Chapter 44: Frozen Rage
(World of the Living)
Ichigo and Toshiro went hunting for any trace of Kusaka, his Arrancar, or the Oin. They've spent an entire week searching for any leads, hoping that they'd find the trio or at least they'd go after Hitsugaya and leave a trail to follow. No such luck for either of them. Word was that there was an attack in Soul Society with ice attacks on par with Hyorinmaru. Analysis from the SRDI however noted some very small differences, theorizing that it was more directly offensive than the real Hyorinmaru. The ultimate difference between the two ice blades. Publicly, Toshiro is now wanted for treason and is to be executed. In reality, it was another ploy to lure out Kusaka and his allies. Ichigo and Toshiro were currently investigating two different areas of the city when they got the order. Toshiro near a shrine and Ichigo near the old Quincy training grounds. He forgot about a few select individuals that would like to speak with him.
"Well well well." He heard from above, a light tone that spoke of sadism and poor attitude. He looked up to see Candice and Bambietta standing amongst the branches. "Looks like someone finally took the invitation." Said Bambietta, smirking down at the hybrid and winking seductively. "Lucky for us, it's the cute one." Ichigo released a disinterested and annoyed sigh. Now her seductive smirk was filled with anger.
"He's also the more dangerous one." Ichigo turned his head to see Bazz-B show up behind him. "Ichigo." He growled, still angry about last time.
"Rooster." Ichigo replied, no trace of fear in his voice and earning an angry twitch from the Quincy. "I'll be honest, I forgot about you guys completely." He continued, the Sternritters glaring at the hybrid. "I've been pretty busy with things. A coming war with Hollows and some jackass might destroy time and space." Ichigo's apathetic scowl turned into a threatening glare while his phone rang with a new message. He took a sideways glance to read the message, and he needed to hurry. Toshiro sensed them and they were coming his way. "So if you don't mind, I have things to do." He quickly undid his two seals and created a suffocating atmosphere. "Uryu and I will talk to you later. This is more important." He said before disappearing, leaving the Quincy to start breathing harder. Each one was idly wondering what Ichigo was anymore.
(With Ichigo)
"Ichigo, come to the old shrine on the edge of the city! They've found me!" That's what Toshiro's text said. He sent a message back to Hiyori after undoing his seals saying to increase the spiritual stasis around the city. It's not often he's allowed to release one hundred percent, as he still doesn't have the fine control everyone deems necessary, so he often makes mistakes. He needed to stop five times before finally landing in front of the shrine in question after shooting past it over and over. He was in front of the shrine, just as the two Arrancar finished telling Toshiro something. Time to set the plan into motion.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya, by order of the Head Captain of the Court Guard Squads, you are under arrest for treason against Soul Society." Ichigo called out, trying to make it sound like he was about to turn on a friend. The twin sisters got between him and Toshiro.
"Go on ahead." The red girl said, pulling out a sword of fire. "We'll cover you."
"Just get to master Kusaka." The blue girl continued, pulling out an electrified whip. "He's been waiting for you for long enough." The young captain looked to Ichigo before winking. The hybrid nodded and continued forward. That prompted Yang to attack, blasting a large wave of flames to the fearless hybrid. Ichigo ended up walking through it like it was a warm breeze. This unnerved the girls but Yin did not falter as she sent balls of lightning at him. The results were the same as he brushed the electricity aside. They then mixed the lightning and fire to hit him with the combined energies, praying for any result. Hitsugaya meanwhile, took his chance to leap over the smoking form of his ally and run to where he was told to meet Kusaka. Ichigo proved himself resilient when he jumped out from the smoke cloud and kicked the boy in the stomach, making the captain puke up blood and bile as he was sent flying into the city... and through a couple buildings it seemed.
'Whoops.' Ichigo winced, not trying to hit so hard he would kill Hitsugaya. 'This must be why Yamamoto keeps making me practice calligraphy.' He thought while hearing something he's only heard when the very captain he just kicked had attacked him. He twisted himself to see multiple Chinese dragons made of purple ice come flying towards him. 'Seriously!?' He mentally screamed as he was encased in ice for a second before freeing himself. He looked up to see the same cloaked and masked figure that was supposed to be Kusaka.
"Sorry for the cold introduction, but you're in my way." He said, pointing at Ichigo with his blade.
"I only take ice puns from one guy and I just kicked him across the city." Ichigo called out fearlessly. "So either piss off or tell me who you are!" All he got was some twisted laughter as Kusaka attacked again.
"My name is of no consequence to a dead man!" He continued to send dragons at Ichigo. They were faster than Toshiro's, but seemed to lack the same level of flexibility. Since Ichigo was already familiar with Hyorinmaru's abilities, he swerved and dodged the attacks with high speed and great ease. He was charging toward Kusaka when Yin and Yang attacked him with a stronger combined strike, letting Kusaka gather his dragons to converge on Ichigo again. There was a pause and Kusaka smiled, believing in his victory. He was unaware until Ichigo appeared in front of him and speared him through his stomach with his bare hand. He looked down to the hand embedded in his gut before Ichigo pulled off his mask and looked the rogue in the eyes. Kusaka wore his dark hair in a bun and had a scar on the right side of his face. His red eyes burned with hate for the world he lived in and what happened, the kind of hate that made people become monsters.
"Where. Is. The Oin?" Ichigo growled, slowly twisting his hand and making Kusaka groan in pain. Instead of answering, the rogue slashed at Ichigo's face before pulling himself off of Ichigo's hand and disappearing like magic. Ichigo looked around and only saw Yin and Yang, and the massive number of growing Hollows behind them. "Of course, sending cannon fodder." Ichigo sighed in disappointment before his father and other squad members appeared.
"Ichigo, head to Soul Society." Isshin ordered quickly. "We just got confirmation that the Oin can manipulate time and space. We got word that there was a teleportation to Soul Society shortly after you confronted Kusaka."
"Quick summary," Uryu said while shooting the Hollows with a massive barrage of arrows, "after you beat him he teleported to a previous time to met Hitsugaya, healed both of them, and teleported to Soul Society for a final stage. Get moving!" Ichigo nodded as he created and passed through a Garganta.
(With Toshiro)
The young captain of ice struggled through the great pain of his shattered ribs to get to some underground abandoned building, where Yin and Yang told him Kusaka would be waiting. He was standing at the bottom of the vast emptiness that was reminiscent of the Muken prison, waiting in the damp and dreary environment. Eventually he fell against one of the many support columns holding up the building and sensed what was happening. To his partial surprise, he felt Kusaka's Reiatsu clashing against Ichigo's and getting predictable results. To his complete surprise, he also felt Kusaka in the same room as him. He looked up to see his old former friend, appear before him and looking like he'd been injured before standing upright.
"Hello Toshiro." He greeted his old friend. "I've been waiting for this for a long time." He held out his hand, grasping something with a bright golden glow and Toshiro felt his wounds heal. "I wanted to send a message but things were getting out of hand. Never thought someone like that was in the Gotei."
"That would be Ichigo." Hitsugaya answered, feeling fully healed as he stood back up. "He's the new disciple of the captain commander."
"And what suffering did he go through for that?" Kusaka asked, disgust evident in his voice. "You know how Soul Society is. What they made us do. Why do you still give them your loyalty? Because of that childhood friend of yours?"
"Momo has nothing to do with this and Soul Society is different." Toshiro countered. "The ones that made us fight are dead and there's been a revolution of progress. The Soul Society you remember is becoming just a memory-"
"Don't kid yourself Toshiro!" Kusaka roared, unbridled hate showing in his every action. "I swore my loyalty and they killed us simply for having the same Zanpakuto. You expect me to believe that a system that's been the same for millennium could ever change? No... They must pay for what they did to us." The Oin glowed again as everything but them began to shift and move. "Come Toshiro! Our vengeance is at hand!" Within seconds they were transported to Soul Society, on the Sokyoku Hill, still littered with scars from Ichigo's fight with Aizen. The first step towards change for the land of the Shinigami. Kusaka explained the power of the Oin, allowing control over time and space, but Toshiro only paid attention to the gathering Soul Reapers, armed and ready to strike down both him and Kusaka.
"Stay back, all of you!" He heard a familiar voice call out as Ichigo stood between the army of Soul Reapers and the two friends. "This is too dangerous, keep your distance. Let them sort it out."
"At least someone is smart enough to know when he's outmatched." Kusaka sneered as the Shinigami opened a path and the aged commander came walking down the aisle. Just behind him was Tessai, Hachi, and Rangiku. He stopped in front of Ichigo who knelt and took his place behind his teacher, next to Matsumoto. The air was thick with tension as Yamamoto looked at the two ice masters.
"Sojiro Kusaka, I remember you boy." The old man spoke, sounding nostalgic and sad of one of the more promising students of his academy. "Such a sad fate that befell you boy. Sentenced to death by a bunch of fools that overstepped their limits. And the old man that accepted their words."
"Yes, sentenced to die simply because there can't be two of the same Zanpakuto." Kusaka sneered at the military leader. "And now for my... what do you mean 'overstepped their limits'?" He asked as the words finally registered with him.
"You were told that it was against the law for there to be two of the same Zanpakuto, and that is true." The ancient dragon explained. "But not because of written law, by fact. Zanpakuto are solely unique to their wielder and the only way for there to be two of the same weapon is if that Soul Reaper was cloned or got a second Zanpakuto. Central 46 is not made up of any Shinigami, but of forty wise men and six judges. People that know only of the law but not much else. Their ruling was to create order for the people in Soul Society, but that has changed into them being a bunch of self serving fools. Leading to many failures and unnecessary deaths and crimes. You were put into an unfavorable position and executed. All for a Zanpakuto you didn't even have." Kusaka looked like he was going insane with anger and disbelief.
"Lies!" He cried out, the Oin reacting violently to the shifting emotions of its current holder. "I wield Hyorinmaru! He told me himself his name was Hyorinmaru! I call out his name and he attacks!"
"Zanpakuto are fickle things." Yamamoto replied, calm as ever. "Ask it now, what is its name." Kusaka looked at his blade, and from the look on his face he finally cracked. He began screaming out in anger and denial, crying out that he was the master of Hyorinmaru. "Such a pathetic sight." Genryusai sighed out. "Though I disagree with their methods, what they found was undeniable. Sojiro Kusaka, you do not deserve to be a Soul Reaper. Willing to kill your own best friend for the sake of power makes you unworthy of any power. Captain Hitsugaya, you have permission to execute this villain. For the crime of stealing the Oin." Kusaka looked up at his best friend with anger and despair.
"No. Not again! I will have my vengeance!" He cried out, raising the hand that held the Oin. When nothing happened he looked at his hand to see an orange prism at his wrist, beyond was nothing. His hand and the Oin was lost to him.
"Hako Okuri." He heard from Hachi as he held an orange box made of Kido that contained his severed hand and the Oin. Tessai and Hachi then turned to leave the area.
"We shall seal this away." The leader of the Kido Corps said. "It's far too dangerous to leave out for anyone to grab." They disappeared, intent on locking away the royal relic.
"Maintain what is left of your dignity Kusaka." Yamamoto said as he raised his cane. Toshiro prepared himself to duel his former friend, resolved to let him die the was he deserved. Kusaka actually took the advice and prepared himself as well. "Fight!" The captain commander ordered, starting the final battle between the two. It ended as quickly as it began, with Kusaka impaled on Hyorinmaru. In his dying moments, he remembered that day he betrayed his best friend. All for a sword that was never his to begin with.
"Never wanted to be back here again." Kusaka weakly spoke as he slowly died. "But, in the end, I guess I was always jealous of you. I'm sorry for being such a terrible friend." He weakly hugged Toshiro with his remaining hand as he apologized.
"Kusaka, I will always remember you as my friend." Toshiro said as the rogue began to fade. "I forgive you for what you did." Kusaka faded from the world and the Shinigami left the young captain, alone to mourn the loss of his best friend.
(Rangiku's Office)
The chaos slowly died down and things began to shift to normal again. Hitsugaya was declared innocent of everything that occurred, Tessai and the Kido Corps locked away the Oin, squad ten was recovering from the whole mess, and Rangiku was just happy to have her captain back alive and well. She was sitting alone in her office with a contented smile as she drank some booze from her hidden stash. All of her usual drinking buddies were actually busy with other stuff so she was left alone. Until she got herself a surprise visitor.
"Hey!" Ichigo called out from behind her, making her jump in surprise. "That seat taken?" She turned to the hybrid, recognizing the smell from the bag he carried. More dried persimmons, he did care.
"You really know how to make a girl happy." She said excitedly while pulling out a chair next to her. She snatched the bag away and began to nibble on one of the dried fruits as Ichigo sat next to her. Once he got settled, she leaned against him with a happy smile. "Thank you." Ichigo wrapped a comforting arm around her.
"I told you I'd bring him back." She would've made a joke, something about him being after her magnificent breasts, but she just wanted to enjoy the moment. Enjoy his presence. He really was a great guy.
(Central 46 Chambers)
It had been a few months since Aizen struck down and took control of their predecessors and appointing the proper successors had proven an arduous task. Figures that knew the law, figures that seemed worthy, people that would be concerned with the desire of the nobility rather than anything else. As of now, there are only fourteen sages and three judges. They were currently deliberating on the single subject that has been on their minds since his appearance. What to do about Ichigo Kurosaki? Suddenly the doors to their chambers blew open to reveal the current leader of Soul Society, Genryusai Yamamoto.
"Soutaicho, this is unusual." One of the judges said. "And you understand that it's forbidden for anyone to barge into these chambers. Regardless of who they are."
"I'm the captain commander of the 15 Court Guard Squads," He stated simply, "I go where I want. And I have something to say to you." The various members that made up the leading authority in Soul Society watched the man, the ancient captain that always did as the law commanded, made his voice heard. "Your predecessors determined the law and without question, the members of the Gotei 13 followed and obeyed. Because of that, no one questioned when Aizen orchestrated his conspiracy and did as they were told. Before that, good captains had to go into hiding because they were not given an investigation. They saw the law broken and ordered death." He raised his cane and slammed it into the floor, creating a large spider web fracture throughout the chamber. "NO MORE! Your decisions will not go without question, your command will not be obeyed mindlessly, and your word is no longer law!" The announcement filled the members with shock and anger, immediately arguing against his rule.
"The Central 46 was created by the Soul King!" One of the sages yelled out. "We act on his authority!" There was a suffocating and crushing pressure as Genryusai silenced them all with his power.
"The Central 46 are the judges and the lawmakers." The ancient dragon conceded. "That much will never change. But WE of the Court Guard Squads are the ones to enact justice. We will examine a case and we will act on what we deem is right. Under martial law, I lead the Soul Society, and I will trust my captains in their judgments." The pressure left and the chamber was filled with fear of the man. Genryusai turned and began to walk out the door. "Before I forget. I know you're all planning something concerning my new student, Ichigo Kurosaki. I'd advise you end such thoughts. That boy will not bow to anyone that tries to control him. If the Soul King has a problem with my decision, then let the Zero Squad come to me. I dare you." He said before disappearing, leaving the Central 46 to wallow in their fear.
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers)
Pranks finally begin: Kisuke gets Mairo'd
Urahara was making his way from his office after doing many grueling hours of paperwork. Justifying experiments, budgets increases, double checking reports, all things he didn't miss about being a captain. Now he was tired and wanted to just get away from his work building. He was so out of it, he actually didn't notice Soi-Fon running at him.
"NEVER!" The petite assassin yelled out, running into him and making the captain spin dizzily. When he stopped, he felt something missing.
"GET BACK HERE!" Ichigo yelled out as he also caused Urahara to spin rapidly. When he finally settled, he felt his hat and calmed down.
"Wonder what got into them?" He asked, not realizing they switched out his hat with a Mario cap. Shortly after that switch, Yoruichi jumped on his head with a loud ping, with Urahara getting squished comically. "HOW!?" He muffled out loudly.
Why Unohana doesn't have a problem with the Men's Association
"I can't believe this!" Nanao yelled in anger.
"Yeah." Unohana absently agreed, her nose buried in a picture book.
"I finally manage to become the president of the Women's association and all of Yachiru's deeds fall on me!" Unohana just hummed in agreement, not even paying attention. "And captain Kuchiki was annoyed but never filed charges. Bet if I asked Rukia she'd convince him to let us back in." Unohana still just hummed. "And the Women's association did more than the Men's ever did! Sure I abused my authority a little but Iba only used that club to show off or stroke his ego! Captain Unohana what are you reading?" She asked when she finally noticed the chairwoman wasn't paying attention. In the picture book was Zaraki, Ikkaku, and Ichigo, all looking like they were trying to kill each other with their blades, shirtless, and covered in cuts, blood, and sweat. The book was titled, 'Fierce warriors' published by the Men's Association. The motherly captain had a fierce blush and a happy gaze in her eyes.
"Yachiru likes~." She moaned, making Nanao cry.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone