Ichigo Awakens

(Squad Four)

Today was the day of the execution, Rukia's and Ichigo's execution. Rukia the prisoner, and Ichigo, the fool that will try to rescue her. The various captains made their way to execution hill where the Sokyoku stood. Unohana and her lieutenant were walking through the medic barracks, making last checks before heading to the hill themselves.

"I'm really sorry about this Inoue-san." She said, feeling bad about the ryoka's position in her barrack's prison cell. After they helped with the influx of patients they were all separated. Orihime at her base, Sado at Squad 8's, Uryu and Ganju were at Squad 13's, and Tatsuki was back at the 2nd. Each under lock and key, separated from each other to prevent any more problems. "You're a nice girl. I'll see what we can do about your chances of freedom." She said, hoping to cheer the girl up.

"It's alright Unohana-san." Orihime said with a smile. "I'm okay." She said that, but anyone could tell she was worried. It hurt the female captain, but she had a job to perform. They left the barrier maiden behind as they made for the execution stand. She was not shocked to find Kenpachi Zaraki and his lieutenant waiting by the front gate.

"Captain Zaraki." She greeted. The man made a full recovery and still had his hair in that unruly mess down his back, giving Yachiru a better hand hold to stay on his back. "Shall we go?"

"You swear I'll fight Ichigo again?" He asked, demanding clarification. "This seems odd coming from you."

"If all goes as I suspect, you'll get plenty of chances to fight him again." She said as they started for the execution site. "Your other officers are patrolling?" She asked, not seeing his usual accompanying duo of his squad.

"Yeah." He grunted. "They're making their rounds." Dismissing Ikkaku and Yumichika, simply to gather and escort Ichigo's friends during the confusion of the coming fight. Unohana prayed that their suspicions were wrong. If not, war would be upon them. The first in centuries. In the corner of her eye, she saw Hanataro nod towards her and head back into the barracks.

(Squad 8)

"It's not too uncomfortable, is it Sado?" Kyoraku asked the large teen. Reishi cuffs around his wrists kept him bound to the wall. "Yeah, those cuffs will keep you from using your powers. Meaning you can't enhance your strength to break out. Sorry about the lack of hospitality." He said, smirking to the giant.

"It's alright. I've been in worst." Chad responded, already planning on his escape.

"That's both good and sad to hear." The captain said, losing his grin. "You're such a great guy." He heard his lieutenant call him that they should get going. "Well, guess I'm off. Hey, Tatsufusa! Keep an eye on him." He called to his now recovered 3rd seated officer.

"Yes captain!" The man called out and sneered at Chad, a ring of keys dangling from his waist.

'This is going to be easier then I thought.' Chad thought to himsefl as he remembered the weakling, just barely.

(Squad 13)

Uryu was spending the better half of the last half hour banging his head against the wall as Ganju and the 3rd seat duo of the squad was fanning over the previous and deceased lieutenant Kaien Shiba. He sounded a lot like Ichigo, but the endless praise and arguing about who was better in the former lieutenant's eyes was starting to grate on his last remaining nerves.

"Let's go!" They heard the tired call of the sickly captain as he came out with a large wooden shield with a crest on the face and a cord connected to a pole. Somehow his most fanatical subordinates didn't hear him in their argument with the Shiba man. He released an exhausted sigh watching the trio. "Hello Isida-kun." He said to the Quincy that was still banging his head against the wall. "You have the key I gave you?"

"Yep." Uryu let out, completely disconnected. "Is this what you deal with every day?" He asked.

"Usually just the two of them, but yes." The man admitted. There was a pause to see if it was going to end any time soon.

"My condolences." The Quincy said.

"Thank you."

(Squad 2)

Tatsuki was completely immobilized, every joint was locked in place and she was suspended from the ground. The days of her imprisonment gave the punishment squad enough of an idea on what to get to restrain her and this was a time that they could afford no distractions like her running around causing havoc. They were familiar with the danger she presented.

"Well, she's not going anyway anytime soon." Omaeda sneered at the girl that constantly humiliated him. "Looks like your special treatment is over." Tatsuki just glared at the man, acting so high and mighty despite his numerous losses to her. He was getting himself ready to leave with his captain when she showed up.

"Omaeda, stay here and watch her." She ordered, a little too quickly from her usual attitude.

"Wha!? But captain-!" He tried to protest.

"No. You know as well as I do she's a dangerous target. I'm not taking risks with her." She said, noticeably distracted and agitated. Tatsuki noticed this and smirked.

"Still thinking about what I told you?" She said teasingly. "About why she left you behind?" Soi-Fon glared at the empowered human, but said nothing as she left. Heading for the execution stand by herself.

"A prisoner shouldn't be so cheeky." Omaeda growled at the martial artist. "If she gets hurt in any way, I will see you executed." He warned the girl.

"Oh just watch me." She smirked confidently as she challenged him. "I'll be getting out of here."

(With Gin)

He was walking along the bridge of the Repentance Cell, seeking Rukia to mess with her a little. What he saw disappointed him. She was already gone. There was no light, no drive, no hope, just emptiness. Probably that scolding from that Shiba man and hearing that Ichigo essentially had a death sentence must have crushed her. She might as well be dead from if her expression was anything to go by. Maybe he could fish for a little something else.

"Hello there Rukia." He said was the prisoner and escort reached him. "Lovely day isn't it?" He got no response as she stood there lifelessly. "Almost all of your would-be rescuers have been caught. They'll most likely be executed for this transgression, or be put in the Maggot's Nest if certain captains pull the right strings." Still nothing. "Ichigo will definitely be put to the sword though. Maybe in the same way as you. Together in death, how touching." No response even now. "You're no fun. Not even the littlest bit of faith in your rumored lover." He said before walking off. "But then again, there might be truth in his claim that this is all a set up." He said, finally getting a shift in movement from her. "But the backing of traitors is meaningless." He finished before leaving. He had to meet up with Aizen, and he was aware that he was being followed. 'Do try to live Kira.' He thought to his lieutenant before flashstepping away.

(Sokyoku Hill)

Yamamoto stood there, over looking the members of the Gotei 13 that came in attendance to the execution stand. Lieutenant Izuru was there in lieu of his captains, who was missing, Kurotsuchi was still recovering, Soi-Fon had her lieutenant stay behind and guard Tatsuki, Ukitake was on his way, and Hitsugaya was heading for the building of the Central 46 with his lieutenant with Hinamori apparently following them. He thought back to the promise that Ichigo boy made him.

'For your sake, you better be right boy.' He thought, a curious gaze scanning the other captains and lieutenants. Zaraki was keeping an eye on the blind Tousen while Abarai seemed conflicted. Rukia was brought up to the execution stand. 'Time to begin.' "Let us commence the ceremony." He announced when Rukia was in place. "Rukia Kuchiki. Any last words?" He asked the girl, almost expecting nothing from the depressed soul.

"....please." She finally whispered out. "Please be as merciful as you can to them." She barely managed to whisper as tear began to form in her eyes. A sight that he had become hardened to, not by choice but by duty. There was no happy ending for her in sight, she had lost all hope.

"I will be as merciful as I can with them." He told her. "You have my word." She merely let her head hang there. "Release the Sokyoku." He watched the seal come apart as she rose into the air. All this, all this happening now and the only thing he could think of was Ichigo Kurosaki, swearing his life to Soul Society if his accusations proved false.

(Flashback: 1st Division Barracks)

The battle with Kenpachi Zaraki ended and he waited for the hybrid to finally come to him. He heard a rustling in the room before his office and muffled speech from his long time lieutenant. Suddenly he heard an incantation and the orange glow of a kido barrier enveloped the building. The doors before him flew apart and revealed the battered and bloodied form of Ichigo Kurosaki, a state many would be lucky to find themselves in after a fight with the one called Kenpachi.

"Hachigyo Sogai." Ichigo said, panting in exhaustion from pushing himself. "Time and space displacement barrier. No one outside this kido can see or hear us." He explained, slowly walking toward the captain as he rose from his seat.

"You storm into the afterlife, fight through an army of Shinigami, and seal us in an isolated space, just to come and speak with me." He said to the upstart child as he drank some glowing blue liquid and began to recover from his injuries. "I will give you one chance to convince me to not strike you down."

"The sealed King of the Quincy. Over 900 years, he shall recover his heartbeat. Over 90 years, he shall recover his intellect. Over nine years, he shall recover his power. And over nine days, he shall recover the world." Ichigo told him, making the old man open his eyes. "It's no myth, and war is coming to your doorstep." The old captain stayed silent as he regarded the boy, looking for any trace of lies and misdirection. But there was none to be found.

"You have my full attention, Ichigo Kurosaki." The boy nodded and closed the distance between the two before kneeling down and offering his blade. The old man took it as a sign of submission and allegiance. As he took the sword from the boy, Ichigo began his tale.

"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, son of the Soul Reaper Isshin Shiba and Quincy Masaki Kurosaki. Six years ago, Ywach performed his Holy Selection and drained my mother of her power. On that day, my own powers have awakened and I swore vengeance against the Quincy King." He told the old man. "I have come to warn you of the coming fight. And to offer what help I can."

"And your evidence boy?" The commander asked, hoping there was no evidence of that monster's return. His heart sank as Ichigo's Reiatsu flared and coalesced into the form of his ancient enemy as he appeared one thousand years ago. "This is most concerning." He said, years of battle and experience keeping him upright.

"They are not the immediate concern though sir." Ichigo said, raising his head. "Aizen plans to betray Soul Society." He looked back at the hybrid and waited for his explanation. "Over a hundred years ago, there were experiments on Hollowfication that affected then captains, Shinji Hirako, Kensei Muguruma, Rose Otoribashi, and Love Aikawa, as well as lieutenants Hiyori Sarugaki, Mashiro Kuna, Lisa Yadomaru, and Hachigen Ushoda. The blame for these experiments were placed on Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi. This was a lie as Urahara was framed. Aizen performed those experiments with the aid of Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tousen, as named by Shinji Hirako and the other former captains."

"So they are alive." Genryusai mused, processing the new information. "What are their current states?" If these fallen Soul Reapers were a threat then they needed to be eliminated, but why is Ichigo just giving this information away?

"Aside from Hollow powers, back to normal and stronger than the last time you saw them." Ichigo said. "Their main interest is in destroying Aizen, but the news about Ywach is forcing their hand."

"What proof do you have that condemns three of my captains?" He asked, almost believing the boy. "Did you not kill Aizen already?"

"I did not." Ichigo admitted. "He managed to escape me at the last second, and he was holding back. As for evidence, I have none but a suspicion of what Aizen is after. Urahara created an object called the Hogyoku which should break the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow. When he fled a century ago, he took it with him with attempts to destroy or seal it. I suspect that the Hogyoku is currently hidden inside of Rukia's body. Is there anything here that could extract it?"

"Extract, no." The old man grumble. "Leave behind, yes. The Sokyoku, the harshest punishment of Soul Society. With it's great power, it would burn away a soul, but not anything foreign. Especially if this Hogyoku is as indestructible as you say. It's also what Rukia has been sentenced to die by."

"By whose orders?" Ichigo asked, rising from his bow.

"The Central 46." Yamamoto admitted, some actions the past few days started to make sense to the grizzled old man. "But how would Aizen be able to fake his death and control the governing body of Soul Society?"

"His Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu." Ichigo claimed. "Shinji told me that Aizen explained his ability of complete hypnosis. Anyone that sees his shikai is under his illusion. Here's what I propose. Go along with Aizen's plan, but destroy the Sokyoku. He might have a plan B that will make him move personally. I'll fight at the hill, while you have someone head to the Central 46 and double check whether or not Aizen is there." A rather loose but still sensible plan.

"And if you are wrong?" The Commander asked. The boy gave him that same look of unshakable determination.

"Then you can have my life." He said fearlessly. The boy actually impressed the ancient captain. He saw a power and will that hasn't been present for centuries. He decided to give this boy a chance. Right or wrong, this boy was needed in the future. He could feel that he would be an invaluable ally if he was allowed to grow in power.

"Very well. But if this ruse is going to work, then I'm going to have to smack you around." He told Ichigo, flaring his own power. Ichigo unconsciously took a step back before standing his ground.

"Don't worry about me Yama-jii. I'm not a weakling." He said, taking back his blade.

"You may regret that." He said, revealing his blade. "Reduce all creation to ash." He spoke, echoing with power. "Ryujin Jakka." Ichigo immediately regretted his boast as the man slammed a fist into his gut, filling the air with a sickening crunch and launching him out of the barrier, breaking it apart and sending a wave of flames at him. He finished it off by pointing at him and launching the level 91 hado spell, Senju Koten Taiho. He managed to escape, only because he was saved.

(Flashback End)

So now here they were. Rukia was in front of the Sokyoku, now a blazing phoenix ready to destroy anything in its path. His own students, loved as his sons, now helping him to break the laws and peace he swore to uphold on the words of an outsider, trained by people with no strong ties to Soul Society. The biggest gamble in his two thousand years of life, one thousand years as Captain Commander, with the only payment being a boy's life should it fail in the end. But based on Unohana's report of the ryoka not seeing Aizen's corpse in the morgue and her own admission of feeling something was not right about it almost guaranteed the hybrid's claim. The firebird reared back and thrust toward Rukia, only to be stopped by a single figure.

'Now show me what you can really do, my next disciple.' Thought Yamamoto as he made up his mind about what to do with Ichigo's allegiance.

(Everyone's escapes)

Squad 8: Chad

"Do you see that ryoka?" The 3rd seat sneered at the giant, taking pride at the payback he could deliver for his earlier humiliation. "The Sokyoku has been activated. Your little rescue attempt has failed!" Chad moved in recognition of the name. The lieutenant told him to escape when the Sokyoku was released, guess now was the time.

"Is that so?" Sado asked, almost lazily. "Guess I'd better get going." He straightened himself up and pulled against the chains, tearing them out of the wall. He didn't break stride as he went towards the prison bars and tearing them out before tossing the door aside. "Now give me the keys to my cuffs." He told the now trembling 3rd seat.

Squad 13: Uryu

Uryu was watching the hill with the massive spear, waiting for the tell tale sign they agreed on to move out. Ganju was busy grumbling about him being his brother's favorite, as he had been doing for the last half hour. The moment he saw activity, he vehemently thanked every god he thought existed and spat out the key Ukitake gave him earlier. He swiftly freed himself from the cuffs and manipulated his spirit threads to grasp hold of one of his Seele Schneiders to cut their way to freedom. Once he was finished with that, he was going to announce their freedom to Ganju, who was still ignorant and grumbling to himself. He released a sigh before holding Ganju's hands and cutting of the cuffs with his chainsaw blade. He still wasn't getting a reaction so he dragged him out of the cell and punched him in the eye... really hard.

"AHH! What the hell man!?" He screamed out after falling to the ground. "Why did you... wait, when did we get free?" He asked the Quincy.

"I've been breaking out for the last five minutes. Now come on." He ordered the Shiba man. "Ichigo's gonna need our help."

Squad 4: Orihime

She sat in her cell, humming away a tune while daydreaming about life after they all leave Soul Society. With Rukia finally joining in the group, it could be a lot more fun. She could match Tatsuki's strength and confidence while enjoying the fun and cuter things she was into. Thoughts drifted slowly to what their dates might end up looking like, turning into a fantasy of Ichigo as a cold cut gangsta with the three of them hanging on his body possessively as he walks through his territory, switching over to what would be their nighttime activities. She was trapped in her little fantasies, ignorant of Hanataro standing in the same spot, sweeping with the keys to cuffs and prison doors, hanging loosely on his waistband, or Yumichika coming in.

"The Sokyoku is already activating, what's keeping you two?" He asked, somewhat annoyed that they haven't left yet.

"I don't know Yumichika sir." Hanataro whimpering. "I've been here for ten minutes, but she won't move." They turned to look at the barrier maiden, who seemed to be shining with serenity in her daydreams.

"So beautiful, a maiden in love with dreams and thoughts of love." The 5th seat said in awe of the vision before him. "Just take the moment to witness and appreciate such a rare beauty as a maiden, happy and in love." He said, practically singing hymns of praise to Orihime's goddess like beauty in that moment, soon ruined by her giggling perversely with a grin to match. The two men sweat dropped at the sight, Yumichika felt the need to take a shower.

"Should I still be watching?" The short medic asked tentatively. The flamboyant man simply let out a saddened sigh.

"Let's just get her out of there." He said, lamenting the loss of such a pure image.

Squad 2: Tatsuki

Tatsuki was hanging there, completely restrained with that oversized oaf Omaeda watching her. He was determined to show his worth as the lieutenant of the 2nd division. Tatsuki had shaken the unbreakable will of his captain and made her distracted and hesitant. He wanted to be there and watch her back, but her orders were final and he would serve them to the letter. He was not letting Arisawa out of his sight. He was even skipping his snack and meal time to perform this one solitary mission. The two were glaring at each other the entire time this went on, waiting for the other to crack. Tatsuki then felt what she was waiting for and decided to help with a little distraction.

"I'm actually surprised that you've stayed there this long." Tatsuki said dryly. "But you might want to move."

"Ha! Your mind games won't work on me Arisawa!" He boasted. "There is no way you're getting out of my-" He said before the ceiling above him caved and Ikkaku dropped down on top of him with a smack of the blunt end of his Hozukimaru. Sending Omaeda crashing into the wall.

"He just isn't lucky is he?" Ikkaku quipped before working to free Tatsuki. "Seriously, people that piss off my captain are treated better then this guy."

"You mind if I slap him around a little bit?" She asked as she stretched and rolled her joints, stiff from their captivity. "Pretty sure he was staring at my chest." She said, looking down at her chest.

"Well it... could be a little revealing from the right angle." He said, looking away with a slight blush.

"Yeah, but I mostly wanna punch him some more." She said before heading over to the waking lieutenant.

"Really unlucky." Ikkaku muttered in sympathy as Tatsuki returned to beating the man.

(With Toshiro)

"The execution has started." He said, looking at the shine of fire and light from the execution hill. He was running out of time, he needed to see for himself whether Aizen was a traitor or not. He was suspicious of Gin even after the man tried to save his life, but Aizen couldn't possibly be the traitor. Could he? "Come on Rangiku! We have to hurry." He said before running toward the legislative building. Completely unaware of his oldest friend following him.

'Toshiro. What happened to killing Ichigo?' She wondered as she shadowed him.