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Author's Note: Okay. This doesn't have many of the teams, so it's approximately a half-chapter even though it's basically the same size as a full one. I figured I might as well post what I had. This means that there will be six chapters, at least. So much for planning. CHAPTER UPDATED - due to finding out Szayel's released form, and a couple of mistakes I made. Thank you, Kaiyunarkamus, for catching those.
Obviously, my story has now turned into an AU thanks to the manga finally moving on.
Thank you all for being patient, please continue to bear with me, especially as I start delving into speculation.
“Hah! What now? Out of options? You’ll regret taking me on!” Jinta swung at Szayel, but the Espada deftly stepped out of the way.
“I guess I have only one choice, then. Slurp, Fornicarás!” Szayel swallowed his sword and began to inflate. In spite of himself, Byakuya took a couple of steps backwards. He did not feel like being squished to death by an overlarge Espada. Nova jumped onto Byakuya’s shoulder, watching from relative safety. Jinta backed up as well, taking up position slightly behind and to the right of Byakuya.
The Espada exploded.
Instinctively Byakuya scattered Sebonzakura to form a protective barrier, and Jinta dodged under the Taichou’s white haori.
The explosive force died down, and Byakuya examined Szayel, trying to figure out what would come next. The dripping tentacles were not a comforting sight.
Peeking out from his refuge, Jinta eyed Szayel. “Wow. And I thought you were ugly before.”
Byakuya repressed a smile. “Jinta, fall back.”
“I can—“
“No, you can’t. This is his Bankai form.”
“I thought Bankai was cool-looking, like freeloader-san. His is hideous.”
“It’s powerful. Not powerful enough to take on me, though. Senkei Sebonzakura Kageyoshi.” Four rows of pink blades formed in the room, surrounding the combatants.
Szayel cast off a slimy liquid, and Jinta went back under Byakuya’s haori while Nova sheltered beneath the Taichou’s hair. Duplicate Byakuyas sprung up around the room, and the real one contemplated the copies, as well as the vastly multiplied amount of pink blades surrounding everyone.
“Nova,” Byakuya whispered. He felt the modsoul shift on the back of his neck. “Can you keep the blades from hitting me?”
“I do not know if I can stop them all.”
Kuchiki nodded.
“Uh, do we try to kill him now?” Jinta had half-stepped out from the haori.
“You are to stay back and alive. You are no match for him.”
Szayel was rather angry. Aizen had explained the strengths and weaknesses in detail of the first group that barged in, but no information had been given on this second group. Sure, from time to time Ichimaru spoke of the various Taichous, but it was mostly to annoy Tousen and not to give any strategic info. And here this one Taichou demonstrated not only a powerful Shikai but a rather threatening Bankai as well.
Byakuya was calm. While the Espada was a match for him in strength alone, he had far more training as well as more abilities. Szayel could claim all he wanted that Byakuya couldn’t touch him; Byakuya proved him wrong time and time again. The clones also were insignificant. He alone could speak with Sebonzakura.
A pair of Byakuya clones swung their Sebonzakura towards Byakuya’s throat. Two pink blades knocked them back, and a third sped towards Szayel’s back with a gesture of Byakuya’s hand. Szayel knocked it away with a wing.
“Having more swords isn’t going to make a difference. I will make you beg for mercy before I’m done. I’ve never had a Shinigami Taichou to experiment on before.”
An eyebrow quirked upwards. If the Espada thought he’d respond to that boring, uninspired taunt, then clearly Szayel knew nothing of him. Wordlessly Byakuya sent five swords thrusting at the Espada from different directions, darting forward to keep from being hit by his clones. They were everywhere, but they were slower. They didn’t have the training or instincts he did.
Szayel knocked the five out of the air.
“Is that it? All your tricks are done?” Szayel moved, faster than before. Byakuya lost sight of him for an instant, and that instant was enough for a strike to carve a shallow gash along Byakuya’s chest. The Taichou’s reaction speed was enough to save him from a serious wound.
Byakuya tilted his head. He did not want to reveal his last Bankai form yet, but the Espada was fast. “Very well. Shukei Hakuteiken.” The blade in Byakuya’s hand turned a blinding white as a pair of wings extended out from his back.
“Even got a halo?” The corners of Szayel’s mouth turned upward, but his eyes didn’t show amusement.
Byakuya had a feeling that the Espada was slightly off-guard. Only one before saw and survived his final attack, and Byakuya doubted Ichigo had told anyone.
To Byakuya’s disappointment, his clones transformed as well. This was not good. There was no way Nova could move all of the clones out of the way should they attack together.
“Can you—“
“I can move you, if there is need.”
Byakuya nodded and dashed forward, flash-stepping past Szayel. He thrust Sebonzakura forward, aiming to plunge the zanpakutou into the Espada’s back. Szayel dodged quickly enough to avoid serious injury, but Byakuya drew blood.
“Too slow, Shinigami. Too slow, too little, and too late.”
Five clones attacked. One connected, even with Nova’s trick. The duplicate’s Sebonzakura was aimed to slice into Byakuya, but it only scored a glancing blow due to Jinta knocking it away. He lost a chunk of his bat for his efforts.
Byakuya charged again, keeping Szayel moving, hoping that the Espada would trip over the tentacles. Szayel thrust a pair of them at Byakuya’s feet. Byakuya had no chance to dodge, but Nova reacted quickly, moving the Taichou out of the way.
Szayel, furious, sent forward a pair of clones towards Nova, but Byakuya sliced them in half. He knew how to wield his blade; they had no such experience. Kuchiki slashed across the distracted Espada’s left arm. Szayel turned and slashed deeply into Byakuya’s right arm.
Byakuya knew an even match when he saw it. This creature was intelligent and fast, and while the clones were no real challenge separately, added to Szayel they were distracting.
“You’re smiling, Shinigami?”
Yes, Byakuya realized, he was. He was fighting something that could defeat him, and he was enjoying it. Maybe Zaraki wasn’t quite as insane as Byakuya had thought. He spun on his right foot as Szayel charged, dodging and slashing. Szayel’s blade caught Sebonzakura for a brief moment before the Zanpakutou began slicing through the other.
Szayel smirked. Byakuya frowned, unsure why the Espada was smirking. Then Szayel began to build up a cero blast. There was no way Byakuya could get out of the way, or disengage Sebonzakura from where it was lodged and tangled in the Espada’s hands.
Byakuya’s mind was racing. He was not about to die here. “Mask of blood and flesh, all creation—“
He wasn’t fast enough. The cero burst from Szayel’s mouth.
“Hisana…” whispered Byakuya. Then he realized that he wasn’t dead. The cero hadn’t hit him. He blinked. Szayel was blinking too.
They heard the explosion from behind Byakuya.
Nova bowed.
Byakuya was the first to recover from startlement, thrusting Sebonzakura deeply into Szayel’s body and twisting. Szayel dug his claws deeply into Byakuya’s chest, twitching as he died.
The Taichou stepped back, letting the Espada’s body fall to the floor. The clones drooped down, becoming puddles. Byakuya eyed the tears in his Shinigami outfit and flesh.
“I can see your ribs.” Jinta at last sounded impressed.
Byakuya grunted, and leaned on the wall.
“You okay, pansy Taichou?”
“I’m not a pansy. I just need a moment.” Byakuya closed his eyes, focusing his strength and allowing Sebonzakura to stop the worst of the bleeding.
There was an odd squishing sound from where Szayel had fallen. Byakuya’s eyes opened. “May I ask why you’re bashing his head in?”
“Quincy-san said that Mayuri didn’t die because he didn’t blast Mayuri’s head. I’m just making sure.”
Byakuya nodded and forced himself back to his feet. “We need to find allies.”
“We can take on anyone! You killed an Espada!”
“And yet you still called me a pansy…” The Taichou was proud of himself. His voice didn’t reflect the weakness he felt. He just had to keep up the show until they found Unohana.
“I believe the healer is that way.” Nova pointed down one of three branches the hallway took.
Byakuya slowly, steadily walked. No matter what, the honor of the Kuchiki family was at stake, and he would reflect his status.
“You walk like you’re drunk.”
And he would not give in to provocation, no matter how tempting.
“Odd? Last time you said that, half of Sereitei exploded.” Isshin took a teasing half-step away from Urahara.
“I’m with the wrong group. Next time I’m with Shinigami, I’m… what am I saying? I’m not going to be with Shinigami again. This is insane.”
Kisuke smiled, paying partial attention to the conversation. “Sanity is no fun. I think we have a little detour to make.”
Tessai glanced at the device in Kisuke’s hand. “What does the glow indicate?”
“I don’t know. That’s why we need to detour.” Adjusting his hat, Kisuke started off, leading them through Aizen’s maze of corridors.
“That’s near where Ichigo was a few minutes ago! We’ll be right near him!” Isshin took the lead from Kisuke, practically bouncing down the hall.
Ryuuken’s head slumped. “Two Kurosakis… I might actually cry.”
“With joy!”
“As if.”
An odd burst of reiatsu came from the room ahead of them, and the group dashed in, weapons at the ready. An Arrancar was picking himself up off the ground, muttering and holding a small cube. He turned to see the newcomers and fixed them with a glare. “You again,” he said to Kisuke.
“Ah, our friend from the forest. I was wondering when we’d meet again. What is that delightful item you’re holding?”
“None of your business. Are you ready to finish what you started?”
“I started? I remember dashing in with Yoruichi to save Kurosaki from what you and… Yammy, was it? started.”
“You saved a Kurosaki? You’re an idiot,” said Ryuuken. He held his bow ready, watching the Espada.
“He didn’t need saving! Kurosakis can beat anything!” Contrary to his upbeat tone, Isshin’s face was grim.
Tessai slowly circled towards Ulquiorra’s right side.
Ulquiorra smirked. “Not to fight me one at a time? No Shinigami pride in you?”
Kisuke laughed. “We don’t have time for pride at the moment. We’ve got a traitor to dispatch.”
“Shinigami never have pride…”
“What are you?” Ulquiorra noticed Ryuuken for the first time.
“Me? I’m the last—“
“—hottest—“
“—Quincy. Shut up, Isshin.”
“Aww…”
“Great seal ninety-nine, part two!” Tessai had finished his quiet chanting, and the black cube crashed down. Ryuuken let loose with several silver-blue arrows, Kisuke sent forward a crimson-colored burst through Benihime, and Isshin attacked with the yellow Thunder Roar Cannon kidou.
There was a pause as the four eyed the debris.
“That might have been slight overkill,” said Ryuuken.
Isshin laughed. “Yeah. Just a bit.”
“It was certainly colorful.” Kisuke slipped Benihime back into her sheath and bent down with Tessai to search through the ashes. “Glad that little distraction didn’t take much time.”
“All the same… he was an Arrancar. Didn’t he die too quickly?” Ryuuken looked around the room as if expected Ulquiorra to appear and attack again.
“Aha.” Kisuke held up the cube, examining it.
“What is it?” Isshin asked.
“I don’t know, yet. But there’s a great amount of reiatsu in it. I wonder if it drained some of his… but… hm. I’ll look it over more closely when I’m back at the shop.” Kisuke pocketed the cube.
“Where now?” Tessai dusted his hands off on his apron.
“This way.” Kisuke pointed to a doorway, and they headed through it.
Matsumoto glanced at Aizen, wondering if this was her opening.
“Here,” said Aizen, thrusting her and Hitsugaya at a skinny Arrancar walking past. “Take them to the dungeon. Kill him if she struggles.”
The Arrancar bowed as well as he could with both Shinigami in his arms. “Yes, Aizen-sama.”
Aizen left as suddenly as he’d appeared.
“Soten ni zase, Hyorinmaru!” The ice-dragon tore upwards through the Arrancar. Matsumoto cleaved him in half width-wise.
She smiled at Hitsugaya as the Arrancar fell to the ground. “Did you have a nice nap, Taichou?”
He glared.
Rangiku tilted her head to the side. “I wonder why he left…”
“I’m not sure, but it might have something to do with that massive reiatsu surge a moment ago.”
“Do we go that direction?”
“No. We get support to help fight Aizen, because we can’t on our own.”
“So which way?”
“North.”
Matsumoto looked around. “Um, Taichou, which way is North?”
Hitsugaya sighed and started walking. Matsumoto followed him.
SoiFon took the chance to catch her breath as well. Her left arm dangled, useless, at her side. One strike of Mayuri’s Ashisogi Jizo had caused that. “Then why didn’t you fight the Arrancar you were with?”
“I wanted to use him.”
Yoruichi’s eyes narrowed from where she was leaning on a wall. His grappling hook left a ghastly slash down her right leg, but she could still fight. “Use him for what?”
“He’s Aizen’s scientist. He knows…” Mayuri reconsidered his words based on reiatsu levels he’d felt earlier. “He knew how to use every tool in the magnificent lab. I needed him. And then Byakuya came charging in and tried to kill us both, so I fled.”
The women exchanged glances. “He does like to run when situations get tough,” SoiFon said.
“Even back when he was Kisuke’s third seat that much was evident.” Yoruichi frowned. “It sounds like it could be true.”
“But it isn’t.” Byakuya walked in, slowly. He was pale and shaky. Sheer force of will held him upright.
“Liar.” Mayuri eyed the weakened Taichou.
Byakuya raised an eyebrow. “What would it profit me to lie?” He met Yoruichi’s eyes. “Kurotsuchi said ‘the plan is that he kills you.’ That implies previous contact and conversation. Kurotsuchi Mayuri is Aizen’s spy.”
“Must be torture to have your lousy timing.” SoiFon smirked at Mayuri, bringing Suzumebachi back up. “Ready to dance some more?”
Byakuya put his arm against the wall, meaning to only get support from it for a moment. He ended up sliding down the wall to sit on the floor.
“Byaku-boi, are you—“
“Fine.” Byakuya cut off Yoruichi, fighting to keep his eyes open. “I simply wish to sit for a moment.”
Yoruichi decided not to call his bluff. She turned her attention back to Mayuri, who had his grapple back in his hands. “Let’s finish this.”
She and SoiFon charged from either side, and Mayuri threw his hook towards Yoruichi. To his surprise, it was batted down by the small boy Kisuke had sent with Byakuya.
“And he enters another battle, taking by surprise all of his oppon—“
Mayuri knocked Jinta out of the way with his free hand before retrieving the grapple. “Nemu, at the very least you can take care of this one.”
“Of course, Mayuri-sama.” Nemu, also covered in butterflies and bruises from when she’d fought alongside Mayuri, stood up and charged Jinta.
“Hah! You’re a Kurotsuchi invention! You’ve got nothing on me!”
“Invention?” asked Cloud, who had been quietly bouncing in excitement while watching.
“She’s a modsoul too,” explained Jinta.
“I am in every way superior to any modsoul from Urahara.” She kicked at Jinta, and he blocked it with the bat.
Nova and Cloud exchanged glances. “Time to make up for being freeloaders,” said the bunny. Nova nodded. Both plushies moved forward, one of them transforming into Urahara as they ran. Jinta swiped at Nemu’s legs while CloudKisuke swung a pseudo-Benihime at shoulder height. Nemu back-flipped with ease, landing behind Nova. She kicked him, and the little plushie went flying.
“I’ve got you!” called CloudKisuke. True to his words, he caught Nova. Nemu swung and struck CloudKisuke in the back, sending him tumbling and transforming back to plushie form. A spiked ball struck Nemu in the midsection.
Omaeda shrugged when Nemu glared at him. “Your taichou’s fighting mine. If I don’t help, mine will make my life miserable for months.”
Nemu pulled out her Zanpakutou and leaped for Omaeda. To her surprise the world vanished for a moment before she fell to the ground, far away from her target.
Cloud transformed again, this time into Matsumoto. He moved to charge, then looked down at himself and bounced a few times experimentally. “Ooh…” He caught Nova’s eye, blushed, and transformed into Renji. “Freeloader-san form for freeloader battle!”
“Look! That’s what freeloader-san looks like!”
Byakuya had a feeling Jinta’s exclamation was addressed to him, as he was most likely the only one in the room with his eyes closed. He opened them. “Ah. I shall have a discussion on proper ways to speak of one’s Taichou with him later, then.”
“Howl, Zabimaru!” CloudRenji extended the Zanpakutou towards Nemu, and connected. She was shoved into a wall, and her head slammed back. Nemu sank to the ground, unconscious for the moment.
Mayuri hissed as she fell. “You’ll regret that. You think that being made by him makes you superior?” He took a step towards CloudRenji, but Yoruichi stepped between them.
“Have you forgotten that we’re your opponents?” She smiled with mock-sweetness. “We’re having too much fun to end the party now.”
SoiFon darted forwards, leading with Suzumebachi.
Mayuri knocked the Zanpakutou away with his own. Flinging the grappling hook, he snagged Nova. With a flick of Mayuri’s left wrist the hook retracted. Mayuri swung Ashisogi Jizo with the right arm, intending to take out the nuisance, but Nova was no longer there. The little plushie was suddenly in one of the room’s corners, examining the tears in his form.
“You’re leaking stuffing!” CloudRenji abandoned the fight to restuff Nova.
“You should transform into Quincy-san. I think he’s always got a sewing kit on him,” advised Jinta. Cloud did so.
Frustrated, Mayuri tried to grab Yoruichi with the same method, but she was too fast for him.
“Why does everyone forget my nickname?” She pulled a knife from her shoe and flung it at his back.
Mayuri deflected it with ease, leaving himself open to a sudden stab by Suzumebachi, exactly where it had landed before. His eyes went wide.
“You have about thirty seconds to regret,” SoiFon said.
Mayuri raised Ashisogi Jizo and stabbed himself in the head, transforming into a liquid that rapidly slid out of the room.
Yoruichi, SoiFon, and Jinta stared.
“Shoulda gotten him in the head,” Jinta said.
“He’ll still die. Suzumebachi doesn’t fail.”
Yoruichi frowned. “We have bigger worries at the moment, though. Let’s hope he’s dead, but be prepared in case he isn’t. Help me carry Byaku-boi?”
“I do not require—“
“Sure. Omaeda, lead the way to Unohana-taichou.”
“Me, taichou?”
“Yes, you. This way when you’re attacked we have enough time to set down Kuchiki and react before being in danger.”
Omaeda went pale, but took his position at the head of the group. Cloud scooped up the mostly-repaired Nova, and SoiFon and Yoruichi supported Byakuya between them.
Jinta grinned. “I’m the rear guard! You can count on me to save you!”
“I wanna be a purse on Yoruichi-sama again.”
“Later.”
“Yay!”
Gin frowned. “I promised I wouldn’t hurt her. I ain’t got a say in what Aizen does. You should know that.”
Hisagi turned to look at Kira, a bit confused. “Wha—“
“So you didn’t hurt her?”
“You didn’t want her hurt. I couldn’t very well ignore my Kira-kun’s wish.”
Isane glanced at both of them, trying to figure out what this meant. Was Ichimaru saying he’d stop if Kira asked him to? She was confused, but for the first time since Unohana-taichou had split off with her from the others she allowed herself to hope.
Kira nodded. “I believe you.”
Gin grinned. “I knew ya would. So. Should I keep this one too?”
Hisagi faced Gin, unsure of what ‘keeping’ Isane meant, but certain it would not be pleasant.
“Matsumoto won’t be enough?”
“Good point. Kill that one fer me, would ya, while I play with this mouse?”
“Omote wo agero, Wabisuke!”
Hisgai whirled around, just barely in time, and blocked Wabisuke narrowly once, twice, and a third time. He could hear Gin talking to Isane again, but focused on Kira.
“What are you doing? I drank with you when he left! I’ve—“ Hisagi blocked another attack.
“He’s my Taichou. Not to mention the incident when we almost died against the Huge Hollows when we were students.”
“I paid back that debt against the Bount!”
“You paid it back to me. But are you forgetting that he saved us?”
“He didn’t do it a—“ Hisagi stopped, realizing what he was about to say.
“No, he didn’t. You owe your life to Aizen too, like I do. Thus, when one says kill…” Kira shrugged as if to show he had no choice.
At least he didn’t look happy about this, Hisagi thought briefly. He opened his mouth to speak his Zanpakutou’s release, but had his concentration interrupted when his it became too heavy to hold. “What in Sereitei?” It was then he remembered Wabisuke’s special attack. How could he forget that in the heat of battle?
Kira’s face was grim as he looked at the bent-over Hisagi.
Hisagi realized he was vulnerable and dropped his Zanpakutou so he could stand up. He could fight with kidou, then. He took a step backwards, and onto Shinsou. His eyes went wide as he saw the tip protrude from his ribs.
“Don’t want Kira-kun to be too upset, ya know? He’d be sad for days if he had to kill his little friend.” Gin retracted Shinsou, blocking a thrust from Isane’s Itegumo. “Kira-kun, run along and catch Aizen, will ya? He may not have noticed tha old three Taichous with these ten. He’d wanna know.”
Hisgai stumbled, grabbing the wall for support. He wasn’t hurt that badly, he told himself. Maybe just a lung was punctured. That would explain the difficulty he was having taking a breath. He leaned back against the wall, trying to stay calm. He could attack with kidou still… no, he couldn’t, he realized. He couldn’t gather his reiatsu, for some reason.
Kira looked at Hisagi. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. Then, in a louder voice, “Of course, Taichou.” He turned and left.
“Kira!” Isane screamed. “Kira Izuru! I will—“
Gin cut her off. “Whatever ya do, ya have to get through me first.”
Isane crouched down, trying to keep from crying. Tears would only make it harder to see. Hisagi was still breathing, but his eyes were fluttering and his reiatsu felt, for lack of a better word, spiky. He was losing control. If not for Gin, she could save Hisagi. She had the skill and talent to do so. She had to beat this former Taichou quickly.
Gin’s head turned slightly, he was looking past her. She swung Itegumo at Gin’s sword-arm and was ecstatic when she struck. His attention snapped back. Gin looked angry as he thrust Shinsou at Isane too quickly for her to dodge completely. Shinsou pierced through her left arm. Isane held back any noise, but it was difficult. She’d never felt this much pain before, and the noise as Shinsou snapped through her bone nauseated her. Blood was spurting from her arm; he’d hit the artery there.
“I don’t have time ta play, it seems.” Gin’s voice was calm, making her wonder why she’d read his faced as angry before. “Ukitake’s gonna get here before yer dead if I take my time like I wanna, but I can’t leave someone alive who knows Kira’s been workin’ fer us.”
Isane glanced over at Hisagi and realized, horrified, that she could no longer feel his reiatsu. A detached part of her mind noted the amount of blood pooled around his body. His eyes were open and vacant.
“Yer death will be quicker,” Gin said. “Ikorose, Shinsou.” Shinsou pierced through her heart and retracted. Isane fell to her knees before tumbling face-first to the ground. Gin was vexed. He finally had a chance to toy with two Shinigami, and Ukitake started heading his direction. If only Kira and Hisagi hadn’t wandered this way…
Ukitake and Ururu burst around the corner to see a bored-looking Gin wiping Shinsou on Isane’s robes. “No…”
For a moment Ichimaru wasn’t sure why Ukitake looked so upset. Then he grinned. “Lost another two fukataichous, did ya? Kaien years ago to one of Aizen’s pretty little Hollows, and now Shuuhei and Isane to one of Aizen’s followers. Isane’s the sister of one of yer hyperactive pair, too, ain’t she. With all yer failures, it’ll be a wonder if Yamamoto keeps ya around.”
“Aizen’s Hollow?” The hand unsheathing Sogyo No Kotowari froze midway.
Ichimaru’s eyes opened, meet Ukitake’s brown ones. “He made that Hollow, ya know. He made all tha ones with special abilities that’ve been showin’ up and killin’ Shinigami. Tha whole thirteenth was meant ta die that day. Ya got lucky that yer fukataichou had more guts than ya and attacked first.”
“I hadn’t realized Aizen was quite so deprived.”
“Come here to talk ta me, or fight me?”
“Bankai.”
“Bankai.”
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