Sunset in Heaven

Chapter 15

They kept their reiatsu in check, not wanting the zanpakutous to be alerted of their presence. Ichigo, Kenpachi, Renji, and Shunsui shunpo'd towards the mouth of the cave where the zanpakutous were hiding.

Three days had already passed when Ichigo first woke up after Aizen's defeat. It was also already three days that Ichigo had to ignore the annoying gawks and worshipping eyes that many Shinigamis kept on throwing at him for being their 'HERO.' There were still those who were uncertain of his sanity and those who outright feared him. He was part-Hollow after all. However, many Shinigamis almost grovel before his feet just for saving them. Ichigo always had to hold back the urge to roll his eyes. He never defeated Aizen because he wanted to save anyone. He did it for Juushirou. And yet, they still considered him the hero. Some low-ranked Shinigamis even had the audacity to approach him and ask for an autograph, which they saw celebrities did. When Ichigo asked what 'celebrities' were, they said that those were the handsome men or pretty women that many people idolized in the living world. The teen couldn't understand why he was being compared to those celebrities when all he wanted was revenge.

Many unseated Shinigamis had gotten their zanpakutous back by now, though only a few high-ranking Shinigamis had their zanpakutous returned to them. Hell, they didn't even have the chance to fight their own zanpakutou because only the lower-class ones appeared most of the time. Renji had the luck to see his own zanpakutou though and he had fought against Zabimaru yesterday. Zabimaru was also the one who told them of the zanpakutous' location after he returned to normal.

He told them that the soutaichou was also inside that cave, together with Byakuya Kuchiki, Muramasa, and the other Taichou and Fukutaichou-class zanpakutous.

Ichigo still couldn't believe that Byakuya would be on the other side. He now wondered what made the noble change sides like that. Maybe because he wanted to side with Senbonzakura? Or maybe not.

They all paused when they saw a beautiful woman wearing an elaborate kimono sitting on one of the rocks inside the cave. She had bones in her bun of violet hair and was looking at them amusedly. Beside her was a small expressionless girl with the same hair color but wore different clothing. She wore a skin-tight black suit that covered up to her nose underneath her kimono. She held two swords in both hands and was acting up as the woman's bodyguard.

"Katen Kyoukotsu." Shunsui voiced as he smiled. The woman snorted, an attitude so unlike her regal appearance, before the brunette Taichou turned to the others. "You go ahead. I'll handle this."

They all nodded and continued running until they reached the center of the cave. Soutaichou sat in the middle of a circle filled with binding spells. Byakuya stood beside the circle together with Senbonzakura and the other zanpakutous. A male stood on the other side.

"We meet at last, Ichigo Kurosaki." He voiced. And Ichigo immediately knew that he was Muramasa.

"Taichou!" Renji called out but Byakuya acted like he didn't hear Renji's voice, nor even saw them. Ichigo saw the pain in Renji's eyes and couldn't help but glare at Byakuya who looked at him as if they had never met before.

The orange-haired teen's eyes then turned to Muramasa, thoroughly disappointed in the noble and hurt by him siding with the enemy. "Muramasa." He voiced. The zanpakutou had brunette hair and light green eyes. He had thick eyeliner-like tattoos circling his eyes that it would look like he's wearing a Zorro mask.

"I want to see your power with my own eyes, Ichigo Kurosaki." Muramasa voiced before he vanished and appeared in front of Ichigo as he sliced the spot where the teen had been just a few seconds ago. Ichigo appeared in another spot only to be followed by Muramasa every time.