Chapter 15: The Vasto of White, Part 2
What does it mean to be a brother?
Was it to value the inherent love of family? Or to honour the duty passed down from generation to generation of the Noble household of Kuchiki?
Clearly, the answer was not something he wished to dwell on. Yet prior circumstances did not allow him the ability to proceed as he wished, his own household supporting the decision made by the ruling government of the Soul Society, the Central Forty-Six.
The Kuchiki Clan was one of Four noble clans within the Soul Society tasked with the service of compiling and protecting the history of the Soul Society. He, as the next Clan Head had his obligations to the work of all his ancestors. Tarnishing their efforts by going against the rulings of the government his family was tasked with recording in the first place, was unacceptable.
Yet only now, the situation could permit him to act freely, to uphold both Duty and Family.
It was not verbal, for he was never much of a talkative person; not since her death. Either way, he was resolved.
He was the Captain of Squad Six, of the Thirteen-Court Guard Squads, Byakuya Kuchiki.
More than that, he would fulfill both the promise he had made to his wife, and the expectations placed down on the name of 'Kuchiki.'
He was Byakuya Kuchiki, and a brother to only one.
"C-Captain?" Renji spoke in alarm, his expression displaying his confusion.
After all, Byakuya had restrained everyone with his Kidou, immobilizing them and willing them towards the formed Senkaimon as a massive Gargantia began to take root in front of him.
Byakuya gave Rukia a single glance, his face set into a cold mask as Rukia's features superseded with the only woman he had ever loved enough to call his wife, Rukia's sister, Hisana Kuchiki.
To uphold the promise he made, he would do his utmost.
The hands holding onto his sword's hilt tightened while he readied himself for battle.
The opening of a Gargantia only meant a single thing for any Soul Reaper.
Hollows.
"Brother, what about Ichigo!?" Rukia yelled in concern, her expression panicked.
Byakuya made no motions to signal his thoughts on the matter, yet he had already decided on a course of action. There was no time to move Ichigo and Karin's bodies. Although he could somehow manage with his speed, doing so meant turning his back to the approaching hollows. And with his death, Ichigo's and Karin's would all but be guaranteed. Thus, he would at least do what he could.
"You should believe in your brother, Kuchiki. Can you not see it, the sharpness in his stature like a drawn sword?" Kaien spoke from the side, doing nothing to resist against the restraints Byakuya had placed on him unlike Renji who struggled in vain.
"Lieutenant Kaien," Rukia said, pursing her lips. She was still in shock that Kaien was alive, but she was also greatly concerned about Ichigo. At this moment, she didn't really know what to feel.
"Captain, I can fight too!" Renji insisted from the side.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "No, not this time," he spoke, spotting multiple humanoid figures walking within the tear between dimensions. "This situation is not something that someone of your current level can handle," he spoke calmly. "Instead, inform the other Captains. Even when the Spiritual Detection Squad notices a spike in the spiritual energy of a hollow, they do not possess the authority to mobilize Captain-level Soul Reapers in short notice. You are my Lieutenant. They will understand the gravity of the situation."
Finishing his words, the Kidou binding Renji immediately faded, a complex expression forming over Renji's face as he wordlessly picked up Rukia.
As for Kaien, he left him bound in his Kidou. He was still too suspicious. On top of being able to open a Gargantia, Kaien was also announced to be dead for several years. And now he just suddenly turned up?
It was too much of a coincidence to not take any cautions.
"Renji, put me down!" Rukia protested as her eyes lingered on the unconscious Ichigo and Karin.
"Just shut your trap," Renji muttered before quickly entering the Senkaimon with Rukia under his arm, and Kaien to his right.
As soon as Renji, Kaien, and Rukia passed, the doors of the Senkaimon closed, and the portal to the Soul Society vanished into the air.
Left alone, Byakuya let out a breath. The time for confrontation was fast approaching.
He closed his eyes and concentrated. "Requesting immediate release of spirit limiter."
His transmission had an instant effect. It was likely that those in the Spiritual Detection Squad had already detected the spike in hollow energy in the area.
The energy coursing freely through his veins allowed him a momentary calm. With what he envisioned the situation would turn into, this would be his last moments to prepare himself.
He opened his eyes.
At that moment, his mind was collected. Possessing nothing of the insecurities and doubts that had once plagued it since the start of this retrieval mission.
There was no longer a need for hesitation.
There was no longer any point between deciding what was right and what was wrong.
All that remained was resolve, and the will to see things through till the end.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura," a simple incantation came from his mouth accompanied by a gentle breeze.
The sword that had accompanied him for the entirety of his life scattered in the wind, a simple flurry of delicate pink rose petals; a shower of thousands of tiny blades.
Senbonzakura, his most trusted Zanpukuto spirit and life long partner seemed to sense the change in him, dancing within the air in preparation for battle.
If this were to be his end, he could only wish that he could see her once more, and bow his head in apology for his indecision.
Hisana.
And with a breath, a figure appeared within the shadows of the Gargantia.
Pale.
Humanoid.
Its aura alone was imposing.
His eyes could only widen in disbelief.
Vasto Lorde.
The strongest of all hollows.
And this one, was something he had never seen before.
Tall, sleek, it looked entirely human aside from the hollow-bone grieves and vambraces covered in tribal marks. Around it was some sort of torn red cloth that clung to its body, making it look like one of the beggars of the Rukon district of the Soul Society. Its face was hardened, its eyes sweeping across the entirety of Karakura Town before landing on him with a narrowed gleam.
It didn't make sense. Vasto Lordes were already rare amongst hollows, and for one to descend into the Human World, it was unheard of. A being of their power would not find the spiritual energy of humans sufficient enough to maintain their forms, let alone be worthy enough to hunt. So, in the end, for what purpose did this lone Vas-
His thoughts died in the recesses of his mind.
It was a sound reminiscent of ripping cloth.
A truly familiar one.
A second Gargantia appeared in the place of the first, multiple smaller ones appearing adjacent.
The first Vasto Lorde, the pale one. The Vasto of White did not appear surprised by the arrival of other hollows, but then again, when did hollows ever show expression?
A sinking feeling began to form from within the pit of his stomach, a cold sweat making a shiver run down his back.
This, this situation was too absurd.
That was his first thought when he spotted the messy-haired blond that stepped out from the void.
Her entire body aside from her face was covered in hollow-bone armour with the chest region being a lighter shade of pale blue. Her eyes became fierce as soon she noticed him.
He didn't know what to make of it, the growing dread from the depths of his soul.
Senbonzakura condensed in on itself, creating a protective dome of flowing petals around him.
If the situation had been absurd before, then surely now it had become apocalyptic. The human world could not withstand the rampage of a sole Vasto Lorde alone, let alone two.
A Vasto Lorde was the known pinnacle of a hollow's evolution, their combat prows significantly higher than an average captain. Yet because of this fact, their numbers were rare and could easily be counted by the fingers of one's hand. This goes to show how strong they are.
After all, a Vasto Lorde is hollow that had been able to consistently survive multiple life or death situation and come out on top to feast on the corpses of their enemies. This was why there were so few of them. A hollow's path of evolution was just too savage.
But the power a Vasto Lorde possessed was undeniable.
Thus, just the pressure the two were releasing was enough to cause any lesser Soul Reaper's shoulders to sag, and knees to buckle. Perhaps they may even die, crushed to death.
His eyes glanced down at the two humans and Quincy near him, and he quickly made a decision.
He took to the skies, placing a distance between himself and Ichigo and Karin. It was the best he could currently do for Rukia's request.
From the smaller Gargantias appeared even more hollows.
Adjuchas, both large and small.
"C-Captain Kuchiki," the transmission device he kept on him from the Spiritual Detection Squad crackled to life. "We are detecting a massive influx of hollows in the area. W-What is the situation?" The voice that spoke could do little to hide the panic laced within.
He couldn't respond.
"C-Captain?"
From within the Gargantia the blond-haired Vasto Lorde had come from, there appeared five other figures.
The dread that had once filled him left, and in its place, was resignation. As a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and as a Kuchiki, he would stand firm regardless of the situation. Even with the combined presence of sevenVasto Lordes.
He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.
"Captain Kuchiki?" the voice in the other end of the transmission device had changed, this time belonging to a male. "We are detecting strange anomalies in your area, and are unable to estimate the power of seven of them?"
He didn't have time to think too much on an answer, instead, transmitting his only response to the Spiritual Detection Squad.
Vasto Lordes.
There was a choked gasp on the other line before it all faded into static. By now, the Spiritual Detection Squad should have sent word to the First Division. That being the case, they could not immediately mobilize the might of a Captain-Level Shinigami. For that, he had sent Renji as a head start. Renji's credibility would only increase with the help of the Spiritual Detection Squad.
For now, didn't know if he would survive long enough for help to arrive.
Perhaps help would arrive in a few moments, but in this situation, even a couple second could be enough to end him.
Staring off at the newly arrived five, he could slightly discern their relative strengths to a point based off of the bearings they all represented. Amongst the five, three of them appeared weaker than the other two. The three standing in a close-knit formation to cover each others weakness. Of the two others, one had the lower half of a horse and the body of green haired and well-endowed woman. The other was entirely encased in hollow bone with only his face visible due to cracks on his mask's surface. On his back were bat like wings.
Almost immediately upon arrival, the three weaker Vasto Lordes made their way to stand beside the messy-haired blond.
One of them was covered in smooth brown fur, her legs resembling a deer, and the long white antlers on her head making it more obvious. Currently, she was glaring at him with unconcealed contempt.
Similar to her, was the lion like Vasto Lorde beside her. Brown skinned and possessing long hair that looked like a mane, she had the figure of an imposing woman.
The last of the three was slim and snake like, sleeve like cloth resembling the skin of a shedding snake acting as sleeves that concealed her hands beneath. Out of the three, she was the one who was the most composed and simply stared at him through thinly veiled eyes.
The Vasto of White stepped forward.
He instantly raised his guard expecting a quick assault. Contrary to his belief, such a thing did not happen.
"I have only a single question," the Vasto of White spoke without arrogance nor demand. Instead, it was clear to see the sincerity in the Vasto of White's voice.
He had never quite met a hollow like this. It was almost 'pleasant' if he could put a word to it. However, he would not be so easily deceived. Just the aura the Vasto of White exuded alone felt suffocating. He knew that should this Vasto Lorde get set off, nothing short of his full power would be able to stop him, and that was him being optimistic.
Vasto Lordes were on an entirely different level.
As such, not once did he let his guard down despite the cordial nature the Vasto of White was displaying.
"And what would you have to ask?" He questioned, eying the other Vasto Lordes who have yet to make a move. If they all attacked him, he had little hope of surviving.
Unaware, or uncaring of his internal dilemma, the Vasto of White continued on.
"I have two friends who travelled down to the Human World, have you seen them?" The Vasto of White asked, his expression hardening and demanding a truthful answer.
Yet, he was no fool. Immediately after the Vasto of White had spoken, he had connected the dots and found the missing piece of the puzzle. The reason why so many Vasto Lordes would descend to the human world.
Those two.
His thoughts drifted onto the words Kaien Shiba had once spoken to Mayuri Kurostuchi.
"If you take her, you will regret it."
Back then he had been confused and a tad bewildered due to Kaien's choice of words, but now, he understood.
How much power would a single hollow have to possess to be able to lead other Vasto Lordes? What sort of figure would other Vasto Lordes and Adjuchas follow?
Clearly it was the one before him.
He did not appear to rule through suppression like the scholars in the Seireitei had envision, but seemed to possess a charisma to him that was unmistakable.
The bearings of a King and leader.
This point was clear when he realized that the other Vasto Lordes stood behind him. These other Vasto Lordes did not come for their purposes, but to follow behind the back of one.
"Have you seen them?" The Vasto of White pressed once again, probably noticing the minute change in his expression.
That damn Kurotsuchi did not know what he had done.
His features remained impassive.
Like he had said, he wasn't a fool. He knew that should he admit anything, it would immediately draw the other party's ire towards the Seiretei. The situation as it was, he would not be able to survive with the odds stacked against him. The most sensible course of action was honestly to retreat. Yet how could he do that and leave the Human World at the hands of Vasto Lordes and Adjuchas?
He couldn't.
Thus, there was only a single option left.
He would have to hold out until reinforcements arrived.
Perhaps only for a minute, or maybe two. Yet at most, he already knew that even that would be difficult. Out of options, he would just have to hope for the best.
The Vasto of White frowned, seeing his unwillingness to answer.
"Don't waste your breath," the blond haired Vasto Lorde stepped forward. "Soul Reapers have never been the kind to interact pleasantly with us, save for that one exception."
The Vasto of White reluctantly nodded. "You will not answer?" The Vasto of White questioned once more.
Met with the sincerity in the Vasto of White's voice, he could not help but at least give a response. "The situation does not allow me to permit it," he responded.
The Vasto of White could take his words as he will. Whether he understands their relevance or not, it didn't matter much to him.
"Then you at least know?" The Vasto of White questioned.
He nodded his head.
The Vasto of White made no indication to show what he thought. Instead, it was the three behind the blond haired Vasto Lorde that reacted.
"We can just beat him for the answers?" The snake-like Vasto Lorde suggested, drawing a hint of displeasure from the green haired one.
"He was at least truthful," the green-haired Vasto Lorde rebutted.
"He is a Shinigami," the snake-like Vasto Lorde spoke pointedly. "How many of our kind do you think he's killed?"
The green-haired Vasto Lorde fell short after the snake-like Vasto's reply.
"Yet we are no different," the blond Vasto Lorde answered in the green-haired Vasto Lorde's stead.
This rebuttal immediately silenced the snake-like Vasto Lorde.
The bat-like Vasto Lorde kept his opinions to himself.
As for the others, the deer and lion like ones were far more vocal. And in fact, they had already moved to attack him.
In which case, the blond-haired Vasto Lorde only shook her head in disapproval, yet didn't stop their actions. After all, Harribel could tell that with Shirou's personality, he would not bring himself to attack unless justified. They didn't know if Byakuya had anything to do with Silent and Lilynette. Thus, Shirou was disinclined to attack on his own accord. Already foreseeing such an event as soon as Shirou entered the Gragantia, she had followed. And as expected, it happened. At least this could serve as practice for Mila Rose and Apacci.
Byakuya had already been preparing himself for an attack, and had been ready to react as soon as he saw Apacci and Mila Rose move.
The dome of thousands of tiny blades began to revolve around him, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
"Hah, as if that could stop us!" Mila Rose grunted as she formed a cero in her free hand. "Apacci!"
"Tch, fine," Apacci clicked her tongue as a wave of sharp petals flew by her. "You should work on your aim Shinigami!" She taunted before halting her charge. She then spread her arms out, a dim red glow forming in between her antlers and just above her brows. "Mila Rose, you better not mess this up."
Byakuya's gaze shifted from both Apacci and Mila Rose.
Senbonzakura.
His trusted partner kicked up a storm of death, from below him, raging around like a hurricane.
Harribel's eyes furrowed watching the scene. "Apacci-"
"Move you idiot!" Mila Rose's voice rung out louder than Harribel's.
Apacci's face contorted in confusion. She had already dodged the Shinigami's attack moments earlier and was readying her own. What was there for her to worry about?
The sound of cutting air reached her ears and she immediately turned around. "Fuck!" Her eyes widened upon seeing a wave of sword petals about to wash over her.
Like the ocean, everything is swept within the waves and washed beneath. One could miss the tides, but one could never avoid it for long. Just as one wave goes past, another will appear.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura," Byakuya spoke decisively. His movements were fluid, the bladeless hilt of his sword pointed in Apacci's direction and willing the previous scattered petals in his first attack to return.
This is what had caught Apacci by surprise. She had left her guard down by believing that she'd dodged Byakuya's attack. How was she to know that every tiny petal-like blade was under his control?
"Apacci, you fool!" Mila Rose yelled.
Apacci's brow twitched from within the hurricane of rose petals. She had heard Mila Rose's remark and was greatly unpleased with it. Even more so when she realized that many cuts were starting to form over her body.
She involuntarily shivered.
If she was still an Adjuchas, there was no way she could survive this sort of attack, yet now. "You think that this is enough to stop me? Dream on!" She yelled, a tower of red spiritual energy erupting from within her and surrounding her. The wounds she had sustained began to slowly heal, the regenerative properties that all hollows possessed kicking in with the addition of a surplus of spiritual energy.
"Cero."
The blast came with the energy one would expect from a Vasto Lorde.
Byakuya immediately maneuvered around the blast, parts of his Haori burning away. He discarded it without another thought. The cero had created a plum of smoke that travelled towards the air. The impact though was enough to free Apacci and send Senbonzakura's petals flying.
Byakuya gripped the hilt in his hand and instantly began directing the scattered blade-petals back to his side.
Instantly, he was one again surrounded in protective dome, his narrowed eyes giving him the appearance of an otherworldly warrior. His noble disposition even added to the effect. His flawless demeanour and bearings already enough to cause many women in the Soul Society to swoon. For hollows though…
"He really pisses me off," Apacci muttered, feeling indignant that she had messed up in front of Lady Harribel.
"Agreed," Mila Rose spoke, still holding her cero in hand.
She was planning to somehow get in close and punch out with her cero. However, seeing the dome of sword petals around Byakuya, she was hard pressed to find an obvious path to victory.
Originally, Mila Rose had planned to maneuver in after Apacci had distracted Byakuya with her Cero. She never would have had expected that not only would Apacci not be able to attack with her Cero, but would be forced to use it to free herself from the enemy's own attack. This Soul Reaper was quite skilled.
Yet the natural advantages of Vasto Lordes were apparent.
Byakuya frowned. He had put in a considerable amount of strength into that last attack, and all he had to show for it were the minor cuts and lacerations around Apacci's body. Either way, she did seem hindered, or effected in the least. And this was what was troubling. If this was just the strength of one, what about the others?
His eyes remained on the battlefield.
Senbonzakura.
He willed his Zanpakuto on once more. His defence was in no way perfect, and he would not give his opponents the time to analyze it.
Byakuya's attacks were as swift as storms yet as versatile as water.
"Damn it!" Mila Rose cursed, shifting her posture and evading the twisting reach of Senbonazakura. However, she wasn't fast enough and had to resort to using the cero in her hand to blow apart the incoming wave of sword petals. Yet little did she know how ineffective it would be.
As soon as Mila Rose had scattered the petals, they had immediately converged back in on her. Unlike Apacci, Byakuya was not willing Senbonzakura to return to him, but instructing it to continuously attack instead.
Up in the distance, Nel's eyes tracked the movement of the battle before she turned to Harribel.
"They've just evolved a short time ago," she stated.
Harribel nodded her head. "They need this practice to understand their own limitations and develop their own experiences."
Nel pursed her lips. "That's a Captain-Level Shinigami. They'll be in danger should they be caught off guard."
Harribel uncrossed her arms. "You forget whose presence this Shinigami is fighting in. They will be fine."
"Then should I go help them Lady Harribel?" Sung-Sun asked.
Harribel shook her head. "You're still injured from the last battle with Grimmjow. You don't heal as fast as Apacci."
Sung-Sun heeded Harribel's words and did not protest.
Back in the battlefield, Apacci was nursing several injuries on her body, yet they weren't life threatening.
"You!" She seethed. "When I get my hands on you'll wish that-"
Apacci's eye twitched as a wave of sword petals cut her off.
"Tch," her pupils dilated. "Mila Rose, what are you waiting for?!"
"No need to tell me!" Mila Rose appeared behind Byakuya who was focusing his attacks on Apacci.
"Got you now," Mila Rose spoke while grinning punching out with her hand.
Byakuya raised a brow, before he completely disappeared in a flash step.
"W-Where?" Mila Rose could not react in time as a torrent of blade petals pressed on her back and smashed her to the ground.
She coughed out blood. "How?"
Byakuya appeared back in the sky. His blank expression seeming to be taunting Mila Rose. Her veins bulged in her anger. What did he know of her power. If it weren't for the fact that she and Apacci were still getting used to their new strength, he would be the one on the ground.
Still, the current situation was infuriating. It was two Vasto Lordes against a single Shinigami, yet the two Vasto Lordes were on the losing end.
It was unacceptable.
Although Byakuya was good, he could not escape from minor injuries. His clothes had become tattered and blood seeped over them in a scant few places. Yet over all, he was doing fine. It was only his spiritual reserves that would become a problem. Fighting against two Vasto Lordes was indeed difficult. He had already used more than half of his reserves to keep the two at bay.
Suddenly, a bright green blast set the night ablaze in a fiery green.
Byakuya's eyes widened. W-What? His left arm fell limply by his side, his expression revealing his incredulousness as pain blossomed from his penetrated shoulder. It had been pierced by a concentrated blast of spiritual energy much like a lance.
All eyes turned to Ulquiorra who remained unfazed. In fact, he did not believe that he had done anything wrong. "You wanted him alive did you not?" He asked calmly. "I incapacitated one of his arms to make it easier."
Ulquiorra was not wrong in his actions from the perspective of the other Vasto Lordes, but to the cat watching in the distance, its eyes turned murderous. Even the man in the hat and clogs a great distance away from the battlefield frowned before pulling his hat further over his face.
"Mila Rose, Apacci," Harribel's voice echoed out. "End it quickly."
With Harribels command, Mila Rose and Apacci's training was over.
"Yes," the two responded.
Byakuya pursed his lips, moving his hand away from his wounded shoulder and focusing on controlling his sword. Yet even still, he could not bring himself to fight at the same capability as he had been before. He could no longer handle the two of them on his own. Perhaps if he had had more time to train the results would have been different, but he would never have had imagined the appearance of so many Vasto Lordes.
His arm was useless, hanging limply by his side as he utilized his speed to just barely avoid any critical blows.
His head swerved to the right as a fist nearly grazed his neck. He grunted as Senbonzakura showered over him and forced the other two a distance away.
Apacci appeared by Byakuya's side, annoyance written all over her face. She did not feel any pride in defeating a Captain-Level Shinigami like this. It was like she was simply a scavenger taking advantage of the spoils of a stronger animal. It was disheartening.
"It ends here," Apacci spoke, clipping Byakuya on the shoulder with a punch. Byakuya was blown back, but she still ended up wincing in pain as hundreds of petal-like blades lacerated her entire arm.
Injured as Byakuya was, there was no doubt that he was still troublesome.
Blood dripped down from Apacci's fingers, trickling down from her forearms which bled the most.
"You aren't looking very good Apacci," Mila Rose jeered.
"Shut it," Apacci spoke. "You're not looking so good yourself."
Mila Rose breathed out through her nose, but did not refute Apacci's statement. Her body was still recovering from the damage Byakuya had been able to land before Ulquiorra had injured him.
Byakuya pulled himself out from the rubble he landed in. His vision swimming, he shook his head to clear it. Blood dripped down from his temples and trickled slowly towards his chin.
With a ragged breath, he once again steadied himself within the air, Senbonzakura gripped tightly in his hand.
He could not understand it, why had help not yet arrived?
With all his preparations, it was impossible that the Soul Society would not immediately come to his aid. Unless some unforeseen circumstances had occurred.
Sweat and blood mixed and dripped down from his arm, his other injuries hampering his movements. The pain was almost unbearable, but with his upbringing within the Kuchiki clan, he was highly resistant to it. Even so, he knew he had his limits. And eventually he would reach them.
The situation as it was, he had no choice but to escape.
His Senkaimon opened up before him.
Yet would he be given the chance to pass through it?
Unlikely.
"You're not going anywhere!" Mila Rose called, taking action exactly as Byakuya had predicted.
He had been naïve in this battle. Even though he had kept his eyes on the movements of the other Vasto Lordes, he had underestimated just how fast their attacks were. He had paid for that mistake with one of his arms.
The Senkaimon was just a short distance away from him, not even ten meters. And yet that distance felt as if it was a mile. Not only had Apacci and Mila Rose reacted to the opening of the Senkaimon, but some of the other Adjuchas who had been watching silently since the beginning began to move.
"The King has not permitted you to leave, Shinigami," one of the Adjuchas said.
King?
Byakuya was injured, yet that didn't mean his mind had shut down.
What was a King?
A King was a being who ruled. Much like the old Kings of the Human World, and the Spirit King himself.
For the hollows, Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde-level at that, to call another hollow their King, had an organization of sorts taken root within Hueco Mundo. A single hollow to lead them all?
Such a thought had untold consequences. Since hollows not only far outnumbered those of the Soul Reapers, but they had strength to even rival them. For the longest period of time, what hollows feared most were not Soul Reapers, but other hollows. This was due to the savagery of a hollow's evolution. Yet, if a ruler appeared and eliminated the infighting of hollows, how strong of a force would that be when the base strength of a Vasto Lorde already exceeded that of a regular Captain?
Byakuya was not in the state to think of such a thing any further.
His sword slashed out at those who would block his path. For a moment, he considered using his Bankai as Apacci and Mila Rose appeared in front of him. However, he knew it wouldn't be as effective when versing multiple opponents. It was even more futile knowing that the other Vasto Lordes would act upon seeing Mila Rose and Apacci at a disadvantage or in danger.
Thus, he would have to tough through it using other means.
Sensing its master's struggle, Senbonzakura cut a path for Byakuya to follow, numerous petal-like swords forming two walls on either side of Byakuya and repelling the horde of Adjuchas.
Yet, such a means would never be able to stop a Vasto Lorde.
Apacci and Mila Rose stood before Byakuya's eyes.
"Give up," was all Mila Rose said before she crossed her arms. She and Apacci could not kill Byakuya for he had the answer to their questions.
At this moment, Byakuya was truly out of options. All that was left, was instinct.
"Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." To pit everything on a single attack.
Regardless of his reservations of using his Bankai before and regardless if the other Vasto Lordes act, this would be his only gamble. With his spiritual energy already running low, he knew that after this one attack, he would be completely spent.
Still, he would have to follow through with it for it was the only thing he could do.
Senbonzakura Kageyoshi was the aspect of his Zanpakuto that focused solely on attack. Discarding all forms of defence. And at this moment, he would use it for an instant to bypass the two Vasto Lordes in front of him.
His attack was as swift as wind.
Apacci's and Mila Rose's expression became startled as they raised their arms in defence.
Harribel's eyes narrowed as she sensed the danger of the coming strike and immediately tossed her blade to intercept.
Byakuya was already at full swing when he sensed a searing pain in his side where a shark-fin blade had stabbed into him. He gritted his teeth and ignored the pain.
To attack without defence, he already knew the consequences even if he only used his Bankai so briefly that no one should have been able to discover its function.
In moments, he had passed by Apacci and Mila Rose and was directly in front of the Senkaimon. Yet he could not take that last step. His energy all but left him, and his muscles stalled and refused to move.
Apacci and Mila Rose were bleeding from stab wounds on their chests, but as Vasto Lordes, their vitality was far higher than any Shingiami's.
They would be fine with rest. But the same could not be said for Byakuya.
Byakuya was resigned. He had done his best yet faltered right at the end, injured and battered.
Hisana.
He knew that the Vasto Lordes had the intention of capturing him after his first exchange with the Vasto of White. However, that had also been a safety measure of sorts. They would not kill him without first extracting information from him. Not only would this blunt the attacks of the Vasto Lordes, but it would make it easier on him to fight without restraint. How could he have had expected that the bat-like Vasto Lorde would immediately shoot through his shoulder moments after the start of the battle.
"It's over Shinigami," Apacci spoke, wiping the blood off of her mouth and reaching over for Byakuya.
Yet at that moment, something incredulous occurred.
Vision at the edge of unclarity, Byakuya could only make out a single image as his body began to drift into unconsciousness from within the closing Senkaimon.
The guilty expression of a black cat.
Elsewhere, if one were to look, the bodies of Ichigo, Karin, and Ishida were no where to be found.
The Soul Society should have been in an uproar after word of a Vasto Lorde's sighting in Karakura Town. However, it was oddly peaceful.
Aizen Sousuke sheathed his sword as he passed by a dazed looking Renji Abarai and an unconscious Rukia Kuchiki. His gaze then landed on 'Kaien Shiba.'
"You did well," was all Aizen spoke.
Kaien clicked his tongue. "You aren't here to save me at the moment," he stated. It was quite obvious since he was still bound by chains of Kidou.
"There will be use of you here rather than in Hueco Mundo," Aizen agreed. "In the mean time, I've prepared for you a reward for your efforts."
Finished speaking, Aizen pulled a small black box from his sleeve and lazily placed it in front of Kaien.
"You'd be surprised by the number of dead hollows you could find at the borders of the King's domain," Aizen spoke offhandedly. "They were mainly Adjuchas, but I'm sure you'd be satisfied with the amount. They are stored within the box using a complex kidou that only you should be able to open."
Kaien's lips parted into a grin, revealing the hollow inside. Aaroniero Arruruerie was quite pleased. To other hollows, dead hollows were not as precious, but to him who was able to absorb a dead hollow's abilities and spiritual energy, it was the equivalent to a massive gift. Not only would his strength increase, but the variety of abilities he possessed would increase as well. The ability to evolve without limit. This was Aareniero's greatest power.
"Then I will remain idle within the Soul Society," Kaien spoke.
Aizen nodded before turning to Renji. It was about time for the hypnosis he had put him through to fade, and with it, his announcement to the Division Commander. In which case, it was time for Aizen to make his exit, a shrewd smile crept across his face.
After he had first arrived back at the Soul Society, he had intercepted the panicked messages of the Spiritual Detection Squad requesting aid, and had altered them to report normal readings. It wouldn't do for the Soul Society to know of the startling number of Vasto Lordes now present. Such a thing would upset the balance and would completely take the Soul Society's attention away for the planned execution of Rukia Kuchiki.
And he could not have that, now could he?
Either way, masking the number of Vasto Lordes he will eventually have under his control would only be a boon for him later when he eventually comes into conflict with the Soul Society. Knowing Shirou though, he would not wait before taking action. Once Shirou knew that the Soul Society had taken one of his companions, he would stop at nothing to save them.
This action was proven to him moments earlier when, regardless of the consequence, Shirou had still gone to the Human World. Moving by one's whims and not by logic, it was still something foreign to him. Yet, intuitively, he had already come up with several methods to utilize this behaviour.
With Ulquiorra's eye having recorded the entire scene before Shirou's arrival, he had no doubts that Shirou would learn of the events that had unfolded in a short period of time and mount an assault on the Soul Society.
This action was definitely beneficial to him, but the only problem was timing. As soon as Shirou discovered what had occurred, there was no telling how soon he would be at the Soul Society's door step with a plan or not.
In which case, he had to think of a way to delay Shirou's date of invasion, and he knew it wasn't going to be a simple matter either. With Kyoka Suigetsu's effect being useless against Shirou, he would have to implement other means. Thus, he would have to act personally to complete such objectives with finesse.
Still,
This was why he had one other place to visit.
To delay Shirou from attacking too early, there was only a single way to appease him.
Walking leisurely through the long halls of the Seiretei at the center of the Soul Society, he pondered silently to himself as he reached his destination.
Knocking, he waited patiently for the man who he wished to meet.
This man was perhaps the entire perpetrator that had set up the catalyst to the Soul Society's precarious situation.
Clearing his throat, he remained calm as an unamused face greeted him. Opening his mouth, he spoke as he placed a hand discreetly at the hilt of his sword.
"Why hello there, Captain Kurotsuchi," his smile was utterly dazzling.
Sung-Sun nearly burst out into laughter as she witnessed Apacci and Mila Rose lose their adversary to a wandering cat that had accidently bumped Byakuya into his own Senkaimon. Yet she knew the situation was not a laughing matter. Still, she couldn't resist spouting a jab.
"Truly you two are the epitome of grace and fearlessness, but alas, to think a simple cat would be your match. How unfortunate," Sung-Sun snickered.
"Bitch!" Apacci's brow twitched in irritation. "I didn't see you do anything!"
"Humph, if I had, do you think we would be having this exact conversation? Obviously not. Instead, we would be asking that Shinigami for answers."
Apacci stewed in her own anger, wishing to yell out, but a look from Harribel silenced her.
Harribel was looking at Shirou who had not said a word since the fight with Byakuya had began.
Instead, he seemed to be staring quizzically at empty air.
However, it was simply because Harribel and the others could not see what Shirou was seeing.
A floating armoured man stood before Shirou with his arms crossed. His attire was that of a samurai with long white robs tied together by a sash by the waist. Over the man's face was a red oni mask. This floating man was precisely, Senbonzakura.
"Do you know where my friends are?"
Senbonzakura gave a disinterested nod as he crossed his arms.
This had been how Senbonzakura had been standing since the beginning of the fight between Byakuya, Apacci, and Mila Rose.
"Will you tell me?" Shirou asked within his mind.
Sennbonzakura shook his head, saying nothing as he faded away and reappeared in a world of unlimited blades.
Shirou sighed at this result. It was reminiscent of how Kyoka had acted when they had first met.
He would have to make some headway somehow with Senbonzakura to get his answers. As for Byakuya, it was exactly how Harribel had guessed, but more than that. He could tell from Byakuya's personality that even if he had been captured, there was no way that the man would reveal any answers. Thus, instead of focusing on Byakuya, he had been focusing on Senbonzakura instead. Yet that did not give any results either.
He sighed, already feeling worried that he could not sense Lilynette's spiritual signature, let alone Silent's. What had happened in this town?
"What should we do now?"
The one who spoke was Ulquiorra.
Shirou didn't even need to think before he answered.
"We search," he said simply. With the sheer number of Adjuchas that followed him to the human world, they would be able to search the entire town within minutes of exploration. This process would only quicken with the aid of the other Vasto Lordes.
At that moment, another voice put a stop to what Shirou had suggested.
"Wait."
Following the voice, all eyes turned to its owner.
Coyote Starrk stepped out from a Gargantia in an unmistakable rage. Held in one of his arms was an unconscious Lilynette, and in the other, an eyeball.
"What is going on?"
Chapter 16: What it Means to Protect: Part 1
Ulquiorra looked on silently as Starrk arrived.
"Starrk," Shirou called before his gaze remained on Lilynette before frowning. "Is she okay?"
Starrk nodded, but his gaze was rather stern for someone who normally lazed around for most of the day. It was evident that Lilynette's injuries had drastically changed his mood, although he still did appear nonchalant.
"What happened?" Starrk repeated.
Shirou didn't really know how to respond. Apart from Apacci and Mila Rose dealing with the Shinigami, he knew just as much as everyone else around him; namely, nothing of use.
It was at this point while Shirou and everyone else was struggling for an answer that Ulquiorra Cifer stepped forward while stretching a hand out towards Starrk.
Starrk raised a brow, but quickly understood what Ulquiorra wanted after noticing the direction of his gaze.
"My eye," Ulquiorra said simply.
Starrk stared at the eye in his free hand, but was still confused. When Lilynette had first dropped injured in front of him, he didn't think much about the other things that appeared along with her. At the time, he was far more concerned about Lilynette's well being. He may not say it, and he may not show it in his actions either, but he depended on her; her existence, something that could never be replaced. And seeing her injured, it was enough to instantly rouse him into action.
Without much thought into it, Starrk then gave Ulquiorra back his eye.
"You'll all see what happened in a moment," Ulquiorra spoke before then crushing the eye in his hand.
From the crushed eye, a thin film like dust was squeezed out as the eye reduced itself to ashes. This thin film then began to show images of things that the eye had seen from the hands of Aaroniero.
After each scene, Shirou's gaze grew more and more morbid, while Starrk's remained the same up till the point when Lilynette involved herself in the matter.
By the time the images faded away, no one spoke a word, all eyes turning solely towards Shirou.
Just from what everyone had seen, it was all but guaranteed that Silent had been apprehended by the Soul Society and would probably be placed in fortified holding.
Even still, Shirou only furrowed his brows before coming to a decision. Brans had been the first to come down to the Human World with Silent, and knowing his personality, he would not have attacked unless forced. Meaning, that Brans would have surely tried to reason with his attacker, yet Kisuke still attacked him anyway.
Thinking a step further, he began to process things from an objective perspective. An ability he had reluctantly picked up after many years of understanding his own intuition, and his own experiences. Aizen was on the side of the Shinigami, but in reality, his interests never lied within the Court-Guard-Squads. Meaning that his allegiances were questionable, but ultimately not against those who dwell in Hueco Mundo. That is, based on his behaviour and general disposition to hollows.
Kisuke on the other hand appeared to be a third party unrelated to the Soul Society at all. However, if that was so, why then would Kisuke act in favour of the Soul Society and attack Brans? As a Shinigami, it was only natural for them to hunt and slay hollows, however, not to the extent that Kisuke had displayed. In fact, it was almost as if Kisuke was trying to find information on certain matters rather than attack for the reason he had specified to Brans at the beginning.
This information was provided by Brans himself, and conveyed to Starrk who shared them with Shirou after watching the recording in Ulquiorra's eye.
Soon, Shirou was able to get a rough picture of the current situation and the current players on the board.
Aizen was a mystery. Someone who may, or may not be trusted.
"Trusted of course," Kyoka's voice echoed in Shirou's mind.
"Oh, shut up," Gae Bolg grumbled.
Shirou ignored the spirits banter.
As for Kisuke, he was also an unknown, but he may have some relation with the Soul Society. This assumption was only further solidified after taking the time to look for the orange haired boy and his sister that were recorded in the eye, but finding nothing on the ground below.
They must have been moved. And the only one capable of doing that in the chaos must have been Kisuke Urahara. It wasn't a bad thing though, rather it was commendable as he had saved the two from any danger incurred by the battle between Apacci and Mila Rose verses the Shinigmai captain. Still, he couldn't help but speculate what a man like Kisuke had in mind with the humans.
However, that matter could be saved for another time. Presently, there was something far more pressing.
"If the Shinigami will not release one of our own, then we will leave them with no choice," Shirou spoke decisively.
An air of excitement and blood lust filled the area. What hollow would not grow excited thinking about attacking the base of their most hated enemies?
Harribel, Starrk, Nel, and the rest didn't voice any complaints, and silently decided to come along.
For Harribel, it was just something she felt inclined to do. To follow Shirou for the type of hollow he was.
For Starrk, it was for a debt to be repaid. Aaroniero had risked his life to save Lilynette, the least he could do was attempt to save him.
Nel however, was different. She didn't fight just to follow after Shirou's back, nor did she have any obligations. It was just that living outside of the Vasto of White's domain, all she had heard of the famed hollow was his terrifying strength. And after meeting him in person, she understood that the rumours regarding him were true on some levels, but false on others. He didn't attack without reason, nor did he appear heartless, rather he cared too much.
And it was because of this reason that Shirou cared too much that she knew that he was a friend she could not let go of. He would never betray her, or move against her best interests.
It would be too much of a shame if Shirou were to die. Besides, Pesche and the rest enjoyed living in the Vasto of White's domain. If asked, she could reason that she was fighting for a stake at her home.
It was only Ulquiorra who put on an expression of incomprehension.
"I do not understand," Ulquiorra spoke after a moment of contemplation. "You wish to save a companion?" He asked, staring at Shirou.
Shirou nodded without hesitation.
"Then what do those that follow you mean to you?" Ulquiorra asked, his gaze moving towards the other Vasto Lordes and even the groups of Adjuchas-class hollows. "You all will go and try to save a single companion, but what about the losses? Surely you don't believe you won't suffer any casualties? Are their lives worth any less than your companion's?"
Ulquiorra's words were reasonable and apathetic. In fact, looking at it from a logical perspective, it didn't make sense to risk the loss of one's strength for something so insignificant when compared to a whole.
Because of this, even Nel and many other hollows couldn't help but frown. It was only Harribel who remained unmoved, her expression normal as she had a firm belief in sacrifice.
"In the face of absolute power, what use is that reasoning?" Starrk asked instead, when a conflicted expression appeared on Shirou's face. "If you have the power to defend all, then your arguments mean nothing."
Ulquiorra had no words to respond to Starrk's answer, but Shirou couldn't help but feel that there was something wrong with it. However, he wasn't sure on what was wrong about it either, just that it was he who should answer Ulquiorra's question. For Ulquiorra, and for those listening in the crowd.
"Even if it may be wrong," Shirou began. "It's still something I must do."
The group of hollows stood still, a majority of them even straightening their backs. Shirou's words were simple, but the effect they had was far more effective than anything people like Aizen or Kisuke could have had come up with. After all, if Shirou would sacrifice everything for a single comrade, doesn't that mean he'd do the same for them?
Ulquiorra stared quizzically at Shirou, as if he was some puzzle he could not possibly solve. "I do not understand," he could not help but mutter. Objectively speaking, weren't the weaker Adjuchas just running towards their deaths? Shouldn't they be feeling depressed for throwing their lives away? Yet their appearance spoke otherwise. They were invigorated. He truly could not understand how such meaningless words could spark such a reaction. His eyes once again trailed towards Shriou's figure, curiosity and something else filling his gaze.
It was in fact, this something else, that caused him to follow after Shirou in the first place.
As Aizen had not specified anything of him at the moment, and this strange feeling had yet to be resolved, he walked slowly towards the opened Gragantia Shirou had created along with the rest.
Moments later, not a single hollow remained in the skies above Karakura Town.
Realizing this, a man wearing a hat and clogs pushed his hat down over his head and silently walked off into the distance, disappearing an instant later.
Ichigo's body was aching all over, and even the slightest of movements elicited the sounds of protest.
What happened?
Images flashed through his mind.
A friend.
A battle.
His inability and the ones who suffered through it.
Almost unknowingly, his expression darkened, his muscles tensing and his eyes flashing open.
Above him was a plain roof with an overhead fan spinning lazily, almost mockingly. Yet he knew such a misconception was due to his own frustration. Beneath him was a futon, and beneath that were hard tatami mats that seemed oddly familiar, yet he couldn't bother to care at the moment as the initial grogginess left him. What came instead, were the final memories before he had passed out.
Karin! Mom!
Like a startled cat, he sprung up, his muscles groaning in protest as acute pains came from his stabbed chest area. He didn't pay much attention to it and instead frantically looked around the room before relaxing somewhat when he saw the sleeping form of his sister Karin opposite from him. Still, he didn't relax fully. How could he when he remembered exactly what happened that night.
The departure of Rukia Kuchiki.
And the sudden appearance and sacrifice of one he had thought long dead.
"Damn it!"
The sound of his fist colliding with the hard floor echoed throughout the room, a considerable portion of the skin covering his knuckles scraped off. He didn't care though.
He was just too furious at himself.
He was weak.
No, not even weak, insignificant to the point where he couldn't even stand and fight for those he cared about.
"Now now, Kurasaki, you should take it easy after your injuries," the voice came with the subsequent opening of the sliding door adjacent to the room.
He stared confused for a moment before he connected the appearance of the man to the one in his memories. "Hat-and-clogs?"
Hat-and-clogs pouted, but then opened up a fan to hide behind. "It's Kisuke. And is that anyway to call your saviour? I vaguely recall pulling your ungrateful self out of harms way. Of course, with the other two as well."
His eyes widened when he heard Kisuke say 'other two.'
If Karin was one, then maybe-?!
"I'm probably not who you were hoping for," Ishida spoke as he stepped into the room. Bandages covered his arms and chest, but he didn't seem too worse for wear.
"Ishida, I," he began before Ishida raised a hand.
"Save it Kurosaki," Ishida spoke. "Urahara has already told me what happened."
Ishida wore a stern expression. Based on what Urahara had told him, it was more than likely that who the Shinigami had taken was his fellow Quincy. And how could he call himself a Quincy if he just stood by and did nothing while one of his own had been captured? Especially one he had gotten to know in the course of several days of training. She indeed wasn't able to speak, but it was clear to him that she was gentle by nature. The fondness in her expression when she stared at the world around her, and the way she would earnestly copy his training methods to improve herself at an astonishing fast pace; they were all signs pointing that she must have only unlocked her powers recently and was still adjusting to them.
The fact that she was taken was quite grating on Ishida's nerves. He had been unable to do anything aside from speak out. And what good were words in a battle?
Ishida's irritation was clear for all to see, his back unnaturally straight, and a brooding look over his face as he contemplated his next actions.
At the moment, Ichigo just didn't know what to think. Instead, he finally collected himself enough to voice his concerns. "Rukia, what are they going to do to her?" He asked for clarification.
"Well," Kisuke folded his fan and sat down at the corner of the room before replying grimly with a tilt of his hat. "She broke one of Soul Society's greatest laws. As a group that has been established for an untold number of years, they are heavily inclined towards tradition. Laws are Iron Clad to them after all."
"Get to the point," Ichigo spoke irritably.
"They'll kill her you fool," a black cat spoke walking towards Kisuke and siting itself firmly on his lap.
The answer shocked Ichigo. "B-But isn't she still one of their own?!" He demanded.
"And this is why I was trying to be less direct about it, Yoruichi." Kisuke sighed, yet still began petting Yoruichi's back. "It prevents the trouble."
Ichigo glared at Kisuke.
"Which is why I always preferred the direct approach," Yoruichi spoke before licking her paws clean. "Still, you can't change what the Soul Society has decided aside from rare occasions."
Ishida grunted from the corner of the room in an unspoken sign of agreement, his arms crossed together as his gaze appeared unfocused.
"Then," Ichigo's mouth suddenly went dry, but regardless he had to know. "Then what about…"
Ichigo didn't even need to finish for others to understand who he was referring to.
"That," Yoruichi was left at a loss. Clicking her tongue and, in a rare occasion, glared at Kisuke.
Kisuke scratched at his head awkwardly. "Now c'mon Yoruichi, he wasn't that bad, and besides he's helped out the Soul Society in his own ways."
For some reason, the expressions Ichigo could see on Kisuke and Yoruichi's faces sent a numb feeling coursing through his body. He swallowed before insisting.
"Tell me," he then demanded when moments later neither of the two spoke.
"Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of Squad Twelve, but better known as the overseer of the Research and Development division of the Soul Society," Ishida began, recalling what he had heard from Rukia's own mouth. "He has quite a reputation involving him and his experiments that most Shinigami fear staying in close contact with him."
Kisuke gave a sour look to Ishida as Yoruichi bore at him with her eyes, as if questioning his past decisions. Unable to bear the attention, but unwilling to admit it, Kisuke once again opened his fan and hid behind it. "In my defence Yoruichi-"
"If you say 'in the pursuit of science,' I will gouge your eyes out," Yoruichi warned.
"…" Kisuke wisely kept his mouth shut, and instead turned his eyes towards Ichigo.
"Experimentation," Ichiog muttered. His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it still echoed across the small room.
Karin, who appeared unconscious at the other side of the room seemed to tremble, but it didn't appear as if she was awake.
"From what I know of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, he is a scientist with little to no ethics involved with his research," Yoruichi spoke seriously. "The longer Mayuri has to research, the less likely it is for the subject to survive."
Without warning, Ichigo stood up and grabbed Kisuke by the collar. The abrupt action forced Yoruichi to jump off Kisuke's lap and land gently on the ground, a twitch on her eye.
"Calm down, Kurasaki," Kisuke spoke, raising one of his hands to persuade Ichigo to release him. "With your strength, what can you possibly do?"
The knuckles of Ichigo's hands were white, his eyes slanted, and a furious glow to his face. This glow was in fact his remaining spiritual energy running rampant like river torrents, causing a disturbance in the air and producing a faint wind.
Ichigo's hands shook after processing exactly what Kisuke had said. It was true. What could he do?
He was weak.
His sword was broken.
Could he even call himself a Shinigami anymore? The power that he had once been able to feel was now out of his reach. Instead, all that he was left with was the tiniest of portions that was just enough to convince himself that he still had his power.
With that thought in his mind, he weakly released his grip on Kisuke's collar and clicked his tongue.
"Is that all, Kurasaki?" Ishida spoke, pinching the bridge of his nose before shaking his head in disapproval. "Surely there is a way to regain your strength." He then turned his gaze towards Kisuke. "Isn't that right?" He intoned. "You wouldn't have saved Ichigo and help bring up this matter if you didn't have a means to aid him. Am I right?"
Kisuke smiled wryly. "Indeed, I do know of a way or two," Kisuke admitted. "However, whether or not Ichigo is capable enough to survive it is another matter entirely. Now the question is," Kisuke turned towards Ichigo, "are you willing to accept the consequences?"
There was a silence in the room, but it was clear that Ichigo had already made his decision from the moment Kisuke had verified a method to recover. "Do you even need to ask?" His intentions were not something that could easily be misunderstood. "Of course, I'd accept."
"Even if you become something you may regret?" A light flashed in Kisuke's eyes from beneath his hat.
After Ichigo made up his mind, nothing would be able to change it. "If this method can grant me the strength necessary to save them, then you should already know that my answer remains the same."
The ticking of a wall clock echoed within the small shop in a distant part of Karakura town, the sound causing a strange tenseness to form.
Kisuke idly sat back down, and Yoruichi once again made herself comfortable on his lap. "Is that decision the same for you, Ms. Kurosaki?"
All eyes turned to the startled figure of Karin Kurosaki who was lying still at the corner of the room.
"There's no point in continuing to pretend to be sleeping any longer," Yoruichi sighed. "Besides, just like Ichigo, it's easy to tell what kind of personality you have."
"Then count me in too," Karin abruptly sat up. Her hair was disheveled, and bags were forming under her eyes, but it was apparent that she wouldn't let any of that stop her. Even the sound of her voice was calm and determined, not a trace of hesitation as she finally realized the extent of what exactly her brother had gotten involved in.
She knew that it wasn't her imagination about what happened on that night. Even more so when she and one of Ichigo's friend defeated one of those monsters quite recently. More than anything though, she couldn't allow herself to stay out of this. How could she when it involved her mother?
Sitting up, she involuntarily shivered remembering what her mother had endured to protect them the previous night. Evidently, Ichigo was too, his expression growing colder and colder. Still, there was another emotion in his eyes that was quite apparent. Fear.
"No," Ichigo immediately denied. "It's too dangerous, Karin."
Instantly, Karin's expression grew furious. "And it's not for you!" She argued.
"Just listen to me, Karin. It's different alright!" Ichigo yelled in frustration.
"How?!" Karin pushed herself to her feet and glared. "It's okay for you to go and risk your life to gain strength, but not me? How could you possibly think like that! You don't know what its like to worry about whether or not someone else you love will get taken away from you." Karin grew quiet, lowering her head as moisture gathered in her eyes. "It already happened with, mom."
Ichigo was speechless, his mouth opening, but no words coming out despite how much he wanted to refute Karin's words.
"You can't stop me," Karin lifted her head, her expression scathing. "No, I won't let you stop me. I couldn't do anything before. I, I was helpless, and I won't allow myself to feel that way again."
Her word said, Karin then opened the sliding door of the room and walked out.
"Karin wait, we're not done here!" Ichigo called out after her, but got no response.
"That was quite insensitive of you, Kurosaki," Ishida spoke with a shake of his head. "If you truly wanted her to back out, then direct confrontation is not the way to go about it. As things stand now, there's no way you are going to get her to change her mind."
Ichigo grunted and kicked at the floor. "Damn it, why won't she listen to me?" He muttered to himself. Karin and Yuzu had always heeded his warnings, never protesting as they shared a trust between siblings. They should have known that all he wanted was to keep them safe.
However, what Ichigo didn't understand was Karin and Yuzu's feelings knowing the danger he was walking into. It was like sending a loved one to a war where one didn't know if they would return or not. That feeling of uncertainty was not a comforting one.
And now that Karin was presented an opportunity to fight along side her brother, how could she possibly feel when said brother refused even with good intentions. Mere frustration was not enough to describe it.
"Ishida, you," Ichigo began, but couldn't find an appropriate response, causing him to scowl as there was sense in Ishida's words.
"Now now, Kurosaki, you should calm down for now," Kisuke spoke. "As things stand at the moment, there's no harm in letting your sister try. In fact, you can even go first to demonstrate. Based on how lively you are, you should be up for the task, even more so no that time is of the essence." Kisuke nodded his head and Tessai walked into the room and motioned for both Ichiog and Ishida to follow.
"You should go as well," Kisuke spoke to Ishida. "You'll find the training space I have quite adequate to suit your needs."
Ishida blinked, but then nodded when moments later Ichigo followed Tessai without hesitation. Ishida followed soon after.
"I don't like this situation," Yoruichi spoke in the silence created after everyone but herself and Kisuke left.
Kisuke hummed in agreement. "Often matters out of our hands are the hardest to deal with and predict. That being the case, how has the training been going for that other group of friends?"
Yoruichi absently inspected her claws before replying. "They are doing considerably well, but with their current level of power, I'm not sure if they will be up for the coming task. Especially with what we've seen recently."
"Vasto Lordes," Kisuke mused. "They're rare even in Hueco Mundo, but to think so many of them would appear together in the Human World."
"Could it be Aizen?" Yoruichi asked with a frown. "The ramifications of such a thing is not something to be taken lightly. At least if the situation was like that, then I believe it would be best to inform Shinji and the others. Especially knowing the current level of the captains of the Thirteen-Court-Guard-Squads."
Kisuke placed his fan down on a table and took off his hat before staring at Yoruichi. "Let's not get too ahead of ourselves," Kisuke began as he placed a hand under his chin. "Although it seems unlikely, and I was never one to trust my gut like those battle hungry maniacs, this really doesn't appear like something Aizen would do. Though I can discern that he may have had had a hand in a few related matters."
Yoruichi raised a brow. "And how would you know this?" She asked.
"A scientist's intuition," Kisuke smiled smugly.
"Humph," Yoruichi snorted. "It takes one to know one I suppose."
"I'll just take that as a compliment," Kisuke said to avoid any arguments. "For now, we really don't have much time. If my assumption of where those Vasto Lordes and hollows went was accurate, the Soul Society may just have their hands full at the moment. Meaning this time-frame is our only opportunity to prepare for the retrieval of Rukia Kuchiki. We can't allow her and what she possesses to fall into Aizen's hands."
Serious matters over, Kisuke revealed a grin and placed back on his hat. "What's say you and me get down to business and show them 'rotten kids' the ropes, eh?"
Yoruichi deadpanned, a twitch forming on her brow. "No more T.V. for you."
"How is the Captain, Unohana?" An old man walked into the medical bay of the Fourth Division of the Court-Guard Squads.
The Fourth Division was the squad in charge of healing and relief teams. Because of this, a majority of the other squads looked down on the fourth for their lack of combat strength, and none more so than the battle maniacs of the eleventh division. Said members of the Eleventh division even going out of their way to hassle any members within the Fourth's barracks.
However, today was different.
A Captain was hospitalized after all.
"He's stable for now Head-Captain," Unohana Retsu bowed politely.
She was a woman of moderate stature who had her long black hair parted down the middle and tied into a small bundle that ran down her back. On her person, she wore the standard Captains Haori with the number four emblazoned on its back. She was the Squad Captain of Squad Four.
"What could have had happened in the human world?" Unohana asked with a frown. "And why didn't we receive any reports if a hollow strong enough to injure a Captain appeared?"
She directed this question to Head-Captain Yamamoto who stood with a frown. Indeed, he did not get any reports regarding the matter despite its importance. This was something he could not understand as the surveillance teams on the Human World were trained to immediately report any abnormalities.
Of course, if Head-Captain Yamamoto could not answer the question, neither could the other Captains in the room answer it.
"Perhaps there's a traitor in our midst?" A Captain with silver hair and sly smile stepped forward. "Never know when one might turn up."
"Care to share then Gin?" Aizen spoke softly from the side.
Gin Ichimaru's lip twitched upon seeing Aizen before his eyes narrowed sharply, something that the youngest Captain in the room did not miss.
Toshiro Hitsugaya seemed to detect something from the interaction between Gin and Aizen, but didn't bring up the matter as he instead grew perplexed by it. Did one of them know something?
It can be said that for a kid to be promoted to a Captain at such a young age, his skill would have had had to have been exceptional. His mind and comprehensive skills were no exception. Even if he looked young, a boyish appearance with long spiked silver hair and immature features, he was not someone to be underestimated.
For now, Toshiro kept his curiosity to himself, and didn't speak for fear of speaking out of line like Gin Ichimaru who didn't seem concerned about such things. Then again, Aizen was here to reprimand such behaviours.
At that moment, Renji Abarai burst through the doors, carrying with him Rukia Kuchiki and a bound Kaien Shiba.
Rukia was unconscious at the moment, hanging limply from Renji's shoulder while Kaien trailed leisurly from the back, a sheepish expression on his face that changed upon spotting a long white-haired man standing in the corner of the room next to a row of Captains.
Evidently, Kaien's expression wasn't the only one that changed, almost everyone had some sort of reaction to Kaien's appearance aside from Mayuri. Even Head-Captain Yamamoto couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"C-Captain?" Renji had to blink multiple times as he saw Byakuya's injured form on the hed being attended by Unohana. "But that's impossible," he muttered. How could Byakuya have been injured so badly? It shouldn't have taken him too long to return to the Soul Society and report, but here was his Captain now? It felt as if a portion of his memories were missing, but he just couldn't make sense of it.
As Renji was momentarily left at a loss, the Captains were focusing their attention on the trembling back of the Captain of Squad Thirteen, Jushiro Ukitake. He was a man with long white hair that flowed directly over his back, and he had broad features that made him appear friendly. Yet at the moment, those friendly features were displaying an expression of shock that didn't abate until another Captain placed a hand on Jushiro's shoulder.
This Captain was the leader of Squad Eight, and best friend of Jushiro Ukitake, Shunsui Kyoraku. He was a tall man with long brown hair tied into a pony-tail that fell over his flower designed Haiori. Out of all the other Captains and people resent, only he had any idea about what Jushiro may be feeling at the moment. After all, Squad Thirteen had only ever had one Lieutenant. And that Lieutenant was Kaien Shiba. A Shinigami long thought to be dead.
"K-Kaien?" Jushiro spoke hesitantly.
"I'm sorry for worrying you Captain," Kaien spoke softly, his expression guilt ridden. "But that was a battle I alone had to face to avenge Miyako and let her rest in peace."
His words were enough to eliminate any of Jushiro's doubts. After all, aside from himself and Rukia, no one was able to witness Kaien's death. Thus, the words Kaien spoke struck home with Jushiro who immediately grew enraged when he noticed the restrictions placed on Kaien in the form of sealing Kido.
"What is the meaning of this?" Jushiro immediately demanded of Renji, startling Renji from his stupor.
The other Captains remained silent watching the scene. After all, Jushiro wasn't a fool and definitely would not be able to mistake the identity of his cherished Lieutenant. The indignation found in Jushiro's voice was even more of an indication about Kaien's identity.
Renji was speechless under the questioning of a Captain level Shinigami, but he quickly pulled himself together after seeing the state Byakuya was in.
He ignored Jushiro and immediately turned to Head-Captain Yamamoto.
"Reporting!" Renji yelled. "By the orders of Captain Kuchiki, I have come to deliver news of an abnormal power arriving within the Human World, yet it appears I have arrived too late." Renji bowed his head, knowing that he had failed in his mission.
Yamamoto furrowed his brows. "Then you do not know of what happened in the Human World to Captain Kuchiki?"
"No, Captain, I do not," Renji admitted. "Captain Kuchiki had me evacuate the area along with Rukia Kuchiki and Lt. Kaien Shiba before the enemy arrived. Captain Kuchiki deemed us too weak to be of any use."
"Then why is Kaien bound in kido?" Jushiro asked from the side after getting permission from Yamamoto to speak.
Renji furrowed his brows. "Captain Kuchiki administered the bindings himself. I'm not sure why though."
A woman grunted after hearing Renji's response. She had short black bangs that covered the majority of her forehead, and her hair was tied into pigtails bound with white cloth in a criss-cross pattern. She was Soifon, Captain of Squad Two and leader of the Soul Society's Stealth Forces.
"It's too convenient," Soifon spoke. "You should understand exactly what I mean Head-Captain Yamamoto. Someone presumed dead for all these years suddenly turning up at this precise moment? This is too suspicious. As someone who was once taught by her Byakuya should have been able to understand that."
"Head-Captain, there's no doubt in my mind that he really is Kaien Shiba," Jushiro insisted. "We should release him."
Yamamoto didn't speak right away, rather, he turned his attention back on Renji.
"How exactly did Kaien Shiba appear, and what actions did he take afterwards?" Yamamoto questioned.
Obediently, Renji began to recount the previous events based on what he knew of Kaien and what he saw Kaien do.
"I knew it, he's a spy," Soifon immediately spoke before drawing her sword to Kaien's neck. However, a sudden pressure forced her to stop her blade inches away.
"Sheath your blade Captain Soifon," Jushiro spoke in warning.
The fact that Renji clarified that the Kaien present in the presence of most of the Captains was able to call forth a Shikai was significant. After all, if this Kaien was truly an imposter, it would be impossible to release Kaien's Zanpakuto, Nejibana.
However, that didn't mean Kaien could account for his actions.
"He helped hollows," Soifon spoke coldly. "He created a Gargantia."
"And he should have an explanation for his actions," Jushiro argued, a hint of hesitation flashing across his eyes before it vanished to be replaced with resolve. "Kaien?" He prompted.
Kaien smiled bitterly.
"The only one here who should be able to understand me is you alone Captain," Kaien spoke. "You know of what happened that night. That hollow, it, it somehow merged with me, but there's one thing you should know. It didn't die when Rukia slayed it. Instead, it managed to escape into Hueco Mundo."
Just as Kaien had said, no one other than Jushiro understood the context of what Kaien was saying as they weren't present when the event occurred. However, based on Jushiro was reacting at the moment, it was enough for the others present to get an idea of the truths Kaien spoke.
"I managed to survive in Hueco Mundo." Kaien finished for the time being.
"Why didn't you come back?" Jushiro asked helplessly. "The others and I would have had had helped you."
"I am part hollow," was all Kaien needed to say to silence Jushiro.
After all, a similar case had occurred with the previous captains of the Court-Guard Squads, and they were deemed traitors to be killed on sight, banished from the Soul Society.
"Which gives me all the more reason to end you now and maintain the honour of the Shiba Clan," Soifon spoke putting strength into her sword.
"Stand down, captain," Jushiro's voice was stern, the warning in his voice before disappearing to be replaced with protective hostility.
"There's no more point in questioning him about anything. His actions speak louder than petty words," Soifon argued. "He helped a hollow!?"
No one spoke after Soifon's outburst. Even Head-Captain Yamamoto could find no faults with what Soifon had said.
A Shinigami's duty was to slay all hollows and purify their souls to maintain the natural balance of the world. To aid one was tantamount to treason.
In the tense contemplative silence, Kaien's voice echoed out softly. "I saved you all from a tragedy," he said. "Yet I fear Captain Kurotsuchi's actions may already be unredeemable."
"Saved us?" Jushiro asked curiously.
Kaien looked up, a serious expression on his face that even gave Soifon a start.
"The Vasto of White," was all Kaien said after a moment.
The name itself seemed to carry an unknown weight to it when it came out of Kaien's mouth. Not only did it render all conversations null, it sent a shiver down some of the less experienced Captain's backs.
Everyone present knew just how powerful a Vasto Lorde was, and for this Vasto to carry a title, its strength must have been evident.
Soifon scoffed. "Saved us? Vasto of White? How is any of this related to your actions of saving a hollow, and bringing up Captain Kurotsuchi's name?"
"He is different from other hollows. Hell, if he were a Shinigami he would be the kind of person who'd naturally become a Captain by his own right," Kaien said.
"And you know this how?" Shunsui asked from the side.
Kaien smiled wryly. "If I could not return to the Soul Society, then at least I could contribute by gathering information in Hueco Mondo."
Kaien's words sparked looks of admiration from Jushiro and a few from the others present like Renji.
"Get to your point," Soifon spoke impatiently, yet it was clear that the accusation in her voice had toned down. "How is everything your saying related?"
"The person Captain Kurotsuchi took. He will come for her as he would for any who follow him," Kaien spoke with a hundred percent confidence. "The Vasto of White-"
An explosion rocked the very foundations of the Soul Society, the defensive mechanisms of the Seiretei activating and large walls descending from the red tinted horizon.
"The King of Hollows."