(Soul Society: Squad 4)
It was unknown how much time they had before Yhwach's next assault so Kyoraku ordered everything vital be done a fast as possible. Despite successfully taking out so much of the enemy, the Schutzstaffel proved themselves to be much greater danger due to their nigh unkillable states. Lille had left Kyoraku and Starrk in bad states and if it weren't for Orihime, they'd be dead. Gerard only got stronger the more damage he took and Pernida seemed to adapt in his fight to ensure its survival. Ichigo kept a tight lip about how he planned to finish this as the hybrid felt no trust for the Zero Squad and he had a feeling Ichibe was watching him closely, but the Zero Squad wouldn't leave without Ichigo who refused to leave until the Soul Society was properly aided. It was a race against the clock for Ryuujin Jakka's spirit, but it seemed like the many Zanpakuto spirits invaded Ichigo's inner world to try and help the fire sword.
"It'd probably be faster to just teach Retsu how to monitor them." Tenjiro complained as he was forced to work with Unohana and Urahara in making new 'effective' healing springs. Kisuke kept the original plans from his first recreation a hundred years ago, which was serving as the base for the new springs.
"Shut up and dig!" The squad 12 captain yelled, throwing an egg at Tenjiro's head while he and Unohana continued their work. "There's a fairly large gap in power when we consider ranks, but I think a good base level should be the third seat."
"Or maybe we can make it so it reacts to how much Reiatsu the subject bathing has." She added, noting the possibility.
"So the more bathing, the faster it'd be or rather if Zaraki was in it then no one else is allowed?" Urahara guessed.
"Yeah... that might prove difficult to use. Maybe more springs of varying strength."
"With giant labels so no one accidentally steps into the wrong spring." The two adamantly agreed, not trusting anyone to not make the mistake. "But that's just for physical injuries. How about a spring that can heal diseases and poisons?"
"Tenjiro did mention that he had something for replenishing blood. But that was because the other 'healing spring' drove out the damaged blood and Reiatsu. Would you be able to make some leeches that could be used to suck out the toxins and disease?"
"Sounds like something we could do. But where to put that spring?" The two continued planning while Tenjiro finished digging the first pit.
"I'm feeling rather unappreciated." He complained, wiping off some sweat. While he continued to help the Retsu and Kisuke improve the healing ability of the 4th division, the rest of the Zero squad were roughly in the same area.
"Eat up everyone! There's plenty to go around!" Shouted Kirio Hikifune, who had went from a plump woman to a slender and busty version of herself as she continued to cook. She went from fat to slender as a result of pumping her Reiatsu into her cooking, which was helping to strengthen the people eating it while Kirio herself was eating a large amount of Reishi Restoration food and drinks that Squad 12 made to rejuvenate people after exhausting fights or training. The nutrition in all of the Reishi food bars and drinks kept her going while cooking her food, which she insisted was better for body and spirit.
"She's really excited." Senjumaru noted as her many arms wove new Shihakusho and Haoris for the Shinigami and Arrancar. Getting inspiration from the Hierro of the Arrancar, she had decided to experiment with new threads and weaving patterns until she created a new fabric that would serve as an armor. So long as Reishi was supplied to the fabric then it would gain a steel-like quality that could defend against attacks to a certain degree. Which made it better than having no armor and just relying on sword skills. It was still inferior to Ichigo's regenerating Oken Uniform, but she had more time and better materials for that.
"She loves cooking and when was the last time she had this many people to cook for?" Oetsu asked as he did general repair of Zanpakuto, along with the occasional scolding of some people he felt were mistreating their Zanpakuto while reminding others of what Ichigo said about the swords and their spirits. With him, kept safe in a vat of Reishi rich jelly, was the broken remains of Ryuujin Jakka, sustaining it along with the Zanpakuto spirits within the realm of the sword spirits. As all of this went on, Ichibe was with Ichigo doing the one thing he could actually help with in the outskirts of the Rukon.
"Come on Ichigo, focus." The old monk advised as Ichigo manifested spirit projection of his hands, just big enough to engulf someone in one hand. "If you want to maintain your claim that you'll kill that brat than you'll have to last against me a little longer than that." Ichibe effortlessly created a far bigger hand and thrust his palm at Ichigo, throwing him a few hundred miles away. "Better." He noted as Ichigo instantly appeared behind him with a hard kick to his side that sent Ichibe flying back just as well, only for him to jump back easily while healing a fractured arm. "I still get the sense you're holding back."
"I won't when it's Yhwach I'm fighting." The hybrid returned, not winded but still trying to get full control of his newly increased Reiatsu and strength. "I promised that I would kill him. Everyone eventually pays for their sins, especially people like Yhwach." Ichibe was getting ready for the next round when Ichigo interrupted him. "I've been meaning to ask about that brush. I know you have power in names, but can you really write what you need to with that?" The old monk paused and laughed before taking up the calligraphy brush on his back.
"Well, in it's base form whatever Kanji I write comes into effect." He started explaining while writing light, making a bright orb of light. "And when I strike something, the name of that gets severed, imagine losing the strength in your arm because it's name was now 'ar'. When I activate the Shikai, I gain full control of all things 'black' in the universe. The state after that allows me to rename anything covered in Ichimonji's ink." He stated, surprising Ichigo with his power.
"Was it really safe to tell me that?" The hybrid asked as the old monk laughed.
"It won't make any difference Ichigo." He returned his brush to his back as he manifested a giant hand again. "Come on, back to it. We're training until I beat that stubbornness out of you!" He said before stomping a giant foot on the hybrid instead, Ichigo just barely catching it with his own spirit hands.
'So... gotta kill him before he uses his brush. Shouldn't be too difficult.' The hybrid surmised before lifting the foot up and getting sent flying by a giant finger poke.
(Meanwhile, in an underground bunker)
"Okay, everyone line up while we distribute the rations!" A woman called Masayoshi yelled out the the massive underground bunker squad 12 set up. Masayoshi was someone Ganju found during a patrol and she helped him catch a thief, she wore an auburn ponytail that reached her shoulders and had amber eyes. She pretty quickly latched onto Ganju and strove to become a member of the Rukon police force, otherwise known as squad 14. In another world, before she died, she was Seryu Ubiquitous but she lost her memories upon entering the Soul Society, taking on a new name with a purpose to help anyone she could. As of now that was maintaining order while her superior, Ganju Shiba, oversaw distribution of rations.
"Okay, we've got two pounds of rice, a head of cabbage, and an option of fish or pork." He yelled out, making the people decide on what to go with their bread. Initially, the people were pissed at being forced into the underground for the past week but then came the first assault of the Vandenreich which made the ground above them shake with the fury of battle. That shut them up rather quickly, but it also scared much of the populace. 'This won't do. I'm supposed to help give these people peace of mind. What can I do?' He wondered as he saw a bunch of kids, lonely orphans huddled together and shaking. Ganju reached into his pack and pulled out some small scale firecrackers and sparklers. 'Well, maybe I can distract them a little bit.' He thought as he grabbed a hefty chunk of beef he had reserved for officers. "Hey kids." He said, getting their attention as he sat close to them, generated a Shakkaho sphere, lit a few sparklers before passing them out while sticking the beef chunk on a skewer. "Let me tell you all a story. The story of Kaien Shiba."
(With the Kido Corps)
'Okay. Let's do this. I'm doing this.' Ikkaku thought as he marched his way through the division, trying to find the commanding officers while the rest of the division tried to restore the barrier that kept the Quincy trapped in their land of shadows to maybe buy them a little more time. He felt a personal need to do what he was here to do, a drive that was almost as strong as his loyalty to his captain. He eventually found his way to Tessai's office, which was a mess of papers, scrolls, and books as the commander and Hachi tried to find something among the tomes of Kido knowledge. He knew he'd be interrupting, but he needed to do this now while he still had the chance. "SIRS!" He loudly shouted, surprising the two Kido masters.
"Lieutenant Madarame? Is there something we can help you with?" Hachigen asked as Tessai continued to scan through the scrolls.
"Two things sirs. One that can be done by anyone with a certain level of skill in Kido." Tessai didn't even spare a glance at the lieutenant, but the room did feel a bit heavier. "I want the kanji for 3 and 5 tattooed on my left shoulder." The commander started growling with annoyance.
"Why are you bothering us with such simple-"
"Second, I need to learn Kido." That one actually surprised the pair, for such a devotee to squad 11's melee only policy with the sole exception being the now deceased third seat Yumichika Ayasegawa. "My best friend is gone sirs. He loved the number three as he thought it was the most beautiful with five being a close second and he was the only Kido user in the eleventh. This is my way of honoring him. I need to learn Kido." Tessai stood up from his desk and walked over to the lieutenant, grabbed his arm and locked it while twisting Ikkaku's shoulder, making him release a quick cry of pain.
"Normally I would feel insulted by your utter disrespect." Tessai held up a finger, glowing with Kido. "But I did abandon my post and commit crimes to help my friends." He slowly branded the two numbers into Ikkaku's shoulder, the man himself groaning but biting back the pain as much as possible. "If we manage to survive, make your way back here and we'll start your lessons. I'll be harsher on you since Yumichika actually had a talent for Kido." He let go as the branding ended, leaving a black three and five on his left shoulder. "Now get out. We're still working."
(Squad 2 Barracks)
'This place seems so much emptier without you around little bee.' Yoruichi thought as she wandered down the halls of her old division, noting how different the world becomes when someone close to you is suddenly gone. The entire atmosphere in the barracks had a somber tone to match the Shihoin's mood, despite the purpose of the Onmitsukido to be unfeeling assassins, the sadness for the loss of their captain still held. Some more than other as the sounds of struggle brought Yoruichi to her office, finding lieutenant Marechiyo Omaeda on his knees with a number of the squad wrestling with him.
"Get off me! I need to do this!" The man yelled, knocking some of the people off him as some tried to pry Omaeda's Zanpakuto out of his hand. "I can't take this shame!" Yoruichi calmly walked up to the thrashing man, placed a hand on his shoulder, and punched him in the face which sent him flying into the wall.
"Confiscate his sword." She ordered as the squad immediately obeyed, taking away Omaeda's Zanpakuto as Yoruichi walked up to the man, tears pouring down his face. "Lieutenant Omaeda, why the hell are you trying to kill yourself in Soi... in MY office." She said, catching herself as she needed to stick with reality. The squad 2 lieutenant seemed to finally recognized Yoruichi was in front of him as he fully prostrated himself before the noble.
"Lady Yoruichi... I... I'm a failure." He admitted as he struggled through his tears. "I wasn't strong enough to help my captain when she needed it, and now she's gone. I was supposed to be her partner, and she died while I'm still around." He let out a broken sad laugh. "I... I can't even take the shame and would rather kill myself to atone for this disgrace. My weakness got captain Soi-Fon killed!" He went back to sobbing while Yoruichi looked down at the pitiable soul, before grabbing his collar and slapping him harshly a couple times.
"You're right you are a failure!" She yelled before lifting him off the ground. "The lieutenant has to keep it together in the event that the captain isn't around to take command and continue the mission. You became a sobbing wreck and now have the gall to think that taking your life is making up for that failure? You have a mission Marechiyo Omaeda. So I expect you to see it through, for Soi-Fon's sake if nothing else!" She roared before dropping him, the man crumbling on the floor before getting up to a kneeling position before her.
"Captain Yoruichi Shihoin... please." He started, his voice becoming level as he begged. "Make me a proper Shinigami. The kind that captain Soi-Fon would be proud of." Yoruichi nodded in approval as some life came back to the man that was so ready to kill himself.
"I will. But don't complain if you die in the process."
(Squad 12 Storage: Recently Deceased)
'How tasteless.' Rukia thought as she entered the area the Gotei was forced to callously stick their dead comrades, no time for more honorably burials when in wartime. It was harsh, to not afford so many the time to properly mourn and say goodbye, but that's the way life is. It doesn't care if you're sick, if you're depressed, someone you loved died, or some other tragedy happened in your life, time moves on regardless. Sure there are some that can offer sympathy and a helping hand, but you still need to move on with your life. The squad 13 lieutenant forced herself to keep it together when her brother almost died, when her surrogate brother and sister Homura and Shizuku almost died taking an arrow for her, even Ichigo was dragged away because the Zero Squad had to 'finish his training' instead of being the rock she and her sister wives needed. Especially now when they may very well have lost two of them.
'And here you are, in cold storage, instead of with us.' Rukia thought as she reached the body of Rangiku Matsumoto. "We're sorry Rangiku... but we needed Orihime to heal other people." Quincy arrows and spirit weapons slowed Orihime's healing ability but not to an impossible degree, some were quick while others like Kyoraku and Byakuya's were a snail's pace. When she finally had the chance to look over the dead, her own Reiatsu was depleted and, as they suspected, she broke down crying seeing so many gone. Especially Rangiku, who was like an older sister to many of the girls in Ichigo's love circle. "You aren't supposed to be here!" Rukia cried out as tears she's been holding back finally fell. "You wanted to marry him next! You wanted to have his kids! You should be with us making us laugh and smile! Why... why did you have to..." She thought she was alone, letting out the pain she held back, but someone else came to visit the lost loved one.
"So this is Rangiku Matsumoto." Rukia stopped crying and snapped her head to the see, seeing the blue haired woman Ichigo came back with. "I was told she and Ichigo were lovers. Along with you I'm guessing?" Rukia nodded, still in a bit of shock. "Esdeath Partas, I was Ichigo's second in command while he was in my world. As well as his mate... well, one of them but the one that came back with him."
"Squad 13 lieutenant Rukia Kurosaki nee Kuchiki, Ichigo's official wife but that was a political matter. One that worked out well for us." Rukia returned as she forced her sorrow back down. "What brings this visit?"
"I wanted to see her." Esdeath answered, looking down on the former lieutenant. "Everyone spoke highly of her, for her personality above all else. Soldiers that bring up moral are sometimes more vital than their superior officers. It's why, when I was a general, I made sure to keep up moral among my men. Though... admittedly not always through moral means. If Ichigo didn't make me a Soul Reaper, I'd be bound for Hell, but he broke me down and built me back up."
"You said you were a general." Rukia said, choosing to focus on that and not Esdeath's admission that she was a terrible person. "Did you lose any soldiers you were close to?"
"Three. My elite officers, I lost them all one a mission I assigned to them." Esdeath admitted, thinking back to the day she lost her 'Three Beasts'. "Whenever a soldier of mine died, I would make sure their families were cared for if I could help them. I didn't actually care but I still repaid their loyalty. But if your asking how I dealt with their losses, I just accepted it and moved on. I grew on the philosophy of 'the weak die and the strong survive'. Ichigo taught me the hard way what someone truly strong can do. But there were still things I just had to accept I couldn't change and focused on what I can do." Rukia took a moment to think about Esdeath's words, remembering that there is something that she and her future sister-wives could do.
"Come with me. You're meeting the rest of the harem." Rukia demanded, grabbing Esdeath's hand and pulling her along. "There is another one of our sisters that's missing in action and she needs rescuing!"
(Back with the Zero Squad)
"Now, I'm alright with leaving." Ichigo said as the Tenchuuren was being prepped for launch by the Shiba attendants. "How did it feel to actually make yourself useful for once Tenjiro?" The hot spring medic growled, still covered in dirt and grime from digging over a dozen new holes while Kisuke and Retsu took the formulas of his healing springs and made them 'useful'. The part that he was most annoyed with was that he actually felt inspired to create new springs and healing techniques but was forced to dig the holes.
"I forgot what it was like to cook for so many people." Kirio cheered, still slim from all the cooking she did. "I'm still annoyed that Hiyori wasn't around. I miss her."
"It was embarrassing to think that such uniforms were the standard." Senjumaru groaned, her skeletal hands rubbing each other. "I can't remember the last time I had to make so much so fast."
"Why... why are so many so foolish. Even after you telling them the truth!" Oetsu wept as he clung to Ichigo. "It... it just hurts man. Although that Rukia lass is getting real close to getting her Bankai, and that Kenpachi fellow. I think you're the only one with a better relationship."
"Let's get a move on everybody!" Ichibe interrupted as they all loaded up in the pillar transport with only the captains and some lieutenants there to bid them goodbye. "Goodbye, try to hold out until we send Ichigo back down!" He told everyone with a cheery smile. "Also, Kyoraku, I expect him to be released. Tokinada Tsunayashiro will be a great asset to the war." Kyoraku nodded obediently.
"Don't worry Osho. Lord Tsunayashiro will be released." The new captain commander answered as the Zero Squad loaded up and were launched back to the Royal realm.
"You'd best keep your oath Ichigo." The old monk told the teen as they rode the pillar back to the realm above Soul Society. "I'd hate to put in this much effort to prepare you only for you to fail in killing that brat." Ichigo smiled confidently to the monk.
"Don't worry. The next time I see Yhwach will be the last. You might not even see it happen." Ichibe laughed at Ichigo's confidence, not knowing how serious the hybrid was.