Hey! This is a fanfiction, writing out an Alternate Timeline of the anime known as Bleach, a timeline which occurs within our real world! Inspired by real dreams I've had, this story is my outlet to write a story about said dreams. I hope you enjoy...
DISCLAIMER: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR MAJOR EVENTS AND CHARACTERS OF BLEACH AND ITS SUBSEQUENT LIGHT NOVELS. If you don't wish to be spoiled, then do NOT read until you have seen all of Bleach and know of the light novels Can't Fear Your Own World, WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU, and Spirits Are Forever With You.
As the blades formed all around us, Rukia wrapped her arms around me from behind, clearly shuddering in fear. "Be careful, Tsuchiya!"
"Don't worry, Rukia. I'll protect you, at any cost. Even from your own brother if I have to."
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Releasing my Zanpakuto and lifting the axe into the air, I snap the axe handle in two. The pieces shatter like ice upon contact with the ground. The words I uttered shocked everyone around me, even Rukia.
"Bankai. Zettai-Tekina Samu-sa Kurai Mofu."
The weather became dark, menacing clouds once more. The air became dry and cold as I motioned for Rukia to let go of me. As she does, the cold armor constructs itself on me, I stare Byakuya down as he scoffs, his breath now visible due to the cold.
"So you've learned Bankai. I'll be honest, I'm impressed you learned it this quickly. You must have used this to defeat Harribel. Unlike her, however, I will not be stopped by your power."
I believe he's genuinely afraid of my power. Or he just wants to end me quickly, as all the blades of his Bankai careen towards me. Without a second thought I slam my fist into the ground. A blast of cold air shoots outwards from me like a shockwave, the area of effect freezing the blades of Byakuya's Bankai. The frozen blades fall to the ground, shattering all around me.
Now, Byakuya does look afraid.
"Now are you scared, Byakuya? You should be, I have traces of Rukia's Captain-level reiatsu coursing through my veins, so I'm no longer afraid of Bankai."
I conjure up a sword of ice and snow, and point it towards Byakuya, who has disengaged Bankai and lunges towards me with his blade. Not knowing the passive ability of my Bankai, he clashes his blade with mine, but his Zanpakuto begins to freeze over. The ice reaches his forearms before he realizes what's happening and leaps back, thrashing his arms to break the ice.
"That's my passive ability in Bankai. Anything I touch, begins to freeze over from the inside out. You're lucky, if you were any slower your forearms would be dead weight. I expect nothing less from a Captain and Rukia's brother."
"So you're telling me you STOLE power from my sister?! I can't condone that!"
"I didn't steal it!"
"He's right, Byakuya. I gave him Soul Reaper powers, with Head Captain Kyoraku's permission of course. But in a freak accident some of my reiatsu mixed with his, it's not something I could have controlled." Rukia steps out from behind me, her execution garment blowing in the cold breeze. She looks up defiantly at her brother, who returns an angry look.
"So you're defending this traitor."
"He's not a traitor!" "I'm not a traitor!" We say in unison, looking at each other, Rukia's cheeks rosy from the cold. At least, I think it's the cold...
"Rukia was framed, Byakuya. She didn't do anything wrong. I'm doing the right thing, YOU guys are the bad guys here!"
"Us? The enemy? I don't see a single reason why we-" A blur flashes past us, and suddenly a familiar marking materializes on Byakuya's chest. He looks down at the marking, and audibly sighs.
"Shaolin! What is the meaning of this?!" I had NEVER heard somebody call Soi Fon by her given name, as she discarded it when she joined the Stealth Force. Maybe Soi is just her nickname in this timeline...?
"The Central 46 gave me orders, Byakuya. They never permitted Rukia to be executed, so they sent me to ensure Rukia and Tsuchiya are returned safely. They aren't doing anything wrong!" Soi Fon flashes right next to Byakuya, aiming Suzumebachi at the marking already on his chest. He swats her arm away and snaps his fingers, and who I assume is his Vice Captain appears to pin Soi Fon to the ground by her neck. An orange-haired Soul Reaper with a covering over his lower face, masking his identity.
"Thank you, Vice Captain Kurosaki." Wait... WHAT?! He nods as Soi Fon squirms under his hand. Normally she could just stab him and escape, so she must be pretending, or doing this intentionally. She's providing a diversion...
Having not disengaged my Bankai, I wave my hand to make several spikes made of ice form, floating around Byakuya's neck.
"Take one more step. I dare you. No sudden movements, or I'll be forced to use those spikes around your neck to impale your throat. Don't make me hurt you, I really don't want to..."
Suddenly I myself feel a blade at my neck. I turn to my left, and Squad 10's Vice Captain Rangiku Matsumoto is putting her Zanpakuto, Haineko, directly next to my throat. "Taking a Captain hostage? That's low, even for a Soul Reaper..."
"R-Rangiku? Hey, j-just put Haineko down, I won't hurt Byakuya if he doesn't try anything, I promise!" I look over and notice Rangiku is shivering. Weird, because her Captain also has ice-based powers, so you'd think she'd be cold-resistant. I take advantage of this to reach out and poke her waist, that part of her body slowly freezing over. Distracted, she drops Haineko from my throat and I take steps back, now dangerously close to the edge of the cliff. Suddenly, I hear a voice calling out to me.
"Hey, Tsuchiya! I couldn't hold 'em back forever, ya better hurry!" Kenpachi yells out from behind a horde of high-ranking Soul Reapers who gather behind Byakuya. I was backed into a corner.
Heya! Sorry for the hiatus, I got a tinge of burnout from writing 22 chapters in a week and a half! But I'm back now, and the final battle is about to commence! Next chapter, you will finally know who framed Tsuchiya and Rukia! The Soul Reaper Civil War arc is reaching its climax, everything is building towards the final battle!
I hope you enjoyed, and thank you so much for reading!
