Bleached

Chapter 20: 15th of July: War part 1 of 3

Disclaimer: No.

§ Seiretei §

Once again, for the fourth, and hopefully the last, time in his life, Ichigo Kurosaki-Shiba was getting ready to lead a war. The captain was floating in the air over Seiretei, anticipating the arrival of the Quincy, and more specifically, Juuhabach. He'd been doing so for the past 14 days, but a gut feeling told him that today was the day. The entirety of Soul Society was waiting for the inevitable attack. The people of Rukongai had been told an abbreviated version of the truth, and of their placement in Hueco Mundo. Luckily during the hundred years Ichigo had worked for the betterment of their living conditions had paid off, and the people trusted the shinigami enough to not rebel.

Suddenly Ichigo noticed a change in the air, and tensed. The orange haired man sent a flare of reiatsu to Kisuke, signalling that their guests were arriving. The scientist, who was already on high alert, leaped into action and turned on the process of moving the Rukongai. Within seconds the whole of Rukongai was transported to Hueco Mundo, and replaced with an illusion. By that time, there was a hole in the sky exuding a dark reiatsu. Ichigo floated down to the ground, landing next to Kaien and Byakuya, both waiting anxiously for their...guests. He didn't wait for long. Hundreds and thousands of Quincies walked down from the hole in the sky. Exchanging one last grim look with Kaien and Byakuya, Ichigo left for the first division barracks and readied himself.

In his hand, Zangetsu thrummed eagerly, ready to tear the heavens asunder.

§ War §

Juuhabach looked around him, smiling benignly to his children, eyes filled with cruel amusement, both at the blind trust of his children and the foolhardiness of the shinigami. Really, a seki-seki wasn't even worth a look from him, much less able to stop him. He gestured to Bambietta, a particularly amusing child with pyromaniac tendencies to destroy the annoyance. The girl eagerly jumped forward, much like a child in a candy store, eager to please and show off. Juuhabach's smile widened for a minuscule second.

Bambietta concentrated a considerable amount of energy, before releasing it with a cackle of glee. The wall shook, but didn't fall. With a frown on her face, Bambietta repeated her action. This time, the wall fell. Bambietta grinned victoriously. Unfortunately for her and the rest of the Quincies, the victory didn't last for long. As soon as the wall fell, the Vandendreich were rained with attacks of various kinds. An icicle pierced Bambietta, killing her instantly. The rest were attacked with innocent looking sakura petals, who proved to be deadly knives, a barrage of actual knives, and some were drowned, taken by a sudden wave of water which had appeared from literally nowhere. Others were attacked by something which the Quincy identified as kido. Not that it helped them as they were quickly annihilated. In the end, only 26 individuals known as the Sternritter, including Juuhabach, stood, where there were previously thousands.

The Quincy King's smile never faltered, though he was seething on the inside. He'd known that the shinigami had been preparing for the war, but he hadn't anticipated that they would have been able to fell his children so quickly. At least his Sternritter were competent enough to save themselves, excluding Bambietta, that is. Besides, the shinigami might not have realized it, but the more Quincies they killed, the stronger Juuhabach himself would get. And currently the Quincy King felt his energy grow a hundred times stronger. He smirked, and applauded the shinigami who were responsible of killing his children.

"Why, what a welcome! I hadn't thought you soul reapers would notice our arrival, but I seemed to have been at fault. Though I must thank you for weeding out the weaker of my children. Though it makes for a slightly more interesting...contest." His sparked disgust from the shinigami, and fear in his remaining children's hearts. Juuhabach's smile turned sharp.

"How predictable of a monster to congratulate the executioners of his children." Byakuya responded, voice filled with disgust. Many of his companions, namely the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei, excluding Ichigo and Yamamoto, nodded in agreement. The statement sparked outrage in the Sternritters.

"How dare you, a lowly shinigami, insult His Highness! Who are you, anyway?" the Sternritter known as Candice Catnipp screeched. Byakuya raised an eyebrow in a way only a noble could. Condescendingly, mockingly.

"I am Kuchiki Byakuya, Captain of the Sixth division, Head of the Kuchiki Clan." the raven haired man said slowly, as if talking to a snorted. Candice flushed a bright fuchsia. "Don't talk to me like that, you...you idiot!" This time Byakuya raised both of his eyebrows. "Apparently you have the mental capacity to understand my insult. Congratulations. Though your retorts could use some works.." Candice launched herself at Byakuya, but the man shunpoed away, garnering looks of surprise from the Sternritters. Candice was known for being fast. Byakuya contiued.

"..and so could your aim." The Sternritters winced. Insulting a Quincy's aim was on top of the list of "Things People With a Death Wish Do". Candice stilled for a minute, before smiling viciously. Byakuya felt a shiver down his spine. The atmosphere changed. Both the Quincies and shinigami readied themselves.

"You asked for it." With that the Sternritters attacked. The shinigami responded. And with that the war of the Universe started.

Next: War, part 2 of 3

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