Ichigo Awakens

(With Byakuya, Rukia, and Renji)

The group marched down the lone bridge, the single connection to the only entrance to the ultimate prison cell for those on death row in Soul Society. In the lead was the captain of the sixth squad with his lieutenant, behind them were the four kido corps members leading Rukia by leads connected to their forked staves. There are no words among them, not until they reach the jutting white tower of the Repentance Cell. The transfer unit went into the meaning of the prison cell and its significance, maybe hoping to bring Rukia some peace.

"Captain Kuchiki, Lieutenant Abarai, thank you for the escort." Said one of the clothed covered spell users. "We must be going now." They announced, Renji watching his old friend. She appeared to have given up, seems to not care whether or not her life ends. The more time she spent in those damned cells seemed to drain more and more life and joy from her. This was probably the nail in the coffin that would make her give up entirely. He couldn't allow that. He hurts that his friend was suffering. "Lieutenant!" They shouted as Renji stormed over to the prisoner until a calm hand steadied him.

"Leave him be." Byakuya said, keeping an eye on his subordinate and family. "They were friends long ago. Let them speak one last time." Going to the Repentance Cell was a final death sentence, no one goes there to survive.

"Listen," Renji whispered upon reaching Rukia, "that Kurosaki kid is in Soul Society." His words, sparking a reaction from Rukia for the first time in so long. "He was willing to speak for your behalf, before captain Ichimaru decided to make a game out of the situation." Rukia was feeling an odd mix of emotions. Hope, fear, worry, anger, all coursing through her soul. "He's been confirmed alive but considered hostile. Orders are to capture." He said, pulling away from the girl and leaving the white tower of death.

"Why did you tell her that?" The noble asked his second in command. "That was close to overstepping the limit, Renji."

"Captain, I just-" Renji started before Byakuya cut him off again.

"You should have left it at 'he's alive.'" The captain admonished. "When I give you orders, you are expected to follow them." He scolded as they walked away from the towering white cell. "Tell her that Ichigo was alive. That was your task." The tattooed warrior was silent as he tried to think of how to phrase his next statement properly.

"She just seemed so dead sir." He said finally. "We used to be close during our days in the Rukon districts and the Academy." He said, briefly flashing to the times they laughed together before statuses placed their damned barriers between them. "I wanted to help, even if the Repentance Cell is the same as a death sentence." Byakuya stopped to face his subordinate.

"Telling her that he's alive would've done that. That's what I told you to do Renji, not that they were here." He told the red haired warrior. "Just the knowledge that he was alive would put her at peace, but Rukia is so resigned to the idea of Soul Society's power that she would accept her death if it comes to that. As of yet, she is not to be executed." He said, turning to return to his office to finish out some business. What he said confused Renji and he was determined to find out more.

"But if she isn't to be executed then why is she in the Repentance Cell?" He asked, catching up to the noble. Byakuya sighed and gestured for Renji to get closer. Once his lieutenant bridged the gap, he began to speak.

"Were it simply the matter of her giving her powers to a human, she would be sentenced to death." He explained in a whisper. "As Ichigo said, he stole her power and was willing to speak on her behalf. Until we know more, Rukia's sentence is on hold." Renji breathed out a sigh of relief and resolved to find and capture Ichigo as per the order, but his captain wasn't done. "This is highly classified Renji so you can not speak of this to anyone, but something is wrong in Soul Society right now." He said, shocking Renji. "Pushing for execution, more to kill Rukia than meting out justice it seems. And using the Soukyoku on an unseated Soul Reaper who was performing her duties in the best manner she could. This is all too excessive, and whatever is going on is linked to Kurosaki." The noble surmised as the two continued their walk in whispers.

"Then, my orders sir?" Renji hesitantly asked, the idea of a conspiracy worrying him.

"Do not speak of this with anyone but myself or the Head Captain, and capture Ichigo Kurosaki." He said before glaring at his second again. "And don't get cocky this time. He's proven to be a powerful warrior with a focused mind."

(With Ichigo and friends)

"You're going to shoot us out of a cannon!?" Ichigo yelled in shock at the absurd plan that he was told of. "That's the plan?" He asked his newly found relatives as she stood proudly in front of the tower.

"I take it Isshin forgot to mention we're fireworks experts?" Kukaku asked with a amused smirk, watching the teens gawk at the family gun.

"He said explosives factored in, just not how." Ichigo said, reconsidering asking for her help.

"Oh don't be a baby!" She said, tossing him a crystal ball with a red crane design. "That reishukaku will keep you safe when we blast you off." She said walking down towards him. "Just put your Reiatsu in and you'll create a shield that will be the cannonball." Ichigo did as instructed and was surrounded by a crystallized ball of spirit energy. "Wow. He's got potential." Kukaku remarked, surprised by the power her distant relative displayed.

"We made sure to train him well." Yoruichi stated, a deep sense of pride evident in her tone.

"That's impressive work cousin." Ganju told Ichigo with a hint of respect. After being told of their relations Ganju received a beating from his sister, even after he apologized to Ichigo and his friends. "By the way, I'm all for insulting the Gotei 13 but who are you going to rescue?" He asked, only now hearing about the reason for invasion.

"Our friend!" Orihime said, seeing no harm in telling their new allies. "Rukia Kuchiki!" A name that meant almost nothing to Ganju, but Kukaku recognized it.

"Oh yeah." She said in casual recollection. "She's the one that killed big bro." Saying that made Ganju snap.

"You mean that bitch?!" He growled as Ichigo released the spirit core surrounding him. "Nope! I want nothing to do with helping her! Count me out! I am not helping that-!" He ranted before the irate fireworks master bashed him in the face.

"Shut the hell up Ganju! She had to kill Kaien. He got possessed by a hollow and would've killed more people as a monster." She told him, finally enlightening him to the truth. "Her captain, Juushiro Ukitake, told me the whole story. That man does not lie. Ever." She then pulled him up by the collar of his shirt and started growling. "And our dear uncle has asked us to help a new member of the clan, and that's what we're gonna do! Now suck it up and prepare to go with them. Got it?" She glared at Ganju, making him nod mutely with bullets of sweat pouring down his face. "Good. And Ichigo?" She called to the hybrid who was discussing the validity of their plan with the Quincy.

"This might be our best bet since Seireitei is supposed to be in a spirit barrier." The archer said.

"Which manages to allow air and water in." Ichigo finished. "At least it should be fun." He noticed his distant relative calling to him. "Yeah?"

"Two things. Bring Rukia here, we need to have a talk with her, and make sure you survive." She yelled with a grin. "You lot owe me big for this and I expect you to pay for it!" Ichigo rolled his eyes before agreeing. "Good. Now for you lot to prepare for your trip!"

(Lieutenants Meeting)

The lieutenant was on his way with some of his fellow colleagues, the memories of the conversation with his captain and the captain of squad five replaying in his head.

"What are you saying captain Aizen? Isn't the execution on hold?" Renji asked the learned man.

"This may just be a farce, lieutenant Abarai." The captain replied. "The greatest power in Seireitei is the Central 46, and those in power are rarely content with losing it." He gave the lieutenant his full and focused attention with Renji responding in kind. "If I had to guess, this is more to show their power and authority, that no matters the circumstances, what they say is law."

"But the commander and other captains would never stand for that!" Renji argued.

"In most circumstances, yes. But the head captain swore himself to uphold the law of Soul Society. Kurosaki's existence could be a show of defiance to the Central 46 and Rukia kept him hidden. They fear that these incidents might disrupt the balance of power in Seireitei and the commander's hands are tied unless he wants to break his vow to the law. All of the Gotei 13 hunt Ichigo and his allies, while a questionable few might act on their own feelings." Aizen adjusted his glasses as he told Renji what was to come. "Soul Society may face civil war lieutenant. The question is whose on what side?"

'Should I tell him about the concerns captain Kuchiki has?' He wondered, entering the room of mostly assembled second in commands. 'No, I need to find Ichigo again. Aizen is probably already in on the possible conspiracy plot anyway.'

"Renji?" He heard the squad five lieutenant ask him. She was a demure girl with black hair in a white bun, almost like a flower of gentle personality. "You haven't seen captain Aizen around, have you?" She seemed almost worried, like a puppy that was just lost.

"No, can't say I have." He said, looking away from the small girl. He had special orders, and he didn't want to bother the poor girl too much.

"I'm worried." She said. "He's been acting strange lately. When I asked him, he said nothing. I don't know what to do." She explained, on the verge of tears. Renji caved, no man is powerful enough to resist a crying girl in need of comfort.

"Look, it's probably nothing." He said, as helpful as he could. "The captain Aizen I know could resolve this invasion easily and peacefully." He said, having faith in the gentle man known as Sosuke Aizen. "Ichigo wouldn't kill without reason." He said, unconsciously rubbing his side where Ichigo stabbed him. "He's not that kind of man."

(Back with Ichigo's group)

"-and then we kill Aizen." Ichigo said as he and Yoruichi planned out an itinerary for Seireitei. Get in, find the head captain, rescue Rukia, and then kill Aizen. It seemed like a solid plan, but Gin's actions made it into a competition of sorts. They would try to do their things while the Soul Reapers tried to capture them. An afterlife game of cat and mouse. His friends were working on maintaining a spirit shield for when they head into Seireitei.

"Do not underestimate Aizen or overestimate yourself Ichigo." Yoruichi lightly scolded her disciple. "You are powerful but not the strongest you could be. We've had to be light enough with your training that Aizen wouldn't get too suspicious." She suspects that Aizen was already aware of Ichigo's current abilities, or at least was willing to learn and had ways of finding out. "For now, wait and gather your strength. We have a battle on our hands." She said before they heard a thud and yelp. They looked over to see a crying Orihime holding her eye, behind a shaken Tatsuki, that was in front of an angry Kukaku.

"You brat." She growled, making the younger girls shrink down in terror and Kukaku's fiery aura flared brighter. "Do you realize what you've done? How long do you think it took to get used to having one arm!?" She yelled out, revealing a fully formed right arm where it did not exist before, matching her left for every inch.

"Hey, she just wanted to see if it would work." Tatsuki defended, trying to put up a brave front before the angry noble. "We thought you'd like to have your arm back."

"I am happy to have both arms." Kukaku said, calming down considerably. "It's just that I'm so used to not having both that it'll take a while to get used to." She brought up her right arm, flexing and rubbing it, ensuring that it was really there. "This'll take a while to be comfortable with again." She mumbled. "Alright. You've mastered the reishukaku, now rest up. You leave at dawn." Kukaku announced before heading to get herself some dinner. "And girls? Doesn't change what I want." She said, making the two curse quietly and confusing the men. When morning came, they began their invasion of Seireitei.