Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Thundering footsteps announced the arrival of my fukutaichō, Renji was five minutes late which, unfortunately, meant he was particularly on time. By his standards at least. His reiatsu flooded the office in his agitation for being late again. I was used to it by now, and he was a dedicated and competent subordinate, so I usually ignored this minor misdemeanour. He grew stronger, especially since the war with Aizen, I tried to get him to take the captaincy exam, but he refused. “Don't make me do it, please Taichō. My place is with the sixth, and you, the monkey still hasn’t reached the moon.” I let go of the issue, for now, we filled the ranks with capable men, who picked up the pieces left behind by the traitors, so there was no need to rush Renji. Although I expected him to grow out of his pointless obsession with me, he was strong and had the charisma to make himself an integrated part of the division within the first month of joining us. There was no need for comparison, he is a blunt force whereas I’m a calculated precision, both have their place, and this is why we worked so well together and why the sixth was like a well-oiled machine.

While everyone thought me detached, my division new better, if they needed advice, my office was always open, a strong, sound mind makes a good soldier, one who stays alive. Amusingly even after Renji joined us and trained with them, fought beside them and bled with them; some still preferred me to talk to, intimidated by the red head’s fiery nature. But truthfully there is no significant difference between us, merely I’m a discreet and private man, but my fire burns just as fiercely as his. For tactical purpose, I was hiding it behind the illusion of iron control and rigid protocol, but for a short time, the mask became me, and I lost my way after Hisane died. And I will be forever grateful for Kurosaki Ichigo for tearing the mask of me and waking me up from my lethargy before I could lose Rukia. Though, the boy will never hear these words from me. A few people definitely rejoiced and enjoyed my return to the living since then.

The sound of alarm aroused me from my musings, and suddenly I felt the signature of few members disappear; they were patrolling the outer edge of Seireitei. I looked at Renji who was already at the door waiting to fall two steps behind me protecting my back like a sword brother; maybe I could talk to him about it. At the rate we are being attacked during the last few years, it would be a logical decision. But that is for later. We arrived at the place where I last sensed my subordinates, and we only found their bodies and two strangely dressed individual, whose outfit vaguely resembled the Quincy boy. I made Renji report what we discovered before we engaged the enemy, according to Renji similar occurrences happened all over Seireitei, which meant we were once again under siege; but this time it was an army intended to kill and destroy instead of a handful of unorganised teenagers. Do you know what this means, we show them no mercy. I will fight them, and you will observe and inform the others, do not engage unless I tell you. Senbonzakura is effective against multiple opponents, and I need to make sure that my suspicion was warranted.

I approached the two individuals, and the slender one of the two stepped forward. Did you kill my men?

They merely died from fear, their heart couldn’t take it, and they collapsed. Do you feel it, captain? The ice-cold finger of fear taking hold of your body, mind and soul, freezing you immobile. He leisurely walked closer to me, like I was harmless. Sure, I felt something akin to fear, but that is nothing new I had many worries if I let them overwhelm me, I would have stopped moving a long time ago. So, I slashed him, but he was fast, and I could only manage a shallow cut severing a few strands of his hair. That was hirenkyaku, so I was right they are indeed Quincy but wasn’t the Ishida boy the last Quincy.

Oh my, that was impressive, Captain-san. Conquering your fear through sheer will, congratulations. I’m his Majesty’s Sternritter F, Äs Nödt. We the Quincy Vandenreich came to obliterate Souls society. You don’t need to introduce yourself, and I know who you are. The 28th head of the Kuchiki clan, 6th division captain Kuchiki Byakuya. An excellent kidō, zanjutsu and shunpo master, a formidable opponent yet not one of the war potentials.

You are a talkative one. But I have no time to waste on words; I will eliminate you scum. Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.

If he knew who I’m, he probably knew my bankai as well, yet he started to smile the moment I summoned it. He wiped out some kind of pendant, and it sucked in all of my blades, he sealed them away. Then when I tried to attack him with my shikai, suddenly my blades rained down from above us, cutting into my own flesh. Impossible. He didn’t simply seal away my bankai… no this was something worse.

Renji, inform the others they can steal bankais, do not use them until we have a countermeasure. And Renji, stay out of this fight, you have to take care of squad in my place. My body refused to move, fear finally overwhelmed me, Senbonzakura was silent, and I was alone facing death. I have to think and fast, no one knew Senbonzakura like I do, all of his strengths and weaknesses. That’s right if I can get inside the safety zone, then I could sidestep its offensive power. But my wounds, the blood loss and fear slowed me down, and he anticipated every move I made.

Never thought in my worst nightmare that my own bankai would end my life. I bled from multiple wounds, but my opponent merely played with me, testing his newly acquired weapon, feeding into the terror his own power forced upon me. I saw him readying the next assault, thousands of tiny blades resembling cherry blossoms rushed at me, so this was what my enemies saw before dying, it was achingly beautiful and frightening at the same time. But they never reached me. Suddenly there was a figure standing before my kneeling body; behind her, there was a strong Dankū shield. She was a shinigami a strong one based on her spiritual pressure and steady kidō, but she wasn’t wearing the traditional shinigami uniform. Close but not the same hers was dark grey, with a hood and a mouthpiece, so the only thing visible were her eyes. They looked at me like they knew me like we had a history a connection and she looked above all else disappointed in me.

Just what are you doing? Why do you let him play with what is yours?! Her voice made me think about warm honey during the autumn, warming your chilled bones and wary soul.

What do you mean? He stole my bankai. I felt like five years old again and being scolded for not putting on a scarf despite being told so and getting sick.

Are you kidding me? That’s just rich. He stole his bankai. Un freaking believable! She muttered to herself then without an incantation she summoned a Tenteikūra This is a message to those who misplaced their bankai. I don't know what they teach you, punks, these days, but your bankai cannot be taken from you — copied maybe, but completely separated from you, no way in hell. Your bond with your zanpakutō is carefully cultivated by many years and countless battles, more so is your bankai, a deep understanding of who you are. Do you think they can wield it after five minutes? Don't waste my time. Call your zanpakutō and trust your soul to answer as you always knew they would, time after time. I looked at her in disbelief; it cannot be that simple.

Yet at the back of my mind, I heard a frantic voice shouting at me. Call me, master! Senbonzakura was trying to reach me, but the fear Äs Nödt wielded clouded my mind, and I believed my zanpaktō betrayed me. So I struggled onto my feet, let go of my sword and called his name just as sure as I always did, and I felt his rejoice resonating in my inner world he was finally heard again; and the countless blades danced around me welcoming me, their one true master.

I trust you can handle this from here on, Kuchiki Taichō after my affirmative nod she left with a shunpo worthy of that werecat. Just who is this woman, and why did she appear out of nowhere. Her reiatsu feels so familiar, and the name is on the tip of my tongue, and a face is lingering on the edge of consciousness, yet I cannot summon either of them like something is blocking me from remembering. But I have more pressing matter at hand than who this mysterious individual was. Now that the field was evened out, I would have my vengeance. My soldiers died, they left friends and families behind, and the debt I owed them must be paid in blood. So, this time it was Äs Nödt facing his own doom by the dancing blades, and it was his turn to taste the mind-numbing fear he foolishly thought he controlled. Now that we knew they cannot take our bankai, Sōtaichō was fighting among us, and even Kurosaki Ichigo made it to Soul Society. They had no chance of defeating us anymore.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Life in the 3rd division was back to normal, or as normal as it can be with an old/new captain. Some of the older recruits remembered his brief captaincy, but for most of us, he was a stranger, even though I was grateful for him. Keeping the division afloat after Ichimaru Taichō’s betray was not an easy feat. As a mere Fukutaichō, I did not command the same respect as he did, and many, even from my own squad, looked at me with suspicion in their hearts. Then came a shocking revelation that he was double-crossing Aizen. He wanted to kill him, but for what reason no one knows, maybe Matsumoto-san has a vague idea. I tried to talk to her about him, but she was adamant he was dead, and it was time to move forward; she encouraged me to focus on building a relationship with my current taichō. And god help me I tried, but my whole world was destroyed when Ichimaru Gin left, then I built up myself founded on my resentment of his betray, but he took even that from me. He only left me with the pain that one more time I wasn’t enough, his eyes only saw Matsumoto, and he never spared a second thought to me when I outlived my usefulness.

Ōtoribashi Taichō tried to broach the topic with me, but no matter how much effort he put into hiding it, his own hate and anger shined through every time, making it impossible to confide in him truly. I could probably talk to Shūhei or Hinamori maybe even Renji, but instead, I buried it as deep as I could until I only felt a faint ache in my soul. I spent a lot of time talking to Wabisuke, which of course did not help my mood, but we were reaching a new understanding, and he told me I have to resolve my animosity towards fighting. Apparently, my dark thoughts hindered my ability to attain Bankai, which is rich coming from someone like Wabisuke. So, in a sense, I was moving forward, I was getting stronger, and I was feeling more in control of my life than I ever did since my academy days. Others saw my new-found resolve, and I was getting less and less wary side glances, and even my position in the division was steady, and my relationship with its members improving. All in all, not even two years passed, but sometimes it felt like all of that happened decades ago. Maybe Matsumoto-san was right, the dead belonged in the past, and living had no other choice but to move forward.

The sound of the alarm was once more raised around Seiretei, I was wondering what happened again. My first thought was that Kurosaki-san forgot to ask permission to visit or that crafty Urahara-san thought it would be funny to drop the kid on us unannounced. I was out on a routine patrol with a few of the new members close to where one of the intruders was located. On the way, we were joined by someone from the twelfth division because according to Renji’s report, the intruders were Quincy, and we had to confirm this information. I immediately sent the rookies back to the squad and requested three of the seated members who are available to come and to inform the Taichō that we are engaging the enemy. I left behind the researcher to observe, while I was trying to buy some time for us, at least until the reinforcement arrived. I saw five people ahead of me four of them wore the same minimalistic military uniform while the last one was quite unique. He had Mohawk styled red hair, which reminded me of wildfire raising through anything and destroying everything in its past.

Identify yourself and state your purpose. Well, that was very original Kira, really, because it takes a genius to figure out what they want. Wabisuke admonished me, and while I would agree with his assessment, now was not the time for his sass, especially because the enemy launched an attack instead of giving some answer. Diplomacy was overrated anyway.

I managed to dodge all the four arrows launched at me, a few months before and I would have fallen with half of my right side missing. However, now they couldn’t even graze my clothes. Three golden chains rushed forward from behind m, binding three out of the four lesser soldiers, and I made a quick work of the fourth. The reinforcement arrived, third seat Togakushi Rikū, fifth seat Gori Taketsuna and sixth seat Katakura Asuka, they were more than capable of taking care of the weaker enemy, so I could focus on the last one, who so far hanged back seemingly satisfied to watch.

Kira fukutaichō, please be careful, they can steal bankais, who knows what else can they do. Kuchiki Taichō, Hitsugaya Taichō had already lost theirs warned me Asuka-san. That was not good, Kuchiki and Hitsugaya Taicho are one of our best fighters, and they were already in a tight spot, I couldn’t afford to let my consternation slip even for a second. We sent a hell butterfly to Taichō, but the enemy is all over Seiretei so that he might be held up somewhere else finished Togakushi-san the report. So, no more help on the way, we have to repel them here.

At least you are a fukutaichō that should be something at least, but still, I was hoping to meet one of the war potentials, not an absolute nobody. What a bummer. Tsked the last remaining Quincy.

That was perfectly alright with me, the more he looked down on me, the more chance I would have to surprise him. First, I sent the same Sajō Sabaku that my partners used on the underlings, as predicted he dodged it after seeing it three times already, but he stepped right into my second bakudō, the Tsuriboshi made him immobile for a few seconds. After seeing Urahara-san fire away multiply kidō spells during the fight against Aizen, I practised a lot to be able to do at least two in quick succession, and now it paid off. Unfortunately, I only managed to immobilise him for a few seconds, so I was able to cut his left arm twice, but on his right arm, I only managed one cut.

Ah now I remember, you are the one with that weird-ass zanpaktō, which doubles the weight whatever it cuts. I guess I can introduce myself Steinritter H Bazz-B.

I’m guessing that H has some kind of significance and not just a fancy letter.

So you are one of the clever ones? Fuck, I hate those. Don’t worry I will show you in a minute what that H stands for.

I was expecting him to shoot an arrow at me, but instead, he aimed somewhere else, and it was not the arrow that came from his bow; instead, it was a fire beam. It headed straight towards our subordinates locked in their own fight, Bazz B valued his ones very little as the fire went through one of them first before it could hit Giko-san. My hastily performed Dankū without a proper incantation had no chance to stop the attack entirely, but it might provide a few precious seconds for Giko-san to react appropriately. The barrier broke faster than I hoped for, but it did help some instead of dying, he lost his left hand from wrist down, however, to recover his hand, he needed medical attention fast.

H stands for Heat, by manipulating reishi in the air I can generate flames instead of arrows. So, it looks like the elite soldiers are named Sternritter and they have a letter indicating their special ability, as they can use more than a simple Quincy bow and arrow, as the foot soldiers. Good just talk as much as you can, I will gather more information, mock me as much as you want to and I will find an opening.

Before he could tell me more, I felt the tendrils of a Tenteikūra reach out for me, the voice echoing in my ears was a strange one, I never heard it before, but she spoke with authority and conviction. All the better if she were right, it would mean that we were not handicapped, although we had a few captains who rarely used their bankais, the rest heavily relied on them during battle. But I had no time to rejoice as this information did not help me, I flash stepped beside my men.

Togakushi-san takes Giko-san to the fourth and reports what we learnt here, Asuka-san stays behind and make sure we are not interrupted and finish off the Quincy if there is any left alive.

“Whoa, that is so cruel, shinigami.”

You are the one to talk? Hypocritical coming from you, when you sacrificed your own man just to take out one of my own. Besides you came here looking for a fight, you brought death and destruction; we just kindly return the favour.

But before Giko-san and Togakushi-san could leave Bazz-B launched a new attack, five flaming balls appeared in front his bow when he fired it became a torrent of flame in a spiralling tube heading straight for us, although I saw the attack, but there was no way I could summon any kidō strong enough to counter it. We could only brace ourselves and hope one of us might survive; I took an unconscious step to put myself in front of Asuka-san.

Bakudō no 81: Dankū suddenly someone flash stepped before us and erected a barrier strong enough to withstand the attack. My eyes widened, mine broke just from one and his stood firm in the face of five at the same time. He seemed to be examining me because when he saw the disbelief on my face, he explained. Relax, I started the incantation before I arrived.

And who the hell are you? And what are you doing here butting into someone else’s fight?

Who, me? came to the amused answer I’m a dead man walking, and I’m just taking the trash out. with those words he launched himself at Buzz-B, and they disappeared from our eyes.

But seriously, who was he? asked Togakushi-san

I don’t know, for now, let’s assume he is on our side, take Giko-san. Asuka-san let’s see if anyone else needs help, we are finished here. Something felt strange like I knew this man from somewhere, the spiritual pressure felt familiar and the mannerism too, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t summon a name or face. He was clad in a deep blue kosode and hakama with grey shitagi and belt, but he also had a hood pulled down into his eyes and a covering over his mouth and nose like the onmitsukidō. So, I couldn’t even tell what colour his eyes would be, yet I felt such longing and safety in his presence like he was an old lover.

You stepped in front of me when that Quincy tried to attack us. We are at war, and you are a fukutaichō, you can’t pull a stunt like that. The third needs you more than me, and you know this. We need you to be the real you, the ruthless strategist, not the warm-hearted superior you have been playing these last few months.

I know Asuka-san, I know.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

We paid dearly for our blindness to Aizen’s betray, refusing the heal my arm, compared to popular belief, was my way of reminding myself never to make the same mistake again. So, when Urahara came to me with a request to break a rule and help Kurosaki Ichigo to gain back his powers, I didn’t hesitate, which shocked many. But no general would ever give up on a weapon that could change the tied in any war. And war seems to be brewing I have lost my fukutaichō, my friend, my sword brother, and it was a greater loss then anyone could imagine. My soft-spoken fukutaichō was a strong warrior, with a powerful Bankai and only his loyalty to me kept him from taking a captaincy in another division, and I, in my selfish desire, to keep a friend close, let him do so.

And as I suspected an alarm went off, poor children they don’t know what came for us this time. But I do, I’m old, but even if I live a thousand years more even then I couldn’t forget Yhwach and his Steinritters, the past had come back to haunt us. But I hoped that the squads could hold their own a bit better, well most of them are still too young, one can only hope they have time to grow stronger. My opponent is their king, Yhwach, no one else should suffer my mistakes, and no one is strong or experienced enough to face him, not even Shunsui or Jūshiro. I’m on my way to meet my destiny; my soul is calm; my mind is empty. There is only Ryūjin Jakka, me and our opponent.

….

I was careless, after Aizen, I left someone else to deceive me … I let the Gotei down; I let soul society down…. I’m sorry my love, looks like this is my last battle. I hope I can look our children in the eye when I see them again. But the strike which should have cut me in half never reached me. Suddenly a person, a woman dressed in similar shinigami grab appeared so fast that even my battle-trained eyes had trouble keeping up with her. Her blade, partially drawn and on one knee stoped the deadly blade meant for me.

Yare, yare that was close Pops, looks like time got to you.

If we were not in the middle of a battle and she did not save my life seconds before, I would teach this youngster what the respect of your elders is, and where does the Soul King live. But we have no time for that. Another person entered the battlefield. He had long hair and wore a unique uniform, so Steinritter.

Tsk, I told you, Little Fox, to take the trash out.

But I already did, and why is it me who needs to take out the trash? You, take it out this time. Whined a male in response, lounging in one of the nearby roofs. When did he arrive, and how did I not sense him? Who are these people? Why do they feel so familiar?

Fine, but then you are taking care of the Despot.

Whatever I’m out, and I will graciously take the trash with me. He launched himself off the roof, grabbed unto the Steinritter and disappeared into the distance.

Do you think you can stop me? although he appears calm, there is a simmering rage in Yuhwach’s voice.

No, I know I can stop you. Little Fox and I are the unknown variables in your carefully crafted equation. You like to make people believe that you see the future, but I know better. You have a crafty mind I will give you that, but you are no god or messiah, and I’m not a fool. Besides, is it not time to take a nap, false god? The sun is going down, tick-tock, time is up.

But then Kurosaki broke through whatever kept him from joining the fight before. And in typical Kurosaki fashion, threw himself at the first enemy he saw, in his Bankai form. But he didn’t know his enemy and got his sword broken for his trouble. And Yhwach disappears, this was mealy the greeting, the worst is still ahead of us, and just what did he mean by ‘my child from darkness’? Kurosaki is hunched over his broken sword, and the strange man is back.

Am I mistaken, or there is something wrong with this scene?

Really, Little Fox, you went there? Well, the brat is what he is, so of course, he couldn’t sit on his ass and wait for an explanation. Anyways its time for phase two.

She turned towards me, and suddenly my vision becomes burly, I knew, you should never trust a stranger. Life is never simple or dull in the Got...

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

I try to adjust to my new vision, one eye, oh well girls like a good scar, especially with a bloody tale behind it. And it is as bloody as they come. We have been invaded again, and we have nearly lost if not for two strangers. Who are they? Friends in the need or foes deceiving us in time of chaos? They seem to know suspiciously lot, especially the female. Yet I cannot make myself to distrust them. Why does my soul rejoice, like welcoming an old friend, lover, sister in the arm?

They have a plan, an elaborate one and I will bet my hidden stash of sake, the one that not even Nano-chan knows about, that they didn’t reveal most of it. But even they could not save Yama-ji, damn I never wanted to be a Sōtaichō. Typical Yama-ji, having the last laugh at my expense even beyond the grave, or wherever he is.

Although the Quincy, soon after Kurosaki’s defeat at the hands of Yhwach, withdraw from the field, there were no victors here, only senseless loss. Hundred or so shinigami lost, many hospitalised, three fukutaichō in intensive care Rukia among them, four taichō on the brink of death and half of Seireitei reduced to dust. And we took out two Steinritters and wounded five of them; not even Kurosaki could touch their King, morale is low. But we will survive as we always do; and from the ashes, just like the Phoenix, we will rise stronger and wiser.

This was the first day of a new chapter in the Thousand years of Blood War between the Quincy and Shinigami, or so I have been told.