(Squad 15/Urahara Shoten: Captains Meeting)
"All evidence indicates that something is very wrong with Hell." Isshin finished, telling most of his colleagues about the encounter with a Sinner, or Togabito. The only captain not in attendance was Gin Ichimaru, because they still didn't set up the video communications system in Hueco Mundo. "The soul was formerly the Hollow Shrieker, who was a serial killer in life. Unfortunately, we were unable to capture him for questioning before he was returned to Hell."
"This is indeed grave news." Yamamoto said, sounding quite tired with each disaster that has appeared during the year. "And the first time that a Togabito managed to escape his bonds and make his way to the world of the Living." He gave a pause to think about the next course of action the Gotei should take while the rest of the captains continued to talk.
"Shrieker was a weak Hollow on his own, but clever with his abilities and minions." Urahara said, having more info on the being in question since Ichigo and the others did talk to him about any of their fights with any Hollows before heading for Soul Society. "From the sounds of it he may have gained an 80 percent increase in power, from a rough estimate guess, on top of an enhancement of his base abilities. Whoever is really pulling these strings is dangerous."
"You suspect that there are more?" Ukitake asked, hoping that the worst was less severe than it likely would be.
"I said Shrieker was clever with his own powers. I never said he was smart enough to get out of Hell on his own." Kisuke returned immediately. "I volunteer to go to the world of the Living to lead an investigation into what's going on." The offer brought Yamamoto back from his thoughts as he registered what Kisuke said.
"Should the need arise, you will be given the means to safely infiltrate Hell and return." He said, giving his blessing on the plan. "And above all else, Ichigo is to be kept in the dark about this." Everyone looked to the Commander, teetering between surprised and understanding. "That fool disciple of mine would insist on shouldering the mission by himself and I think we can all agree that he deserves a break." All the captains in attendance nodded in agreement, that they shouldn't rely on Ichigo to handle all their problems. "Unfortunately, despite my better judgment, this means that the live exercise will have to continue."
"What!?" Isshin shouted in anger. "No. It has to be canceled. It can't happen and I need to step up patrols to-" He would've continued if Genryusai didn't slam his cane down.
"They have to continue because if we don't, Ichigo is sure to find out that something is wrong." The dragon began to explain. "I already sent the order for him to gather Hollows to use in the exercise and if he cares about his sisters as much as we know he does, than he'd be there watching over them. The best thing we can do now is increase the security. Captain Soi-Fon, I want you to join Urahara and ready for anything."
"Understood." The two captains said with a nod.
"Dismissed! And pray that this is nothing." Yamamoto said as the monitor died out, leaving Isshin alone in the room.
"It's never nothing." He said regretfully as he prepared for tomorrow.
(With Ichigo: Hueco Mundo)
"And there." The king said, finishing a note that told his concubines to try to strengthen themselves. Loly and Menoly were currently still asleep, clinging to each other for comfort after Ichigo left the bed. He stretched himself as he made his way out of the royal bedchambers and out to the commons area of Las Noches. He appeared at the edge of where Gin was, with a set of ten cages no bigger than a building and holding the chosen cannon fodder. "Is this all of them?" He asked as reached Gin's side.
"Yes, I thought ten would be enough for the students." The silver haired man said as they examined the various Hollows, all of which were slamming against the cages and trying to escape. "I'm actually concerned that they might be too weak. Then again, I may not be the best comparison to academy students."
"This is for real combat experience and practice, not pitting them against a Menos." Ichigo said as Grimmjow and Ulquiorrra appeared. "Hey you two. How did it go?" Ulquiorra bowed respectfully while Grimmjow scoffed.
"Bastards went into hiding in the Menos Forest during your attack on Las Noches." The panther growled, annoyed at the cowardice of many of his kind. "They're too scared to even try to join and risk displeasing you. Like you'd turn them into a Hollow smoothie or something."
"And my Vasto Lorde brothers had long since scattered to the distant corners of Hueco Mundo." Ulquiorra said, having gone to search for his family born from the darkness. "One night was not enough to search for them." Ichigo let out a sigh, expecting as much since Hueco Mundo was an endless desert.
'I wonder if I can get squad 12 to make a massive spirit beacon above Las Noches.' He wondered, thinking it would make attracting Arrancar potentials so much easier. "Well, might as well get these guys to the practice site." Ichigo then flicked his wrist, creating a Garganta, while Grimmjow and Ulquiorra wordlessly began to carry the cages with them. "Wait, you're coming with me?" He asked, surprised by the two.
"More for your sisters." Ulquiorra answered as they continued, dragging the cages along with heavy chains. "I shudder to think of what would happen if they were hurt and you acted."
"You don't use a Gran Rey Cero to destroy an ant," Grimmjow chimed in, "why should you fight these runts?" The trio entered the world of the Living, quickly sensing where the training exercise was being held. They soon flashed to the site, outside of the city limits, just as the instructor had finished telling the students what to expect. Yuzu and Karin standing with Isshin, Kisuke, Soi-Fon and most of the officers of squad 15, pouting but paying very close attention.
"Recently, however, the Captain Commander and Headmaster of Shin'o Academy decided to up the difficulty of this course. Instead of dummy Hollows, you will fighting the real things." Grimmjow and Ulquiorra chose that moment to toss the cages toward the students and shoot several Balas to free the Hollows. The air was filled with the cries of hungry Hollows as the instructor and class turned to the beasts. "Good luck." He said, prompting the braver students to charge forward. Everyone watched in mild interest as the students fought the Hollows, half of which were soon exorcised while the other half were proving more durable.
'I can't even remember when I had trouble with those Hollows, let alone when Yuzu did.' Ichigo thought as he remembered how far he came from that timid child he was. He was brought out of his thoughts by a sudden gust of wind, acting like a pulse that echoed throughout the area. The hybrid looked to where the wind came from along with Ulquiorra. A quick glance conveyed the message between the two with Uryu and Soi-Fon coming up to join them. They turned to Grimmjow who gave a dismissive wave of his hand, all but saying that he'd keep an eye on the twins. With that, the group departed to search for any clues.
(Karakura Town: Hours later)
'The day is almost over and we still haven't found anything.' Ichigo thought to himself, still remaining cautious as experience made him wiser. 'Something is out there... but where?' It wasn't too long before Uryu appeared at his side. "Any luck Uryu?" He asked as his cousin gave him a stern look.
"Ichigo, return to Soul Society." He ordered, exercising what authority he had over Ichigo since he was now a lieutenant while Ichigo was the 4th seat of squad 1. "Yamamoto contacted us recently, ordering your return." Ulquiorra soon joined them as Ichigo checked his phone, finding that Yamamoto was indeed demanding his return. All of which was setting off alarms in Ichigo's head because never once was he summoned so urgently.
"Uryu what's happening?" The hybrid demanded, not even looking at Uryu or Ulquiorra. The latter of whom had his attention elsewhere. "Something like this has never happened before. What did I miss?" He demanded, now glaring at the Quincy. "What is going on?" Ichigo growled, seeing the strain of keeping secrets in Uryu's eyes.
"Kurosaki, you will follow the Head Captain's orders." Soi-Fon sternly said while Uryu tried the calmer method.
"Ichigo-" He started, before Ulquiorra interrupted.
"Attackers incoming." He said ever so stoically. The trio turned to see three black cloaked figures with masks flying toward them. One was so rotund it was like a ball with hands and feet, another was a giant of a man with thick hulking arms, the last seemed like a normal figure. That one dashed ahead of the other figures and when he got close, four tendrils burst from his back and consumed the Quincy. Before Ichigo could react, Ulquiorra cut the tendrils off of the figure and kicked him away. The other two, larger guys, were closing in as Ulquiorra shot them point blank with a Cero. The pair were pushed back a good twenty meters, before the round guy absorbed the energy.
"Mmm, minty." The figure said with a slimy hiss to his voice. "You missed the target." He turned to the figure that had the tendrils, now holding a tiny Uryu doll. "You only had the one shot."
"Then we'll move to plan B, as intended." The man holding the doll said as he punched the Uryu doll, knocking Uryu's own head back. "Personally, I want my revenge!" He began crushing the doll, earning pained screams out of the Quincy and prompting Ichigo to act, only to get intercepted by the giant figure. Ulquiorra kicked the giant aside while the fat one shot a barrage of pink energy bullets, prompting the duo to dodge.
"These guys are the source of the disturbance." Ulquiorra said to Ichigo, as they weaved around the onslaught. "But apparently, there's another group that's attacking the training site." The hybrid's eyes widened as he understood what that meant. "Go. We've got this." He said, unsheathing his sword going on the offensive. Ichigo disappeared in a flash with Soi-Fon chasing him while Ulquiorra used his Sonido to get in front of the one crushing Uryu. "Hello, Szayelapporo." The returned Arrancar stopped in shock at Ulquiorra's sudden appearance and recognition of a former ally. Before he could do anything else, a beam of light sliced through his hands and made him drop the doll. As it fell, Uryu shot out and recovered his voodoo self while the other two tried to follow Ichigo before Ulquiorra blocked their path. "Enclose, Murcielago." He said, transforming into his Resurreccion.
"You annoying little ants!" The fat guy growled as light exploded behind them, revealing Uryu in his Vollstandig. "Go ahead, that won't help." He said, giggling with confidence while Szayelapporo was shaking in fear.
"No... no not again!" He screamed in a panic, remembering every feather that tore him to shreds. "NO!" He turned and ran for his life, heading straight for Ulquiorra.
"Aim for the mask!" Uryu called out as he gathered more Reishi for his wings. Ulquiorra immediately shot a Bala directly to Szayel's mask, revealing the terrified Arrancar.
"No. No no. NO! NO PLEASE!" He begged as chains wrapped around him as the Gates of Hell appeared, sucking the former Espada back into it's grasp. "NO~!" He cried as he was stabbed with a giant blade and disintegrated while the Gates faded just as quickly as they appeared.
"Fascinating." Ulquiorra said as the sight ended, turning back to their opponents. "So, just destroy the mask and they go to Hell?" He held up a finger as he charged a Cero. "Seems simple enough." The second he was about to fire the Cero, the fat guy got in front of the blast. Remembering how this guy absorb his Cero once already, he quickly flashed between him and the larger guy, blasting him in the face.
"You bastard!" The fat guy howled, intending to pound Ulquiorra's skull in when he saw Reishi feathers coming at him. The first round he quickly absorbed despite the massive barrage. "As much as I enjoy your Reishi-" he said as Uryu sent another volley, this time spinning around him like a ball. "This isn't going to work!" He laughed mockingly, soon absorbing all of the Reishi into himself. "You really aren't that bright are you? You've seen me absorb Reishi attacks with ease and you just keep throwing them at me like a crazy person!" He said, all while his cloak was falling apart to reveal a horrendously obese man with armor covering his upper body. "Wait... WHAT!?" The sinner screamed in terror as his protection from Hell fell away. He desperately tried to cover himself with anything he could, but Hell had found him.
"You shouldn't have sent your friend from the other day." Uryu said, adjusting his glasses. "Fighting him gave us the important detail of your clothes protecting you from the damnation you flee from." Chains quickly wrapped around the fat man, dragging him back to perdition despite his best efforts. "And I'd rather not have to deal with you again, so just to be sure." The Quincy spoke as thousands of small scratches erupted from the blob's body with Reishi pouring out from each. "I'll be taking all of your Reishi." He said calmly as the Togabito's body slowly withered away to a shriveled husk, screaming in terror the whole way until he made contact with the giant blade.
'Seems he has gotten stronger.' Ulquiorra thought, watching the Quincy finish his fight. 'Ichigo and Grimmjow seems to be handling that situation back there.' His thoughts were interrupted by the hulking brute punching down at him. The result created a heavy shockwave that forced Ulquiorra to use both hands to block the attack. 'But I shouldn't keep my lord waiting.' "I am the right hand of the King of Hollows." The Arrancar said, pushing the brute back with a flap of his wings. "I can't bother myself with trash like you for much longer."
"You trash!" The figure spoke in a broken way with a throaty growl. "I'll crush you!" He flashed in front of the bat, fully intent on using his massive strength to pound him into the ground. Ulquiorra, taking full advantage of his small size and great speed, slipped inside of the behemoth's guard as he punched the ground. Jumping to avoid the earthquake shock, he flattened his hand and speared it through the monster's chest. Ulquiorra frowned when the Togabito clenched up and kept his arm stuck inside the guy. "Now you die!" The Togabito yelled in victory, wrapping his arms and crushing Ulquiorra.
"I will not die." The bat said, tearing his arm free while losing a majority of it inside the Sinner's chest, pointing the bleeding and healing stump directly in from of the mask. "I will not fail my king. Cero." He said while charging the blast in his restored palm. The Sinner barely had the chance to flee before his head was destroyed, along with his entire body. The only sinner to be blasted back to Hell and silent while it happened. Fully healed, Ulquiorra turned to Uryu. "You need to explain a few things."
(Back with Ichigo)
The hybrid returned to the training grounds with all haste, finding four more cloaked figures fighting his father and Grimmjow, with the everyone else being located behind Orihime's barriers as Kisuke was gathering data. In his own Resurreccion, the panther was able to hold off the two he was fighting; a figure with a long mask while the other wielded a large, black, three pronged glaive. Isshin was in his shikai, fending off another fire user and a figure with tentacles. Before he charged forward, Soi-Fon soon appeared by Ichigo's side.
"Before you go, here's what you need to know." She said, knowing that getting Ichigo to leave was impossible now. "They are denizens from Hell and their clothes are the only thing keeping them here." Ichigo merely nodded in understanding before dashing forward. As he was, Grimmjow was caught in a deadlock with the glaive user while the taller figure was closing in behind him and ready to cut the panther down before he could overpower his opponent. Wordlessly Ichigo shot two Bala at the Sinners, forcing them to dodge with the Glaive user having to let go of his weapon. He tried to grab onto the cord that was attached to it but Grimmjow already had it in his grasp, slamming the blade into the taller figure's head and shattering a glass tank to reveal the two skulls of Aaronierro, and thrusting the handle into the stomach of the other. Now with only one opponent, Grimmjow bore a savage grin as he grabbed the figure by the throat and began mercilessly beating him.
'It was probably more fair when he was outnumbered.' Ichigo thought as he continued toward his father, not even sparing a glance as the Gates of Hell opened to pull the two skulls back into its depths and not noticing the figure that came out of them. Ichigo flew toward his father, grabbing the pyromancer by the face and throwing him into the ground to gain some distance away from the two.
"Damn it!" The figure growled as he charged at Ichigo with jets of flames pouring from his hands. Ichigo unsheathed Kyoka Suigetsu and blocked the attacks. "If we can't get your sisters, I'll just drag you to Hell with me!" He roared, opening a hole behind Ichigo and desperately charging forward. The tentacle figure witnessed this and went to assist his ally, only to get intercepted by a figure in white with a black sword.
"Who are you!?" He demanded while Isshin threw a Getsuga Tensho at him. He barely dodged while Ichigo avoided his own adversary, letting him dive back into Hell. A portal of flames appeared next to the tentacled man with the same pyromancer inside.
"Gunjo, we're leaving to regroup." The man said quickly, making the now named Gunjo hesitate before following his master. Ichigo glared at the portal of Hell when the white man to came to his side.
"As much as I like seeing those people not get their way, I felt a little useless." He said, moving his black head cloth to reveal more of his face. "But this won't be the last you'll see of-" He was cut off when Ichigo slammed the hilt of Kyoka Suigetsu into his chest. His sudden strike knocked the air out of him and left his ears ringing, seeing the Zanpakuto pulsate before everything went dark.
(Squad 15 Barracks)
The squad put the man in white and the man with the glaive in a pair of holding cells, specifically one that could cancel out the pull of Hell, with Urahara and Soi-Fon ready to interrogate them. Isshin was getting ready to send the class, and his daughters, back to Soul Society for their own safety since the figures explicitly targeted them. Ichigo, meanwhile, was having a disagreement with Yamamoto.
"Something is going on that suggests that something is extremely wrong in Hell, the harshest place anyone can go to, with people that were targeting my sisters... and you want me to return to Soul Society?" He asked, not happy about being sidelined after everything else he managed to accomplish.
"Arrogance is the ultimate failing of any warrior Ichigo." The dragon returned to his student. "I believed you would have learned that when you struck down Aizen. You have enough burdens on your shoulders for now my student." He said, adopting a gentler tone. "For now, let's return our focus on your lessons. The situation in Hell will be handled, you have my word. I expect you back soon." The feed cut off, leaving Ichigo with his thoughts and Grimmjow.
"So, does this mean you want us to return to Hueco Mundo?" The panther asked, not seeing much point in hanging around if the situation was already handled.
"You might as well." Ichigo conceded, ready to open a Garganta to Soul Society, when glittering dust flowed into the room and descended upon the pair. Soon their minds were filled with Ulquiorra's memories of the interrogation Kisuke and Soi-Fon held with the pair. The man wearing white was called Kokuto and was open with everything while the other man refused to talk, aside from demanding Kokuto's silence. He explained that the cloaked figures were a radical and desperate group that found a way to sneak out of Hell and plan to use Ichigo to destroy the Gates of Hell and, most importantly, that they would never stop. "We really need to get Yuzu and Karin able to protect themselves." Ichigo groaned, getting annoyed at how everyone seemed to target them to get to him.
"So what's the plan?" Grimmjow asked, sensing his king's agitation. "Ignore it or do something stupid?" Ichigo thought about it, pacing about the room. On one hand, he's driven by the need to protect his sisters and stopping a new threat from destroying the world... again. On the another, there were other entirely capable Soul Reapers that could take care of the issue instead of him. Instead of answering, Ichigo flashed out of the building and started walking in the hope that it might clear his head. He didn't even take ten steps before he was surrounded by Onmitsukido members in hiding.
'What do I do?' He wondered as he made his walk, loosening his limiters and increasing his power. 'I've never really tested how strong I became and Hell seems like a perfect place to cut loose, but I wouldn't be denied going there without good reason.' He then thought about that Kokuto fellow that explained the aim of using him as a way of opening a way to get out of Hell. He took a deep breath and made his decision, one he was sure he'd be regretting later on. The stealth force, the entire city, had only a second to notice the falling purple cherry blossoms before blacking out and Ichigo flashed back to the Barracks.
(Holding Cells)
Kokuto was lounging in his prison cell, internally debating how it ranked against Hell itself, when he noticed Soul Reapers dropping like flies. The man known as Kisuke had only a moment to groan out Ichigo's name before collapsing. Kokuto himself barely had a few seconds to think before Ichigo appeared before him and opening the cell.
"I'd say thanks, but I doubt this was out of your generosity." Kokuto said, slowly getting up before Ichigo grabbed his collar and yanked him out before slamming him against the wall.
"Do you know where those radicals went?" Ichigo demanded, glaring at Kokuto in his unhidden eye. The Sinner himself raised his hands in a placating gesture, hoping to calm the hybrid down.
"Easy there." He said, Ichigo not letting up even a little. "Yes, I know where in Hell they went. If you really want, I can guide you there myself. I told your friends that I'm not keen on letting those cloaked bastards get their way either." Ichigo finally let go, but continued to glare at the man.
"You're a Sinner condemned to Hell. Why are you choosing to help us?" The hybrid asked, still maintaining his caution.
"It's more that you're helping me." The prisoner returned. "Honestly, I hate those cloaked idiots and really want to see them beaten. The only solace we know is the pain and death of other Sinners."
"No one is sent to Hell without deserving it. What did you do?"
"I admit that I did some pretty nasty things, enough to damn me to Hell, but in order to protect what's important you'll need to stain your soul." Ichigo thought back to a similar lesson Yamamoto tried to teach him when he asked about Hell. "Like I said, I'll show you the way to them, but be warned. Hell's very air is toxic and will decay your very soul, to say nothing of the Kushanada that will hunt you down and attempt to trap you there as well."
"I'm not afraid." Ichigo said, tearing open the other cell and grabbing the cloaked figure by the face. "Now come on." The sounds of cracking and shattering soon rang as the mask broke in Ichigo's grasp. The next instant, Ichigo grabbed onto one of Kokuto's chains as the Gates of Hell appeared and began to suck the glaive Togabito back to his damnation with him screaming in terror.
"Are you insane!?" Kokuto cried out as they were being sucked in with the Sinner. As they neared the blade of the Kushanada, Ichigo pulled himself onto the chest of his victim before kicking off of him, landing on the spine of the blade, and dashing the rest of the way into Perdition. Ichigo sped passed the massive muscled, skeletal beings and toward a landscape of white blocks with a pathway of blue. "I could have opened a much safer pathway you know!"
"Yeah, yeah, we're here aren't we?" Ichigo said, brushing off his companion's protests and ignoring the voices in his mind.
Liar...
Murderer...
Do not trust...
Sinner...
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers)
Damage Assessment
"...another 32 have broken bones from the sudden falls, and finally Ichigo ran off with the Sinners and is now in Hell." Urahara reports to the stone faced Yamamoto, whose expression did not change the entire time. "On one hand, it's impressive he managed a city wide Hakufuku spell... so... kudos to him?" Genryusai stayed silent, making the scientist more and more uncomfortable. Meanwhile in Yamamoto's head...
'I'm going to kill that damn disciple of mine.' Was the only thought he had.
Checking back with Mayuri
The deranged lieutenant of squad 12 was banging his head against the desk as Urahara came in.
"Disappointed that the 'stupid experiment' was the one that worked?"
"No... disappointed that I can't dissect that Togabito." He groaned. "Hell will still remain near impossible to navigate and travel."
"Why would anyone want to go?" Urahara asked before coming to the obvious answer. "You want to research Hell, don't ya?" He only got a nod, prompting him to bash his head against the wall.