Thunderous Soul X (Patreon)

For the first time in a long time, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni felt every single one of his years as he slammed the tip of his gnarled staff onto the hardwood floors of the Captain’s meeting room. “This is unacceptable.” He declared. He may have been curious about what was happening, but the plan was for him to find out at the end of an interrogation once they’d been captured!

“Unbelievable, more like.” Kyōraku let out a dry chuckle. “We’re down a Captain now, and Komamura-Taichō released his Bankai.” He shook his head, “These kids are something else.”

Unohana closed her eyes, “Komamura-Taichō was not badly injured. Or at least not as badly as he could have been. By all accounts it was less a fight and more a stomping. This Kurosaki Ichigo easily could have killed him, and yet he didn’t. I’d like to know why.”

Yamamoto couldn’t say he wasn’t curious as well. They had been unable to interrogate either of his downed fighters yet as both were still unconscious, but it was the fact that Hisagi had been spared a second time and then Komamura right after that had him wondering just what these young’uns thought they were doing. “Kurosaki is now the responsibility of the Captains only.” He declared, “Lieutenants should not attempt to face him. It’s patently obvious what the result will be. The rest of them should be Lieutenant only from now on. It is clear we underestimated them. Resolve this, before I do.” The old dragon rumbled.

-]|[-

Aizen Sōsuke very much did not like the feeling that he was missing something. Having meticulously planned nearly everything he could for the past century and a half, he could say he rather hated the fact that he did not, in fact, have all the cards in his hands.

The crux of his irritation was, of course, his masterpiece. White infecting that Quincy girl had been divine providence. The proof of that was out there right now, creating havoc in the Seireitei! By all rights, it should have been perfect for his plans. Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends were doing better than he ever dreamed they would, and he meant all of them. All he had to do was fake his own death, and then have free, uninterrupted reign in the Central 46’s locked vaults until it was far too late for anyone to do anything about it.

But it was the sheer degree of success that they were having that was making him cautious. And the fact that they weren’t actively trying to kill anyone after Ichigo cut off Tōsen’s head. He rubbed his chin, lamenting the fact that he hadn’t tried harder to ensure there were spy bugs in Karakura at all times. He had been far more interested in chasing after Urahara’s bolt holes for his precious Hōgyoku than he had been in keeping track of Ichigo.

That clearly had been a mistake, because the boy’s sheer degree of strength was surprising even Aizen. ‘Within a few decades, he might even be as powerful as Yamamoto. I should have kept a closer eye on him, but it’s no use crying over spilt sake.’ He rubbed his chin, ‘Now just what is it about this situation that is …’ Not worrying. That was the wrong word. Not one that could be used to describe Aizen. But it was, as the humans would say, living rent-free in his head. ‘…nagging me?’

‘Why did he kill Kaname?’ Was the thought that Aizen just couldn’t get out of his head. ‘It makes no sense. With that one act, he ensured that Matsumoto would be found guilty of her crime. Before that, she had a great case… if her trial hadn’t been rigged from the start.’ He well knew that the ‘disgraced’ Lieutenant hadn’t actually given him her powers. But it was useful for the narrative he needed.

Perhaps he needed to look at this from another direction. Perhaps he was seeing something where nothing was there? ‘The impetuousness of youth, perhaps?’ Yes, that would make things far more likely, wouldn’t it? ‘With Shūhei, it is easier. He was a friend of Matsumoto, and a bit too pathetic to kill. Kaname was different, and a powerful piece to take off the board prior to their invasion. He must have figured they’d be gaining an edge, only for Urahara to lambast him for it, which is why they’re being much more careful now.’

It made sense. It was the perfect picture, honestly.

So why was his gut telling him that he was missing something? ‘Perhaps I should observe Ichigo and his cohorts directly? Or even attempt to gain his trust by meeting him and convincing him that I will help him free Matsumoto? It might serve to assuage this niggling feeling I have.’ But that would mean less time searching the Central 46 for what he needed if things went wrong. He could not afford that. ‘Decades of planning, and now I find myself so short on time. How ironic.’

His musing was interrupted as his sweet, innocent Lieutenant knocked on his door just as he predicted, and he was forced to take some time to assuage her worries. Honestly, he almost felt bad about what he was about to do to her, but she had long-since served her purpose.

He quickly had the young girl in his futon, before he resumed his writing. He mentally let out a sigh. He was just going in circles at this point. He had to make a decision on whether or not he’d be putting his plan into motion tonight. He finished his writing and shook his head. In the end, he supposed that it didn’t matter what their plan was. He’d come out victorious no matter what they did.

‘I suppose it doesn’t matter what they’ve planned. My prize lies dormant inside Matsumoto, and so the details don’t matter. With Ichigo’s strength, it’s not unlikely that they succeed in rescuing her, and so I will need to use the second option.’ He rose to his feet and dressed in his uniform, before walking out. He had a tragic death scene to orchestrate.

-]|[-

“What a pain.” Tatsuki sighed as she stacked another three Shinigami on the pile before wiping her brow. The pile audibly groaned, “Sorry boys, but you’ll have to do better than that.” She said cheerily, before running off. “Hey, Lisa.” She whispered, “How much more noise do you think we’d have to make before they show up?”

“Shouldn’t be long now.” Her partner’s disembodied voice whispered back, “Especially after-” She cut off and backed away after another Shinigami popped up.

He had long hair in two braids falling over his shoulders. He was a large, beefy man, and his modified Shihakushō showed off his physique. “HALT!” He declared, “That’s as far as you go, foolish Ryoka! I am Enjōji Tatsufusa, Third Seat of the Eighth Division. You chose the wrong path, for with me here, this road is a dead end.”

“Is yapping all you lot know how to do?” Tatsuki let out a sigh. “Well, hopefully you’ll be more fun than that Jirōbō guy.”

“HAHAHAH!” Enjōji roared with laughter, “He was a mere Fourth Seat! Our power levels cannot be compared!” He drew his Zanpakutō, before starting to slash it at blistering speeds. He was swinging so fast that a windstorm was actually being kicked up. “HOSHA-SHA-SHA-SHA-SHA-SHA-SHA-SHA-SHA-SHA-SHA!” He was screaming his battle cry in a shrill voice that definitely did not match his face or body.

Tatsuki’s eyebrow twitched.

The man was already starting to have little beads of sweat form on his face, “Come on, what’s wrong!? Make a move! Don’t be shy! Just because my masterful swordplay has never been-”

Tatsuki appeared in front of him and pinched his blade between her index finger and thumb. It was like she was making the ‘okay!’ sign. Her face was completely deadpan as his motion saw him tear up his hand trying to continue his swing, only for the sword to be ripped from it.

She stared at him, his Zanpakutō dangling from her fingers. Her face was utterly unimpressed. Enjōji swallowed heavily, perspiring like a fountain, “I will just… go. Yeah.” He slowly backed away before turning around and running… straight into Tatsuki’s foot, breaking his nose and sending him crashing through one of the large walls that surrounded this compound.

“…He was a Third Seat?” Tatsuki asked dryly. “My condolences.” She held her hands in a prayer position.

She barely heard Lisa sigh, “…What has happened to my Division?”

“Very nice! That was impressive!” A voice called out, and Tatsuki blinked as flower petals started falling around her. And then with the swish of a pink cloak, a man fell before her. The handsome man stood, smiling gently at Tatsuki, “I’m Captain Kyōraku Shunsui of the Eighth Division. Pleased to meet you.” He chuckled, before being engulfed in petals. “Hmm?” He looked up, seeing his Lieutenant Ise Nanao continuing to take handfuls of petals from her basket and fling them off the side of the railing. “Nanao! That’s enough for now!” She continued to throw, the most unimpressed look possible on her face. “Do you hear me?! Nanao?! That’s enough, my lovely Nanao! Lovely, lovely, precious Nanao…” She dumped the basket over the railing, burying her Captain in flower petals.

Tatsuki howled with laughter, “Hey, right on, Nanao-san!” She gave the lady a thumbs-up. The refined lady blinked in surprise.

“Hmph. Well, I’m glad someone got some enjoyment from that.” Shunsui faked being upset.

Tatsuki grinned brightly, “Anyway, I’m so glad you’re here! Name’s Arisawa Tatsuki!”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Tatsuki-san.” Shunsui rose to his feet, his easygoing smile back on his face, “And why is that?”

Tatsuki punched her right fist into her left open palm, “Because if I had to have one more fight like that last one, I’d probably die of boredom!”

Shunsui chuckled lightly, “Hmm, I can’t really say I’m too interested in fighting you, though. You’re far too pretty.” Tatsuki blinked as he sat down and pulled out a jug of sake and a saucer, “Might I convince you to have a drink instead?”

Tatsuki chuckled, “Sorry, Kyōraku-san. You’re pretty handsome, but I have a boyfriend.” Hey, eye candy was eye candy, and Kyōraku was on the upper tier compared to most men she’d met.

“Ah, what a shame!” Shunsui faked some lamentation, “Perhaps a drink as friends, then?”

“If you want to drink, go find Ichigo.” Tatsuki chuckled, “He loves the stuff, though he’s more into mead than sake.”

“Hmm, shame you all had to invade us.” Kyōraku said softly as he sipped from his saucer. “I think I’d quite like to meet this Ichigo.”

“I’m sure you’ll get your chance.” Tatsuki said as she began to stretch her back out.

Shunsui’s expression fell just a tad, “I suppose you’ve heard he defeated Komamura-Taichō then?”

“Oh yeah!” Tatsuki grinned lightly, “Sent us all a text message pretty quickly bragging. Goddamn idiot.”

Shunsui snorted, “Ah, I think Kenpachi would like him.”

“He the bloodthirsty one?” Tatsuki asked as she started stretching her arms, “They’ll probably be best friends by this time next week.”

Shunsui (and Nanao, up above) blinked in confusion. “Hmmm…” He hummed lightly, “So, we were right. There is something going on.” He stood after capping his bottle of sake, “Something you all apparently think will be enough to earn you your lives. That’s quite interesting.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised.” Tatsuki stretched her legs next.

“Care to cut me in? You’ve piqued my curiosity!” Shunsui said, smiling lightly.

“Maybe later!” Tatsuki set her feet, “But first-” She vanished in a blisteringly fast Shunpo.

Shunsui casually raised a hand and caught the foot that would have knocked his block off, “My, My, you’re quite fast, aren’t you, Tatsuki-san? I think Soifon-Taichō would like you.”

“High praise!” Tatsuki grinned as she showed off both her flexibility as well as her martial arts skill. She dropped an axe kick on Shunsui’s head in midair, which he dodged. He was so smooth doing so that his easy evade looked like she just barely missed.

“That getup you’re in…” He said conversationally, “And those moves.” He smiled, “My, my, things are going to get interesting, aren’t they? Sure you don’t want to let me in on your little secret?”

“Heh.” Tatsuki snickered, “All you should know is that we’re here to save Rangiku.”

“Yes.” Shunsui agreed easily, “You all made sure we would know you’d be coming ahead of time. I confess myself a bit confused, however. She went missing in your world only this spring. You couldn’t have known her for very long. Hard to believe you’d think such a thin friendship was worth risking your life for.”

“Ichigo wants to save her.” Tatsuki replied, “That’s all the motivation I need.”

Kyōraku dipped his hat over his eyes, a wry smile on his face, “Oh. Well, with resolve like that, I think it’s insulting for me to just play with you. Alright then.” He drew both of his blades, “I suppose I’ll have to get a little rough.”

“Finally, a good fucking fight!” Tatsuki reached behind her and drew her Zanpakutō.

“Oh? I’ll admit, I never expected you to actually draw that little Zanpakutō of yours.” Shunsui commented idly.

“Never thought I would either! Always been a hand-to-hand fighter.” She flipped her blade in the air, “But I love this thing!” She caught and flipped it again. “Let me introduce you!” She caught and threw it a bit higher this time, “Break and shatter all, Kongōyōso!” The blade glowed as it twirled in the air and rapidly grew, before it landed as a large black staff in her hands. The tips looked like carvings of a snarling gorilla, made of black diamond. What seemed to be glowing mist formed rings, seemingly dividing the staff into three sections.

“Hoooo, that’s quite the Zanpakutō, alright. I wonder what it can do?” He called out lazily.

“That’s not your headquarters, is it? I’d hate to mess it up.” Tatsuki grinned evilly as she continued twirling the staff.

“No, no, that’s a ways away, thankfully.” Shunsui chuckled at her confidence.

“Great!” She pointed the staff at him, “Extend.”

“HOOO!” Shunsui actually had to dodge in a bit of surprise, and as the staff barreled past where his head had been, he even felt the wind. The staff burst clean through the building behind him, and then it was back to normal length. “Well, isn’t that interesting. It has the same ability as Ichimaru-Taichō’s Shinsō.”

“You sure about that?” Tatsuki grinned, before using her speed to attack once more. He blocked with his right blade, and then his eyes widened as he knocked her away, blocking a second unexpected blow with his other blade. Tatsuki giggled as she wrapped the tri-sectioned staff around her shoulders.

Kyōraku blinked, “And Madarame-Fukutaichō’s Hozukimaru.” He let out a low laugh, “What’s next, Tatsuki-san? Which of our Shinigami will you mimic next?”

“None!” Tatsuki said, but her staff did change once more, this time turning into a tri-chuck pair of nunchaku connected to a ring of mist.

“How many forms does that thing have?” Shunsui blurted.

“Who knows?” Tatsuki giggled, “But is that all she has to show you?” Her eyes sharpened, “Come on, Kyōraku-san. Enough yapping.” And with that, she attacked, appearing in front of him with a wide swing of her nunchucks, only it was the tri-sectioned staff that whipped out. There was a loud clang as Shunsui parried her blow with ease despite how fast it was. He was far too experienced a Shinigami to fall for such a trick.

“I suppose I shouldn’t fool around too much.” Shunsui sighed, before he vanished in his own burst of speed. He appeared behind her, sword held out after a slash. Only he didn’t hear the sound of tearing clothes, skin, bones, and muscle. No, he heard a CLANG. “What?”

“ERUPTION!” Tatsuki roared as she punched out, unleashing a blast of energy at his back. He quickly dodged the flame-like energy, and watched as it annihilated a wall and the building behind it.

“My, my.” He looked a bit more serious now, “That was dangerous.”

‘You’re telling me. Holy shit man! The Menos filled my stockpile in one shot before, but that thing was huge! That wasn’t even a serious attack!’ Tatsuki started to sweat as she understood the sheer gap between them now. She thought she had the idea after Yoruichi’s tutelage, but now could see that even between Captains, the gap could be huge. She was unsure if the beautiful woman could take this man in a straight fight.

He smiled, “Oh, you don’t look too excited now. Did you understand the difference between us?”

“Shit, I understood it before this started!” She grumbled, “I was just hoping I’d manage to at least get you to show me your Shikai.”

He let out an entertained laugh, “Sorry, Tatsuki-san, but while many Shinigami might like to break out their special abilities at the drop of a hat, it is the mark of the strongest amongst us to not have to use them.” He tilted his head, “Now how’d you do that, hmm? It felt like I was hitting iron.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She shot back cheekily, before swinging Kongōyōso and extending it. Shunsui ducked under her swing, which carved up the wall until the staff shrunk and she spun it over her head. “YAH!” She yelled as she brought it slamming down, the pole extended to brain her opponent.

The head of the staff hit the floor and shattered it, causing a small earthquake as the earth roiled beneath their feet. Shunsui jumped back and was caught by surprise by the earthen extra attack. His uniform got a little scuffed up by stray rocks and dirt. The plume also hid Tatsuki from sight, and he wondered what she would do next. His eyes widened when he saw the tri-nunchucks come flying out of the cloud of dirt like a disk of destruction.

He casually ducked under it, but then heard the telltale swish of Shunpo and whirled around. His eyes widened when he saw she had caught her Zanpakutō and that it had formed into yet another new weapon in her hands. Or rather, on her fists. Two gauntlets had replaced the nunchucks, with the roaring ape heads ready to knock his block off. But far more interesting was what was behind her.

Shunsui could see that something was extending from her elbow, far out of sight. She had a grin on her face as she punched him. He crossed his blades in front of him to catch her black diamond fists. And the second her encased fist hit him, a visible shockwave behind her erupted as the extension contracted like a piston, slamming all the force of her Zanpakutō into him.

He let out a grunt of surprise as he was launched backwards himself, smashing into the wall of the building behind him and shattering it from the impact. Above, Nanao let out a little squeak of shock at seeing her Captain actually take a hit.

Tatsuki was panting, sweating roughly as she eyed the cloud of smoke. And then she heard clapping. Shunsui walked out, no worse for wear. “I’m impressed, Tatsuki-san. Very impressed.” He told her, and then started to chuckle, “Maybe I should just take you to Soifon-Taichō. I think she might actually just kill her Lieutenant and replace him with you.” He laughed.

“Is he the fatass?” She asked weakly, still breathing hard.

“Hey now, that’s quite rude.” Shunsui replied reproachfully.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m sure he’s just big-boned.” She snickered.

Shunsui sighed, “Well, it’s been fun, but I suppose it’s time to end this.”  He pointed at her, “Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō.” Tatsuki gagged as the spell slammed into her.

“Shit!” She wheezed, unable to move a muscle.

“Oh good, I was wondering if that would work.” Shunsui said lazily, “Perhaps that ability of yours only allows you to absorb physical impacts?”

She wheezes a little, “Not quite.”

“Interesting.” He hummed, “Then perhaps because it is not one blow? Or because it is actively binding you?” He shrugged lazily, “I’d love to find out, but I think it’s bedtime for you.” He held out his palm, “Hadō #22: Atsu-” And then a foot hit the crown of his head, making his teeth clack together painfully and his wind-based Hadō to explode in his hand, blowing him back.

“What the?!” Nanao gasped, not able to believe she had just seen her Captain take a hit, and what looked like a hard one as well. “Where did they come from?!” And then she realized something and her eyes widened, “Taichō, I can’t sense them at all!”

Shunsui groaned as he sat up, rubbing his jaw, “That wasn’t very nice.” He said ominously as he stared at the figure in front of him. He stood, his eyes no longer friendly as he took in the person’s cloaked form. He couldn’t even tell if the person was a man or a woman. “Who are you?”

“Standards have fallen.” Nanao and Shunsui choked as Lisa turned around and dropped her hood, “Seriously, that was your Third Seat?” She complained, “What the hell happened in the last one hundred years?”

“LISA?!” Shunsui looked truly shocked, gaping at his former Lieutenant.

“NEE-SAN?!” Nanao appeared in a Shunpo and tackle-hugged the older woman.

Lisa smiled, “Hey there, Nanao-chan. I see you kept up your reading. Looks like you took my old spot. I’m proud of you.”

Nanao showed her a tearful smile, “Nee-san…”

Shunsui lowered his hat over his eyes, “Things are going to get very complicated, aren’t they?” He eyed his former Lieutenant sadly, “Well, you certainly don’t look like a Hollow.”

Lisa let go of Nanao and took a few steps back, “And how about now?” She asked as she reached up and dragged her mask into existence and set it over her face.

Nanao paled drastically and Shunsui’s jaw clenched a little bit. The Rikujōkōrō vanished from Tatsuki as Lisa dismissed her mask. Tatsuki lowered her Reiatsu as much as she could, to signal to everyone else that she had been knocked unconscious. “Tell me everything.” He said commandingly as he motioned for them to follow.

…

Shunsui pinched the bridge of his nose as he digested everything that Lisa had just told them. He now knew everything from Aizen’s treachery and his true Zanpakutō to his framing of Urahara for his own Hollowfication experiments to Tōsen’s own treachery. “What a disaster.”

Nanao was still pale, “I suppose Tōsen’s death now makes sense.”

“Oh, I’m still of half a mind to brain Ichigo for that one.” Lisa scowled, “Not only did Kensei especially want to do it himself, but it highly increased scrutiny on us when we finally arrived.”

“Well, you’ve at least done well training the kids.” Shunsui sighed, “Hopefully they’ll all make it out of this alive before the truth is revealed.”

“Right here, you know?” Tatsuki pouted.

That put a smile on his face for the first time in a while, “And you just got finished being shown the truth of the world. I wouldn’t take it personally.” He turned to Lisa, “What will you do now?”

“I’m still needed elsewhere. I’ve accomplished my first mission, so for now, I’m not here.” She raised her hood and stood, “Stay strong, Tatsuki.” She said, before vanishing and walking away rapidly.

“Sorry about this, Tatsuki-san.” Shunsui stood as well and smiled apologetically.

Tatsuki returned it with a wan smile of her own, “It’s alright. I’ll see you at the finish line, eh?”

Kyōraku chuckled at her response, and then in an instant, she was unconscious from a thunderous punch to her diaphragm. “Get her to the Fourth Division please, Nanao-chan. And be careful when you let Unohana-Taichō know.”

“Yes sir.” Nanao responded, picking Tatsuki up and vanishing in a Shunpo. Shunsui rubbed his chin, wondering what his next move should be. He wished he had one of those Reiatsu-Hiding cloaks Lisa was wearing. It would make it much easier to go see Yama-ji without drawing Aizen’s attention.

-]|[-

“I never thought the sewers would be so spacious!” Orihime looked around curiously, “It doesn’t smell either. I thought it would stink!”

Hanatarō chuckled wanly, “Yes, we Fourth Division members are responsible for keeping the place clean. There are also spells used to purify the water before it goes back into circulation.” They eyed the water and saw that it was indeed nice and blue already, “The network of subterranean canals spread under all of Seireitei, and only we of the Fourth know it well enough to navigate it properly.”

“I would have expected the Onmitsukidō to have been well versed in this place. They’re ninja, aren’t they?” Sado muttered, “Seems like a waste of a resource.” He eyed Hanatarō, “Now why are you so interested in helping us?”

They all stopped, and Hanatarō sighed, “Didn’t I say already?” He shook his head, “I think this whole thing has been blown out of proportion. We had Substitute Shinigami in the past without any issues. And then we have one bad apple and all of a sudden Miss Rangiku is going to be executed? It makes no sense! She’s been a loyal Shinigami for over a century!” Hanatarō looked down, “She doesn’t deserve this. And even the circumstances of her being sent to the human world were strange! She and her friends are very well known for their wild parties! They have been since before I joined the corps. Not once did they ever do something that disruptive. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

“You’re a good guy, Hanatarō-san!” Orihime beamed, “And thank you for helping us.”

They continued on, before coming to a long ladder built into the wall. They climbed up with Hanatarō in the lead. He lifted the hidden entrance with his head, looking around to make sure the coast was clear, before lifting it further and helping them out.

Orihime took a deep breath as she did so, smiling brightly, “What a relief! Clean air!” While it hadn’t stunk in the sewer, the air had felt heavier than normal. They started to walk towards the long stairwell they could see, and stopped short.

Two people were sitting on the steps, talking calmly with one another. Orihime sighed, “Should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.” She grumbled.

“Who are they?” Sado asked Hanatarō, who was covered in sweat and was trembling.

“Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Squad, S-Shiba Kaien and his wife, Third-Seat Rukia Kuchiki. They married only ten years ago now…” Hanatarō shook as the two stood and started walking forward, “I-It’s well known that Kaien is one of the strongest Lieutenants in the Seireitei, and his wife only is not a Lieutenant herself because she refuses to leave the Thirteenth. We-we need to run!” He managed to stammer out.

“Great!” Orihime chirped, before looking over at Sado, “You don’t think we’ll be able to convince him like we did Kūkaku-chan, do you?”

“Ah, I was right.” Kaien’s voice called out, “Kūkaku did help you.” He pressed his palm to his forehead, “That idiot, what did she do that for?”

Rukia was smiling slightly as she snorted, “You know her. She probably thought it was hilarious.”

Kaien rolled his eyes, “You’re not wrong.”

“Holy cow! You look JUST like Kurosaki-kun!” Orihime goggled now that they were close enough.

“The resemblance is uncanny. If Ichigo looked older and had darker hair they’d be mirror images.” Sado agreed as Kaien raised an eyebrow.

“How does Ichigo have two evil twins?” Orihime was still agog.

“Oi!” A tic mark appeared on Kaien’s forehead, “I’m not evil! Take that back!”

“My bad, my bad!” Orihime apologized, bowing. Rukia looked incredibly amused, “Though you are trying to stop us from saving Rangiku-chan, so you are kinda the bad guys right now.”

Kaien snorted, “Fair enough, I suppose.” He grumbled, “So how’d you get my idiot sister to help you?”

Orihime giggled, “Well, she owed our companion a favor.” Orihime told them cheerfully, “And it was her long-lost nephew asking.”

Kaien sputtered, “Excuse me?!” Rukia’s eyes had widened as well.

Orihime giggled, “Ichigo’s dad is Shiba Isshin.” She grinned as Kaien turned his gaze skyward, as if asking for strength.

“That goddamn moron.” He groaned, “He’s been alive this whole time?!”

Sado smiled, “Don’t suppose you’re willing to help too?”

“No can do.” Kaien said, “There’s no proof of anything you’re saying, after all.”

“Oh, come on.” Orihime pouted, “I even healed Kūkaku-chan’s arm!”

“Her arm.” Rukia said flatly as Kaien’s eyes bugged out, “You mean the arm she’s been missing for over a century? The one that was so thoroughly destroyed they never found anything bigger than a pinky. That arm?”

“Un!” Orihime nodded brightly.

“Bullshit!” Kaien shot out, “That’s impossible! No one’s healing is that good!”

Orihime smiled, and this time there was a slight edge to it, “I reject the impossible.”

Kaien shook his head, “I suppose we’ll have to get to business then. I’ll find out the truth for myself once you three are in jail.” He glared lightly at Hanatarō. “I don’t suppose you want to make this easy and surrender?” Orihime and Sado’s responses were to activate their abilities. “Didn’t think so.” He sighed, “What a drag.” He nudged Rukia, “Soo…” He trailed off before pointing at Sado, “Meat?” and then pointed at Orihime and Hanatarō, “-or veggies?”

“She’s more dairy than veggie.” Rukia deadpanned, staring at Orihime’s sizable chest. Her husband barely held in the ‘pfft.’

“Hana-kun, you might want to back up.” Orihime said, her face firm with focus despite the cheerful tone. The black-haired boy twitched, before running back the way they came to hide. “Sado-kun, start us off?”

“Hmm.” Sado took a step forward, drawing their opponents’ attention as he raised his fist, “El Directo.” He punched forward, launching a huge blast of Reiryoku at the duo.

Kaien immediately sprang to action. “Bakudō #81: Dankū.” The blast plowed into the transparent barrier before them and failed to even crack it. The massive explosion that erupted before them shook the plateau.

“Impressive.” Rukia mumbled, “I think that-” A golden spear pierced the Bakudō as though it was not even there, and it was only Kaien’s quick reflexes that saved him a painful injury. He dodged out of the way, and Tsubaki merely gashed his left arm, rather than piercing his lung. “Kaien!” Rukia gasped.

“I’m fine.” He hissed, raising his limb with a grimace. “That girl is more dangerous than the guy. It was her spear.”

“Extreme penetration. Hopefully it won’t be as dangerous in other ways.” Rukia’s eyes narrowed, “Sprinkled on the bones of the beast. Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring-” She started to chant.

Kaien smirked, “Rage Through the Seas and Heavens, Nejibana!” He drew his Zanpakutō and released her in an instant, spinning her between his fingers. She quickly transformed into a long trident with a silver shaft and a blue tassel. The weapon resembled both a both a Japanese bishamon yari and a Chinese fāngtiān jǐ, and was spewing water from both ends. She spun faster and faster, generating intense water currents. Finally, he stabbed forwards, “Yarinami!”

The intense waters rushed forwards like a drill, and Rukia finished her chant, “Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle. Hadō #63. Raikōhō!”  A massive yellow bolt of lightning blasted from her palm, quickly catching up to the sideways tornado of water and merging with it. The entire watery attack pierced through the cloud of smoke and grit that was still raining down from Sado’s attack, and it made both of their eyes bug out.

Orihime quickly raised her shield and enlarged it, setting her feet. The watery attack plowed into her shield and quickly erupted as it was unable to bypass it in the slightest. It did force her feet back, and Sado had to steady her with his strong hands. Orihime ground her teeth as a massive spray went into the air like a wave crashing into a cliff. The water then started to rain downwards, “!” They both seized as the water hit them and started to shock them, still carrying the electricity of the Raikōhō.

Her shield flashed and left her arm, forming a large structure above them to catch the rain. And then things got worse as Rukia used Shunpo to get to their left, just out of range of the electrified rain. Her Zanpakutō had already been released, Sode no Shirayuki’s beauty shining. If they hadn’t been in the middle of a fight, Orihime would have squealed over the breathtaking blade. “Tsugi no mai, Hakuren.” Rukia said, her focus intense as she blasted them with an avalanche of intensely cold air and ice.

“El Directo!” Sado countered her, his blast of Reiryoku striking hers and causing another explosion, this one flash freezing the plateau.

“Don’t forget about me!” Kaien yelled as he got in Orihime’s guard, already stabbing forward with Nejibana. His eyes widened as she managed to catch the shaft of his trident with her bare hand following a quick sidestep. She redirected it and launched a roundhouse kick at him, which he was quick to block, hissing slightly as her kick hit him right in the injury she had given him earlier.

The second her foot tapped the ground again, she was gone, surprising Kaien. Though as he looked over at Sado, he got the reason why. “La Muerte!” Sado grunted as he punched the ground beneath him. A massive eruption of energy shattered the ground beneath their feet, and Kaien and Rukia both got the hell out of dodge as Sado punched a death skull beneath their feet.

That gave him and Orihime a little bit of time to regroup. “They’re scary.” Orihime commented as Sado landed next to her.

“That’s a husband and wife for you, I guess.” Sado smiled slightly as he saw the two get together again.

“Ice from her and water from him.” Orihime said, finally having a chance to grab Tsubaki again. “That combo is too cute!” She pouted slightly.

Rukia huffed, “Their synergy may not be as good as ours, but they’re pretty good.”

Kaien laughed lightheartedly, “Honestly, feels like a shame to have to fight them.”

Rukia smirked and shook her head, “Shall we kick things up a notch?” She didn’t wait for a response as she vanished, appearing next to Orihime ready to slash her. She was barely ready for it, but clashed Tsubaki’s spear with her Shirayuki. Rukia was deceptively strong for such a petite woman, and Orihime squealed slightly as she was batted back. Rukia’s other arm was free, and she pointed her finger at Sado. “Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō!” Her strong binding spell slammed into Sado, trapping him in place.

Without skipping a beat, Kaien was falling out of the sky, Nejibana pointed downwards and ready to skewer Sado where he stood.

“Sado-kun!” Orihime yelled, flinging Tsubaki forwards and shattering the Bakudō.

Sado grunted as he dodged back, but Nejibana’s prongs still got him for his trouble. A deep gash from collarbone to thigh gushed blood out at Kaien, splashing him in the face and getting in his eyes. He blinked subconsciously, and that was all it took for Sado to manage to bury his left fist into his jaw.

Kaien saw stars as he was launched back, hitting the retaining wall behind him. He grunted as he slammed down, shaking his head as he moved his tongue around. Grimacing, he spat blood out, and heard three little clatters as the teeth Sado knocked loose hit the tiled floor. “Damn.” He slurred. “After that gash? Respect, big guy.” He got to his feet and grabbed Nejibana again.

Rukia, meanwhile, had gone to finish Sado off so that they could deal with Orihime. The big guy was kneeling on the floor, and she was about to freeze him in place. “Some no mai, Tsu-” Orihime appeared in front of her, her knees bent, before she slammed feet-first into Sode no Shirayuki’s handle. Rukia screamed in pain as her knuckles were crushed, and that was before the pommel slammed into her forehead and launched her back. She skidded on the floor to a stop. She switched Shirayuki to a different hand and rabidly shook her dominant hand out. “Owowowow!” Kaien landed next to her, his hand green with Kaidō. “Thanks.”

“She packs a wallop.” He chuckled slightly. “Now what is she up to?” Orihime had formed a large dome around her and Sado. “I wonder… Hadō #73. Sōren Sōkatsui.” He declared, before blasting a hellishly powerful blue flame cannon at the girl. The flames impacted the golden dome… and his eyes widened as it just flowed around it, destroying parts of the Seireitei behind them. “What the!?” He gaped when the smoke cleared up.

“You won’t destroy it.” Orihime said firmly.

Kaien clicked his teeth, “I could try…”

“Don’t. We’re too close.” Rukia said, already knowing that he wanted to use one of his favorites: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō.

He pouted as he walked over. He slashed with Nejibana, and the golden barrier merely flashed a few times with each crushing impact from his waves. Eventually, he stopped and backed up. “That’s a really annoying barrier you have there, little lady.” He smirked, “But you have to drop it eventually. If you don’t, you’ll quickly be surrounded when backup gets here.” He eyed Sado, who was still slumped over, “Not to mention your boy there might bleed out if you don’t surrender.”

To his surprise, Orihime smirked.

Kaien only had a bare moment to react as Sado launched at them, both his and his wife’s sharp eyes catching the fact that he was completely healed. Even his clothes had been repaired! The barrier abruptly dropped. “Shi-!” Kaien yelled as Sado’s white and red arm was glowing with power.

Rukia was the one who called out, “Bakudō #81: Dankū!” This time.

Sado’s fist hit the pane of ‘glass’ in front of him and shattered it. It did its job and dispersed most of the energy Sado had collected, but it didn’t stop his momentum. “LA MUERTE!” Sado roared, his fist plowing into Kaien’s nose and launching the experienced Lieutenant backwards. Kaien bounced and tumbled, turning ass over teakettle and nearly flying off the plateau.

“Kaien!” Rukia yelled in shock. She growled as she launched herself into the air, “Hadō #79. Hyōga Seiran!” She yelled, launching the heavy ice attack from her Zanpakutō. Despite her not using a word of the incantation, her elemental affinity meant her attack was far more powerful than the one Orihime had used against Ikkaku.

Sado avoided it entirely as he launched himself after Kaien, and Orihime sheathed Tsubaki into her shield, transforming it. “Shiten Kōshun, I reject!” The avalanche of snow and ice hit her shield, and the wave parted around her. Her shield started to glow brighter and brighter as more ice smashed into it, and when it finally stopped, she aimed at Rukia.

Rukia only saw a flash of bright light, and she instinctively dodged to the side. Her long hair waved in the breeze, and a bolt of light speared right through the mass, cutting most of it off. “MY HAIR!” Rukia screamed in horror. She had been growing that for years at this point! And now it looked like she had a very weird hairdo, with the right side still reaching her butt and the left side barely reaching her ears. She growled furiously. “I’LL GET YOU FOR THIS!” She launched herself at Orihime.

Meanwhile, Kaien had gotten his feet under him and ground to a halt. “Alright, no more Mr. Nice guy.” He glared at Sado, catching his squashed nose in his periphery. He started to spin Nejibana rapidly, throwing up more and more water around him. He sprang towards Sado, slamming Nejibana at the ground and blasting him with a crushing wave.

The prongs on Sado’s arm opened and started to glow with Reiryoku. His fists were covered in energy as he punched the wave, blasting it apart with equally crushing force. He didn’t release it in a blast, but instead encased his body in it. He punched out at Kaien, who continued to spin Nejibana to generate more water. With a yell, he swung at Sado directly.

Sado’s white fist impacted the blades of the trident, and an eruption of water blasted all around him. Kaien felt the blow in his bones, which were still shaking from Sado’s punch. With another yell, he swiped at the ground, throwing up a huge wave which crashed upon Sado.

The Mexican-Japanese teen used El Directo to blast right through it, though the blast was weakened enough that Kaien was able to deflect it away with another swipe of Nejibana. Sado followed up quickly, encasing his arms in Reiryoku and charging at the man. Kaien speared towards him with his trident looking to skewer the huge man, but this time, Nejibana failed to cut him at all. The thunderous roar of crashing waves surrounded them, before Sado jerked his wrist and grabbed Nejibana’s sharp spikes. He pulled Kaien in and launched his other fist forward, causing the man to let out a yell.

Kaien jumped, flipping over Sado, yelling as he planted both feet in the big guy’s back. Sado grunted, flying forward as he planted a hand on the ground and somersaulted back to his feet. Kaien yelled as Nejibana spun like a drill in his hands. He dashed forward, the crushing waters grinding out a path towards Sado.

The teen clenched his left fist, roaring, “EL DIRECTO!” As he met the point of the drill. Both of them were blown back as a watery skull exploded into being between them.

On the other side of the plateau, Rukia and Orihime both flinched as the ice-cold rain started to hit them. Rukia smirked, channeling her Reiryoku into Sode no Shirayuki, and instantly, the rain turned into hail. More like icy needles than anything. Orihime grit her teeth as the needles started to slice at her skin, and she was forced to put her shield above her.

The second she did, Rukia appeared before her, Zanpakutō already speeding towards her. Orihime had to react quickly, shrinking Tsubaki into a sword and clashing her blade with Rukia’s. But Rukia was far more skilled of a swordswoman, and was quick to parry and then throw another attack at Orihime’s unprotected form.

And then Orihime vanished, and Rukia cursed, having thought that she had her opponent. She chased, and the two turned into a pair of afterimages almost. Every step, the two were in a new place, flashing all around the battlefield.

And Orihime was losing. Rukia was far faster, and far more skilled. Her body was littered with cuts and gaining more and more of them. It was all she could do to keep Rukia doing more than giving her tiny gashes everywhere. Her clothes were getting shredded! She could barely hit the smaller woman in return! And every cut she took was more and more pain. She couldn’t even find a moment to heal herself!

Finally, she encased herself in her shield, gasping for breath, and Rukia smirked. Without skipping a beat, she turned around and sped off towards Kaien and Sado. “NO!” Orihime yelled, dropping her healing defense and blitzing the smaller woman.

Rukia had a wide smirk on her face as she stomped on the ground and turned on a yen, her sword lashing out for Orihime. Orihime had recalled her shield into her left arm, and slammed it into the blade. Rukia’s eyes bulged as a bright beam erupted back at her. And then she was behind the orange-haired young lady, sword raised to cut her down.

And then another blast of El Directo cut the two of them off from one another. Rukia clicked her teeth and chanced a glance over at the fight between Orihime’s boyfriend and her husband. Her eyes widened, “Fool.” She said, before having to refocus as Orihime tried to skewer her in her moment of distraction.

Sado was launching El Directo with every punch. Kaien was dodging all of them by hairsbreadths. “You’re gonna kill yourself, you know.” He said to the panting teen. “Some moves can’t be performed at all once you hit your limit.” Nejibana was spinning above his head, and he twirled around and swung his Zanpakutō at the next blast, causing another watery eruption but also deflecting El Directo for the first time. “Others, you can keep firing once you run out of Reiryoku… but only because you’re sacrificing your own vitality and life force.”

Kaien’s eyes widened as he dodged another El Directo. “Wait, shit!” Rukia and Orihime were in that direction!

Orihime set her feet as the blast struck her shield. Rukia’s eyes widened in fear as she was in the air. She’d be unable to dodge! The bright beam made her scream as it pierced through her stomach. She heard Kaien cursing as she crashed to the ground, hissing as she pressed her Zanpakutō to her side and iced herself.

“Damn it!” Kaien vanished and appeared behind Sado, aiming to skewer him from behind. The exhausted boy managed to dodge, even as the wave from Nejibana washed him back. “Just give up before I kill you for that one.” Kaien said, glaring Sado down heatedly. “You guys shouldn’t have come here. You were impressive for sure, but not impressive enough. Your fates were sealed because of it.”

Sado lowered his head, “You’re right. I’m exhausted.” He admitted softly. And then he forced himself to his feet, “But who cares? Ichigo wouldn’t let exhaustion get him. Why should I?” His eyes started to glow as the prongs on his right arm opened up. “You’re going to regret not just cutting me down.”

“Bravado will get you no-” Kaien’s eyes bugged out as he saw parts of the Seireitei around them disintegrate, turning into wispy blue spirit particles. Walls, floors, everything close enough to Sado started to shred to pieces. “What the hell are you?”

“You noticed, didn’t you? How Hollow-like my powers were?” Kaien froze, “And what do Hollows do?” The particles all rushed for the prongs, which started absorbing them. “They consume. Devorar!”

Kaien ground his teeth as Sado’s power began to skyrocket again. “Shit!” He raised Nejibana, “Limit of the thousands hands, respectful hands, unable to-” His chant was interrupted as Sado moved so rapidly the ground beneath him cracked. He moved so quickly a shockwave formed a vapor ring! And Kaien felt like time slowed down as his monstrous white fist approached his face from the side.

He barely managed to get Nejibana in the way. “La Muerte!” Sado roared, and then all Kaien felt was pain. He ragdolled away, skipping on the pale white stones and crashing into the wall with a hack of agony. The wall crumbled around him, burying him even as the two pieces of Nejibana landed next to him.

“KAIEN!” Rukia screamed in shock, but couldn’t do anything else as Sado was before her next, fist raised to knock her block off. She also raised her sword, screaming in shock and pain as his fist blew straight through her beautiful blade and snapped it like a twig. Blood flew from her mouth as she crashed to the ground.

And then an enraged Kaien appeared behind Sado, the two pieces of Nejibana held in either hand. His jaw was clearly broken, and he was on fumes, but had strength enough for this. Nejibana’s trident and spiraled, sharp butt slammed into the big man’s back. Shockwaves erupted from Sado’s torso before the tines and the point burst through his chest. It splashed blood on a shocked Orihime.

“SADO-KUN!!”

Sado grabbed the two halves of the weapon and kept Kaien from yanking them back out. “DO IT!” He rasped with all the breath he had left in his ruined lungs.

Orihime cried as she knew what he wanted. “Tsubaki!” She threw her spear. Tsubaki pierced clean through Sado, who spat out more blood and fell forward, landing on his face with a wet splat. But Kaien got the worst of it. He tried to jump away, but was too late, having not expected that at all. Tsubaki pierced him and nearly cut him in half. Blood started pouring out from his shredded body.

“DAMN YOU!” Rukia managed to get up even with her triple vision from the concussion, and stabbed her broken Zanpakutō at Orihime. Orihime whirled around and caught her wrists.

“Enough! Let me hea-” Orihime tried to tell her that she would heal both of them now that they were unconscious, but Rukia had nothing but red in her eyes.

“San no mai, Shirafune!” She yelled, and ice burst from her sword, piercing through Orihime’s stomach with freezing cold.

Orihime coughed up blood all over Rukia’s snarling face, covering her eyes. Orihime trembled, grunted, and then grabbed both sides of Rukia’s head. She drove forward, slamming her forehead as hard as she could into Rukia’s.

Stars swam in her vision as she dropped to her knees, letting go of Rukia who fell over, completely out cold. “S-Shun-” Orihime coughed up more blood as her halo began to glow. One of the biggest shields she had ever created covered them, restoring their injuries just enough so they would all live. She would have shrunken the shield to cover just herself and Sado, but her shield shattered as she fell forward, unconscious.

A minute passed, before a panting Hanatarō arrived, “H-How?! How did you beat them?!” He got no answer, before steeling his face and howling in exertion as he lifted Sado onto his back, before running back to the hole to the sewers. He came back and grabbed Orihime, “Oh no!” He gasped as he heard yelling, before he hightailed it out of there with her and slammed the entrance to the sewers closed.

Not two minutes later, more Shinigami arrived, and one of them let out a surprised shriek, “Lieutenant Shiba?! Third-Seat Kuchiki?! They beat even THOSE two?!”

“Shall we give chase?” One of them looked green as he stared at all the blood.

“No. They need urgent medical care. I can’t sense the Ryoka in the slightest. We prioritize saving lives.” He said firmly, before they got to work. “Strange… They’re injured… but Lieutenant Shiba looks like he should have been cut in half.”

“Did they heal their enemies?” One of them asked incredulously.

The leader let out a snort, “…This has to be a joke.”

“If it is, it’s not a funny one.”

-]|[-

Ichigo was thankfully in a better mood after that disappointing fight from earlier. He was sitting up on one of the large walls, staring up at the Senzaikyū. ‘Just wait a bit longer, Ran-chan. It’s not time yet.’ He thought to himself. There were still too many enemies for them to make an actual move on the white tower. He closed his eyes, feeling out for his friends. Tatsuki was now in the Fourth, unconscious. Orihime and Chad had a hell of a fight on their hands a little earlier. He had even been tempted to intervene when he sensed things getting dangerous, but could also feel the faintest traces of Yoruichi’s Reiatsu as a cat nearby. She’d make sure they made it out okay.

As for him, it was time for him to take care of Kurotsuchi. The last thing they needed was to give the clown enough time to create a countermeasure for him. He smirked as he stared at the moon. “It’s a nice night.” Taking him out of the picture until Aizen was exposed was the best thing they could do. He sensed some Reiatsu signatures approaching, and hopped off the wall, running towards them.

They looked pretty friendly, “Hey, where’s the rest of the squad?”

“They’re back there!” Ichigo jabbed his finger behind them, “They sent me back with vital info for Kurotsuchi-Taichō.”

“I see.” One of them said, “Must be urgent then. Come on. We know where the Captain is.”

“Thanks.” Ichigo said, before starting to run with them. He couldn’t sense a single bad intention from any of them. They actually seemed genuinely friendly. Which was why he got caught completely by surprise when three of them exploded. “What the fuck?!” He flinched, covering his face.

“H-Huh?” One of the men looked shocked, “H-hey… this isn’t… what’s going… on?! Taichō! Kurotsuchi-Taichō! This isn’t what you said we’d do! Tai-” His face started to bulge, before three more explosions shattered the alleyway.

“It can’t be helped.” A cold, uncaring voice said, “Once a grenade is thrown, it shouldn’t come flying back.” Kurotsuchi and his Lieutenant stared at the smoke.

When it cleared, Ichigo was standing there, completely uninjured. His face was shadowed, “…They were your subordinates.”

“Hmm?” Kurotsuchi said, “Them? They were tools. Nothing more.” His smile stretched his face, “I’ve been so eager to meet you. You’ve shown us so many delightful things. I can hardly wait to find out what makes you tick. What other little tricks you have at your disposal.”

“I’m curious about you too, Kurotsuchi.” Ichigo was still not looking at the man.

“Oh, you already know me?” The clown asked, raising his eyebrow.

“Oh yes, I know you.” Ichigo finally raised his head and smirked at Kurotsuchi, “You’re that two-bit hackjob of a scientist Urahara took pity on.” The smile on Kurotsuchi’s face fell, “Oh, but scientist is a bit of a strong word for you.”

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!” Shunpo brought Kurotsuchi right to him, his sword already falling.

Ichigo dodged back, laughing. “You’re a talentless hack that needs to leave blood trails kilometers long-”

“I will rip your tongue out, you pretentious-” Kurotsuchi swung rapidly, but with skill. It was clear he was a Captain of at least some skill. Ichigo dodged it all with perfect ease.

“-Because you’re not smart enough to figure anything out without butchering your subjects.” He summoned his Zanpakutō and swung, looking to bisect the clown. He doubted it would kill him.  But then Kurotsuchi effortlessly blocked it. It was the movement of a master.

And yet the follow up wasn’t great at all. Compared to the block, his return slash looked amateurish. Ichigo’s eyes narrowed slightly, before he struck again. And again. And again. Left leg, right arm, stab to the foot, upwards slash. No matter what he did, Kurotsuchi blocked it with skill that befitted a master swordsman. And yet all he could do was block and parry, as Ichigo clearly outclassed him in every respect in speed. Ichigo stopped and casually backed away, putting his sword on his shoulder, “That’s a clever trick you have there. What have you done to that sword?”

Kurotsuchi was still glaring at him, “Oh, you caught on to that, have you?”

“It was obvious. Every attack you tried was almost amateurish in comparison to your blocks and parries.” Ichigo replied without concern. “But your blocks were perfect.”

“Hmph, it was an obvious thing to do.” Kurotsuchi held up his Zanpakutō, which was covered in something that looked almost like a bunch of cone snails made of golden bandages. It had completely replaced the tsuba. “With the amount of skill with the blade that you had, it was obvious I would have been at a disadvantage.” He grinned widely, “So I installed some sensors in my Ashisogi Jizō while preparing for your little invasion. I programmed it to detect any blade that enters within two feet of my body, and intercept them with an angle of sixty degrees or greater.” His smirk widened, “It was simplicity itself to counter your weeks and months of hard training, you worthless ape.” Ichigo’s lips quivered, before he started to chuckle. And then it turned into a full laugh. He was laughing so hard that Mayuri saw he was full of openings. ‘So why? Why won’t I attack?’

“Th-that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard! WAHAHAHAHA!” Ichigo continued to bellow out his laughter, “You’ve countered my hard work with your little science? Alright.” His grin went full Kenpachi to Kurotsuchi’s eyes. “Let’s put that to the test, shall we?” He raised his sword again, and the sheer menace that radiated from him put Mayuri on sharp notice.

He swung, and Mayuri’s entire body jerked back from the impact. Ichigo swung again, and Kurotsuchi grunted as he was almost unbalanced. And when he swung again, Kurotsuchi knew that it would knock him over or even perhaps wrench his arm out of its socket if he tried it again. He vanished in a burst of speed to escape, and didn’t have a moment to wonder what had happened before he felt himself flying across the alleyway.

He crashed into a wall, shattering it over him. Ichigo continued to laugh, “Moron.”

“ENOUGH!” Kurotsuchi yelled as he burst from the rubble. He rushed forward, looking like he was going to try to slash right through Ichigo, only to stop short and blast out a purple haze from his mouth.

Ichigo’s eyes widened as he inhaled some of the poison, and instantly felt like his body pulsed. He fell to a knee. “Y-You bastard.” He coughed up some blood.

“Me? I should be saying that to you. Making me waste so much time and effort to come collect you.” Kurotsuchi snarled. “You should be paralyzed now, so don’t try to move.” He turned around, “Nemu, you useless girl. Come coll-” His sword tried to react automatically, but he was far too late. His sword arm got cut off at the shoulder, and then he got kicked in the back, flying across the alley.

Ichigo chuckled as electricity cackled around him, “SIIIIIIKE!”

Kurotsuchi growled as he stood, “How are you moving?”

“What, you thought that dinky little poison was going to take me down?” Ichigo chuckled, “You’ll need something a lot stronger than that, Clownboy.”

Kurotsuchi snarled, “Oh, I’ll make sure to oblige you, boy.” He pulled something from his pocket, “You even ruined my arm extension. Do you have any idea how long that takes to set up?” He jabbed himself with the pouch attached to a needle. “And this is painful. It hurts terribly.” He deadpanned as the limb started to bubble.

Ichigo blinked, ‘He created a medicine that mimics High-Speed Regeneration?’ He chuckled, “How many thousands of corpses did that one cost you?”

“Be silent, cretin.” Kurotsuchi said, before grabbing his Zanpakutō from the fallen arm, “I’ve decided. I can study you without your arms and legs. You said I would need some stronger poisons? Very well, as you wish. Rip, Ashisogi Jizō.” The blade was turned into a golden trident-looking head, except the blades were all pointing out much wider than a normal one, and the blades curved like snakes slithering. They were all attached to what looked like a baby’s head. And then he practically shot at Ichigo, slashing wildly at him and moving as quickly as he could.

Ichigo still had his smirk on his face as he continued to block and dodge the blade, “Come on, you made your blade more unwieldy? What do you plan o-”

The girl he had completely forgotten crashed into him like a bull. She was insanely strong. Not as strong as him, but strong enough that he couldn’t break free immediately.

And then Kurotsuchi cut through them both.

The left side of Nemu’s chest was cut in half just below her breast, leaving her attached only by the right side of her body and her spine. Ashisogi Jizō’s strange blade only gouged Ichigo’s hip out. But this time, Ichigo instantly felt that the poison worked, and that he wasn’t able to burn it away quickly. ‘This-this bastard! He cut right through her to get to me!’ He finished his fall, landing on the ground in the perfect position to see her try to smile at her Captain, only for him to backhand her to the ground.

“FOOL!” Kurotsuchi yelled, “I TAUGHT YOU NEVER TO LET GO, EVEN IF YOUR ARMS WERE TORN OFF!”

She hacked out a rough cough, “I-I’m sorry, sir.”

“You son of a bitch.” Ichigo grunted out, “Your own daughter?”

“Don’t bore me with your righteous indignation. How a father treats his own daughter is none of your business.” Kurotsuchi strode forward, “Now for the pain you’ve caused me, I think I’ll inflict some of my own. Which portion of you will I- Nemu, will you shut your mouth?”

Nemu was gasping for breath, “I-I’m sorry, Mayuri-sama. P-Please give me some of the f-flesh-healing medicine.” She coughed out, “I can’t maintain my vital functions. My lung was cut in half.” Kurotsuchi walked over to her, ignoring Ichigo, and then kicked her in the stomach. She screamed in agony even as the air was driven from her remaining lung. More blood sputtered from her lips.

“Who-” He kicked her again, “Do you-” He kicked her again, “THINK YOU’RE TALKING TO?!” He stomped on her face, “Do you think your body would fall apa-” An explosion of Reiatsu behind him made him stop and jerk back. It felt like everything was moving in slow motion as Ichigo’s fist approached his face. He tried to do something, anything to block it, even as his eyes caught sight of the crackling strands of electricity engulfing his body like little strings. ‘Ransōtengai?’ Was the only thought he was able to get out before his face broke.

Ichigo’s fist caused a hurricane of force, blowing off half of Kurotsuchi’s face and annihilating the wall and everything behind him. Kurotsuchi flew back like he had been blasted out of a cannon, his body breaking everything for several kilometers as he was ragdolled through the Seireitei.

A piece of the wall came falling down, and Nemu couldn’t even brace for the pain because of her paralysis. Only for her eyes to open in shock as Ichigo blasted that away as well. “Shit. Shit. Shit! Shit!” She was even more shocked as he knelt down and began to examine her. “Fuck, I’m not a healer!”

“W-why?” She asked, bewildered, her wide eyes shining up at him.

“Do you have any of that medicine you mentioned?” He ignored her question.

“I-yes, I do.” She said, “But… I don’t understand? I’m your enemy…”

“And?” Ichigo asked softly, “I haven’t killed a single person during my time here. Why would I just let you die? Now do you have any of that medicine?”

She stared soulfully up at him, “You… you punched Mayuri-sama harder than any blow I saw during your entire fight. You had that strength the entire time… I… I don’t understand.”

“I was pissed the fuck off, obviously.” Ichigo said gruffly, starting to get worried she had nothing and that was why she was ignoring his question. “Who wouldn’t be watching a bastard like that abuse his daughter? If my dad even thought about hurting my sisters the way that son of a bitch was hurting you, I would kill him. Now tell me if you have any of that damn medicine!”

Nemu was feeling something she didn’t understand. Her chest was strangely warm when she should have been freezing from bloodloss. “I-I do.” She said, and felt that warmth get warmer and spread to her cheeks when he showed her a relieved smile. “But I’m paralyzed from Ashisogi Jizō’s venom. You’ll need to get it for me.”

“Of course, just tell me where you’re keeping it.” Ichigo smiled at her.

“Between my breasts.” Nemu told him with a straight face. Ichigo blinked at her. “…” They stared, “Will you get it?”

Ichigo sighed, ‘Well, at least Ran-chan likes her too.’ He helped her sit up, before reaching between her tits. They were pillowy soft, and he felt something hard. He grabbed it and pulled it out, revealing a… device? “…This doesn’t look like medicine.”

“It’s not.” Ichigo put it down and reached in again, before pulling out a vial. “That’s not the right one either.” Ichigo’s smile twitched slightly as he put that down too and reached in again. “That’s poison.” And again, “That’s a projector.” And again, “That’s an antidote for Mayuri-sama’s poison in Bankai.” That one was helpful. Ichigo pocketed it.

And after two more tries, he blurted out, “How much shit do you have between your tits, Nemu?! How do you even fit it all in there?!”

“Oh, that’s the one.” Nemu finally said, not answering his question. He was quick to jab her with the syringe, and she grunted in pain as she closed up. “…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Ichigo smiled as he got up and offered her a hand.

“I’m still paralyzed.” Nemu said when she was unable to move. She smiled at him.

“Ah, right.” Ichigo said, before letting go of the technique and moving around. ‘Good, I was able to burn it out. It just needed some more time.’

And then an unwelcome voice returned. “That was Ransōtengai.” Mayuri’s face had clearly been repaired with a second dose of the medicine, but he was disheveled and looked worse for wear. And despite that, he had a massive smile on his face, “You’re a Shinigami.” He said unnecessarily, “And yet you can use Quincy techniques. And a Quincy technique that never came up in a single one of my previous test subjects! How?! How is that you can use that technique?!”

“Fuck you, that’s how.” Ichigo deadpanned.

To his surprise, Mayuri laughed, “Oh, it’s no bother if you won’t tell me. I will find out for myself. Oh, but I’m so excited! I had thought my studies into Quincy had been finished for over a decade, and yet two test subjects have fallen right into my lap with techniques I’ve never seen before just this month!”

Every cell in Ichigo’s body froze. “What do you mean two test subjects?” He glared at the clown.

“Oh yes.” Mayuri said, smiling so wide his face was half teeth. “This fascinating woman arrived not long ago, and I just knew I had to have her! She had been consumed by a Hollow, and yet her soul survived! Every previous test subject I acquired had to be done carefully so as to not be eaten by the Hollow in question, otherwise they would inevitably go through Soul Suicide. To see someone not have that happen was exciting on its own, but then she went and displayed another technique that manipulated her blood!” He chuckled madly, “Oh, I’m quite eager to get you strapped to a bed right next to her. She was a tough nut to crack, so I’m not quite finished yet.” He had fished out a picture taken a few days ago before the start of the invasion and tossed it negligently at Ichigo’s feet. “There.” He said, not noticing the clouds gathering above.

Nemu did, as the wind began to blow her hair around.

“Now, what was her name again?” Kurotsuchi mused, “Oh, I never remember my test subject’s names. Nemu, you stupid girl. What was-”

“Her name.” Ichigo’s voice sounded like thunder itself. The rumble shook the ground. “IS KUROSAKI MASAKI.” Nemu only had a moment to gasp in realization before Ichigo raised his blade, “ENGULF THE WORLD AND BLACKEN THE SKIES, GŌZEN RAIU!”

The skies rained lightning. The world shook under the force of Ichigo’s rage, as lightning cracked in every direction. Booms ripped through all of the Seireitei, destroying houses and stone alike. The sheer amount of Reiatsu made weaker Shinigami fall insensate and foaming if they were closer than a single division’s territory away. When the smoke cleared from his form, Ichigo was revealed. Lightning crackled along his body like tattoos, and he was bulked up even more than normal. In his right hand was his hammer, which was practically vibrating from how hard he was holding it. All the runes that covered it were glowing blue.

Kurotsuchi took a step back, “W-what is this?!” He asked, “This wasn’t in any of the reports! D-did you defeat a Captain’s Bankai without even releasing your Zanpakutō?!”

Ichigo rushed forward and slammed his hammer down, aiming to crush the evilest clown in the world in a single blow. Mayuri jumped to the side, gritting his teeth in panic as he realized Ashisogi Jizō’s venom wasn’t even slowing Ichigo down. The head of the hammer slammed into the ground, and Nemu let out a little scream as she was tossed ten feet into the air without even being in the impact’s vicinity. The ground in front of Ichigo’s strike shattered. Buildings crumbled, walls fell over, and there wasn’t a single bit of sure footing anywhere in the kilometer in front of him.

Kurotsuchi backpedaled rapidly and tossed some strange squares from inside his sleeves. The four devices landed around him and activated, instantly drawing electricity away from Ichigo and forming a large barrier around him. “I’m glad I came prepared for your lightning.” The clown said, “Don’t bother trying to get out of that. The more power you feed them the more-” Ichigo swung his hammer and smashed the barrier like a pane of glass, flying out at Mayuri. ‘Impossible!’ Mayuri raised his sword in an attempt to block, and felt both arms go numb from the sheer force as he crashed through three walls and a couple of houses.

As soon as he stopped moving, he coughed out some blood and looked above. Lightning crackled above as Ichigo soared downwards. Kurotsuchi rolled and vanished with Shunpo, watching as Ichigo crashed down, and the entire area erupted upwards, sending white stones and yellow tiles flying in a circle around him fifty meters in diameter.

Kurotsuchi cursed inside the safety of his own head. Ichigo had just inadvertently destroyed quite a few of his traps. He reached into his Shihakushō as Ichigo flew at him once again, and whipped out a fleshy-colored string. Ichigo only had a moment of incredulity before a literal string of flesh with a screaming man’s head wrapped around him like an incredibly fast snake. “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” The head roared, squeezing him tightly.

Kurotsuchi’s thumb pressed down on a detonator, engulfing Ichigo in an explosion. “I’m not generally a fan of tenderizing my test subjects before we even begin the experiments, but I suppose exceptions must be made.”

The smoke cleared, and Kurotsuchi’s smile fell as he saw Ichigo’s skin engulfed in the same blue markings that his other test subject had. There wasn’t a scratch on him. Ichigo snarled, “All this pain, for what? Which of your inventions are actually useful to anyone but you?”

“How da-” Kurotsuchi started to say, but Ichigo interrupted.

“That wasn’t an invitation to talk.” He growled, raising his hammer. The blackened skies crackled with lightning.

Mayuri slipped a hand into a pocket, “To think I’d have to resort to this!” He took out a green liquid and sipped it. Instantly, the world around him distorted. The lightning that was headed straight for him appeared to be moving in slow motion. He casually walked backwards, watching as the lightning struck and instantly burned Lichtenberg figures onto the ground. “This is incredibly dangerous and experimental, you imbecile! How DARE you push me this far?! If it wasn’t diluted to a million-to-one, I would already be losing my mind!” To him, his speech was normal, but to Ichigo, he was speaking so fast it was completely unintelligible.

He ran to Ichigo, moving so fast that his regular run appeared not unlike a Shunpo. Ashisogi Jizō hit Ichigo’s chest and skidded off as though it had hit metal. “What?! But I filled that strike with my Reiatsu!”

Ichigo swung at him, and he dodged as nimbly as a dancer. Ichigo was just so slow! But Kurotsuchi was getting frustrated. With the dilution so high by necessity, his Superhuman Serum wouldn’t last long! Ichigo seemed frustrated, and raised his hammer again. “Honestly.” Kurotsuchi scoffed, “This again? Haven’t you noticed that-” A bolt of lightning shot upwards. It was quite beautiful, crawling through the air. Not that Kurotsuchi usually cared for beauty.

But then something different happened as the sky started to crawl with lightning. A hundred balls of it descended from the clouds, crackling with power. They formed a ring around the two combatants. “Oho? What’s this?” The clown asked in interest.

Another bolt shot at the sky from Ichigo, and then Mayuri’s eyes widened. The entire black sky lit up as Ichigo, eyes still glowing with power, roared, “JUDGEMENT!” A gargantuan bolt of lightning came down. No, it wasn’t a bolt. It was far too big to be called a bolt. Its width was measured in tens of meters.

Kurotsuchi had more than enough time to realize that the beam encompassed the entire diameter of the lightning balls in the air. It would engulf them both. He ran, leaping through the encirclement, but the second his body crossed an invisible plane, one of the balls erupted, striking him at speeds even he, with his superhuman serum, couldn’t react to. His body turned black, showcasing his nervous system from the electrocution he received, before he crashed to the ground.

The beam hit the ground, and the Seireitei’s landscape was reshuffled. Earth moved like water, forming a wave that knocked buildings off their foundations and shattered the closest… well… everything. Kurotsuchi was thrown into the air, his eyes wide as he perceived the smoke from the attack clearing. As he fell to the earth, all he could see were two blue eyes piercing through the smog. It was enough to send shivers down his spine. ‘I thought I had eliminated the fear hormones from this body.’ Was the only thing Kurotsuchi could think of at first, ‘I need to regroup! This battle is against me! I will need better equipment! Yes, I need to recalibrate the lightning prison. Clearly it was set too low because of our incorrect assumption that the sword was his Shikai. I will also need to try to come up with a way to disable that blood-based defense. Damn that woman for taking so much of my time!’ He thought of Ichigo’s mother. It had taken two weeks before the woman had even been weak enough to drop the blood defense! Even gassing her hadn’t worked! He’d barely gotten started when the invasion began!

He got to his feet, gasping and hunching over as the superhuman drug ran its course and the side effect of extreme exhaustion hit him. He turned Ashisogi Jizō on himself, “You may have won this-” Ichigo appeared in a burst of noise. ‘What?! That’s not Shunpo! That’s Sonido!’

And then his hammer crashed on Kurotsuchi’s Zanpakutō, shattering it in one blow. Mayuri choked on his terror as his final lifeline was destroyed. Without his Zanpakutō’s blade, he had no way to activate his final safeguard! And then Ichigo’s hammer smashed into his shoulder. The sound of powdering bones and torn flesh rang through the air as Kurotsuchi’s pain threshold was overcome. The mad clown howled in agony over and over again as Ichigo shattered his body, starting with his arms, then his legs, then his torso. Finally, Kurotsuchi flopped onto his stomach. He was a mess. He had more resemblance to jelly at this point than human. With every breath, he aspirated blood. If it hadn’t been for his extensive bodily modifications he likely would already be dead.

He was broken. ‘At least it appears he won’t kill me.’ The thought ran through his head. ‘He’s let every other Shinigami he’s met live, after he killed that useless moron. I can come back from this, and I will get my revenge! The full, UNDILUTED SUPERHUMAN SE-’

And then Ichigo’s hand crashed onto the back of Kurotsuchi’s head. His fingers squeezed like a vice, blood erupting as the clown’s skin split open. Ichigo hauled his broken body up with one hand, “Say her name.”

“Wh-what?!” Kurotsuchi coughed blood.

“Say the woman’s name.” Ichigo growled out, “Say my mother’s name, Kurotsuchi.”

“…” Kurotsuchi couldn’t. He never remembered his test subjects’ names. He barely ever cared to even learn them. “I-” He wracked his brains, but didn’t have a chance to say a word before they were flying.

Down below, Nemu’s eyes widened as she saw what was happening. Her mouth opened as she saw her broken father with his life in the palm of Ichigo’s hands.

“Wait! What are you doing?! FOOL! WE’RE GOING TO HIT THE SHAKONMAKU!” Kurotsuchi finally managed to yell out.

“SAY HER NAME!” Ichigo roared, before slamming Kurotsuchi’s face into the barrier. Down below, all anyone saw was a bright spark, before a lightning bolt crawled across the barrier.

He finally remembered. Ichigo had said it before releasing his Shikai. “MASAKIIIIIIIIIIII!” He managed to get out before his face was ground into paste and his head was crushed into pulp. His spine was ground down, and then the rest of the clown’s body tore from the remains of his head. His corpse fell to the earth in a bloody and macabre display.

Ichigo floated there with his hammer, huffing from his sheer fury. Already, he could see the smear of blood he’d left in the air turning back into Reishi. He ground his teeth before vanishing, appearing in front of Nemu like a conquering tyrant. Nemu flinched as she saw him, and for the first time in her life, she was terrified of dying as the behemoth before her stomped his way to her.

And then Ichigo sealed his Zanpakutō, and the oppressive pressure went away. And then his arms were around her, and she was being picked up in a bridal carry. “Wh-what?” She managed to say. Ichigo said nothing, his face like stone. Not that she could see, since she couldn’t turn her head. “I-Is my father dead?”

“Yes.” Ichigo said shortly.

“I… I don’t understand.” She said, “Why did… why did you react like that? You-You’ve spared every Shinigami you’ve come across.” She didn’t start to cry. She was just numb. “Why did you kill him? Why did you kill my lord father?”

“The fact that you don’t know that is the saddest thing I’ve heard in months.” Ichigo replied. She opened her mouth, before closing it. “Why do you defend him?”

“I… I don’t know.” She said softly, “He’s… he’s all I’ve had, for so long.”

“In the human world, we have a thing called Stockholm Syndrome.” Ichigo said, still not looking at her. “It is a psychological theory to explain why some people form positive bonds with their abusers. It can be a defense mechanism or an unconscious attempt to form a better bond with the abuser so that the abuse lessens. People suffering from it even react negatively towards the authorities who are trying to rescue them. Is that ringing a bell, Nemu?”

She was silent.

Ichigo spoke again, “Are you angry that I killed him?”

“I…” She said, before stopping. “I…I don’t know.” Her voice turned robotic, “I have not experienced this feeling before.”

“And that’s why you don’t understand why I did what I did.” He continued walking, “That’s what it looks like when a son loves his mother, or a daughter loves her father. Your creator was no father. A parent’s only goal should be to nurture their children. To help them achieve their goals. Their dreams. To make sure they’re happy, and safe. That bastard had nothing of that in him. He only called you his daughter for his own vanity and ego, and treated you like property. He was nothing more than an abusive monster who should have been put down centuries ago.”

She didn’t respond. There was too much to unpack. She changed tacks. “…Are you helping me so I can help you rescue your mother?”

“I’m helping you because you need help.” Ichigo said, “If you help me save my mom that would be a bonus, but I can do that on my own.”

“…Then you would free me if I asked?”

“Yes.”

Nemu didn’t know what to feel, but that warmth she couldn’t explain had returned. “…I don’t know what I would do with freedom.”

Ichigo smiled slightly and shook his head, “That just means you have to find out for yourself.”

“I don’t know that I could do that. All… all I ever knew was Mayuri-sama and his commands.” Nemu said, “I don’t know how to live without his guid-” She stopped as his grip tightened slightly, “Directions.” She corrected herself. “I… I was created. Artificially.” She said, “I’m not a natural life. I don’t know that I can belong without an… owner.” She finally acknowledged that that was what her father truly was.

Ichigo was silent for a few moments. “If that’s the case…” He said finally, “-then your life belongs to me.” Nemu didn’t know it, but red erupted on her cheeks. “Now sit pretty, Nemu. Looks like the cavalry is finally arriving.” He could hear shouting and whistles from a horde of Shinigami who were investigating. “This is going to be a lot faster than you’re used to.” The two vanished.

-]|[-

Deep inside the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, thousands of members stared paralyzed at the gigantic screen in front of them. The room had been modeled like a human movie theater crossed with a computer lab, so that they could indulge in watching the Captain in the rare moments he decided to fight himself. Finally, the current Third Seat and Vice-President of the Institute, Akon swallowed audibly. “I… will go deliver this footage to the Sōtaichō.” He rasped.

He stood mechanically and headed for the door. A whimper rang out and he froze. His body trembled, “And… someone go free Kurosaki Masaki and get her into a… guest room.”

“W-we don’t have any guest rooms.”

Akon trembled again, “Then you better go make one.” He rasped, “And get her some food and water as well. With the Captain and Lieutenant Nemu… out of action, I am ordering a cessation of all experiments on her. Get her healthy and happy-” Sweat dripped from his brow, “Before that demon comes here for her.”

-]|[-

DONE! Holy shit man, I was NOT expecting this to fight me the way it did. I just could NOT get started on Sado and Orihime vs Kaien and Rukia.

Speaking of, how’d you all like that little surprise? What, did you think I was going to leave my boy Kaien alive and NOT have Rukia hook up with him? LOL

This is backstory that probably won’t be shown in the story, but Metastacia still came and still slaughtered members of their division, including Kaien’s wife. Only Kaien is an actual badass and turned the bastard to ash with Kidō when Metastacia broke Nejibana instead of floundering like someone who needed to die for someone else’s sad backstory. Metastacia ate a Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō DIRECTLY to the face.

And then we get to Mayuri. Oh, the fucking clown. And now the smear in the sky. You won’t be missed, cunt. Yes, Masaki is “alive…” and yes, 200+ members of the twelfth division just watched Ichigo kill their Captain on 4K Ultra Ultra HD mode. Oops.

Now I’d LOVE to say I’m going to jump directly into chapter 11 now that I finished with this… but I’d be a dirty fucking liar. An IRL friend recommended Solo Leveling to me recently and then Kairomaru accidentally drew my interest when he shared Jinwoo vs Ant King on my discord. I then proceeded to binge the entire anime in like twelve hours, rewatch a few episodes a bunch of times, buy both soundtracks, read the Manwha, and start on the sequel.

Sorry, but yeah, Solo Leveling currently has my muse by the fucking balls. I’m SHOCKED I managed to finish this at all. Been cooking up a few different fic ideas with my buddies.

Toodles!