(Living World: Soken's Grave)
Uryu and Ichigo made their way to the final resting place of their teacher and grandfather. It's been half a month since they finally went to Soul Society, half a month since Aizen's treachery was revealed, half a month since Uryu found his grandfather's killer, half a month since Soken's dream and the dream of many Quincy in his time was finally realized. The third seat of the Living World squad was a Quincy, recognized as a valuable ally to the Shinigami. After centuries of bitterness and struggle between the two sides, the dream was finally realized. The dream that the last elder Quincy would never get to see. He was gone, killed in soul by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, drained by Yhwach, and lost forever. This grave was nothing but a reminder of the man he was. A kind, loving grandfather and teacher to the two Quincy to change so much. Buried with him was his Quincy cross and shroud.
"Hello grandfather." Uryu said, kneeling down before the grave and giving a prayer. "Sorry it took so long to get back here, things took a while to settle down." Uryu slowly recounted the tales of the duo's ventures and accomplishments, some filled with laughter, others filled with tears. "I found the one responsible for your death." He said on a somber note. "I almost threw away everything I had, simply to kill him. But I didn't give in to my hate... you wouldn't have wanted to see that." He said, feeling tears well up in his eyes. Ichigo placed a comforting hand on his cousin's shoulder. Uryu took a breath to steady himself and continue. "Now, I'm a member of the Court Guard Squads, serving in the Living world. We finally realized the dream grandfather." He said, letting the tears come out. "You should be here to see it." Ichigo wrapped a comforting arm around the crying Quincy, sharing the pain in missing their long lost teacher and grandfather. Dawn became noon as the two paid their respects to the fallen elder.
"Come on Uryu." Ichigo said, pulling himself up. "We can't relax yet." He said grimly, not looking forward to the disaster coming ever closer. "You're still not done with you're project." Uryu joined him with a look of determination, as if heading into battle.
"You're right." He said, steeling himself for the coming storm. "I still have to apply the finishing touches to Captain Unohana's wedding Kimono." He tensed his arms in preparation.
"Which wouldn't be a problem if you didn't literally start from scratch." Ichigo said, opening up a Garganta for the two. "How did you even make that much progress in just half a week?" He asked, only to hear Uryu's cocky chuckle.
"How, you ask?" He said with a smirk. "With careful use of Rasotengai and pure speed and skill!" He yelled triumphantly while Ichigo stared at Uryu.
"Mayuri gave you a drug didn't he?" Ichigo asked bluntly.
"It was hard to say no." Uryu responded, not even changing his demeanor.
"How could you not say no?" The hybrid asked as Uryu blushed. "Forget it, just indulge in your hobby."
"It relaxes me. Okay?" The Quincy defended as they made their way for Soul Society, already preparing for the special day of the first and the latest Kenpachis' union in equal parts cheer and dread.
"I'd do my own relaxing, but I've had no time to spend with Orihime or Tatsuki!" Ichigo grumbled. "And Rangiku would only make it worse." Uryu was confused for a second before catching on.
"And to think you were a prude." He said, prompting Ichigo to punch him really hard.
(Squad 11 Barracks)
"-Ichigo will be standing at the ready with the ring, we'll say our vows, Tessai will announce us as wed, then we'll kiss to make it official." Unohana explained to her betrothed, for the hundredth time because he never paid attention. "And no, you are not to fight Ichigo at any point until at least a month after our marriage." She scolded as the berserker finally tore his vision away from his bald lieutenant helping to train his squad. "Yes, it's been a while but we want Soul Society in one piece for our wedding. A wedding YOU proposed Zaraki."
"Yeah, I understand." He mumbled. "Not exactly happy but I understand. Speaking of marriage, am I taking your name or the other way around?" She opened her mouth to answer when the barrack doors suddenly slammed open. "Took you long enough. You ready?" He asked as all eyes turned to the only kido user in the squad.
"I apologize that I've kept you waiting sir." Yumichika said smoothly as he made his way through the assembled members of his squad. He moved with a grace that was associated with him as he kept his pride in moving 'beautifully'. "And captain Unohana, glad to see you here as well." He got in front of the two most notable swordsmen in Soul Society as he knelt before them. "I'm ready to take my place as your third seat captain." He said with confidence. Kenpachi merely grunted.
"I remember saying that you had to earn that place Yumichika." He said, standing up and towering above everyone in the room. "Listen up! Third seat is officially up for grabs! Anyone wants it, head outside and fight Yumichika!" He announced, making a good number of his squad cheer, some saying that 'kido is for the weak', 'Yumichika didn't deserve it for lying about his skills'. Those familiar with Yumichika's skill wisely sat out while Ikkaku went out to watch his friend's real skill, followed by both Kenpachis. Thus, Yumichika stood in the courtyard of his squad's barracks to face his opponents for third seat.
"I'm not sure about the captain's claim about you being one of his best." A nameless challenger boasted. "It's the squad's creed that we're melee fighters. We face our opponents head on and strive to our physical limits! We ain't gonna acknowledge a kido specialist until he earns it! Right?!" The man shouted. Yumichika raised an eyebrow before pointing behind his challenger. The lone warrior saw the rest of the squad cheering for Yumichika to take back his spot. Kenpachi looked annoyed while Unohana merely found it amusing.
"I'm not sure whether to be pissed or not." Zaraki said as the lone nameless idiot in his squad slowly tried to back out of the ring. "Begin!" He shouted, prompting Yumichika to appear next to the poor shmuck and backhand punch him into a wall. "Are you as disappointed as I am?" He asked his wife to be.
"I find it rather touching." Unohana giggled. "Your squad is much closer than when I led the 11th." She said before a though occurred to her. "That reminds me. I never taught these brutes manners now did I?" A dark, cold, atmosphere covered the area as 'Yachiru' showed her face. "You think you're forgiven for the treatment you gave my medics? The people you trust your lives to, I might add?" With the exception of Kenpachi, Ikkaku, and Yumichika, the entire squad faced the wrath of the first Kenpachi.
"Wow." Ikkaku muttered as he watched the motherly captain, break and mend bones in an instant.
"Beautifully frightening." Yumichika whimpered.
"Damn it that's hot." Kenpachi grinned, watching his predecessor work. His loyal 2nd and 3rd backed away slowly.
(Squad One training grounds)
Ichigo continued his training under Yamamoto's tutelage, waiting for the wedding and in preparation of the next conflict to come. He couldn't describe it beyond instinct, but he felt Aizen would be making his move soon. Yamamoto had Ichigo practice sword swings, determined to bring him to his full potential, while filling out some final bits of paperwork. Mainly allowing for the rest of the civilians in Seireitei to finish evacuating because they all feared what was to come for the honeymoon between the Kenpachis. Currently, Ichigo had bracelet weights attached to his wrists while his swings created noticeable air ripples on the ground. This was interrupted by the arrival of the youngest of the current captains.
"Captain Hitsugaya." Yamamoto greeted as the white haired youth made his way to the commander and his student. "Any visit is always welcomed, but what brings you here?" He asked, recognizing the focused look in the youth's eyes. He was here for a fight.
"Hello Head Captain." Toshiro bowed respectfully to the leader of Soul Society. "I'm actually here to request a sparring match with lieutenant Kurosaki." This caught the hybrid by surprise as he lost his grip on the practice blade he was using, which went flying off to wherever.
"Can I ask why?" Ichigo questioned taking the weights off and setting them carefully on the ground. "This is kind of out of nowhere." The ice captain closed his eyes and reflected on his thoughts.
"When Aizen betrayed Soul Society, he singled you out Kurosaki." Toshiro started, remembering the bleak day when his world was torn. "He considers you to be the biggest threat against him. I wish to test myself against that." He said, keeping that cold resolve in his eyes. Ichigo, on the other hand, was ambivalent. He heard good things from his father about Toshiro, mainly about being a calm and focused leader and considered a child prodigy by most of his peers with the strongest ice-type Zanpakuto, but made it clear that he and Ichigo were in separate classes.
"Very well. I'll allow it." Yamamoto said, making the youths turn toward him. "The more varied your opponents, the more experience you'll gain and adapt Ichigo, and Hitsugaya could use the motivation. The two of you represent a new generation of Soul Society and it would be good for you two to fight." Ichigo nodded to his teacher while Toshiro bowed in respect.
"Thank you sir." He turned back to Ichigo. "I look forward to this." He said as the two went to opposite ends of the training grounds. Toshiro unsheathed his blade, a katana longer than he was tall with a four pointed star while Ichigo just stood there. Genryusai started the match, surprising Toshiro because he thought the hybrid wasn't ready. That moment of hesitation was short as he charged at Ichigo with the intent to slash him from overhead. An attack that was stopped cold when Ichigo caught the blade with his bare hand, his hierro protecting his body from injury. 'What the-?' He thought as Ichigo lifted him into the air and punched him in the gut, sending him flying back to the opposite side with a crash. This is what separated the two youths, Toshiro was considered a prodigy but has halted much of his training due to the managerial requirements of being a captain with near endless paperwork, Ichigo was training to fight one of the few beings to rival the Head Captain. Toshiro was considered gifted and let himself slow down, Ichigo refused to stop at gifted.
"If you wanted to spar with me then go at it seriously." Ichigo said as he flashed stepped in front of the ice wielder, trying to slam his fist down again. Hitsugaya dodged to the side and tried to swipe at Ichigo's side, only for him to pull himself to the side with the hand he embedded into the ground. He threw his foot out at Toshiro, who jumped back and called out to his Zanpakuto.
"Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!" He yelled out, creating a length of chain from his hilt, ending in a crescent shaped blade, and bringing out a Chinese dragon made of ice. He sent down a number of ever changing ice dragons, remembering how their last bout went. Ichigo's response was to create a single katana blade and swing a Getsuga Tensho blast, destroying each of the dragons as he shot himself towards the young captain. The moment he was in front of the ice wielder, he swung his blade down and sent Toshiro to the earth like a cannon shot. "Bankai. Daiguren Hyorinmaru!" He yelled out, letting the ice cloak his form and granting him wings and a tail while ice covered his limbs in icy claws. Three sets of four purple ice petals floating behind him.
"Well, that escalated." Ichigo said as Toshiro's Reiatsu strengthened. "Zangetsu." He said, changing the blade in his hands but began to compress his power around himself. His katana grew in length and turned as black as night. "Closest thing I have to a Bankai myself." He flashed in front of Toshiro again and slammed their blades against each other, with the young captain visibly struggling. They continued the exchange of blades, sparks and bits of ice flying as their blades collide in a flash of movement. Nothing escaped Genryusai's gaze as he carefully watched the two fight.
'Ichigo's continued growth is impressive.' He thought as his student destroyed another ice dragon. 'The other seal on his body continues to weaken him until he can fully master his Reiatsu, which can only happen when we find his peak. He's almost half my prime by now.' His focus shifted to Hitsugaya as his petals faded. 'And you, captain Hitsugaya, hopefully this makes you aware. You cannot rely on your Bankai to win every fight. You must return to the basics, improve your kido and swordsmanship.' Toshiro used his chance to get Ichigo caught in a pincer attack between more dragons, five in front and one behind. Ichigo summoned up his spirit bow and fired five massive bolts to destroy the attack in front, and threw a perfect Ikkotsu at the one behind him, shattering the entire beast. It was then that several giant ice pillars surrounded him.
"It takes a while to do this." Hitsugaya explained as another petal faded, leaving him with one. "I made sure to distract you with my dragons and used their ice to mold this technique. "This fight is mine." He twisted his sword, making them all shoot toward Ichigo. The hybrid watched as the ice came at him, while his pinkie finger turned black and began to crack. The ice encased him just as he called out the spell.
"Hado #96, Itto Kaso." He whispered, creating a form of a katana out of concentrated crimson flame. Instantly turning the ice to steam and create a heated shockwave that shook a good portion of Seireitei. Hitsugaya stared in shock as Ichigo shunpoed in front of him and took a fierce punch to his gut, dispelling his Bankai and knocking him out. "And that's my win." He said as he brought the two of them down, his finger regenerating from using that spell. "Sorry about the mess Sensei." He told Yamamoto as he dropped off the young captain.
"It's no matter Ichigo. This should show the boy that he cannot rely on his Bankai for everything." He said, looking down at the young captain. "He earned his position, but still such a child. That shall be rectified." Ichigo bowed and took his leave, needing to get ready for Zaraki's wedding. On his way he found his lost practice sword, with several Shinigami struggling to move it from the crater it was in.
"Sorry," he said as he went over to the blade and lifted it effortlessly, "lost my grip on that. Anyone hurt?" He asked as the assorted Soul Reapers slowly shook their heads. "Good." He said with a smile as he walked off, preparing for the wedding of the match made in hell.
(Kenpachis' Wedding Reception)
Chaos. That was the word used to describe what happened. For the most part everything went fine in the ceremony; everyone was in place, Kenpachi's squad was behaving, his kimono was still in one piece, nothing was on fire, Yamamoto walked Unohana down the aisle along with some of her older colleagues, Tessai lead the ceremony, the two Kenpachis exchanged sake and rings and were officially wed, Zaraki taking his wife's name since he never had one. Unohana threw the bouquet which was caught by Rukia. Though by the smirk on a certain cat that was intentional, since Ichigo's and her wedding was next. All in all, a civil affair.... then everyone started drinking. Rangiku, somehow, talked Tatsuki and Rukia into drinking with her. Kyoraku accidentally switched his nonalcoholic beverages he brought with the alcoholic ones and Chad learned he has a low tolerance. Nemu was last seen dragging an unconscious Uryu away. Isshin was sharing a few drinks with his side of the family who were in talks with the Kuchiki elders. Yumichika was roped into stylizing some of the SWA's hair while Ichigo was nursing a black eye from a fistfight with most of the eleventh that was for fun. At some point, no one is sure how, the bathroom caught fire. Orihime got the short straw and had to stay in the living world while the other leading members of the 15th went to the wedding... she was the winner in this matter.
"I'm starting to question my own sanity." Kenpachi Zaraki Unohana said to his new wife. "Because I should never be one of the more sane and well behaved people at a party." Retsu let out a giggle as Hisagi made a poor drunk choice of words that earned him a punch to the face. Ichigo never got that memo about jokes regarding Matsumoto's boobs.
"Just wait till later, 'dear'." She said, letting her Yachiru side come out. "We'll have our 'fun' then." Zaraki grinned in anticipation while 'Ichigo's ladies' dogpiled on him. He cries for help went ignored.
(World of the Living)
"Everything seems alright, just making final repairs after the Blanks incident." Hiyori told Orihime over her Soul Tracker. "Didn't think interference like that would crash practically all our systems." It was the middle of the night and Orihime joined the squads on patrol. Division 15 was the de facto front lines for Soul Society with empowered humans at the forefront, vigilance was key for the squad. So it meant a lot to Orihime that her friends trusted her to keep everything safe and ready for there return. Lisa and Hiyori were busy dealing with the remaining problems from the time with the Blanks so visuals and sense were their best bet for now. Hiyori didn't want to reactivate anything unless she was sure nothing would explode.
"Right, you focus on that and I'll call it a night after one last sweep." Orihime responded, planning a route that would end at her home.
"Kay. Stay safe kid." Hiyori said as she hung up on the barrier maiden. She started walking, just as she felt a disturbance right behind her. She turned to see a large humanoid hollow, with a dual layered cowl ending in a point on it's head, a long whip like tongue, and a hovering top where its legs should be. It's Reiatsu was obviously greater than most hollows.
"That's a menos." She whispered as it attacked her with its tongue. She jumped out of the way and immediately attacked. "Koten Zanshun!" She yelled out, sending her primary attack at the hollow, nearly bisecting it at attacking the edge of the hollow's hole. Then the upper half suddenly disappeared while the lower half was revealed to be a separate body and began to charge at her. "Santen Kesshun!" She summoned her shield, stopping the misshaped hollow, and leaving her exposed from the other half's attack. The monster's tongue came at her, only to stop an inch from her face as the creature froze, a paper charm stuck to it's face.
"What am I going to do with you?" She heard a familiar voice speak out as the other hollow disappeared for the moment. "Always getting into trouble. But I guess this time's my fault." She turned to see her older brother, looking slightly annoyed. "I should've started training you when you manifested your Shun Shun Rikka. But that can wait till later, after I deal with these hollows."
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers)
The SMA Recruits New Members (Set after Ichigo fought the Fullbringers)
The Shinigami Men's Association, where the manliest of men gather together to indulge in the manly lifestyle. Seeking the perfect path of macho, a search that could be going better. Tetsuzaemon looked over his fellow associates, lieutenants Kira, Hisagi, and Omaeda, captain Ukitake, Akon from squad 12, and the third and eighth seat of squad four, Iemura and Ogido. Usually, their group was always at odds with the Women's Association, but today was the mark of a brand new era for them. They were getting three new members from the hot new squad fifteen!
"My fellow men." Iba spoke out, loud and proud in the open jacket, sunglasses attire of the SMA. "Today, we greet new brothers to the Men's Association! Introducing, captian Isshin, lieutenant Ichigo, and third seat Uryu!" He called out as the rugged Kurosaki patriarch came in, dragging the unconscious bodies of Ichigo and Uryu.
"Nice to make your acquaintance." Isshin said, flashing a confident smile.
"What's wrong with those two?" Ukitake asked, almost worried.
"I had to get them REALLY drunk before they would actually join." Isshin answered, just as the two began to stir. "I said this would be good for them, but they were stubborn."
"Uryu." Ichigo growled, his hollow healing fighting hard to fix the worst of his hangover.
"I already know where to hide his body." Uryu responded.