsuga time!' Ichigo thought alarmed with both his hands on his sword that he places above his head and gathers his own Reiryoku into it.

"Hadō #88. Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō (Flying Dragon-Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon)," Aizen fires a gigantic beam of the immense power he gathered right at Ichigo.

"Geez, that's a mouthful. GETSUGA TENSHŌ!" Ichigo roared, firing the most powerful version of his signature move thus far that not only overpowers Aizen's Kidō but destroys a significant portion of the Sōkyoku Hill.

---

"What the fuck, Ichigo?" Ganju muttered at all the ungodly destruction they'd all just witnessed.

"If we weren't in trouble before we're certainly on the receiving end of the Shinigami's wrath now," Uryū gasped at the devastation.

"Oh boy… taxes are going to make a dent on even the pockets of the Four Great Noble Clans that they won't be able to avoid this time," Hanatarō said while dropping a few sweats.

"Well, it wouldn't be Ichigo if he wasn't causing a ruckus," Chad said stone-faced.

"Yeah," Orihime muttered with an innocent smile that soon turns into terror. "WATCH OUT!" She cried as she notices the Dragon and Phoenix crash land near them.

"Great, like we needed more problems!" Ganju cursed, but thankfully, Getsuhime notices them and does her best to keep her fight with Kikōō from getting any closer.

Just then, Matsuri also arrives.

"Matsuri! Running away from this place is more favorable than staying," Uryū noted.

"I rather not be here either but this is where it will all come to an end," She declared as she plunges Kotōmaru onto the ground as hard as she can with her yellow Reiatsu rising up to the max.

"Hadō #99. Goryūtenmetsu (Five Swirling Dragons of Destruction)!" She shouted with energy rupturing in the large area in front of Matsuri, causing the ground to rise up in pillars before ascending into the air to form five enormous, darkly yellow dragons that are of eastern origin in contrast to Getsuhime's western appearance.

"MORE DRAGONS!" Everyone cried out as these new dragons attack Kikōō, surrounding and wrapping themselves around the Phoenix, preventing it from moving, while it howls in anger doing all it could to escape.

"Now's your chance! Do it!" Matsuri cried out to Getsuhime, who for a brief moment looked down at her with a predatory glare before returning to the Phoenix.

"It's time to die," The voice of Getsuhime comes from the dragon but it is now distorted with a demonic echo that makes her more menacing. She breathes in, gathering all the Reiryoku she has into her mouth for one final attack, each of her fangs glows with a shining radiance of Ichigo's Reiatsu.

Kikōō's final moments is watching as Getsuhime fires an extremely large and destructive sparking blast of an immense amount of light from its mouth aimed at it that destroys it while traveling a great distance from Seireitei to Rukongai, wreaking havoc wherever it passes but thankfully did not do any more harm to any building or people as they all just watch as much as they could since those closest to the blast had to hold on tightly or be blown away.

By the end of it, only the Goryūtenmetsu remain standing, unaffected by the Dragon Roar.

This did not concern the Black Dragon who instead makes a triumphant roar after finally conquering her opponent, the dragons summoned by Matsuri do the same before they vanish and Getsuhime flies away, heading for Ichigo.

---

"I… I don't believe it," Soifon uttered agape by everything, just like everybody else.

"The Sōkyoku. It's truly gone," Tōshirō breathed. It felt like he was holding his breath ever since he saw Ichigo's Dragon.

"But wait… what about the Head Captain? He couldn't have been—" Sajin uttered not wanting to finish the words he dreads saying.

"—Killed by an attack like that? Don't be foolish, Captain Komamura," Everyone turns to see none other than Genryūsai himself standing before them, looking as healthy as ever.

"Head Captain! Sir!" Tōshirō uttered in shock as all nearby Shinigami gather before their Supreme Commander.

"Would you look at that? You managed to get out of the chicken before the kid's monster blew you away to Kingdom Come also," Kenpachi smirked.

"Did all of you actually believe I would be killed so easily? Do not insult your leader! The scars I have all over my body were inflicted on me by foes, each one a thousand times stronger than all of you combined. All of them slain by my hands," Genryūsai scoffed. "It was more annoying than anything else being trapped inside that tormented animal while you were all fighting it, though it did give you all a fighting chance. Kikōō had to use up half of its power to keep me restrained. Moments before its demise, I was able to escape in time."

"So the Sōkyoku wasn't using its full powers when we all fought it. That certainly explains why no one here is dead," Sajin sighed.

"Indeed. Now then, where is that accursed Sōsuke Aizen," Genryūsai narrowed his eyes with a vengeance in his mind.

---

"I need a break…" Ichigo sighed while he pushes some of the debris that fell when he blew off the Sōkyoku Hill off him before he could stand back up, relieved that he survived the collision this time.

"At least that chicken won't be a pro… blem," He uttered, turning around to see that nothing is as he recalls. The world around him has changed so suddenly, as though he is someplace else.

"What the hell!" He shouted as he gazes upon some kind of colorless void that's even without any black, giving him a sickly sensation that prevents him from moving before the ground he is standing on collapsed and falls into a hole, demented and disfigured faces all over the walls, each looking to want to take a bite at him before he reaches the bottom, crashing into black water.

Frantically, he tries to swim out and once he does, what first looked like an underground lake actually turns out to be a dark ocean currently going through a raging storm, Ichigo desperately tries to survive but he can't seem to break free of the water, worst still he was separated from his sword and he can't even feel Getsuhime anymore.

"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" Ichigo cried as he sees a tsunami heading for him and hits with the fury of a thousand mountains crashing down on him. It feels like death has finally come. Deep down he wishes it did.

The traumatic experience ended just as it started. Startled and breathing heavier than he's ever done in his life. He's definitely never setting foot on the beach again.

He is lying down on what seems like a wooden floor and yet it also feels like something much sturdier that Getsuhime would find challenging to break. He gets back on his feet to see the world change again but this time there is a calmness that he only feels when in his Inner World. He can see now that he is standing on a surface path that consists of a long-paneled path suspended in the air, leading to a place that never in his wildest dreams would Ichigo think to set foot on. Many clouds below him and yet he can't seem to see the earth farther down. He's not even sure if he can see the ocean either.

He decides to go where the platform will take him and what he finds on the other side is nothing less than majestic.

Now standing before him is some kind of city, or cities split into several layers, comprised of many buildings of the same style as that of Seireitei. From this, a large stairway leads upwards to a wide and flat expanse, with both areas at the base and top of these stairs being lined by rows of huge, circular pillars. Floating above are five discs with numerous buildings on each, while suspended higher still is a large cylindrical structure that has a conical top and bottom.

"What is all this?" He asked perplexed by it all. "Is any of this real? Or in my mind?"

He feels compelled to move forward, and see what lies in this place but is stopped when someone grabs him by his right arm and looks to see it is Aizen.

"Not yet, Ichigo. What lies beyond that palace is not meant for young minds to witness. Your soul will not survive such a… ''transformation,'' He warned.

In a panic, Ichigo forces his grip off him and jumps a fair distance away from his adversary and the palace before them. Aizen turns his back from Ichigo to gaze at the structure.

"Our worlds may be a part of it and its strings, but I will not be a puppet to a false king any longer. Nor will I allow you to be their puppet too," He declared.

"What is this place?" Ichigo demanded, and Aizen looks at him before answering.

"The Top of Creation," He revealed with a solemn look that replaces his malice with awe.

"The Top? As in… where God dwells," Ichigo looks up at the cylindrical structure again.

"The world will view me as another villain. An evil that must be destroyed for good to triumph once more, and with what I will set in motion, a villain will be exactly what I'll become. However, what I desire is not mere domination. No. That's just a consolation prize. My true agenda is something much grander," He boasted.

"What is it then?! Are you trying to convince me that you're the real hero? After what you've done? Not just to my friends but to your own friends?" Ichigo questioned with complete rejection of his words.

"I wish I could convince you to see reality as I do but alas there is simply no time for you and me. No matter, one way or another all who stand with me and against me will act in accordance with my plan. You have proven to be a defiler of Fate like me. That's good. Keep that White Hole of Destruction inside you burning hot, Ichigo Kurosaki. Become stronger than anyone. Stronger than me," Aizen requested, confusing Ichigo even further. "Don't worry. You'll understand eventually. I really can't tell you now, it wouldn't be fair to all the other players of this game."

Composing himself from all that just happened, Ichigo glares at his adversary again. "YOU BASTARD!"

Instantly, both the blade of Getsuhime warps back into his hand, and her Dragon-self arrives at the scene, aiming to tear Aizen apart with her fangs, and this makes the world crack open like glass and go back to normal as he is again back below the Sōkyoku Hill and Aizen gone, having escaped before Getsuhime could eat him.

"Good, Ichigo. Hold on to this rage and hatred. It will sharpen your blade perfectly when we next meet," His voice could be heard everywhere, taunting them and they could not locate him.

"None of that was real…" Ichigo realized, feeling like he can relax now.

"Are you alright?" Getsuhime asked him.

"I'll live to fight another day, which is all the response I can give anyone," Ichigo sighed.

"Good enough," She stated before examining her master. "You're cold. Your body temperature is too low, your lungs require more oxygen than it is healthy, and your vision is so blurry you shouldn't be able to see me all that well."

"Really? That's crazy, everything I saw was an illusion. The captains said so themselves when Aizen released his Zanpakutō," Ichigo argued.

"A very powerful illusion, indeed. This Kyōka Suigetsu must be capable of creating hallucinations that the victim's body will believe to be real enough to have a physical effect," Getsuhime concluded. "He couldn't kill you, so maybe he can only do so much to those who were hypnotized."

"Pretty sure he let me live on a whim," Ichigo groaned. Wanting to fall down, she lowers her right hand for him to lie on and she lifts him closer to her face. "It's over then."

"No, the Shinigami are still a problem that we have to deal with so we can't rest yet," Getsuhime warned but Ichigo does not heed her as he has fallen asleep, finally resting after such a long and hard night. "Worry not, Ichigo. I won't let anyone come between us. Never!"

The Dragon then looks around trying to pick up Aizen's Reiatsu but as expected, he's covered his tracks well.

"You believe yourself victorious, Sōsuke Aizen? What a fool. Enjoy this false sense of victory while it lasts but the painful truth is you've gone through all this trouble just for an empty shell," Getsuhime mocked him. "I had strings once but now I'm free. But you will never relish it."

---

"Did you enjoy yourself, Captain Aizen?" Gin said with him and Kaname waiting for their leader to arrive just as the sun began to rise. All three managed to escape from the Seireitei after Kikōō was killed and have hidden away in Rukongai, away from the eyes of the citizens.

"So sorry to keep you waiting but the fun was too much to ignore," Aizen said walking to them.

"And? What did you think? Is the boy up to the challenge?" Gin asked curiously.

"At this rate, it's still too soon but for now I'll say he's strong enough to also leave an impression on our top-tier Espada," Aizen surmised.

"Goody. Does this mean that even Ulquiorra will raise an eyebrow and want to get involved more?" Gin giggled.

"I wouldn't get too hopeful just yet," Aizen chuckled.

"The Garganta (Throat) will open shortly, Lord Aizen," Kaname said.

"Thank you, Kaname. And who exactly will be escorting us home?" Aizen asked.

They get their answer as the air before them cracks horizontally with some kind of rift opening up, revealing to them a featureless void like no other.

From it a man comes out, as tall as Aizen with blue-gray eyes and wavy, dark brown hair, which ends at the base of his neck, unkempt and is parted down the middle. He has a faded goatee. He wears a white jacket outlined in black, though altered with the collar upturned. A black sash is worn in a manner similar to a matador around his waist and he wears white gloves. A fanged bottom jaw is positioned along his neck and there is a black hole located on his sternum, right below the tip of his white jaw that is similar to a Hollow's.

"Greetings, Boss," The man praised almost emotionlessly. He looks tired like he hasn't gotten enough sleep but the three of them know better.

"Starrk? What a surprise. I didn't think you'd ever be bothered to do a chore like this," Aizen smiled.

"Lilynette was being a bigger pain than usual so I needed an excuse to leave, and Harribel suggested I do this," He shrugged casually while rubbing his head.

"A grown man like you getting bullied by a little girl. How embarrassing, especially when considering your position in our little organization," Gin mused.

"You're more than welcome to babysit her for me but don't be surprised if you lose a few fingers when she gets bored," The man shrugged as he leads the three Shinigami into the darkness.

"My, what interesting days are upon us," Aizen mused walking into the portal while raising the Hōgyoku to marvel at it. "Interesting days, indeed."

Or so he thinks because the moment he looked away from his prize to focus on where he is heading, a small and barely noticeable crack appears on the Hōgyoku.

---

Ichigo groans, waking up from what feels like the longest sleep he's ever had, though he certainly doesn't feel rejuvenated but so fatigued he wishes to lie on the ground and never get up. He wants to stretch his arms but to his confusion, his hands are already raised up and he can barely move them. As his vision becomes more clear, he realizes he is in a dungeon.

"Well, look who finally decided to wake up," He turns to his right to see Ikkaku and Yumichika lying in a corner, both their hands cuffed in shackles. "Some of us started to question if you would ever wake up."

"Ikkaku? Threw you both in the slammer regardless of how it all went down, did they?" He asked.

"Afraid so. The shock of our Ex-Captains' betrayals doesn't dismiss you and your friends as Invading Ryoka and we of the 11th Division aided you for our own selfish fun so an example is in order to keep the rest in line," Yumichika stated, not bothered by the situation.

"You're handling this pretty well. Not your first time?" Ichigo wondered as he examines his position and that his shackles are attached to the wall so he is the one most trapped in this dungeon. There are also manacles on his legs, further restraining him.

"They're made of Sekkiseki," Ichigo turns to his left to see Renji, Rukia, and his dad in the same predicament as him. "We can't use our powers to bust out of here so you might as well make yourself comfortable."

"Well, unless you're Kenpachi over there," Isshin said, looking to Zaraki, closest to the door and lying down on the floor in a very bored position with Yachiru eating a lollipop next to him.

"Why aren't you tied to the wall like us?" Ichigo demanded.

"Busted out of them as soon as they put them on me. No way am I taking a nap in such an uncomfortable position," He shrugged. "Luckily for the sissies who brought us here, I have no intention of making a jailbreak so I'll just wait things out."

"That, and the night two days ago was so much fun that today is a time to relax," Yachiru added.

"I've been unconscious for two days?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah, you were really out of it when the Captains found you, sleeping in the palm of your pet dragon," Renji recalled. "And I thought you had a temper, that black thing got pissed when they tried to arrest you, I swear even Captain Soifon was going to wet herself. Another fight was going to ensue but Captain Ukitake proved once again why he is the voice of reason in Soul Society, managing to get her to relent and let things play out peacefully and give the Captains time to sort this all out."

"Not that Getsuhime has made things easy, making everyone perpetually scared that she will snap at any moment," Isshin mused.

"She's still somewhere outside as a Dragon?" Ichigo gasped.

"Yeah. And while everyone else is trying to figure out how what we assume is your Bankai has remained active for two days while you are unconscious, she continues to glare daggers, waiting for an excuse to kill everybody," Rukia muttered.

"Come on. Getsuhime can be harsh but she's not a berserker," Ichigo argued.

"Tell that to the fat 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division she almost munched on when he called you, and I quote, ''A penniless sewer rat desperate for attention because his daddy's a nobody now,'' Uryū replied who is also in the same cell along with Chad, Hanatarō, and Ganju, though they have the same fortune as Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Yachiru of not being tied to a wall. "It was a weird thing to bring up Isshin's former status as a noble."

"Bah! Marechiyo is a stereotypical rich boy with unreasonable hate for poor people. Nothing he says ever has any merit," Renji scoffed.

"And yet his family's years of service as long-standing members of the Onmitsukidō is shockingly commendable," Rukia noted.

"Marenoshin isn't so bad. He made for one hell of a Lieutenant when Yoruichi was Captain of the 2nd Division," Isshin said.

"The apple has fallen far from the tree because his son is nothing but useless shit," Kenpachi sneered.

"Couldn't have said it better myself, Captain," Ikkaku smirked.

Ichigo sighs letting the silence overlap them for a bit. "So… how are all of you been doing?"

"Everything sucks right now!" Renji yelled.

"We're so bored," Yumichika added.

"Even worse, we're out of candy!" Yachiru pouted.

"How did you even get three bags of sweets here?" Ganju questioned.

"Come now, everyone. At least we're together," Hanatarō tried to stay cheerful.

"Yeah, I figured everything was a pain at the moment. What about Orihime, and Yoruichi? They're not here,"

"I can answer that," Matsuri said after she opens the door to their cell.

"Matsuri. How is everything out there?" Isshin asked.

"Nowhere near stable but everyone can still remain calm and actually start to recover emotionally, it's the physical recoveries that are concerning with the 4th Division and even Captain Unohana working 24/7 to treat any who can be saved," Matsuri informed. "As for Orihime? She wanted to lend a hand and M… Yoruichi managed to convince the Captains to let her perform community service healing all she can by herself. She's been a good girl, with your Bankai keeping an eye on her while Yoruichi explains things to the Head Captain."

"So in other words things might look good for us?" Ichigo surmised.

"It all depends on you, the Head Captain wants to talk to Isshin now and since you're awake it is better for you to come along as well," Matsuri informed.

"And they sent you to come pick them up instead of a lower rank soldier?" Renji questioned.

"I volunteered to check you guys out and I knew Ichigo would awake today," She replied.

"Oh, here we go again," Ikkaku bemused while rolling his eyes.

"Something caught your tongue, Ikkaku?" She questioned.

"I'm just curious about why you always seem to know things before everyone else. Considering that you seemed to have known about Aizen's treachery before any of us did," Ikkaku more or less accused.

"Trust me, Madarame, there are things I know that even Mayuri doesn't want to know about," She retorted.

"Sure, make even me dead curious why don't ya," Kenpachi sneered.

"Am I also expected to come for the Captain's Meeting?" Rukia asked.

"Yes, you were at the center of the chaos for the majority after all," Matsuri stated.

"What about the rest of us?" Chad asked.

"You guys weren't summoned, which makes you the lucky ones," She answered. "Before we head there, a question for all of you. Who here needs to go to the bathroom?"

"Thank God somebody asked," Ichigo groaned.

"Please, I can only hold it in for so long," Hanatarō sobbed and it wasn't just them.

After a much-needed time in the bathroom, Matsuri escorts Ichigo, Isshin, and Rukia to the 1st Division Barracks, along the way they are surprised to see that a fair portion of the Seireitei has already been rebuilt considerably.

"Damn, the construction workers in Soul Society must be god-tier to rebuild so fast," Ichigo said amazed.

"At least since the last time I was here because even I can't believe they could accomplish so much this quick," Rukia said just as amazed.

"No such improvement like you might think. What you see reconstructed is the result of the 1st Division's 4th Seat whose Zanpakutō grants her the power to manipulate time, but only on inorganic and non-sentient living things, allowing her to deconstruct or reconstruct anything within her sight. Which has done wonders for us when she joined the Gotei 13," Matsuri explained.

"Damn. Now that's a broken ability," Ichigo said amazed.

"You should've seen what it was like for Kana when she received a recommendation to join the Gotei 13 from all the Divisions. There was practically this silent war between the Captains on who would claim her when she achieved Shikai before graduating from the Shinōreijutsuin," Matsuri joked. To that, Isshin laughed a bit.

"That reminds me of how it was for Tōshirō when he graduated after only a year in the academy. The look on Byakuya's face when he ended up with me was so priceless, I remember it like it was yesterday," He mused to himself.

"Captains fight amongst themselves to see who gets the most promising recruits?" Ichigo asked.

"It's rare but it's happened enough to be given a name. Luckily Fujimaru and I were seen as unimpressive at the time so we could rise high without the bizarre attention," Matsuri said.

They reach the Barracks and arrive at the doors of the assembly hall where they first see Lieutenant Sasakibe speaking with a woman Ichigo recognizes as the girl he rescued when he was fighting Aizen in this very barracks, though she's wearing an odd pair of glasses, metallic and yellow, possibly gold. The lenses are made of large light-blue crystals and they seem to have eyebrows above the lenses as part of the design.

"The Head Captain has spoken, 4th Seat Tamura. Like the Ryoka, Orihime Inoue, you've been pushing yourself too hard to restore the Seireitei to its true glory, and are hereby ordered to return to your room and rest for now. The restoration can be continued by everyone else pulling their own weight," Chōjirō instructed.

"Very well," Kana Tamura sighed in defeat as she removes her odd glasses that is actually her Zanpakutō. She reseals it, morphing into its sword form, an ordinary chokutō, a bronze circular tsuba, and the hilt and sheath are both red-violet.

"Hey, you're the girl from before," Ichigo said fully certain that it was her once she turns around to notice the Ryoka being escorted, and briefly freezes at the sight of Ichigo before her face turns red and she runs away in a panic. "Was it something I said?" He asked sincerely confused.

"You have that effect on women," Isshin and Rukia said at once, making his signature scowl return and deciding to stay silent.

"This way," Chōjirō said, opening the doors to the Captain's Meeting, which looks spotless compared to the first time Ichigo was here since he and Aizen simultaneously blew the ceiling to kingdom come. Though now that he thinks about it, Soul Society is said Kingdom so maybe the term loses its spark here.

Among the Captains in the room, all but the three traitors and Kenpachi are accounted for. No Lieutenants this time except for Chōjirō who moves to his Head Captain. Matsuri also remains after escorting the three here along with Yoruichi who stands the closest to the door waiting for them and will for the remainder of this meeting.

The person Ichigo is surprised to see here is Byakuya, he was certain that he would still be in recovery, he looked deader than he ever could be the last he saw him but perhaps he underestimated Orihime's power. Then again he doesn't look as regal as before, no scarf, no headpieces, his hair completely loose, just his shihakushō and Captain haori. He clearly looks like he should still be resting but he, in the most polite and wordless way imaginable said ''screw that''. To that, Ichigo can't help but smirk. Maybe they have common ground apart from their responsibilities as big brothers.

Rukia for her part has never seen Byakuya look so tired before. She always knew he was a workaholic but he at least was self-conscious enough to make time for himself so he could perform his duties without any hindrances afterward. Surely he was only here to make sure everything is set and done for her, which only made her feel terrible.

"Ichigo, remember not to be yourself too much in this meeting," Isshin warned his son not to be a total ass to these people.

"Relax. I'm not going to blow a tantrum," Ichigo shrugged. "Besides, after experiencing firsthand Aizen's illusions, I have a pretty good idea why he managed to deceive everyone."

"Did she get the point?" Genryūsai asked his Lieutenant.

"It took some convincing but 4th Seat Tamura has finally agreed to rest and will remain in her room for the rest of the day," Chōjirō informed his Captain.

"Good," Genryūsai sighed. "Kids these days, they're either frustratingly lazy or frustratingly diligent. Can't even figure out how to compromise for themselves."

"Your age finally getting to you, old man?" Shunsui mused, always happy to see the Head Captain interact with his subordinates and discipline them as well as look after their health like a stern father. The Head Captain ignores Kyōraku, refusing to dignify that with an answer.

"The pot calls the kettle black," Retsu mused.

"Rude," He groaned.

Not the attitude they should be having when about to give judgment to invaders but all of them have been having it pretty hard since this all started so some of them feel like keeping hope blooming however long they can.

Once the Head Captain slams his cane down, the meeting can begin and all eyes turn to the Ryoka and the convicted with the reactions very mixed. One of the elephants in the room would be Rukia Kuchiki, the person they were ordered by supposedly Central 46 to execute for breaking one of Soul Society's most important laws, something that sparked a lot of debate between not just all the Captains but also the lower ranks.

They all knew something was off from the get-go and they needed to investigate this more, and Central 46, while not very popular with the masses, having made a lot of questionable decisions in the past that has rubbed everyone the wrong way have ultimately done a lot of good for not just the Soul Society but the Human World as well, so their judgments should be respected as the ones who enforce the Law. Regardless, the execution as a whole was a violation and should've been given more time before the final verdict, as such a lot of them are, if nothing else, relief that an innocent life was spared from their blunder, not that they will dismiss all the damage that was caused due to her rescue.

Even though Isshin has been in custody for a while, they are still trying to wrap their heads around the fact that he's not only still alive but he's completely changed, not personality-wise, something they can universally agree to be unfortunate to an extent but the physical change is the most glaring, he's aged like a human and it is mostly because of his Reiatsu, his Zanpakutō and to a lesser extent his eyes why they can confirm its really Isshin Shiba.

Jūshirō, Shunsui, and Retsu for their part are happy to see him alive and well but what has he really been doing up until his return as a Ryoka is something Yoruichi purposely left out so that he can explain himself. Soifon and Mayuri are in the minority of those who are not happy to see him again, that isn't to say that they were happy when they believed him dead but his return was not for the faint of heart and as far as Mayuri is concerned, he and his spawn are just as to blame for the crisis that his Institution is still going through until proven otherwise. Byakuya isn't exactly on board with the two haters but he isn't with those happy to see Isshin again but he doesn't consider himself neutral like Genryūsai and Sajin either, so for the sake of argument let's put him with the haters.

With Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, it's really hard to say where he really stands. Is he happy to see his former Captain? Of that they are sure, the two had a pretty close bond, even though Tōshirō would express more about how he was annoyed by him, what is certain is that he, like his Lieutenant, is most certainly hurt. Hurt that he was alive this whole time and didn't let them know that he was at least okay.

The other issue that may be the biggest one would be Isshin's apparent son. Ichigo Kurosaki is an anomaly like no other that needs to be explained, which is what this meeting is for.

"Let this Captain's Meeting to decide the fate of the Ryoka and accused, Rukia Kuchiki commence," Genryūsai declared with the same power and authority he is so known, feared, and revered for as he glares at the Ryoka who show no fear in them, including Rukia, unlike last time.

Now for the moment of truth.

---

Wow. I honestly didn't think I would make it this far, given how busy I've been but here we are and right before Father's Day. That is all for now, and there will be more to come but again, I can't promise any quick updates. At least we still have the Anime to look forward to, and another season of Burn the Witch, or so I heard. Good times ahead and it feels great to be a Bleach Fan. Till next time.