Chapter 20

The sound of a cup shattering against the ground echoed out in a large meeting room made from large oaken wood fashioned in the likeness of an old rural war barrack.

"C-Captain?"

Yamamoto could hear the nervousness in the messenger's tone. Admittedly, it was justified. He himself could only barely restrain the trembling of his hands when the latest news on the battlefield had been delivered, and even then, it was due to experience and age.

Placing strength in his arms, he stood tall and imposing, the very figure of a leader un-paralleled throughout, acting as if the earlier mishap with the fallen glassware was intended. His hands were crossed and planted firmly over his wooden walking cane, the sheer aura exuding off of him enough to ease the nervousness of the messenger reporting. He was the Head-Commander. Every action of his reflected the very state of the Seireitei, and subsequently, the morale of those beneath him. Thus, even if he felt any form of trepidation or unease, he would loath to show it. Firm in the face of danger. And Resolute in belief. The laws of the Seireitei must be upheld. It was tradition, an honour and obligation. Law breakers must be punished, and intruders eliminated.

But circumstances made any such thoughts far more complicated then they should be.

It was only the subtle creasing of his brows that were the only indication of the turmoil of his inner thoughts. Yet fortunately, only people who he had associated with him for a long period of time like Unohana, Shunsui or Ukitake could discern such a minor movement.

"Is it truly as you say?" He asked once more for clarification. After all, what he had just heard before was too frightening to consider, and could lead to future problems magnitudes worse than any hollow or criminal in the Maggot's Nest could ever achieve.

"Yes," the answer was solemn and resolute. Misinterpretation was impossible.

A solemnness entered his gaze,

"Immediately heed my warning!" His voice was booming.

This was the worst-case scenario that could never have had been foreseen. There was a hollow in the Seireitei's midst with the ability to reproduce a Shinigami's Zanpakuto. He had to compliment Captain Toshiro for his foresight to send another update on the situation even after sending Rangiku Matsumoto. From the second informant's words, Captain Hitsugaya was currently still locked in combat. As for Rangiku, she had been the one to report of many other things of relevance, and it was only when a second messenger came that everything could be concluded thoroughly.

"Do not let negligence allow the enemy to gain the advantage. Inform all personnel of the Court Guard Squads to minimize exposure of their Zanpakuto to the enemy. Should any draw their blade, end it with a swing, or finish it quickly!"

"Understood Head-Captain!" Rangiku and the other messenger gave a salute before quickly leaving.

Once the two had exited the room, Yamamoto's shoulders seemed to sag as he contemplated silently to himself. The more Zanpakuto the enemy hollow saw, the stronger and more versatile the hollow will become. Now with the invasion of the Seireitei, this hollow was like a fish to water. The hollow had to be dealt with now before it could mature into something devastating.

This Vasto of White, and the swords it could produce.

At that moment, his eyes couldn't help but glance down at his Zanpakuto. He knew of its nature, a reflection of the iron and heartless leader he had been before the establishment of the Seireitei. Would he find himself in a situation where he would have to face his own strength?

A frown found its way to his old face, but he disregarded it and it soon faded. What was important now was to lead his units against the invaders.

Soifon wasn't back yet. As the leader of Squad two and the Stealth Force, she played a significant role in the Seireitei, and right now, her efficiency in completing task was necessary.

The fact that she had yet to return meant only one of two things. Either she was delayed, or she had died under enemy hands. If she were delayed, then his worries would be put o rest since no matter how delayed Soifon was, her chance of survival as the Stealth Force leader was undisputable. But in any case, should the latter prove true, then all he could do as the Head-Captain would be to avenge her. An eye for an eye.

The sound of the door at the entrance of the room creaking open alerted him to another messenger staring meekly through the gap. From the strength of his vision, he could determine that the messenger staring through the gap was nervous. The attire in which the messenger wore was dishevelled, the appearance looking as if the man had just gone through a thorough beating.

How odd. Staring closer, he realized that the messenger was not really a messenger, but a sentry tasked with managing the safety of the Seireitei's walls.

Could another section of the Seireitei have had been breached? A grave look passed through his eyes, but on further thought, something just didn't add up.

It was a mystery that just didn't make sense.

In this time of crisis, what could cause any messenger reporting the situation outside to hesitate?

"Enter," he spoke bluntly, drawing a surprised stutter from the man.

"H-Head Captain, r-reporting," the man said with a bow.

"Has anything happened with the other gates? Have they been breached?" Yamamoto cut directly to the root of the matter. After all, there should be no other reason why a sentry would travel to the First Division's barracks otherwise.

"N-Not exactly," the man nervously fidgeted under Yamamoto's gaze, but soon collected himself as Yamamoto urged him on. "It's the Shibas, Captain. They've forcibly opened the gates with the help of one our Gate Keepers, Jidanbo. That's not even all though. Along with the Shibas, an odd group of other individuals were following as well, one of which wore a Shihakusho similar to our Shinigami. He did not report a division when asked, and when I insisted further, Lady Kukaku Shiba, she…"

The man didn't have to finish for Yamamoto to understand. The split lips on the man's face and the dried blood from the man's nose was enough of indication of what happened. And it was infuriating.

"Impudent! To dare break protocols at this crisis!" Yamamoto's spiritual force spilled out in a wave, but he quickly reigned it in as to not trouble the youngster before him. "You are dismissed. Inform the guards waiting outside to convey a strict lookout for the Shiba siblings," he spoke gruffly.

After reporting, there was no need for the sentry to remain in the room.

With the closing of the door, Yamamoto had another problem he had to deal with. The Shibas were going to be unpredictable. And what was worse was the knowledge of why they would go to such lengths. It was increasingly clear to him that the last of the Shiba clan had gotten wind of their eldest brother. A sadness befell him for a moment as he realized he would not be able to fulfill the promise he had made to the previous lieutenant of squad thirteen. What Kaien had wished to avoid as the last request for his undying loyalty, had sadly become a reality.

As for those following the Shiba clan members, they were to be apprehended at post haste along with the Shibas. He didn't know if the Shiba's had brought along friend or foe into the Seireitei, but at the moment, they were no different from the invading hollows. Travelling Evils,

Ryoka.

The sound of steps entered his ears, the soft clatter of sandal wood tapping against the floor.

"Unohana," he called without turning around. He knew she would be beside him.

It was only when he sensed that something was off did he finally turn around to face her.

"Has the task been fruitful?" He asked.

"I'm afraid I'm not here to deliver much good news," Unohana spoke regretfully, her voice clear. Her eyes were downcast, and her hair covered over them before she looked up.

"Speak then," Yamamoto grunted.

"The Central-Forty-Six has declared the forwarding of Rukia Kuchiki and Kaien Shiba's execution in the next few days. They will not concede on the matter no matter what reason is given."

The grip he had on his cane tightened to the point where he unknowingly punctured a hole into the floor. He could care less at the moment though.

"Has the Central 46 gone mad?! They want us to host an execution in the middle of this mess?" He asked incredulously.

Unohana's response was only to give a nod. It was all that she could do.

Yamamoto was at a loss, but quickly he regained himself.

Calm became his gaze.

Steady became his figure.

"So be it then. As it has been decided, there's no going back," he spoke suddenly moving forward.

"Head-Captain?" Unohana spoke in surprise. "You?"

Yamamoto turned his back to Unohana, the symbol of Squad One flashing valiantly before her eyes on the haori on Yamamoto's back.

"A leader can not direct at the safety of his own home. It is time for us to move as the Captains of the Court Guard Squads."

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Aizen had directed him in this direction, but in his haste, he had forgotten to ask the man how far he would have to go.

The buildings Shirou passed where nothing but blurs as his speed allowed him to travel at a rate in which the objects in sight seemed distorted. However, contrary to belief, things weren't that easy, at least for those that tried to impede him.

In his wake was a number of fallen bodies: Their clothes torn into shreds, and blood seeping into the fabric. The shocked expressions on their faces and the unwillingness in their eyes as it slowly dawned on them that they were dead, were like piercing daggers on his back. It was a numbing sort of feeling that coursed through him at that moment. An anguish that he vaguely realized was familiar.

He had done such a thing before. To take countless lives as if a reaper of the underworld, like the Shinigami themselves.

Who was he in the past?

He was Shirou Emiya.

And although everything about himself was blurry, the ideals he maintained were still there, still calling to him to do what he believed was right.

"M-Monster,"

A choked breath, a gurgled noise that barley registered into his ears, quickly muffled out by the squelching of metal to flesh.

"I-I don't want to die!"

Regardless, a sword did not stop once swung.

A cold resolution took root from within him while he slew those that impeded him. Every moment hindered meant more casualties to those that had followed him, and that was something he considered far worse.

"R-Retreat, it's a a Vasto Lorde!"

He gave pause. Raising a single hand, a flurry of nameless blades manifested from the air, eliminating an entire squad of seated officers as the tranquil words of Kyoka Suigetsu flittered into his mind.

"An enemy left alive, is just another catastrophe for the future. Just as a boy grows into a man, it is better to defeat a heart of vengeance before it blooms."

He would have hesitated before, hell, he probably would have had argued and condemned such an action, but reality had hit him far worse.

"M-My King…"

Those he had once let flee, he met once moments later, cheering as they stabbed to death several of his own. It was one of Bran's followers. Someone that had helped lead and organize the other hollows in the war between Baraggan's armies. Now, here, and lending his aid, that organizer was killed.

Killed.

One of his own had been killed by the very people he let flee.

"This is why you kill all your enemies in a war," Gaebolg's voice had echoed within his mind. "When you fight, do you fight for those behind you, or those in front of you?"

"…" Kyoka didn't comment at that moment.

He was thankful. He didn't need a reminder anymore. There was once a time in his life where he had learned to separate friend from foe. Innocent from guilty.

In this sort of situation, anyone who appeared before him should be treated as an enemy.

Swords once again appeared around him, vibrant drops of red soon spraying out in wide arcs. The screams and choking gurgles that he'd long since gone deaf to no longer affected him.

Yet, inside, as he stared off at the bodies that lay around him, he knew of only one thing howling in anguish from within him.

This was hell.

As his war path only continued to expand, the hollow hole in his chest gradually widened, a reflection of the emptiness he was feeling.

"…" It was the sound of a tender breath, gentle and bereaved; a soft sigh filled with a somberness that spoke volumes. "Shirou,"

The undiscernible image of a woman in armour, laying in rest from within the Unlimited Blade Works trembled, as if she herself could feel the pain and emptiness. Her call was one of comfort, a hope to ease the darkening clouds above within the world of her Avalon.

Yet he could not hear her call.

She swallowed, keeping her emotions to herself; the eyes shadowed by her hair were downcast and dreary.

Shirou was unaware of it, his hands clenching into fists as he decided to move on from where he had stood.

All that remained were the motionless figures floating in the air, staring at him impassively from the blood stained Zanpakuto scattered across the battlefield. Their expressions revealing the complexity of what they truly felt.

Moments later, they would fade away, just another individual that would roam within the inner world of unlimited blades.

The building should not have been very far now. In fact, he believed that he would reach it at any moment, so he gradually slowed down his pace to keep a lookout for the building Aizen described.

"Shirou," A person called out to him as he had leapt forward.

He turned his gaze, only to meet eyes with Harribel. He breathed an internal sigh of relief as he quickly inspected her. She wasn't injured aside from a few scratches over her bone-armour. She had probably only run into the lower-leveled Shinigami similar to the ones he encountered himself.

Oddly enough, when Harribel noticed his gaze, her body had tensed while her eyes glanced away from his. He quickly ignored such actions though as he was more interested in other things.

"What happened to Starrk and the others?" He asked quickly.

Harribel was swift to compose herself, the small flush on her face fading away to a neutral calm, her eyes appearing distant once again. "Starrk was originally moving along with me until Lilynette woke up in his arms. After Starrk was forced to explain to her what exactly was happening, she 'persuaded' Starrk to put more effort into searching and thus we spilt up to cover more ground. As for Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose, they decided to spread out as well."

Shirou didn't have to ask Harribel further for what happened. Lilynette had probably goaded the three.

"Then everyone else?" He asked.

By now, almost all the hollows that had come with him into the Soul Society had made it through the Seireitei's walls by entering the hole he had created. Their whereabouts were largely unknown to him and Harribel had been the one to direct the majority of them while he had confronted the Shinigami at the front.

"Dispersed for now," Harribel spoke. "The majority of them are quite smart and spilt off in groups, but I fear it will be impossible to survive an encounter with any Captain-Class Shinigami. Even then, something in the air here in the Soul Society makes it feel like I'm being pressed by something. Possibly a property of the walls surrounding this place. This only adds on to the fact that although we have the advantage in overwhelming the enemy at the moment, in the long term, it is ourselves who will be at a disadvantage. They have the superior numbers, and our spiritual energy isn't infinite."

"Looking at you," Harribel spoke slowly. "It seems you found a lead?"

He nodded his head. "She should be in that building over there. It's the Twelfth Division's building from what Aizen told me."

Harribel pursed her mouth at the name of Aizen, but she didn't question it. Instead, she nodded her head. "Good. The sooner we can get this over with, the faster we can return. Although some hollows harbour the thought of defeating the entirety of the Soul Society with our advantage now, it's not feasible at the moment."

Harribel narrowed her eyes. "I'm sure you feel it to."

He did indeed.

It was the sudden dryness of the air, like he had stepped into a room filled with hot steam. A powerful enemy had just taken to the battlefield, and even now the influence of the enemy's spiritual pressure was enough to cause a change in the environment.

This wasn't good. Not at all.

"My King?" A hollow suddenly stopped as it noticed Shirou and Harribel. Even more so, when Harribel beckoned it over.

"Is there anything you need?" The hollow asked earnestly. All of it's power had been granted in large contribution by Shirou. It was willing to do anything so long as Shirou asked out it.

"Inform the others to stop spreading out. The Shinigami are beginning to reorganize themselves and this chaos will soon cease," Shirou spoke. "By this time, if we don't find Silent, then all that we could do is build ourselves a temporary base of operations while searching. Call back the others."

The hollow nodded his head vigorously before flying off towards any other hollows it could see.

"Didn't you just say that Silent was in that building," Harribel inquired with a raised brow.

He had indeed, but the thing was, nothing was ever certain until found.

Harribel quickly understood Shirou's reasoning.

"Then let's go," Harribel beckoned. "We don't have time for idle chatter anymore."

Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he spotted something. "No," he spoke to Harribel. "You go on first."

Harribel frowned, but conceded after a moment of thought, rushing forward towards the building Aizen described as the Twelfth Division.

Meanwhile, Shirou's eyes were glued onto the two children peeking at him with deep green eyes from the side of a corner. The two had their silver hair pulled back into ponytails and rest of it hanging down in large bangs in front of their faces. They wore large triangular blue hats with small red fans on either side, and it was clear to see that beneath the light blue robes were kimonos. Said kimonos had vertical red and yellow stripes near their waists. Around them was a light beige hakama, and on their feet, were blue shoes.

The two should be no older than five. They should not have been anywhere near the battlefield, and this was what drew his attention at first. Then came the fact that they gaping at him with their mouths hung open.

When they realized that he was staring at them, their wide mouthed expressions soon shut, and they rushed out of sight from around the corner. One of them had even tripped in the process, the big blue shoes nicking itself against the ground and causing the tumble. Immediately, the other boy rushed up to the fallen child and together they scurried away.

It was evident that they may have seen his previous performance and were scared stiff by it.

Perturbed, he soon followed, not wishing harm to come to children so young, and mentally berating Shinigami for even enlisting them in this kind of situation.

What awaited him as he turned the corner though, was something far from what he was expecting.

The two children were clambering over a white-haired man smiling wryly at them. The expression of wryness on the man's face though soon faded away as the two children pointed at him in the distance.

"B-Bad man?!"

He could hear what the two children were saying while pointing fingers.

On further inspection, he realized he already knew the two's names. Sogyo no Kotowari.

They were the Zanpakuto of the Thirteenth Division's Captain, Jushiro Ukitake, the man currently in front of him.

"Captain Ukita..ke," one of the fallen Shinigmai rasped out on the ground. A sword was still stabbed through the Shinigami at this moment, and it would not take long before the man perished. "R-Run, he's too strong."

Jushiro's face darkened upon seeing this scene. After all, Jushiro was a kind man, a Captain that treasured his subordinates, and it was something Shirou could gleam from the man's character alone.

"You did all this?" Jushiro's tone was cold as he called out to Shirou.

Shirou did not deny it.

There was a silence between the two as Jushiro took another second to look across the battlefield, moving on to see the path of bodies left behind in Shirou's wake.

"So many lost their lives," Jushiro's fists were clenched together, a deep sorrow in his eyes. "This is unforgivable."

Shirou did not fault Jushiro's reaction, it was commendable that the man had not flown into a rage yet. After all, Shirou knew that he would have.

"I'll stop you here and now," the resolution in Jushiro's tone caused Shirou to tense as a wave of spiritual energy rocketed towards the sky. Even Harribel's figure that had just arrived at the front of the Twelfth Divisions building, paused and looked back.

However, Harribel had confidence in Shirou, and quickly proceeded forward despite Jushiro's stunning release of power.

Jushiro Ukitake was one of two prodigies trained by the Head-Commander himself. A genius in the sword, and with an abundance of spiritual energy, he was at the top of his generation; even blessed with a duel spirit Zanpakuto.

"Waves, Become my Shield!"

The two boys clambering over Jushiro soon froze, a seriousness hidden beneath the mischievousness of their eyes. One of them jumped over towards Jushiro's left, fading away into mots of spiritual energy.

"Lightning, Become my Blade!"

The other boy jumped onto Jushiro's right and quickly followed after the other boy's example giving Shirou childish snort.

At that moment, two blades took form from in front of Shirou bound together by a woven red thread looped through steel rectangular chakrams. The blades were refined, shining with a radiant luster reminiscent of the light patterns of waves.

Those blades were pointed at him, as another pair firmly lodged themselves within his inner world.

"Sogyo no Kotowari,"

With every movement, there was an accompanying chime. The clinking of metal pieces.

There were no words when the battle started, just the sparks of embers produced from the grating of steel.

"Che,"

Air escaped his mouth as he parried the blade away with Kanshou, yet as he was about to counter, he had to redirect his sword.

Clang!

Jushiro's face was emotionless, nothing except the veins popping on his forehead indicating the strength he was putting behind his swings.

Shirou tilted Kanshou down, Jushiro's sword grating against it before he suddenly pulled back and shoved forward with a shoulder.

Not expecting the sudden move, Jushiro had somehow avoided it by leaping over him. The reflexes the man was showing were admirable, but it wouldn't be enough to face him in battle. If anything, that task was more suitable for whoever was strong enough to affect the entire area itself with spiritual pressure.

Hmm?

Something registered in his sight at that moment, a red rope-like fabric. Tendrils of electricity were moving along its length, and it was only after hearing the familiar chime of the rectangular chakram like charms that he realized what it was.

"Sogyo no Kotowari."

As Jushiro's voice entered his ears, and the rope rapidly wrapped around his neck, he felt his body start to twitch involuntarily while his vision swam.

"AAOOH!" Jushiro shouted, heaving Shirou over his shoulder by using the momentum of his leap.

Shirou caught in the rope tying Sogyo no Kotowari together was propelled into the rubble arcs of electricity dancing across his body.

Jushiro breathed heavily, a finger still at the tip of Sogyo no Kotowari where he fed his blade a current of lightning Kido.

Normally this Kido art should not have had been so damaging, but due to the abilities of Sogyo no Kotowari, the offensive strength of the attack was greatly enhanced. Sogyo no Kotowari had the ability to absorb an opponent's energy attack through the left sword and direct it through the connecting rope where the five charms on the rope increase the attack's speed and pressure. Normally this would be used by an enemy's attack, but in this case, he had utilized his own power.

"!" Jushiro brought a hand to his mouth, coughing out a mouthful of blood.

The damned sickness that had been plaguing him was acting up again. He quickly forced it down.

"Impressive, but it's not enough," Shirou spoke as he sat up from the rubble.

The burns and scarring from Jushiro's attack was quickly healing as Shirou flooded his body with energy. Jushiro's strike was not strong enough to breach significantly through the defense of Shirou's skin as a Vasto Lorde of his caliber. Even more so when his eyes eyes could detect that Jushiro didn't have access to the immense spiritual energy the man possessed. A pity then.

To even hope for any damage, Jushiro would have to use the blade of his sword rather than the rope that bound them together.

Jushiro readied his swords, lunging out again. He would have been a fool if he allowed the enemy time to adjust to the situation. Jushiro as a prodigy raised by the Head-Commander himself along with Shunsui knew that keeping the tempo of the battle was critical.

Jushiro swung out again, his strikes gaining strength as he thought about all the comrades that had perished under Shirou's hands.

It was unforgivable.

He knew what it was like to see those under him die again and again. Kaien had been one of the most impactful ones, and the relief he felt upon seeing him alive again was unimaginable. Yet that relief had been crushed as soon as Kaien opened his mouth to explain the situation. Now, he didn't know what to do now that both Rukia and Kaien were to be put to death. Seeing the bodies around him, not only did it cause him grief, but it gave him a reminder that Kaien and Rukia would be like them eventually.

His mood was incredibly bitter, and it reflected in his health.

Blood continually rushed to Jushiro's mouth, but he just kept on swinging.

Originally, he had taken a stroll to rid his mind of its turmoil do to the sudden attack of the hollows, but it was impossible after hearing the latest order of the Central Forty-Six. The execution date had been pushed forward. There nothing he could do unless he acted soon. Yet he knew that infighting at this time of invasion would lead to even more casualties. The Soul Society must stand united to defeat the threat of the hollows.

How could he act on his own selfishness to save his lieutenant and seated officer at this time of crisis like Shunsui had suggested?

It was this dilemma that caused him to walk outside to clear his mind. Little did he know about the scene of carnage that would await him.

Jushiro back stepped to avoid Shirou's strike, and carefully twisted past it with a burst of Shunpo. He arrived directly in front of Shirou, his blades pointed forward as he stabbed.

DING!

The sound was accompanied by the falling rain. A storm had flown in created from the violent swirling of the spiritual energy around the Seireitei. One of ice and fire creating a storm.

Sogyo no Kotowari pressed its tip firmly against Shirou's chest, the strength in it unable to pierce.

The rain matted Jushiro's hair to his forehead, the water acting as a stark contrast to the blood leaking from Jushiro's mouth as the man began to violently cough. The once imposing figure of a prodigy of the sword, reduced to a his knees hacking blood from out of his throat.

Shirou looked on at Jushiro with a solemnness in his eyes. He knew that this would be the result. It was apparent from the fluctuations of Jushiro's spiritual energy that something was wrong within his body. The recklessness in utilizing the amount of spiritual force Jushiro had used, and the weakness of the body, was never a good combination.

Sogyo no Kotowari slid down against Shirou's chest, leaving a trail of red as the razor edge cut a thin line over the skin.

It was a pity that Jushiro wasn't in any true condition to fight. It was why he had held back on his abilities after deducing this. In honour of Jushiro's valiance, he had not used any other ability but his sword play to fight against this Captain.

It was a warrior code. An art of Chivalry that had nagged at him endlessly.

And in the end, Shirou's sword play was inferior.

The pitter patter of the rain continued to sound along with the violent wheezing as Jushiro continued to cough out blood even as the man passed out.

Shirou let out a sigh. Over the course of the fight, he had not been winded and had not expended too much energy. He would have to conserve it should the true monster he could feel within the Seireitei confront him.

As of now though, he would have to deal with the predicament in front of him.

"B-Bad man no touch him!"

"You're a meaner! G-Go away!"

The forms of Sogyo no Kotowari stood protectively in front of Jushiro's body. One of them had even gathered up his courage and climbed up onto his shoulders where those little hands that had balled up into fists began whacking at his head. Tears were in both of the children's eyes and with the prompting of one of them, he was suddenly surrounded by the two. The both of them attacked him. Feeble kicks and punches resulting in no damage. The both of their actions were just serving as an annoyance. Hell, one of them even attempted to hang off of his head in hopes of blinding him from approaching Jushiro.

It was a fruitless endeavor.

"No stop!" The two called, finally pressing themselves on top of Jushiro as if it would change anything.

Shirou sighed. "I'm just going to take him out of the rain," he reasoned. "The cold will only make things worse."

Sogyo no Kotowari looked at each other and finally relented when Jushiro let out another cough.

"Y-You better not try anything o-or you'll see w-what's coming to you," Sogyo no Kotowari threatened with balled fists, a red flush coming to their faces.

"I promise I won't hurt him, but I will have to restrain him then," Shirou bartered.

"F-Fine, but no hurting him," the two children spoke nervously. It was reminiscent of two kids panicking over their parent.

Negotiations over, Sogyo no Kotowari moved off of Jushiro and allowed Shirou to move the man out of the rain.

Once out of the rain, the main problem came int he form of what to tie the man up with. He would need some sort of restraint that would block off the spiritual energy Jushiro could easily use once awakened to break free.

The answer came to him from Kyoka who directed him to a building she explained was like a jail in the Soul Society. Inside, he found a spiritual energy restraining cloth which he used to tie Jushiro in.

All the while, Sogyo no Kotowari stared hard at him, watching anxiously with their wide green eyes.

"Where are you taking him?" Sogyo no Kotowari asked when Shirou slung Jushiro over his back.

Jushiro was now a hostage that he may be able to use for later. He couldn't just leave him to be found and set free by other Shinigami, nor could he leave him under the power of another hollow. They wouldn't hesitate to put down a Captain-Class Shinigami, no matter if the man was ill.

After fastening Jushiro on his back, Shirou moved int he direction of the Twelfth Division's building, Sogyo no Kotowari trailing after him. Eventually, he soon saw Harribel walking out of the Twelfth Division's building before he arrived at its entrance.

As he noticed the expression on her face, there were only two words that he heard clearly which she grunted out.

"She escaped."

"Be careful," Kukaku whispered while pointing up above.

Ichigo and the others soon noticed the presence of a group of flying hollows attacking another group of Shinigami. The waves of generated spiritual pressure let everyone know just how strong those combatants above were.

This was crazy, and Kukaku had emphasized more than once not to get involved no matter who was dying in front of him.

Those were Adjuchas class hollows at the minimum, and a single one alone required the strength of an entire team of Shinigami to take down.

They were like mice skittering around beneath a battle between behemoths.

"Orihime, don't you dare," Kukaku hissed.

More than having to remind Ichigo, it was Orihime who was troubling Kukaku most. After all, Ichigo couldn't heal others but Orihime could. The amount of injured Shinigami they've sneaked past was too numerous to count, but in each encounter Kukaku felt like she was fighting a mental battle.

"You can't go to heal them. Don't you understand that we're as much of an intruder in the Seireitei as those hollows. Even worse, say you do manage to heal them and those cured bring in more injured allies, we'd be prime target number one for those hollows. This is war, and we have our objective. Every Shinigami knows what it is that they have had signed up for since their academy days. Leave them."

"But sis, K-Kaien wouldn't leave—"

"Not another word Ganju," Kukaku spoke, cutting Ganju off.

Her hands were balled into fists, and it was clear that this decision was much harder on Kukaku than it was for them.

They lapsed into silence, remembering the trouble Kukaku had already gotten into on their behalf after beating a wall sentry after Jidanbo lifted up the gates.

"Just, just follow my instructions," Kukaku said. "From what I remember, the Seireitei hold most of their prisoners in the isolation tower before a verdict has been decided by the Central Forty-Six. That tower in front of us over there is our best chance at finding the truth of this matter."

To Kukaku, the matter with Rukia could hardly compare with the issue of the survival of her elder brother.

"Then let's go," Karen spoke trying to move forward.

However, Ichigo firmly planted a hand on her shoulder, placing Karen behind him and in the middle of the group.

Karen glared, but didn't speak up about it as they had to keep quiet to avoid detection.

Explosions sounded out across the landscape, and soon, a sweltering heat appeared that casued Kukaku's back to stiffen.

"The Head-Commander," she muttered to herself before she turned around to everyone else and signalled for them to stop.

"From here on out, the security is going to tighten exponentially. Do not do anything reckless," she advised.

Ichigo and everyone else quickly accepted Kukaku's advise, but as they began to move forward, Kukaku froze.

It was simply because the path she had once taken before when she had last been within the Seireitei was reduced to rubble. Bodies were spread everywhere, and there was no longer any structure to hide behind to avoid detection. This scene was far worse than anything they had encountered. After all, she had been leading them through inconspicuous areas and the number of casualties found there were at a minimum. However, this was different. It was a slaughter the likes of which led her to only a single conclusion from the enemies she had once seen above.

A Vasto Lorde must have been here. No other hollow or group of them could such destruction in a short span of time.

This was incredibly off putting.

But most of all though, she forgot the most important thing.

"You fool!" She called out to Ichigo.

The scenery had caused agitation in Ichigo and the already flimsy control he had with his spiritual energy burst out of control. It was like a torch exploding in the dark. There was no way the Shinigami or hollows would not notice it.

"Fuck, run!" Kukaku burst forward. "We just have to make it past that row of rubble over there and we'll enter a safer district we can take cover from. Ichigo, hurry up and reel in that damned spiritual energy of yours. Ishida, help him."

Panicked, the entire group scrambled to follow Kukaku's directions, but it was already too late. From up in the sky a shout was heard loud and clear.

"Mila Rose, there's more of em!"

Turning up, Kukaku was shocked to see a humanoid figure in the distance staring down at their running group.

"V-Vasto Lorde," she stuttered out. Her body quickly began to feel like jelly with the ramifications of it all.

Clearly it wasn't just her though as everyone was affected. Even more so when another humanoid figure appeared in the distant east.

Two Vasto Lordes.

This, this, what could they possibly do in this situation.

To make matters worse, in their stupor staring a the Vasto Lordes in the distance, they neglected to notice the approaching form of an entire group of Adjuchas that had surrounded them.

"K-Keep close," Kukaku stuttered, her confidence in the situation dropping. If only Yoruichi were here. Together they could have had probably thought up of something.

Their backs pressed against each other, they brandished their weapons. Kukaku had a fire bomb in hand, Ichigo with his blade, Ishida with his bow, Orihime with her hair pins, and Karin with a pair of gloves given to her by Kisuke. Ganju was the only one still in a stupor, but a quick kick from Kukaku and he quickly brandished his weapons he stored in a bag.

The power the hollows were exuding was suffocating. It was an entire group of Adjuchas and behind them were two Vasto Lordes.

Ichigo stepped forward to combat them as he knew that the situation was his fault. Karin looked at him as if he was crazy, yelling at him to get back into a safer position. Yet any thoughts of a safer position soon left her mind as the hollows around began charging an attack Ichigo had only ever seen once. And even then, it was just barely deflected.

Ceros.

Just before the situation could get any worse though, a voice pierced through the sound of the growing ceros. It was the voice of an adolescent still shrill and in the midst of changing into something more feminine.

It spoke only one sentence as the hollows surrounding them suddenly parted.

"Ichigo, what the fuck?"