(Squad 4: Hospital)
Rukia laid sleeping, recovering after the events of the whole memory theft debacle. After Ichigo destroyed the Hollow parasite, everyone moved as fast as they could to keep the situation in the best possible condition. Tessai had permission to use the forbidden time Kido to freeze the siblings and Rukia in time while Urahara finished stasis pods for each of them. After the initial calamity with Hollowfication, Urahara did not want any chances. It was expected that Rukia and the siblings would eventually Hollowfy, the last attack of the parasite. Ichigo never once left Rukia side at all in that time. Eventually, she began to wake up inside the stasis field.
"Hey Rukia." Ichigo whispered as her eyes began to open. "Nice to see you awake." She moaned as she slowly roused herself from the sleep she was in.
"Ichigo... what happened?" She asked as she slowly sat up, confused by his lack of action. "Ichigo... what is this?" She finally noticed the stasis Kido she was in. She looked scared as she stared her lover in the eye, his expression was filled with concern for her as he sympathizes with her worries.
"The memory eating Hollow is dead Rukia." He started, hoping the good news would keep her calm. "You and the siblings are safe for the moment." His expression became more somber as he got to the bad news. "But your souls had bonded with Hollow Reishi. The parasite's, and then mine. You three are being kept in these fields until Urahara can determine your safety." He explained as she examined the glowing glass like barrier.
"How did we get your Hollow Reishi?" She finally asked, almost accusingly.
"Well...." Ichigo started as he averted his eyes.
(Flashback: Rukia's Inner World)
It was a vast landscape of ice and snow, shining like crystals in the light of a sun, never disturbed, new flakes always coming down and keeping it in the beautiful white and rainbow lights. Only two beings ever occupied this land, this beautiful icy wasteland, Rukia and her Zanpakuto, Sode no Shiraiyuki. Rukia and many others saw her as the most beautiful of the ice type Zanpakuto and her world reflected that beauty and the dangers of the cold. Now that beautiful frozen landscape was in disarray by a harsh blizzard, covering everything in a biting gust and darkness. What once housed only two being now held three more. The siblings Rukia wanted to protect and keep safe, and the parasite that craved her life.
"So much power." The hungry beast cried out as it bashed against the ice wall Shiraiyuki made to protect Rukia and the siblings, all unconscious as the Hollow forced the fusion. "Give it to me!" It's warped screams crashed against the Zanpakuto's ears, needing to restore the wall after another slash from it's tail. She would have no problem against such a pathetic leech, but after gorging itself on so much Reishi from the siblings and Rukia's own before they escaped, it grew to gigantic proportions and her own power was crippled. This ice wall was all she could do for now. "I will have it, I WILL HAVE IT, GIVE ME MY POWER!" It roared and prepared a Cero to destroy the only barrier between it and it's meal.
"That's enough out of you." A calm voice called out, overpowering the storm and the monster's cries. The both looked over to see a humanoid figure that was almost entirely white, a skull mask with sharp, angular bull horns, long hair, and tribal lines coming to a single black spot on his chest that seemed like an endless abyss. "That lovely lady you want to eat happens to be a queen, and my king wants her safe and snug." He said while looking at the Hollow like it was no concern, not even worth eating. "That's also my woman you're attacking so I'm a little miffed about that." Shirayuki would be furious at the claim, but he felt so familiar until her eyes widened in recognition.
'Zangetsu.' She thought as she realized who the figure was. Getting annoyed, the Hollow unleashed it's Cero on the other Zanpakuto, believing that nothing could challenge it now. Through the torrent of power, Shiraiyuki saw Zangetsu's silhouette standing strong and weathering the onslaught. Shaking but in an amused fashion, like he found the attack almost comical. As the Cero ended, Zangetsu stood tall and unharmed.
"Is that the best you've got?" He asked, prompting an angry growl from the Hollow. It slithered to Zangetsu quickly and tried to slash him with it's scythe tail blade. It attacked with a speed that belied it's size, which still failed to hit Zangetsu. Growing more and more frustrated, the Hollow tried again and again, slashing, biting, Ceros, anything it could muster to try and harm the Hollow Zanpakuto. Suddenly the bladed tail hit true and struck Zangetsu, right into the spirit's hand and crushing grip. "Do you know the definition of insanity?" He asked, letting his Reiatsu seep out and grow little by little. "Clinically, it's a state of being unwell mentally. Other people said that it's doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." His hand released the Hollow's tail as it back up and looked at Zangetsu with a growing terror. "Can you relate to that? Your blade can't scratch me. Your Cero-" the Hollow released another blast at Zangetsu, and Shiraiyuki watched his hand rise to grab the blast and destroy it in his grip, "doesn't even phase me. So are you crazy?" Ichigo's blade whispered to the parasite, fear pouring forth from the Hollow like a waterfall as it tried one more desperate swing of it's blade. Faster than anyone there saw, the second the crimson blade came within an inch of his face, his jaws clamped onto the tail. The blade cracked and splintered in his vicious maw, drawing out blood from crushed nerves, before he shook his head and tore off the tail itself. The parasite screamed in agony while Zangetsu spat out the crimson scythe. "Do you know the definition of insanity?" Zangetsu whispered one more time. The parasite began to flee, running as fast as it could to get away.
"Zangetsu." Shiraiyuki started, somewhat fearful of the other Hollow. He merely held up a hand and stopped her.
"Take care of those three. I'll be done soon." He said before disappearing in a burst of speed. The Hollow was a distant dot, lost in the storm, as it tried to flee. It's hopes died when it felt a hand slam into it's side and pinned it to the ground, and saw the empty black gaze of Zangetsu. "Let's tenderize the meat, shall we?" He asked madly as his claws dug into the Hollow's body. Without warning he started running at top speeds while grinding the parasite into the ground and ice, tearing it's body apart piece by piece. Once half of it's body was gone, Zangetsu let go and watched as the remains tumbled another few miles down the path. He slowly walked to the creature while it barely clung to life. He found it, shrunk to it's original size of half a foot long. He grabbed it and held it in front of his face. "You're a pathetic excuse of a Hollow and you taste bland. You were not worth the effort to eat." He said before devouring the parasite, absorbing it's Reishi and making it his own. After changing the Hollow Reishi to his own Zanpakuto mix he returned to Sode no Shiraiyuki, who dropped her ice wall and restored the calm of the snowy landscape.
"It's done?" She asked, earning a nod from the other Zanpakuto. "I still feel that dark, empty, chaotic energy." The snow woman clutched her chest. "But now it feels calmer." She watched the dark blade come to her and remove his mask, revealing the bone white copy of Ichigo. "This is you." She whispered as he kissed her. She closed her eyes to embrace it for the precious few seconds they were connected.
"It will not change you and she won't have complete Hollowfication," Zangetsu explained to his snow woman lover, "for now anyways. But she will have to learn how to control it." He said before embracing her one more time. "Time for me to go." He said before he faded from the inner world.
(Present: Squad 4)
"So yeah, you're going to need to talk with the other Vizards." Ichigo said not looking at Rukia, who was currently glaring at him. She was safe, but at the cost of being infected with Hollow Reishi. It would be beneficial to have the powers, but unless it was her own than it was just going to throw her soul out of balance. Meaning she was bedridden in that stasis field for the foreseeable future until Kisuke could whip something up. She just accepted the state of her life and scanned the room, finding the siblings on life support in their own stasis fields. She gasped in shock and concern, seeing the two she cared for in such a state. Ichigo followed her gaze and sighed at the sight. "After Zangetsu destroyed that parasite and separated the three of you, they explained what happened." Ichigo told her while she kept looking at the two. "It was a little over a century ago when the parasite attacked you through a Soul Reaper host. You told them to run but they refused to abandon you, staying to try and protect you. It mortally wounded them just as her teleportation powers activated and fused the Hollow to them. It feed on their power and shaved away their sanity until it deemed them ready. They never healed and were back to almost dying before Tessai and Kisuke put them there. Hachi tried to reverse their time with a kido he made, but it was too far back for him to restore." He finished just as the girl's eyes opened up, slowly and weak but she was awake. She saw her sister figure and smiled through the pain and exhaustion.
"Rukia." She said weakly, her voice muffled by a breathing mask. "I'm.... sorry.... for the.... trouble we-" Her breathing was labored, still weak from the disconnection from the Hollow parasite.
"It's alright." Rukia said, interrupting the girl. "You two did nothing wrong. Just get some rest and recover." The door opened to reveal Unohana, who smiled brightly at her patients.
"Good, you three are awake." She said, keeping up that motherly attitude. "That means you're recovering just fine." She said before going to the siblings and picking up the sister's clipboard. "Now to get your names." The captain looked at them expectantly, even when they turned away with a look of shame.
"Her name is Homura." Rukia said, earning a look of surprise from the siblings before tears of joy began to form. "And his name is Shizuku. I promised didn't I?" Rukia smiled to the siblings, who wear crying in joy.
"'The two of you shine brightly' hm?" Unohana said thoughtfully. "Those are wonderful names Rukia. Good choice." The senior captain smiled approvingly while the now named siblings tried to reach each other through the stasis field. "Last names?" Unohana asked again while writing the names down.
"You can put them down as 'Shiba' Retsu." A rough tomboy called out as Kukaku barged in, showing the apathy for authority or formality that was common amongst the Shiba. The captain merely took it in stride and wrote down the names.
"Hopefully you can be discharged soon so we can meet on more pleasant circumstances." Unohana said as she finished the check up. "Welcome, Homura and Shizuku Shiba. I hope to get to know the both of you later on." She then left them with Kukaku who gave her trademark smirk to the people in the room.
"Byakuya told me what you promised the kids, so it stood to reason that they'd want to stay with you as family." Kukaku began explaining her actions. "Problem is that the Kuchiki elders are breathing down his neck, just waiting for an excuse to get rid of him. He already broke the law with you and your sister Rukia, then he spat in their faces at your wedding, so I decided 'what the hell?' and got them registered in my clan." She turned her gaze to the stunned sibling and smiled as bright as her fireworks. "The clan she married into when she got hitched to my cousin." Homura and Shizuku's eyes widened as they put the pieces together. "That's right kiddos, you are now legally related to Rukia. Welcome to the family." The waterworks returned, but Kukaku decided to let it pass. The kids finally had family, she'd let them celebrate. "I'll have Shiroganehiko pick them up after they recover." She said as she began to depart. "Rest up you two! I don't like slackers in the family." She yelled before shutting the door.
"She really believes in tough love." Ichigo muttered under his breath, causing Rukia to giggle. They stayed like that a few more hours, talking about how order was being restored throughout the Gotei squads. Love's squad still needed work as there was still chaos among the ranks and the Rukon folk. After a while, Urahara, Tessai, Hachi, and Yamamoto entered the room, carrying a small box that was riddled with seals. Ichigo bowed respectfully, Rukia tried but was unable in her seated position, and the siblings were completely lost, only knowing to feel nervous when the old man looked at them directly.
"Though not entirely your fault, you both caused no small measure of trouble for all of us." Yamamoto scolded the two, making them flinch reflexively. "You have potential, but are undisciplined. That is something I will not abide. After you are fully recovered, you will both attend Shin'o Academy to refine your skills." He spoke roughly, shocking the two that they weren't getting punished. "Lieutenant Rukia," She jumped as the Head Captain addressed her, "you are to tutor the two of them in your spare time. Understood?"
"Yes sir!" She said, over enthusiastically. "I won't let you down!" He merely grunted in approval before letting Kisuke come forward with the box.
"Ichigo, within this box is the Hogyoku." Urahara started, surprising Ichigo with that small detail. "I used it before to try and reverse the Hollowfication that Shinji and the others were going through. Instead, it stabilized them into the Vizards you know today, so we're doing that. Tessai and Hachi are going to dispel the stasis barriers while you activate the Hogyoku with the central thought of 'I want to save them.' That should fix things." He explained, making Ichigo nod a little nervously. Light flashed from the box as the seal was undone, revealing the black jeweled ball. The barriers dropped slowly as Ichigo charged his hand full of Reishi.
'Make them better.' Ichigo thought as his hand drew near the sphere, an inky blackness reaching out to meet his finger. 'Don't let them die.' He connected to the Hogyoku and the room was engulfed in an explosion of light.
(Vandenriech: Throne Room)
Bazz-B delivered his report to the Quincy king about Ichigo and Uryu's response to their meeting. How they bore resentment to the emperor for what happened to their mothers and that they wanted no part with the Quincy. He didn't reveal the extent of their hate for the man, just that they were different from the prideful Quincy that fought the Soul Reapers. He never let it slip that he considered they might be right, that Yhwach was not the savior or ally the Vandenriech saw him as. That old grudges Bazz had were slowly coming back to him. He stuck around because of his friend Jugram, but what would be the point if the entirety of the Quincy were expendable.
"My poor naïve sons." Yhwach said after Bazzard finished. "If only they knew the truth of the Shinigami and their depravity. No matter." He gave a dismissive wave of his hand to the Heat, who bowed as he backed away. "They will learn the truth soon enough. All my children are equally precious to me."
'Precious as what?' Bazzard thought to himself as he left, only sparing a slight glance to his old friend. 'Ichigo and Uryu, we will talk more about this matter.' He made his way for the Sun Gate to depart back to the world of the Living.
(Las Noches: Aizen's Study)
'Now, how to go about it and who to send?' Aizen asked himself as he plotted. He needed a way to get Ichigo to Hueco Mundo and keep him there, meaning a hostage or two. He considered Orihime but nothing about her proved useful, he learned about her being an Exorcist but then she disappeared from his radar. Tatsuki would likely die before being brought in and hostages are only good when they're alive. Masaki was an excellent choice, but he didn't know if her powers returned. The final choice was obvious, a pair of little sisters that he would fight anything for. On the other side of the room was a loyal bat and a traitorous snake.
"What is going through lord Aizen's head right now?" Ulquiorra asked, looking at the images on the screen and seeing the siblings. They almost reminded him of his old friend at that age.
"If I know Aizen, and I do for the most part, he's thinking of bringing Ichigo's sisters as our 'guests'." Gin said, emphasizing guests to let the implications sit in. There was the barest hint of the Hollow's eyes widening before setting to normal.
"A decision that might destroy Las Noches." Ulquiorra stated, knowing full well what chaos might come of those fights.
"Depends on who goes, and who he fights." Gin said before leaving the Arrancar with his thoughts. Grimmjow finally embraced his destructive self and has shown a lack of care for rank so long as he could fight. Even without that ace Ulquiorra taught him, he'd still be assured the fifth rank when he returns to his place among the Espada. No one likes his replacement. Ulquiorra looked at the image of Ichigo's sisters with a strange feeling in his chest.
'What is this heavy feeling?'
(West Rukon 25)
"I'm going to do one more sweep and then head back." Ganju reported to his patrol unit in the 14th squad. When people started losing their memories, he did a few things that he was not particularly proud of and Love did not appreciate. It ended with a fist to his face and more than a few broken teeth, an issue that plenty of people need resolved. He was going through alleys and back roads, trying to find anything out of the ordinary, when he heard a familiar voice.
"It works splendidly," the voice sounded out, "definitely an improvement over the previous form."
'Is that third seat Kibune?' Ganju asked himself as he hid himself and followed the direction of Kibune's voice until he found the third seat of his squad, talking to a man with a scar and a mask covering from his nose to his neck with purple hair and dressed like an armored ninja. 'Finally, the dirt captain Love wanted.' He thought in excitement as he watched the two.
"Since we got our new benefactors, we've been able to improve the Bakkoto to greater strengths then before." The ninja said, sounding pleased. "But, it seems like the princess is becoming aware of the situation. If we fail to kill her, she may flee to the world of the Living." Ganju's eyes widened as he couldn't believe his ears. The idea was that Makoto just wanted power for himself, but this was political cloak and dagger stuff. "I heard about the prowess of 'Kurosaki Ichigo', but what about his weaknesses?"
"Bahahaha!" Makoto laughed, almost like he considered the whole thing like it was a bad joke. "From what that idiot Ganju said, anything concerning his family could be considered his weakness. Pacifying him should be easy from there." Ganju struggled to keep himself hidden, from the initial outrage of them threatening his family, to laughing at the idea of them fighting his cousin, then terror and what Ichigo would do if his family was threatened.
'I need to get to the captain!' Ganju thought as he utilized what flash step he could manage to reach the leader of his squad.
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers)
Hiyori Trains the New Vizards
"Alright listen up!" Hiyori yelled out to the trio of Rukia and the siblings. It took a couple days but they recovered enough to begin Vizard training. "Since the other Vizards are busy with their squads and my job can be done by any of Kisuke's stupid monkeys, I get the wonderful job of training you ungrateful jackasses!" The siblings were cowering behind Rukia while the lieutenant glared at the foul tempered girl. "My training is simple and comes in three easy steps. Step one, endurance." She said before pointing at three old fashioned 'walker' exercise machines. "The 'Super Hiyori Walker' V2! Get on and don't stop till I say so." The trio stared at the machines like they were some kind of joke. Rose came walking by, planning to have tea with Jushiro after the fifth invite he got from the sickly man. He saw the the people and the machines and merely let out a sorrowful sigh.
'You have my condolences Rukia.'
Hiyori's Temp Replacement
The meek, brown haired member of squad 12 sent to handle Hiyori's job made his way into the shop that served as squad 15's base of operations. He almost tripped over his feet a couple of time, but the frontline soldiers of the 15th were ready and able to catch him. Particularly before he broke something expensive... again. The topknotted scientist made his way deeper into the compound and was met by third seat Lisa.
"Ah, you must be our temporary comms officer sent to replace Hiyori." She stated, looking through her schedule log.
"Yes." The boy responded with a shy nod. "I'm Rin Tsubokura ma'am. I-"
"Follow me." Lisa ordered quickly, not letting the boy continue as she led him into the monitoring room. Once they got there, Rin's eyes started to sparkle as he saw piles of candies and sweets littering the room. His sweet tooth ached to try each and every kind in front of him, but as he reached for the first pile his hand was smacked by Lisa's booklet. "Eating snacks here is forbidden! This job requires constant vigilance and no distractions, no matter how minor. Not even bathroom breaks." She scolded sternly, showing a cold and evil side that lectured the newbie until he felt like a shriveled up worm.
"So how long is she going to indulge in this sadist phase?" One of the Soul Reapers that was in the know asked his co-worker.
"Probably until the lieutenant gives her a spanking like she keeps asking." She responded, wishing they kept the S&M stuff out of the pervert's hands.
Shameless Avengers Reference
"I have an army." Aizen boasted to the upstart hybrid that dared to invade his fortress of Las Noches.
"We have Zaraki." Ichigo returned, making Aizen's eyes widen in recognition and shock. Outside the throne room, in the desert expanse within the massive fortress, was the Kenpachi who just bisected a skeleton wearing a crown and mist like cloak with a large ax.
"Puny god." He growled as the body faded away.