One Tin Soldier

Chapter 30: Judgement Day

Ichigo stood, on the rocky shore of the North Sea, staring out over the churning waters. He lifted his eyes to gaze toward the horizon where a great, dark aura radiated. He scowled. It was never simple. 'And this time I'm not alone.'

"Can you sense it, Taicho?" whined the buxom strawberry blonde, Rangiku Matsumoto, beside him, breaking into Ichigo's thoughts.

"Ah," came the short, white-haired captain of the tenth squad, Captain Hitsugaya's response.

"Che!" the tall, menacing captain of the eleventh snorted. "What're you waiting fer? An invitation? Let's go fight something!"

"We're waiting for the boats to take us over," came Madam Bones' voice as she stepped closer to Albus Dumbledore and the Unspeakable that decided to accompany them.

"Don't you think we need more aurors, Amelia?" Dumbledore prodded, stroking his beard. It was becoming clear to everyone that the old wizard was senile, and more of a menace to the mission than a help.

"As long as they stay out of our way," Ichigo smirked, crouching into a sprinting stance before vaulting high into the darkening sky and flash-stepping away.

Kenpachi Zaraki rumbled, his insane laugh echoing while his pink haired lieutenant giggled from his shoulder. Then he followed after Ichigo, roaring, "Now ya're talkin'!"

"Let's go, Kenny!" giggled Yachiru, clutching the giant captain's shoulder.

The other Soul Reapers exchanged a look and took off, disappearing before their eyes.

"Wait!" shouted a distressed Dumbledore.

"Don't bother, Albus," Madam Bones commanded. "The boats would've been crowded as it was. I'm sending for more boats, and aurors."

"But they are heading to their deaths!" Albus protested petulantly. He stared into the empty sky, unable to see the group of Soul Reapers heading towards Azkaban.

She smiled. "Didn't you hear, Albus? They're Soul Reapers, they're already dead."

~~

The Soul Reapers stopped in mid-air above an ominous stone fortress on a rock in the middle of the frigid North Sea. There was very little land around the fortress, only a small dock area to one side of the island near the gates.

The Soul Reapers could feel the heavy aura of death, hunger and madness permeating the air around them.

"Ohhh. What a gloomy place!" whined Matsumoto. "Taicho! Do we have to go in there!?"

"What're ya waiting fer?" shouted Kenpachi, as he landed in the center courtyard. His two seated officers were right behind him.

"Let's go!" Captain Hitsugaya shouted.

~~

Madam Bones, the Unspeakable and Albus Dumbledore stepped off of the first boat to the sounds of insane laughter and explosions. "Hmm, they seem to have things well in hand," she commented with a smirk as the guards and the Warden came running out of the prison gates toward her.

"Every prisoner has been moved to the courtyard under heavy wards as you ordered," The Warden panted. "Just who are they? Is it true? Can they kill Dementors?"

The prison guards' eyes bugged out when a very buxom strawberry blonde dropped to the ground in front of them, showing more cleavage than sense. "Well now, this all of you?"

"Madam, pull yourself together! This isn't a bar in Knockturn Alley!" shouted the Warden, blushing at the amount of cleavage said woman was showing.