Reactions II

(Rangiku POV)

... wow ... That was ... something. Just how powerful is Toji-nii-san? He was always powerful and when he played with us he used these strange tricks but this ... this is beyond anything that I have ever seen him do. Was he always this powerful? Then how can I even fight with him? He must be holding back a lot ...

I am happy though. I am happy that I won't have to defend Toji in front of others who call him 'the weakest' Captain in the Gotei 13. This has pushed him to one of the most powerful easily.

He killed Captain Tousen and also cut Aizen ... but he didn't cut Gin... 

I can feel how a smile forms on my face when I think about it. He didn't hurt Gin ... because of me. I am sure of it. I know that Toji-nii tried to get Gin to see the truth of his actions and bring him back because of me ... but he didn't have any luck until now. 

But he didn't hurt him just now. That tells me that he has still not given up. I am happy about that. I want to know why he did it. I have to speak with Gin! No matter what, Toji won't tell me the truth. He says that I have to ask Gin that myself, and then changes the topic.

I will have to increase my training. This is not working out as I'd hoped. Gin is still far ahead of me, but if I increase my training I am sure that I could catch up to him. I should ask Toji about that. He'll help me for sure. 

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(Nanao POV)

As I look at the sky that rains down blood on the Sōkyoku Hill, I can't stop marvelling. The reality of the situation hasn't yet kicked in and my brain has trouble forming coherent thoughts. 

"Watch out Nanao-chan ... with how big your mouth is right now, you might catch flies ...", Captain Kyoraku says.

And only then do I realise that my mouth is indeed open. My jaw must have dropped without me noticing. I look at my captain who is not looking at the sky but somewhere else. I try to see what he is looking at and see him looking at Toji...

Toji is simply walking away from the scene. Like nothing happened. I try to think back to all those times when I heard others badmouth Toji and call him the 'weakest' Captain in the Gotei 13. It always made me so sad ... but now I can hold my head high that I know that Toji has shut all of those idiots up. 

"Oh? Are those tears ... Nanao-chan? Are you happy about something?", Captain Kyoraku asks me.

"Yes ... I am happy for Toji.", I say.

"Hmm ... it seems like his close friends had a harder time with the slander of Toji's name and worth, than Toji himself.", Captain says.

"I agree ... I am also relieved that Toji is here right now. We both knew Toji's true worth and now he has reminded everyone why he is a Captain.", Captian Ukitake said.

"Well ... it would seem not even we knew his true worth ...", Captain Kyoraku says.

He is right. I knew that Toji was powerful since he was the one to train me and I saw the ease at which he did everything. He was never pressured or scared. He always could go longer and push more. I felt ... safe in his presence. But it seemed he hid a lot of power underneath his happy attitude. 

"I just hope that nothing will change...", the words slip out of my mouth. 

"Hm? Hahaha, don't worry Nanao-chan. This was not the first time Toji had to show some of his power and he usually goes on with his life like nothing even happened. If I'm guessing correctly then Toji should probably think about what to eat or drink right now.", Captain Kyoraku said.

"What?! Nonsense why would he ... after such a ...", I try to find something to say against this stupid argument from my Captain but Captain Ukitake supports Kyoraku.

"Kyoraku's right. I guess that Toji is probably going to either sleep or have something to eat. Nothing will change."

"Well ...", Captian Kyoraku says.

"Hm? What do you mean?", Captain Ukitake asks. 

"Haha, well when I look at the way some of the ladies look at our boy Toji then ... I am not sure whether everything will stay the same."

"Ohhh, you are right. I can see it as well. Haha, it was always this way, wasn't it? Do you remember Captain Furōfushi Saitō? She also had quite the crush on Toji back then ...", Ukitake said.

"... What?!?", I say.

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(Ichigo POV)

What ... what was that? What just happened? I didn't see anything. I was still lying on the ground and trying to get over the fact that we just lost when this Captain appeared behind Aizen ... I mean come on... he didn't even do anything to him then ... He should have at least tried to.

But when he was back on the ground it was revealed that he had stolen the Hogyoku that Aizen had taken from Rukia. For a moment I was happy because this could mean that Rukia would get her powers back ... but no. That Captain just used his Zanpakuto to dissolve the Hogyoku into nothing...

What happened next however made me rethink what Yoruichi said back when we were in the Shiba clan. It was weird. She said that we weren't strong enough to fight Captains and should steer away from them. But up to this point I have fought against two Captains and managed to win both times ... so when she said that this was supposed to the the weakest among the Captains ... I didn't think much about it.

That was wrong. So very wrong. I didn't see anything when it happened ... but one moment this Captain Sushi, or something, was at one place and the next he was farther away sheathing his Zanpakuto.

And then ... it started to rain blood ... all the flesh and gore that fell on the ground was ... disgusting but also beyond confusing. How can someone be so strong? He cut them from down here. That was impossible!! 

Yoruichi was wrong about him. He was unbelievably strong.

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(Byakuya POV)

I was there holding onto Rukia and looking at the mess that he created. So it was correct ... a true monster. I didn't believe it back then. When he came to the Kuchiki clan I was so arrogant and disrespectful towards him. What could the 'weakest' Captain even teach me? I even fought against him ... well I swung my bokken around at least. He just dodged or hit me on the head.

When he flashed behind me and threatened to skin me alive if I ever threatened him again ... I was scared. Really scared. I told Grandfather everything and he just sighed. He said that threatening someone whose skill was unknown was never something I should do. He was unhappy with my behaviour but also with the fact that Captain Fushiguro had dared to threaten a member of the Kuchiki clan, one of the four noble clans.

His complaint with Head Captain Yamamoto didn't work after he told him that it was me who had threatened him first. He said that he didn't care. If someone is dumb enough to threaten his student then they are on their own. 

This should have alarmed me back then ... but I was far too young to understand everything. I asked Grandfather to show me some of the archives about Captain Fushiguro ... but there was almost nothing. Captain Fushiguro was known to be the most talented Captian of the Captain Commander of the 13 Court Guard Squads, Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto. 

There was not much else though. Only rumours and uncertain talk from uncertain sources. In one of the rumours, it was stated that Captain Fushiguro was seen fighting an original Captain of the Gotei 13. It was said that he had won and killed the Captain ... and he was apparently still at the academy at that time ... yeah there was no way I believed that.

Until today that is. Now I have seen your true strength, Toji Fushiguro ... I am glad that I haven't provoked you anymore since that time. I do wonder though, what is your goal in hiding your strength like this? Are you also interested in the Hogyoku? Did you truly destroy it like everyone saw you do? Or was that an illusion?

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(Toji POV)

I didn't destroy the Hogyoku ...

Hehe, looks like Urahara's Hogyoku has been fused with mine ... or more like devoured. This will give me a boost as soon as I am alone and allow the Reiatsu to flow freely. I should go to the Dangai again. That is the safest way. And it is also free from the eyes of the Quincy. Those pesky peeping toms...

Yeah, there was no way that I would waste such a perfect chance to feed that Hogyoku to mine ... I mean given all the trouble I had, I deserved this ... 

I can't wait to see what Aizen will do now. He is missing an important part of perfecting his Hogyoku ... but I'm sure that he'll manage somehow. After all ... someone did something to his Hogyoku ... but who might that be? Hehe, I can hardly wait for the Arrancar Arc to begin. I feel like an old dog that has once again tasted blood and is now fired up.

Fighting was always something that I enjoyed doing, but after Yachiru Unohana ... things turned bland. Sure I fought in my inner world but it just wasn't the same as having a real fight where the end result might be clear, but it was at least a real person. 

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Oh oh ... I can feel some hungry gazes directed at me ... Who might this be? 

I turn around and see a lot of eyes on me. Shit ... I better leave now. It was time for me to go grab something to eat anyway. What day was it anyway? Oh no! There is going to be a lot of cleaning and restructuring to be done!!!

Ahhhh!!!!

I must find a way to escape! But there is no real way to escape from Yama-ji ... Somehow he finds me and I have to go invisible or enter the Dangai ... I think it might be time ... Time to disappear from this universe entirely. There are still some weeks or months before the Arrancar arc happens so I have some time. 

The question is what Univers should I go to? There are two or three that I am thinking about. But that might not be a good idea right now. 

I continue walking as I think about something else. The Sōkyoku!! Oh right, I wanted to keep this beautiful bird and Halbert. I might just go to One Piece and have a cool fight with Whitebeard to get accustomed to fighting with a Halbert. 

Oh, that is a good idea. I mean that would be cool. But first I have to ... 

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I finally arrived at my barracks and sat down to make me some tea. I loved tea. So for the plans, I wanted to think about his. I imagined the Sōkyoku which was destroyed, to reform in its entirety like he was before he was destroyed. 

Above my palm, the giant Halbert formed and I could feel Kikōō, the spirit of the Halbert also reforming. I was impressed with this magnificent Zanpakuto. A Zanpakuto that was literally a Sōkyoku, or an Execution Instrument. The spirit of Kikōō was formed after the countless executions. There were quite a few over the millennium. I was there.

However, no one ever claimed this beauty before ... and why would anyone? It was not a Zanpakuto in the actual sense. But that was not my problem. 

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I touched the Halbert and instantly connected to it. The spirit was testing me with heat that might have destroyed my soul had I not been so Overpowered. I showed it some of my power and then calmed it down. 

I transferred the Sogyoku to my inner world, where it became a resident similar to a Zanpakuto spirit. I entered my inner world as well and looked at the giant phoenix whose presence alone seemed to burn everything. 

"What a beauty you are, Kikōō! Look at you. I am finally not the only one who lives here anymore. All the others were guests, but you are a permanent resident! So welcome to my inner world, Kikōō.", I say to him with a smiling face. 

"Shrieeek!!", Kikōō screeched and transmitted his emotions to me. I could feel ... it seemed happy about being here and not having to do the same thing over and over again. 

" I can imagine we are going to be good friends."