(Candlelit Cave: Unknown Location)
Far away from prying eyes, hidden away from the rest of the world, a group lay in waiting. Some were bored, others were patient, all were ready. They just needed their leader to return, to finish gathering their allies, to prepare for their revolution.
"Ugh, this is so boring." A pink furred cat woman complained. "How much longer are we gonna stick around this place anyway?" She looked to her allies at the table in the cave. A long, black haired man reading a book with a small shrine next to him, an obese man with a large gold chain on his neck with a bag of snacks in his arm, and a woman almost covered in green fur with long mallow hair with a chain around her waist connecting to a red haired boy dressed in white with a serpentine tail. She looked to the side to see another man, sleeping on his side, with long orange hair and brown skin, and a small ball of light that was a girl with brown pigtails and yellow and black clothing. "I'm gonna take a look outside, I could use the fresh air." She was about to leave when a pile of sand rose up and took a humanoid form.
"Best not." He said, looking to the stairs. "He's coming back with two new allies." A high pitched and blood thirsty laugh rang out, making the cat woman and the sand figure look up to the long haired, pitch black man with a dual sided scythe. Next to him was a gaunt man wrapped in chains carrying a large white slab on his back and a heavy metal ball.
"Who cares about numbers?" The laughing man asked. "Why don't I go out there and handle this myself?" He boasted, earning a snort from the formerly sleeping giant of a man.
"Shut up. Rushing into this is foolish." He said, trying to return to his nap.
"An impatient man is so lame." The small fairy girl said. Suddenly, the sound of the entrance opening drew their attention as three figures came in.
"Welcome back." A girl in a white kimono greeted, with long brown hair and two large bells at her side. The men that came in had one with white skin, a white coat with a thick fur collar with long fingernails, one with teal green hair and a pale blue kimono with an icy blue X on his face, and one with orange skin on a shirtless body with dark stone geysers along his arms, chest, and back with fiery hair.
"I've brought some new friends, look after them." The pale man said to the bell girl. He went further in to join his allies while the other two got acquainted with the others.
"Hey!" The pink cat called out to the pale man. "How much longer do you want us to wait down here?" The man started walking toward her.
"You must be patient a little while longer, our remaining allies will join us soon." He said as he got in front of the girl. Just as she was about to protest, he opened his palm in front of her face and silenced her. Once he had her focus, he curled his fingers and said his promise. "The era of the Shinigami will end soon."
(One mile away from said cave)
"And lost the signal... great." Urahara sighed as he scanned the forest before him. "Why did I rush this, I never rush my devices!" He complained to no one in particular. He was following the weird Reiatsu he found yesterday, but it managed to disappear. Not helped by the residual mass energy of the army of Hollows that attacked yesterday. "At least Ginjo is getting me the data on Ichigo's alterations, that should brighten up my night. That boy has come a long way." He smiled with nostalgia as he thought back to training him from his childhood. He was snapped back to the present when he felt something on his right arm. He looked at his limb and felt it before freezing. "I should probably head back." He whispered before dashing back to Seireitei, to the archives of registered Shinigami. He felt something happen to his connection to Benihime, and the message on his arm gave him a bad feeling.
'No choice.'
(Squad Ten Barracks)
'What was that about?' Hitsugaya asked himself after trying to speak with Hyorinmaru when the connection severed and the dragon disappeared. Unknown to him, many other Soul Reapers were facing similar losses with their Zanpakuto. Some thought nothing of it, others felt the need to be cautious about it. His lieutenant... was the former.
"Come on Haineko!" Rangiku whined at her sword that was in the jabbed into the floor, looking around the office for her... something cause she couldn't manifest her spirit. He knew that much about her level of ability. "I know I promised we could go shopping in the Human world but one day of training isn't enough to convince the captain!" Toshiro rolled his eyes as he entered the office to see the commotion. "And if this is because I didn't jump Ichigo's bones yesterday, sorry but I'm not gonna give it up just because of a few nice words... or a godly massage... or... hey captain." She said when she noticed her mortified superior officer. "That was just... uh..."
"I don't need to know the details Rangiku." He said as his lieutenant fell into the couch, looking justly embarrassed. "And yes, you'd need to do a lot more work before I give you leave for the human world." The peach haired lieutenant let out a small cry of disappointment just as Isane and Momo entered the room.
"Hello Rangiku, Shiro." Hinamori said, greeting her two friends.
'Why does she refuse to call me captain?' He wondered for what was probably the thousandth time regarding the girl. "How are you Momo? What happened those three days in the world of the Living?"
"Lots of denial and lots of crying." She said, embarrassed by the situation. "It took some doing, but I'm ready to get back to my duties as a lieutenant. Captain Shinji sure is generous to let me keep the position." She said, releasing a nervous laugh and showing a certain lack of faith in her skills.
"He likely believes that you are truly capable of the position, you just need confidence in yourself." Rangiku chimed in, relieved for the distraction away from her own embarrassment. "So, what brings you two along?"
"This does." Hinamori said as she gave Rangiku a sheet of paper. "There's going to be a lieutenants meeting soon, I can't wait to see this 'Ishida' that lieutenant Kurosaki told me about."
"Giving up his lieutenant's position for a seat in the first division." Rangiku mused, thinking about the hybrid that was worming his way into her thoughts more often lately. "All to focus on his training... that boy is dedicated." She said with a smile, snapping out of her daydream when Isane reminded them of her presence.
"Rangiku, what were you doing with your Zanpakuto?" The tall lieutenant asked, looking at the blade that was stabbed into the floor.
"Well, with our enemies getting stronger and smarter, I figured it was time to take initiative and train." Rangiku said, gaining some measure of shock from the other lieutenants. "I was making progress yesterday, but now she refuses to even talk to me."
"You're having troubles with your Zanpakuto too?" Isane asked, resting a hand on the hilt of her sword. "My Itegumo has been slow to respond as well for the past few days." Toshiro felt some dots connecting in his mind. Haineko's complete absence, Itegumo's slow response, his Hiyorinmaru cutting off their connection so suddenly? This needed investigating and he intended to do just that. No matter how much the girls tempted him with sweet bean buns and tea.
(Squad 1 Barracks)
'Another four hours.' Yamamoto thought as he looked at the hourglass. Eight hours ago, Ichigo took the most dangerous procedure he ever thought could happen, a complete rewrite of his past. Memories and abilities, the very biology and spirituality of a Quincy, just changed with a single swipe of a sword. If this works, the Quincy that could be freed, the deaths that might be prevented, it would go a long way to atoning for his own sins. It was an amazing power Tsukishima has, and also completely terrifying. Should he ever chose to rebel, the consequences would be catastrophic. Which only serves to remind him of the threat of Yhwach. Ichigo needed to be as ready as he could, he needed more training, he needed a true Zanpakuto. He's gone this long without them, it's time to attain his true blades. His musing was cut short as he felt a few familiar, and at the same time unknown, presences come to his domain. "Reveal yourselves." He ordered, not wanting to spare much patience when his nerves are already frayed with this damned experiment of Urahara's. His lieutenant was immediately at his side and went in front of the door, ready for any attack. What came out, however, was not what he was expecting.
"Captain Commander. A pleasure." Said a tall woman with violet hair in corkscrew pigtails, an eyepatch, and a dress with a large skull embroidered on the front. Next to her was a younger girl with the same hair color that was dressed as a ninja with only one eye visible which was the same one that the older of the two was missing, two young boys in blue robes with tall hats with silver hair and green eyes, a tall pale woman with looped hair on her head and seemed like a mannequin, and a figure obscured by a green cloak. "You will be coming with us." Before Sasakibe could react, the young ninja appeared behind him and struck him unconscious.
'I can still commune with Ryujin Jakka,' Yamamoto thought to himself, 'so either he's not here, or he's waiting for me to drop my guard.' "Normally I'd take disciplinary actions and show you how to properly behave yourselves, especially in front of your elders. But you can tell that fool leading you, 'He'll never be freed, you should worry about the hybrid.'" They all stiffened at the declaration, which gave Yamamoto enough time to erect a Kido barrier around himself. Trapped within his pyramid of green light, he forced himself to wait. In four hours, either they'd survive or there won't be a Seireitei anymore.
(Sokyoku Hill)
'Benihime is missing and the only thing I've found that was remotely close to this was a Hollow that was killed with Kaien.' Urahara drove his mind into overdrive, trying to decipher an answer for why he seems to have lost contact with his Zanpakuto spirit. His research had to wait as there was a sudden order for most every Soul Reaper that gained Shikai, at least, go to the execution hill for a surprise meeting. Most every captain and lieutenant was there, a couple of third seats, and Homura and Shizuku. The only ones not there were Isshin and Uryu, who refused to leave the Human world for fear that Aizen had enough time to prepare. Everyone around him was wondering the same thing, talking about the matter with each other, 'Why did Yamamoto call this meeting?' On a gamble, he asked the question plaguing him. "Is anyone else having trouble with their Zanpakuto?"
"... Huh?" The many Shinigami around him asked as each one tried to contact their sword spirits and receiving only silence in return. The only odd one out was Byakuya, who was looking more shocked than others before regaining a cold look in his eyes.
'That's not suspicious.' The scientist thought sarcastically as the sounds of footsteps alerted them to a new figure coming to them through the fog and his tracker was beeping wildly. Soon it was revealed to be lieutenant Sasakibe, but he seemed unconscious and carried by some force. Then a man, with long fingernails dressed in all white, appeared behind the gathered Soul Reapers. 'He's the source! Likely the reason our Zanpakuto have been reacting strangely.'
"The demi Vizard?" Mayuri leaned in to ask Urahara, now wearing a golden headdress with his hair stylized into a pharaoh's cloth crown. "The reason for your earlier question then." Coming to a similar conclusion to Urahara.
"Likely mind control, but we'll have to fight against our own Zanpakuto. And likely without Shikai." He responded while Komamura was demanding answers.
"That's irritating." The deranged man sighed before the white man unleashed a gust of wind against them.
"You seem like you might be a decent warm-up." Kenpachi growled as he brushed the wind aside with his own gust. "Try to entertain me punk."
"Bankai!" Komamura growled, creating the armored giant behind him "Kokujo Tengen Myo'o! Hold him still Zaraki!" The wolf growled as he brought his blade down, the giant almost mirroring his actions. Zaraki noticed this and dashed to Sajin, pushing him out of the way and catching the blade.
'This feels heavier than when he normally swings it.' Kenpachi idly noted before tightening his grip and getting into a tugging battle with the giant.
"Our Zanpakuto are fighting against us!" Urahara yelled out as the giant exploded into steam and reemerged as a giant red figure with flame in his mouth and eyes, with two large bolas connected by ropes on his side.
"Tenken?" Sajin asked, confused and a little heartbroken, just as the giant attacked him and forcing the wolf on the defensive. He got Komamura's arm in his ropes as he pulled the man beast off balance and about to lay a finishing blow, until he was kicked back by Zaraki.
"Get back up wolf, this isn't the time to get distracted." He warned as the man in white let out a chuckle.
"It's just as that man stated." He said, raising one hand to his face. "The Shinigami and their Zanpakuto have been separated. I've freed them from your control." He extended his arm as a series of explosions went off in the distances, the cries of the injured and clangs of battle ringing throughout the Seireitei. "And now they are your enemies. Ready to strike back at the ones that have enslaved them. Gaze upon their true form!" He announced as the Zanpakuto revealed themselves. There were new additions, a man with peacock feathers along his arms with tanned fabric wrapped around his head and a woman with horns and heavy white winter clothing with a chest that gave Rangiku a run for her money. From the Soul Reapers themselves, came a man completely covered in Samurai armor, a golden child with blank eyes and moth wings, a mummy with a pharaoh's mask that was walking backwards, a large red oni, a hulking being with cylinders in his back, a red skinned woman with the lower body of a snake, a skeleton in ragged clothing, a tall gaunt figure that seemed to be wrapped in gold with a large beak, a girl with a bee like mask and large calves, one dressed in an icy white kimono with skin as white as snow, and something that deeply disturbed everyone. Yachiru Kusajishi, otherwise known as Nozarashi, without a smile or sense of innocence. Everyone could feel the hate and anger from Zaraki as he stepped forward with Byakuya joining him.
"Enough waiting, who are you?" Byakuya demanded.
"And what makes you so confident you'll be making it out of here alive?" Zaraki growled, furious with the loss of one of his most precious people. The man commanding the Zanpakuto looked at the assembly of Soul Reapers and answered.
"I'm known as Muramasa, and today marks the end of your reign over the Zanpakuto." He opened up his hand and summoned a sword from thin air. "From now on, it'll be the Zanpakuto who rule over the Soul Reapers." He was about to stab it into the ground when he remembered the warning some of his allies gave him that seemed to shake them with fear. "And who is this 'hybrid' I should be so wary of?"
"That'd be me." He heard from behind him. The Zanpakuto turned around to see Ichigo Kurosaki, standing at the very edge of the cliff they were at and directly behind them. He was stretching his arm and shoulders, causing his bones to pop rapidly. "So, who do I break first?"
(Ichigo's previous location)
'3, 2, 1, there.' Ginjo thought as the contract keeping Ichigo asleep finished its time. He sent the accumulated data to the labs back at the SRDI, and had Riruka permit him in the dollhouse. Inside, Giriko was ready to reestablish the sleeping contract should Ichigo react violently while Tsukishima was ready for the next part. "Ichigo, how are you?" Ginjo asked, the scanners already picking up the brain activity.
"Had one hell of a nap and a dull throb in my head." He responded from inside the tube, stretching himself out. "What happened? I remember flirting with Rangiku, but then I blacked out."
"Some idiot dropped a ton of Sekkiseki stone on your head." Tsukishima lied smoothly. "It broke into pieces and you went out like a light."
"And since you clearly remembered recent events, let's check something harder." Ginjo suggested. "Like heritage." The Fullbringers nodded to each other, ready to act if and when necessary. "Give us the history of the Quincy." Ichigo closed his eyes and seemed to have a bit of a migraine, putting everyone on edge.
"Roughly 1000 years ago, a baby was born that could do little more than breath." Ichigo started, the tension in the room getting thicker. "Anyone the came into contact with him was miraculously healed, and some even gained powers later on. That child was Yhwach, the strongest Quincy and son of the Soul King. He was believed to be the 'Father of all Quincy', but that's not true." Ginjo stole a quick glance to the scans, so far everything was still green. "He was just the first and the strongest. A Quincy is made when a powerful soul being like a strong Shinigami and a human have a child. The residual Reishi strengthens the baby until they gain the ability to see and fight spirits by manipulating Reishi into physical forms and the strong ones can manifest weapons and others applications. Yhwach tried to unite all of the Quincy under his banner but two families in particular managed to avoid him, the Ishida and Kurosaki. My father is another strong Soul Reaper that married my Quincy mother and made me that much stronger and closer to my Shinigami roots. Does that answer your questions?" The Fullbringers looked at their monitors one last time before opening the capsule and releasing the hybrid.
"Well, everything checks out Ichigo." Tsukishima said, trying to help him out. "Though you may want to take it easy for a little bit." He noticed Ichigo wasn't listening to him as soon stood up straight under his own power, something that began to radiate.
"I have to go, my people need me." He said before disappearing in a burst of speed, destroying the dollhouse and returning them to their original size.
"NOOO!" Riruka cried out. "You can't do this! You can't die, Labby!" She wailed through tears.
'A terrible reference, mild discomfort in my hips, and we rank below a dollhouse.' Ginjo thought dryly. 'Why am I doing this again?'
(Current scene)
"Volunteers?" Ichigo asked, getting the gist that this guy called Muramasa had 'freed' the Zanpakuto. None of them moved so Ichigo started walking towards Muramasa. "None? Whatever, I can wait. What I can't wait for is where my sensei is." The Zanpakuto parted as the hybrid boldly strode to the man responsible for the newest mess he would probably clean up. "So why don't you tell us where Yamamoto is." The white man and Ichigo glared at each other when the stood face to face. Muramasa was unimpressed, the boy seemed weak and rather arrogant, but he was fast.
"Genryusai Yamamoto has been sealed away." He answered, not gaining a reaction from the boy. "When we approached his Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, he refused to cooperate with us. So we had our allies Kat-"
"You expect me to believe that crap?" Ichigo interrupted, focusing on Muramasa while a man dressed in robes with a shrine on his back was moving behind him. "One of the most powerful Soul Reapers and you expect me to believe that he was 'sealed' away?"
"You may not believe it," Muramasa started when his ally aimed to strike at Ichigo from behind, "but that is the-" Ichigo was suddenly next to the spirit about to attack him, with said spirit flying back from the punch it received. Now Muramasa was shocked and ready to believe the warnings about the hybrid. 'I couldn't even follow him and he struck down Gonryumaru so easily!' Then a burning bola wrapped around Ichigo's arm. He looked over to see Tenken pulling on the rope connecting them, and Ichigo did not budge.
"You think that glare's working?" He asked as the green furred woman began to swing a familiar serrated whip sword at him. Ichigo wrapped his arm around the rope and yanked, pulling Tenken along and throwing him into the girl he felt was Zabimaru... or at least half of Zabimaru. The other half was trying to launch a sneak attack. He let the hit land, but the strike only yielded torn clothes and sparks. He turned to look the red haired snake kid in the eye before kicking him in the face and sending him flying. Then Ichigo felt an intense heat, no where near Ryujin Jakka but noticeable. He saw an orange skinned figure sprout spike like geysers of flames from his chest. He dodged and slammed the Zanpakuto's head into the ground. "I recognized most of these guys attacking me, but who are you?"
"That's Raika." Everyone looked over to Amagai, who had his hand raised. "He's my Zanpakuto." Ichigo shrugged and was about to continue his pummeling before the other Zanpakuto that were attacking him attempted an all out assault. Attempted and failed as he moved with such speed he landed an Ikkotsu punch on each of them at nearly the same time and sent them flying all over the Seireitei.
"I almost get Zaraki's boredom with weaklings." He griped until he felt parts of him get wrapped up, but no binds could be seen. "Neat." He said as the remaining Zanpakuto got between him and the remaining captains.
"You truly are powerful." Muramasa said, almost hungrily. "I wonder what your Zanpakuto has to say about you."
"I'll give you ten seconds to do your thing before I break out of this and kill you." Ichigo said, sounding annoyed and bored. 'Oh god, I'm actually curious about this. I'm becoming Urahara!' He thought in terror as Muramasa began his ritual.
"Now hear my voice, follow your instincts and release your soul from this body." He said as Ichigo's Reishi swirled around him. "Discard your-" He was about to continue before Ichigo's hand wrapped around his throat.
"Ten seconds passed." Ichigo said as his fingers tightened around Muramasa's throat. He would've continued before his arm started coming apart. He quickly broke his other arm free and severed his arm before more could unravel.
"You will stay put Ichigo Kurosaki." The hybrid looked at a mannequin woman in loose robes and looped hair on her head, bearing a Reiatsu he was all to familiar with. Benihime, Urahara's Zanpakuto and he was well aware of her Bankai powers. His arm restored itself and he lifted his hands above his head, letting Muramasa continue.
"Discard your fear," The blade said between coughing fits, "look ahead. Go forth, do not stop." Ichigo actually felt like something was being pulled from him as Muramasa continued. "Run and you will die, hesitate and you will die." He roughly dug his hand into Ichigo's spirit, earning a grunt of discomfort but no screams of pain. "Come now, Zangetsu!" He pulled out a rope of Reishi from within Ichigo as the power erupted, creating a fog of dust. Ichigo was hunched slightly, but stood up straight soon enough.
"Been awhile since we actually talked, how have you been?" He asked, facing a figure that wore a long white coat with a black fur collar and cuffs, with baggy hakama pants and a black mask with bull horns. "Zangetsu."
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers)
Mayuri's Reason for a New Look
"Now let's see, if we adjusted the ratio here than we can finally make a vitamin supplement that tastes good and is actually effective." Urahara whispered to himself as a large explosion rocked the lab. He put it out of his mind, they were a common occurrence for him, until he caught a familiar scent of burning flesh. He looked to his side and flinched slightly. "Need a new face Mayuri?" He asked, earning a nod from the faceless figure. "Take as much time as you need... please."