Bleach: New Generation

Chapter 65: Echoes of the Aftermath

(Gonna be a LOT of dialogue cuz this chapter is cooling down the story)

The spiritual pressure disappeared at once. No more overflowing power was emitted from that citadel anymore. The winds were calm, and the shaking had finally stopped.

Silence showered the whole Royal Palace, giving the whole squad a moment of relief and peace.

"So...Ichigo Kurosaki... Are you happy now that the person who gave you more power has finally been dragged down to the depths of Hell?"

'Turning around, Ichigo jumped at the sight of who questioned him. He almost gripped his tall Zangetsu and thought about launching a Getsuga Tenshou at him. Sighing in relief, he took a couple of deep breaths.

The prisoner continued to stare at him questionably.

"Aizen, when the hell did you get here?", Ichigo casually asks while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"I have always been here. It appears you had unintentionally ignored me back then due to your focus being on your son surviving the fight", Aizen simply replied.

The two then stared at each other; the calm silence now becoming uncomfortable.

"And what is the reason that you're here, huh?"

"For an important reason that is far better than your role here"

Ichigo gritted his teeth, "What do ya mean by that?"

Aizen smiled slightly, "Exactly what I said"

Just before things could get heated, a kind voice pierced through the tension.

"Now, now! There's no time for an argument, is there, Ichigo? We need to hurry up and see our son before anything happens", Orihime interjected with a soft tone, "Let's go! Let's go!"

As Ichigo was about to follow Orihime on her orange Shun Shun Rikka platform, he turned around and looked at Aizen. The usual sharpness in his eyes softened as his gaze turned to the one-eyed prisoner.

"If I'm being honest...Aizen...I'm happy. Because I know that my son made it out safe and defeated his enemy. That is far more important than anything else on my mind"

The strawberry jogged over to his wife. The platform levitated into the air, ascending to the crumbled Royal Citadel above.

This left the members of the strike squad down at the battle-torn walkway.

The Head Captain strode over to the side of Aizen once again, his pink kimono fluttering along with his movements. Shunsui held his straw hat with his hand as he stared up to the ascending Substitute Soul Reaper and his partner for life.

In the back of the two of them, Rukia held the sleeping body of Renji in her arms while her brother Byakuya kneeled next to them.

The red-haired Soul Reaper had his eyes closed, though relaxed now that the power of Ichibe had disappeared. Dry blood stained his skin and torn shihakusho. Shallow breaths were exhaled and inhaled from his mouth with each second that passed. Renji's injuries were still severe, but with the help of the Kido experts that were currently there, they were able to patch him up just enough.

Tears fell from Rukia's eyes as she hugged her husband close to her chest. Almost too tightly.

There was a bit of muffling coming from Rukia's chest before she pulled him away in surprise. A suffocated Renji awoke from within her arms.

"Renji?!"

"I-Idiot! As much as I want to be buried in your chest, I almost died from suffocation!", Renji gasped for air before glancing to the right of his wife, seeing Byakuya staring down at him with a stoic expression, "Uh...sorry for saying that Captain Kuchiki..."