#NOT EVEN YHWACH HIMSELF YOU BITCH

[aurora-313]

If it wasn't a retcon, then Isshin and Kisuke's conversation after the former kills Grand Fisher makes no goddamn sense. Why would Kisuke ask if Isshin is satisfied with his revenge and felt better after avenging Masaki's death (and Isshin responding in the same way) if they both already knew that another man was responsible for killing her?

In that conversation, Masaki is treated as only having one killer; Grand Fisher. There's no reference to her 'losing her powers' or having powers at all until TYBW pulled that out of his ass.

Furthermore, they supposedly """knew""" the Quincy were coming for years. YEARS. Yet they had absolutely no prep work.

Kisuke, the 'man who is prepared for 1000 things' would've - should have pulled out all the stops to ensure the first Quincy invasion was as costly as possible for the Quincy. He would've gone through all historical records of the Quincy and extrapolated potential avenues for their powers evolution based on what he'd seen with the Ishidas and developed every and all counter possible.

Moreover, the Masaki in TYBW is a completely different character than the Masaki referred to in the first arc of the manga.

Kubo is a pantser. He vague posted throughout his story then pulled shit out of his ass to 'fill in the blanks'. Yhwach wasn't foreshadowed in the slightest.

Zangetsu originally appeared that way because Ichigo had shit parents. One dead, the other utterly useless. His sword realised the best way to get through to him was providing what Ichigo thought was an ideal parent. And the Hollow was taint from the shattered shaft that Ichigo simply had to deal with as a consequence of regaining his powers in such a dangerous way, that was it.

"Oh, but his name was inked out!" - bitch PLEASE. That's a standard 'you are not ready' trope of shonen. Ichigo was fearing for his life and still had that problem when Kisuke was trying to kill him after the fact. And the old man says 'your ears are blocked by fear'.

Not to mention, knowing all this and refusing to tell Ichigo until he has ANOTHER war to hide behind makes Isshin an even bigger douchebag than he already was. What the fuck was he doing in that 17 months after Aizen's defeat? Could've fessed up to his son at any fucking time. Instead, like goddamn always, he does things in the worst possible way and escapes the outrage and punishment he rightfully deserves.

Surely Masaki dying to Auswhallen would've prompted a sane man to realise 'okay, yeah, my kid is vulnerable to the spirit world, I can't protect him but I can start teaching him to protect himself.' and have Isshin introduce those concepts at a basic child-friendly level. Like road or pool safety, you don't wait until after a kid's been hit by a car or almost drowned in a pool and rushed to the hospital to tell them not screw around.

The more logical reason is everything from Isshin's powers to the TYBW are all retcons (and Kubo hates parents).

People can point to the past battles and say 'Oh, Ichigo clearly used Blut Vien, he's clearly been foreshadowed as a Quincy all along'. To which I respond, Hisagi's zanpakutou literally pulls him back together with its chains when he loses limbs (and his head at one point). You don't think someone as doggedly determined as Ichigo wouldn't have a similar self-healing type zanpakutou ability to him push through battles? Or that maybe the Hollow taint from shattered shaft jacked his endurance?

People who still think Kubo actually planned his entire story: "Of course Old Man looks exactly like Yhwach! It's foreshadowing!"

Me: "The entirety of Thousand Year Blood War is a massive Retcon of the Quincies history and Masaki's background. He didn't plan anything. Yhwach was designed afterwards to look like the Old Man so it would look like foreshadowing..."

[littlenekosfan]

That shrift thing is really giving me a headache, im pretty sure im digging for something kubo didnt even plan... like, hear me out:

Before the first war, we had few known quincies such as Jugram, Bazz-b, Hubert, Zeidritz, Argola where 3 of them died in the first war (by yamamoto) so we cant conclude if they had a shrift or not, but jugram and bazz do, sadly none of them have shown if they had it back then or not

Then after the war, yhwach is sealed for 999 years, making him just.. unavailable for granting shrifts im assuming? (they need just to drink his blood... or does he need to be conscious? i dont know what “sealed” means) he only used the auswahlen after 999 years, so he must be able to grant shrifts from this moment... i guess? (otherwise it would be like after 900 or 990yrs)

If by then he could give them, that gives the sternritters 9 years to master their shrifts (vs shinigamis who are, most of them over 100 yrs) its not a lot...

I know there are some exception to that “giving shrift” such as the Lloyds, Pernida and Gerard but what about Lille and As nodt? 

I doubt yhwach is calling as nodt a survivor of the first war bc it wouldnt make any sense, as nodt survived from something else, probably the auswahlen (given how kanae got sick and died bc of it)

For Lille, we have no clue beside “the first sternritter” so before jugram who is the one who would most likely be given one... im assuming both of them had it before yhwach got sealed (and bazz too since he was in the first war... i hope, i mean, all sternritters have a shrift, even hubert should had have one if he really was vice-capt of the ritters)

So that gives us 2 periods of time where shrifts were given, before the first war (nothing is confirmed, im just assuming) and of course, 999 years later... to be honest someone who had a shrift for 1008 years vs one for only 9 years should be... really different in terms of powers (bazz should have been able to guard yama’s flame more easily) also, given how most of these shrift are based on trauma/dislikes, -9 years is not much times to deal with it.. is it? i cant tell

basically, shrift are weirdly underpowered and yhwach is... being yhwach

[plunnies-n-shit]

Foreigner’s God

Bleach -- UraGrimmIchi -- Post-Canon

Ichigo gets trapped alone in the Soul Kings Palace after Yhwach is defeated.

Kisuke, injured and exhaused, still works tirelessly to open a way back. It only takes a couple of days, but. Time travels differently in the soul kings palace than it does in the other worlds.

By the time they get to ichigo, ichigo has been trapped alone for a full year

The ichigo they find is practically feral. Scared, half-hollified from desperation, weak from starving himself/not taking care of himself, but it still takes grimmjow hours to get ichigo subdued because hollow instincts are p much the only thing ichigo recognizes as not a delusion

It takes even longer to convince ichigo that any of his other friends standing there are real too. And even longer for ichigo to start healing.

He clings to grimmjow pretty hard because his hollow instincts tell him that grimmjow is real and even when the Soul Kings Palace was filled with ghosts and hallucinations Ichigos hollow instincts have never lied to him.

Most of ichigos madness is just from the isolation. Prolonged complete isolation does horrible things to people.

at some point ichigo scored huge gashes into his arms and thighs that healed ugly and even Orihime cant heal them completely. (Or. He doesnt let orihime close enough to heal them.) 

(His throat is torn up from screaming, so his voice is a low painful rasp. Hes so badly oversensitive to everything: touch, taste, noises, smells)

(Yuzu teaches grimmjow how to make jok bc thats all ichigo used to be able to keep down the few times she can remember him being sick)

Grimmjow fucks up every pot and ichigo still eats every bite bc its not food the Palace created for him, the Palace food is almost uncomfortably perfect and grimmjows food is flawed and kinda gross sometimes But its better than the Palace food.

They eventually realize that ichigo cant leave the soul kings palace. But because of the time transition it can sometimes be months if not years between visits from Ichigo's perspective. Grimmjow and kisuke are the only ones who stay with ichigo fulltime.

(Eventual grimmuraichi? Maybe >:3c )

(Benihime can reconstruct anything she touches so kisuke devotes hundreds of hours to learning how to deconstruct the stone of the palace and reconstruct it into plants trees and flowers.)

(Also. Transichi transurahara. Theres only one dick between the 3 of them)

(Well. Trans Enby Urahara. His gender is Science)

("You cant possibly want to stay here."

That perfectly-cheerful facade falters for just a moment as Kisuke freezes. "Whatever gave you that impression, Jaegerjaquez-kun?"

"Lemme see," Grimmjow starts counting on his fingers. "Cat-bitch, little demon boy, little demon girl, mr tall dark and kido-happy, your shop, your deal with the shinigami, all your experiments.... am i missing any?" 

Kisuke very slowly shoves the box he was unpacking aside so he can boost himself up onto the table and face Grimmjow. "There is no experiment that i cannot run here," he soothes. "And.... I have lived a long time, Grimmjow. You two are fairly young in the grand sceme of things, and if my predictions are correct you will live much longer than any soul or shinigami could hope to live. But--" his smile turns wry; the second honest expression Grimmjow's ever seen on that face, though Grimmjow would love to forget the first. "-- this old man would love nothing more than to spend the rest of his days at your side, and Ichigo's. If... if you two will have me, of course.")

(Grimmjow pulls Kisuke into a kiss, the slow, languid kind that makes onlookers feel like voyuers. "Youre not that old yet, geta-boshi")

(Kisuke turns himself into a vizard so ichigos instincts can recognize him)

(Grimmjow's like "...... ok thats kinda hot")

(Especially since grimm has to give urahara the post-hollification beatdown. Its not ichigos raw strength, but theres something about uraharas sharp-as-knives cunning that gets grimmjow a little hot n bothered.)

(Ichigo is their king long before he ever finally takes the Soul Kings throne)

(mostly to make sure Kisuke gets reincarnated somewhere good)

(And when grimmjow passes the final stage of hollow evolution and back into the cycle, and Ichigo finally allows himself to give up the throne, theres a boy with snow-white hair and a persistent cough waiting patiently at the gates.)

[white--moon]

That new message buzzes through while he's tugging clean pants on. He gets them halfway up his ass before he can't focus enough to finish dressing and has to go see what Ichigo has to say.

He blinks at the message about the girl. Then he frowns. Shit. If she was supposed to be contracted to attempt to kill him, whoever hired her is an idiot. She's super not his type, there was no way that bitch was getting that close to him. He's not convinced. 'what you think she was here for then? Because if someone hired her they paid way too much she ggot fucked up at my party then tried to get her hands in my pants'

Was she fucked up? Maybe she was faking it and he was so fucked up he fell for it... regardless. Bad choice if her tactic for getting close to him was to get him to think he was going to fuck her. Anyone trying to hire someone to kill him should probably know he doesn't swing that way.

Ichigo was a way better choice of killer for hire when it comes to trying to off Shiro specifically. If they were strangers again, he'd have one hundred percent hopped right into bed with Ichigo. It dawns on him right then that if Ichigo had decided to take the contract and try to kill him instead of warn him, he would have succeeded. Granted; if he'd turned up at the party or something, Shiro definitely would have found it odd. But if he'd been willing to shoot Shiro in the back like he'd threatened the night before, Shiro wouldn't have woken up with a hangover today.

He finishes pulling his pants up and buttons them, then pulls a long sleeve shirt out of his closet at random, not particularly worried what he looks like right now. He doubts he'll be going anywhere today. He could probably forego the sleeves altogether, but if someone spills the beans a little too far from the plate and he ends up with unwanted guests, he doesn't want it to be too obvious.

He glances back at his phone to see Ichigo saying he'll be there and... and... he reminds himself not to read into it too hard. Ichigo will do anything for a friend, even an old ex, it seems. It doesn't mean anything. Besides maybe self preservation, because if Shiro shows up to a meeting Ichigo set up and leaves anyone there alive, they'd probably go for Ichigo next. Yeah. So it actually does mean shit. It's just smart.

"Private security?" He scoffs out loud. He is his own private security. He pretty much always has been. Maybe those days should be over. He probably should have learned that lesson with Yhwach. He massages his temples for a second, tired and feeling like his head is going to split in half down the middle. 'I might have a couple people. Bring whoever you think we need'

He snorts. Explosives. 'Sounds fun >:) '

He stands under the stream of steaming hot water, eyes closed, for longer than he really means to, but it's the most relaxing thing that he's going to get to enjoy for the day, maybe for a lot longer. When he scrubs down with soap, he takes disdainful note of the bruised track marks coloring his arms and makes a mental note to wear long sleeves for a few days.

He doesn't know what the hell to do about Ichigo. Would be killers in his midst are easier. He knows what to do about them, at least once he finds them.

What he shouldn't do is accept Ichigo's offer. He should find them on his own and take care of the problem just to prove that he can, that he doesn't need Ichigo's help, attention or dick. However, on the other hand, accepting the job would mean having Ichigo around again. And probably more dick.

Goddammit.

He lets his forehead thunk against the glass of the shower door and groans.

A few minutes later, he turns the water off and opens the shower door to step into a steamy room. The coffee he didn't finish, forgotten when he'd found that woman in his bathroom, is sitting on the counter by the sink, luke warm. He shotguns it, mostly for the whisky but not not for the caffeine. He pulls open the medicine cabinet for a bottle of advil and takes a random number, figuring his liver probably hates him already anyway and his head is a way bigger pain in his ass right now.

Grabbing his phone, he wanders out of the bathroom naked and looks down at the screen. He scoffs at the reply waiting for him. Fucker.

He types a reply and hits send before he can think better of it, 'you weren't always'

Which is true and not true. After they got to know each other, Ichigo really did treat him good. He didn't even know he was capable of being that happy. It was nice while it lasted.

"Fuckin' hell." He mutters to himself, sending another message, 'Was that the guy or do I still need to go hunting? Wher should I send the bill for the curtains and the crystal?' He doesn't care about the curtains or the chandelier. He can replace them if he wants, but he doesn't particularly care at the moment.

[deivorous]

HE BIG BLEACH HC MEME centering around politics, repost & fill out! For anyone who wanted to explore those aspects more, considering it played a big role in the story. Some things may be unknown to your Muse, just think in WHAT IF then & well, have fun and take your time!

BASICS

Name:   Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez  / / /   Age:  Unknown [<100 yrs]   / / /   Gender:  He/Him (Agender) Race:   Shinigami / Quincy / Hollow [ Arrancar ] / Fullbringer / Visored / Human / Other Currently lives:   Soul Society / Hueco Mundo / Silbern / Living World / Hell Exact Location:   Las Noches, Hueco Mundo  ;  Urahara Shoten Rooftop, Karakura Group(s): Las Espadas; Aizen’s Arrancar Army

QUESTIONS

- Would your muse consider themselves more: GOOD / BAD / NEUTRAL ? - Would your muse consider their group more: GOOD / BAD / NEUTRAL ? - How does your muse think others see them: GOOD / EVIL / NEUTRAL ? - How does your muse think others see their race: GOOD / EVIL / NEUTRAL ? - How does your muse think others see their group: GOOD / EVIL / NEUTRAL ?

- Is your muse considered a threat: YES / NO ?  From whom?:  Shinigami, Humans, Hollows - Is your muse powerful: YES / NO ?  Could they be considered OP:  YES / NO ? - Did your muse commit any crimes: YES / NO ? [ Idk everyone seems pretty chill with murder ] - Does your muse think they are doing mostly the right thing: YES / NO ? - Would society think the same: YES / NO / MIXED OPINIONS ?

- Does your muse think they are treated unfairly: YES / NO ? - Does your muse feel understood from others: YES / NO ? - Is it important for them what others think of them as a person: YES / NO ? - Would they welcome death:  YES / NO ? - Will they ever find peace:  YES / NO ?

01.0.  Do they fully stand behind the group they are part of? YES / NO. Why is that? Explain: Grimmjow firmly believes that Aizen is right. The system is broken and it failed Grimmjow personally. But Grimmjow is disinterested in revenge, and has even less interest in fixing the broken world. All that feels too large, too tumultuous. Why is it his problem? What if they do kill the Soul King. What’s next? Replace one tyrant with another (Grimmjow knows Aizen is not a good man). The fallout can’t be predicted and honestly, his personal goals have very little to do with Aizen’s. Grimmjow’s biggest goal has an always will be to stay alive. It’s hard to do that if you back an organization and a man who is willing to dispose of him the moment his use runs out. Despite this, Grimmjow stands behind Aizen. He does not stand with Aizen’s army.

02.0.  Do they like as things are in Soul Society? YES / NO / INDIFFERENT. 02.1.  Is there anything they would change? Explain here: The whole thing is rotten as far as he’s concerned, but he hasn’t put more thought into it then that. If he could change it without too much effort on his part, he just wants to create a place that is safe for him and the very few people he cares about.

03.0. Would they ever actively try to bring change (in general)? YES / NO. 03.1. Is your muse more: passive / active ?  introverted / extroverted ? 03.2. Does your muse care more about: others / themselves ? 03.3. Do they trouble their mind over a lot of problems, others? YES / NO. 03.4. Do they mostly involve: the world / everyone / themselves / comrades / friends / family / elderly / kids / teenagers / home / workplace / strangers / souls / humans / quincy / shinigami / nobles / fullbringer / visored / hollows / espada / arrancar / (former) boss(es) / pets / animals / zanpakuto spirit / enemies / partner / lovers / soul king / god / other…(add more) 03.5. Name (up to) three which are the most on their mind (optional, adding names): - himself - enemies (shinigami, kurosaki ichigo, aizen sosuke) - surviving espada (nelliel and hallibel)

04.0. Do they think frequently about politics? YES / NO / SOMETIMES. Why is that? Explain: He only starts paying more attention once Harribel ascends to the throne and he is one of the three leaders of Hueco Mundo. Even then, he leaves the diplomacy to Harribel and Nelliel, preferring to take up a more security and defensive based role in protecting their stronghold. His interest only extends so far as to determine ways to benefit himself.

05.0. How do they feel in their current location: POSITIVE / NEGATIVE / NEUTRAL ? 05.1. Why is that?: It’s just a place. He happens to be here.

06.0. Does your muse have any goal: YES / NO ?  BIG / SMALL ? 06.1. Does it involve anything world-changing: YES / NO ? 06.2. If goal or not, any future plans? Share here: He would like to amass enough power as to no longer feel unsafe or threatened. He wishes to gain recognision and acknowledgement - originally as the King - this goal is largely achieved within Hueco Mundo.

07.0. Does your muse know about the Original Sin of Soul Society*: YES / NO ? [ Peripherally he is aware ] * curious? Read about it here. 07.1. If they knew, would it change their views on Soul Society: YES / NO ? 07.2. More: POSITIVE / NEGATIVE / NEUTRAL ?

08.0. Who is the worst person in their eyes?:  Luppi 08.1. What should happen to them? Execution (quick / slow death) / Imprisonment / Stripped of their powers / Torture / Repay for their sins / Pay a Fine / Social Work / lose their loved ones / Exile / other… (add more). 08.2. Explanation:  Nobody is really good or bad in Grimmjow’s eyes. They are either his enemies or they are a neutral party. Luppi is just the bitch that stole Grimmjow’s rank, and Grimmjow can’t let that stand.

09.0. Thoughts on: Quincy Massacre if they knew: POSITIVE / NEGATIVE / NEUTRAL ? 09.1. Would they be alright with such thing happening again: YES / NO / INDIFFERENT ? 09.2. Would they try to prevent it: YES / NO / DEPENDS ? 09.3. Explanation: Grimmjow is a hollow. The Shinigami kill hollows, sure. But the Quincy wipe them from existence. He has no mercy for the Quincy.

10.0. Would they ever switch sides: YES / NO ? 10.1. If yes, What could bring them to do so?:    - Grimmjow is and always will be on his own side. The side he is on is therefore just whichever aligns best with his wants and needs. He is however, also very loyal. One must earn this and then work to keep it. 10.2. Would they create a new one: YES / NO ?  or join a current one? If so, which:  - N/A

11.0. Does your muse follow a certain moral code*?:  YES / NO / GRAY AREA ? * (ethics) A written, formal, and consistent set of rules prescribing righteous behavior, accepted by a person or by a group of people. 11.1. What does it involve?: He always repays his debts. He doles out retribution as it is deserved. 11.2. What does it NOT involve?: He will show no bias in threatment regardless of sex or gender. He does not seek consent or permission. The ends justify the means at any cost. Murder. Violence. Hurting children.

YOUR MUSE’S VIEWS / OPINIONS ON THESE GROUPS ?

Central 46:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because: Eh. They’re in charge of the shinigami. Grimmjow hates them by association. He doesn’t really know anything about them beyond what Aizen told him.

Four Great Noble Clans:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because: Shinigami affiliated. He has no real idea who these people are or what the want.

Royal Guards / Gotei 13:   positive / negative / neutral .   ━   because: They hunt and kill his kind. THey are his natural enemy.

Fullbringer:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because:  He does not have an opinion. He has only met two and one was a shinigami.

Visored:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because:  He has... mixed feelings where the visored are concerned. On one hand, they are of shinigami origin. On the other hand, they are definitely at least partially hollow. Grimmjow feels an uncomfortable sort of kinship to them in the sense that both his and their lives were irrevocably affected by Aizen.

Espada:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because:  Every single one of them wants him dead. They can not be trusted.

Quincy:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because:  They want to exterminate not only his whole species but also the cycle that may one day grant Grimmjow absolution. They invaded his home, hurt his people, strung up his queen. They deserve death, and he will gladly bring it.

YOUR MUSE’S VIEWS / OPINIONS ON THESE (IMPORTANT) PEOPLE ?

Aizen:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because: Grimmjow’s relationship to Aizen is much too complex to boil down into a single post. Aizen simultaneously offers Grimmjow what he wanted, and then proceeded to dangle it in front of him and laugh as Grimmjow failed to meet his expectations. Though Grimmjow is willful, he has never desired Aizen’s death (despite what he may say about it). Grimmjow goes to extensive efforts, placing both himself and his pack at risk, and placing Aizen’s desires above his own in attempts to please him. He desperatly wishes to earn his favour and though he knows he will likely never succeed, his fragile hope, fierce possessiveness, and craving for recognision drives him onwards. Grimmjow both loathes and loves Aizen.

Yhwach:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because:  An enemy who impeded on Grimmjow’s way of life, threatened and his territory, and whats left of those that Grimmjow could categorize as his ‘people’. The threat must be eliminated.

Mayuri:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because:   He doesn’t know who this man is. If he knew that he was responsible for reviving Luppi, he would hate him. If Grimmjow met him, he would decide that Mayuri gives off Szayel vibes, which are bad vibes made significantly worse by the fact that he is a shinigami.

Kurosaki:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because: Again, Grimmjow’s perspective on Kurosaki is a complicated and convoluted one that really deserves it’s own post. Grimmjow was specifically made by Aizen as a stepping stone for Ichigo; as intent is realized through the Hōgyoku, at least some of that intent affected Grimmjow during his evolution. Grimmjow fixates obsessively on Ichigo, primarily as an enemy who must be destroyed. However, Ichigo is also one of the very few people who views Grimmjow as his equal, and though Grimmjow is frightened and threatened by this, he also respects Ichigo a great deal for it. These conflicting feelings cause him a lot of confusion which he expresses in violent ways.

Soul King:   positive / negative / neutral.   ━   because:  He has no strong opinions on the soul king prior to seeing it. He believes it is the actual, literal King of the Soul Society. His own pride and desire for power would have him see it as competition. Upon realizing that this is not what the Soul King is, Grimmjow is viscerally disgsted. It’s an abomination and makes him uncomfortable down to his bones. It cements in his mind that Aizen was on the right track, though he now knows of the side effects that may result in destroying it. He is outraged and abhorred that he nearly died tryign to protect such a thing.

CONGRATS, you managed till to the end, now tag your fellow bleach partners!

TAGGED BY: stole from @skyvar TAGGING: No one! It’s much too long for me to force on you, but it is super interestign and I would LOVE to read what everyone elses thoughts are!

[missstormcaller]

CAN’T FEAR YOUR OWN WORLD Vol. II Part 16 Full Translation

This is 4/4 of part 13 on the app (chapter 14 continued)

Rukongai

"What's the big idea with this thing!? We're not about to get dragged into this ridiculous dispute are we!?"

At the words of Candice who has gotten caught up in the aftershocks of Ikomikidomoe's struggle - the Zanpakutō which had taken the appearance of a gargantuan Hollow - Meninas replies in her usual manner.

"We were more or less dragged into it from the very beginning, I think…."

"But still, weren't we told in the beginning to simply knock the lights out of that so-called Fullbringer lot and then snatch them away!? So why in the hell are we now getting dragged into this conflict between a freak who looks like its had all kinds of overgrown Hollow condensed into it, and a bunch of Arrancar!? Come to think of it, didn't the number of Arrancar just double without us noticing!?"

Whilst using her lightning to crush the rocks that were being flung into the air, Candice pointed at the two female Arrancar who had newly emerged.

"Speaking of which, what's the deal with their style!? There's way too much emphasis on their figures don't ya think!?"

"Candice, you can't really speak for others though can you?"

Meninas spoke whilst observing the Holy Knights uniform belonging to the Quincy who had her chest on open display, but pretending that she didn't hear that, Candice initiates a counter-attack.

"Anyway, if this monstrosity isn't stopped first and foremost, then we won't be able to continue with our task."

Although they also had the option of making a brief retreat, it did not appear likely that Kurotsuchi Mayuri would tolerate such a thing.

That being the case, they should probably battle the gargantuan threat by taking advantage of this confusion, and at the same time, watch for an opportunity when the Fullbringers are off their guard. Even if it was impossible to capture the Fullbringers this time around, it was still a chance to analyse how their opponents fight among other things.

Thinking as much, Candice proceeds with the battle whilst paying mind to whether or not Ginjō's group would make an escape.

"Meni! Create an opening!"

"Alright."

Upon nodding in understanding, Meninas made an approach towards the feet of the great Hollow with slow movements, she slipped herself into a position that was located in her opponent's blind spot.

Then, the muscles in her arms that were still in their normal state are instantly made to swell, using her might she lifts upwards.

Just with that alone, the huge physique of 'Ikomikidomoe' is violently thrown off balance, and in a chain reaction, Ikomikidomoe is scooped up from the ground and sent tumbling down with great force.

"Ha! Nice work! Leave the rest to me!"

In a manner that appeared to aim for the spot where the opponent's balance had been weakened, Candice fired a volley of arrows entwined in lightning.

Moreover, as if to indicate that it was the finishing blow, she cast down the same "Electrocution" that was unleashed upon Ginjō and the others a short while ago.

The barrage of assaults, that were hammered out with lightning speed momentum in a very literal sense, blanket the surroundings with a dazzling light.

"That was close…! What the heck are those two doing! Do they not care that I'm also standing here!?"

Having evaded the lightning strike by a hairbreadth, Hirako exclaimed aloud as a cold sweat trickled down his cheek.

"Aren't those the Quincies that became Mayuri's subordinates!? …Yes, that's right. I should've known that Mayuri wouldn't worry about the welfare of myself or other fellow Shinigami."

Coming to accept this realisation by himself, Hirako maintains even more of a distance, he then shifted his gaze in the direction of 'Ikomikidomoe' who had been engulfed in the flash of the lightning strike, however——

"No good. There wasn't much of an effect."

'Ikomikidomoe' who had taken the form of a monster only moments ago, now adopted a spherical shape after folding its limbs, sitting neatly within the Rukongai as an ominous item of art.

In the next instant, a white haze gushed forth from the space around this colossal ball, and no sooner than that did an infinite number of small creatures sporting wings materialise out of said haze. 

Though described as 'small', this is only in comparison with the mammoth build of Ikomikidomoe; the creatures who would appear to be Adjuchas level Hollows from outward appearance, begin to take flight into the air as a swarm.

Then, as if it were a protective response, they lunged directly at the aggressors —— at the pair known as Meninas and Candice.  

Looking down at the Zanpakutō which continues to generate these small-scale 'terminals' spawned in the dozens, and hundreds, Hirako pulled a frown as he corrected his own perception of the matter.

"…I guess I was mistaken in calling it a huge robot huh."

Whilst maintaining the utmost vigilance towards Hikone who commands that Zanpakutō, and towards the man known as Tsunayashiro Tokinada who bestowed such a Zanpakutō upon the child, he continues speaking.

"This is like an entire 'country' sprouting legs and moving. It's not something we can deal with using orthodox methods."

As Hirako calmly dissects the state of affairs, Candice's group is forced into a disadvantageous position before they could even get a grasp on the situation.

"How can there be a Zanpakutō like this!? Or maybe I should be asking if this thing is really even a Zanpakutō at all!?

"That might be a little problematic huh…."

Using Heilig Pfeil the two continue to shoot through the swarm of beasts that were advancing towards them, however, much to the pair's regret, the enemy's numbers were far too many.

Meninas hit back with superhuman strength, and Candice with the power of her lightning strikes, yet in this current situation the creatures continue to be spawned with momentum that transcends their own, and moreover, there had hardly been any damage incurred on the main unit itself.

With a Galvano Javelin in each hand —— spears created by Reishi imbued lightning bolts —— Candice strikes the creatures down, however their numerical advantage far exceeds the quantity which could be dealt with effectively using only two blades.

"Crap…! If only I could use the power of my Vollständig…."

Originally Candice was able to manage six blades by utilising the wings produced by her Quincy Vollständig, but because of Yhwach's 'Auswählen' she ended up no longer being able to invoke Vollständig, as a result she has now become limited to handling two blades.

What's more troubling is that it was by no means the case that these creatures were charging at them in a wild and tactless fashion, rather they come in for the attack whilst calculatedly catching the girls off guard through controlled movements, almost as though they were a single organism despite being a swarm.

Although they are annihilated in one fell swoop by the lightning strikes firing in rapid succession from the sky, it was but a drop in the ocean.

"tch… did that just stir up a hornet's nest…?"

Though her exhaustion is quite significant after the barrage of assaults from a short moment ago, on the basis of acknowledging that, Candice attempts to unleash her 'Electrocution' once more, and in that very moment ——

"Just drop it. Your Blut Arterie will end up being burnt out before anything."

A voice which struck a familiar chord, rattles her eardrums.

"Whaa…?"

What exactly does it mean that this voice could be heard in such a place?

Before Candice's mind could process that thought, the 'answer' took form and came sweeping in to wolf down the swarm of beasts.

A long and narrow jaw that had made a sudden appearance, swallowed up several hundreds of these grotesque figures in a single breath.

As the abnormal jaw that had preyed upon the white beasts retracted back into a mouth, the owner of the voice gave utterance to her impressions of what she had consumed just now, coupled with a languid sigh.

"It's the same with those skeletal bastards from the other day… just as I thought, mass-produced goods are flavourless."

Floating in midair, is a young girl whose distinctive cold eyes peeked through from under her white Sternritter military cap.

After observing her form, Candice opens her eyes wide and gives a yell. 

"Li…Lil!?"

Common sense would dictate that It was an impossible sight.

Having been separated over half a year ago, her companions looked for ways to somehow make contact with her from their position, however she had appeared before them ahead of anything that could actually occur.

In response to a stunned Candice, the girl with the cold eyes —— Liltotto Lamperd —— uttered a complaint in an exasperated tone.

"Jeez, the plan was to try and collect you by taking advantage of all the commotion, but it turns out your sorry asses are right in the middle of that commotion so just what the hell am I supposed to do now? What a drag."

"I-It's you! How are you here? Perhaps, you've come to help us!?"

"Didn't I just say that I've come to collect you? Listen when people talk bitch." 

"I mean, you're really alive…. After I heard that you had turned against His Majesty, I… I thought for sure you'd-…"

Having even held onto the suspicion that, in the worst case scenario, Kurotsuchi Mayuri had lied about Liltoto and the others being alive, Candice raises her eyes to Liltoto with an expression that was a mix of relief and astonishment.

"Don't call that bastard 'Majesty'. Either way, it seems he's long gone."

As Lil said so, another voice could be heard coming from behind Candice.

"Wow, you're looking more rough than I expected. Too lame huh, Candice chan?"

With a twitch, a vein throbbed at her temple, before she could even rejoice at their reunion, Candice threw a backhand blow.

"Gigiii!"

Whilst effortlessly evading her fist, the black haired Quincy —— Giselle Gewelle —— raised her voice in protest as she smiled with only the corner of her mouth.

"Eh, don't drag out the end of your words, you make people's names sound like 'old man' you know." (TN: -- When Candice drags out Gigi's name above it sounds exactly like "じじい" which means "old man")

"It's wrong that you made Gigi mad just now."

Without exuding even a trace of an air that could be described as anything akin to a touching reunion, Meninas spoke in her usual manner.

"Wait a minute! Don't you think you're also accepting this way too casually Meni!? It's not like I'm the only one who can't read the situation is it?"

"If you want to complain, why don't we catch a damn bite to eat later while it goes through one ear and out the other. Anyway, right now it looks like we have to find a way to deal with that trouble over there first."

The swarm of beasts continue to gush forth from the white haze as unchanged as before, but perhaps analysing the abilities of Lil's group who were the newcomers on the scene, the swarm's current stance was watching the group carefully whilst encircling them at a distance.

Then, Gigi tilted her head in response to Liltoto's words.

"Huh? Deal with them you say… shouldn't we just make a run for it?"

"…That was the plan. Even if we did run away as is, I suppose it would be pointless if there are also bombs implanted in Candi and Meni's bodies."

"…gah!"

Although Candice had taken this possibility into account, she was once again struck with terror by having it pointed out through Lil who is the brains among this group of friends. 

Rather than address Candice herself —— Liltoto proposes a deal towards the person at the other end of the communicator that was fitted to her clothes.

"You can hear me can't you, Kurotsuchi Mayuri. I'll cooperate with your so-called experiment. So in return, I demand the release of Candice and Meninas."

It was at that point, that a very distinctive voice echoed across from Candice's regulation cap.

"Dear me, that you actually made the error of believing that you are in any position to negotiate with me, how very conceited of you."

"Whoa!?"

Disregarding Candice who was taken aback by the voice that had suddenly slipped out from atop her head, travelling across the communicator, the voice speaks with a dispassionate tone.

"I didn't implant the likes of bombs in the first place. Thanks to the Central 46 and the captain commander who can't adapt to the times, I was very recently prohibited from implanting bombs into the bodies of subordinates. So long as you bear the name 'unit', the lot of you too, can only be treated as soldiers rather than tools. Good grief, what an oh-so benevolent gesture."

"Since we're on the topic of bombs, could that not mean that you've tossed in plenty of other crazy stuff?"

"Do you really think so?… Never mind, Quincies are now curio. I have no intention of breaking them so easily."

"Hold on!? What's the deal with that vague wording!?"

Paying no heed to the cries of Candice, Lil calmly continues negotiations with Mayuri.

Without dropping her guard against the surroundings even while they negotiate, the small units of beasts that were charging towards them at random intervals as a diversionary tactic, is 'swallowed whole' each time as she expertly moved the conversation forward.

"What I want is merely the freedom of Candice and Meninas, and the guarantee of their safety. They can be exchanged with a handful of fighting potentials among us Quincy, that doesn't sound half bad right?"

"Once you've attained that level of pretentiousness, it goes beyond comical and one can only feel pity. You may be curios, but as far as I'm concerned, the likes of Quincies are an area of research that has been fully exhausted. Did you actually think that the lot of you had that much worth?"

"If Quincies don't have that much worth, then what does it matter to at the very least part with only two, Candi and Meni? I suppose that would just about cover the cost of doing your chores. Also, this concerns you. You've already implanted something within me and Gigi too either way, haven't you?"

"Huh?"

Gigi raises her voice at this unexpected information, but Mayuri's voice makes a blunt assertion with a nonchalant air.

"Oh, even if they're fools, I can't say I completely detest those who are quick on the uptake. That Quincy named Ishida didn't even have the slightest clue until I told him."

"Why thank you. I pray that you're also the type who's quick on the uptake."

In response to Lil who was holding her ground against Mayuri, the voice streaming through Candice's cap resumes speaking with stifled laughter.

"If I refuse you here, do you perhaps intend to take your negotiations directly to the captain commander? My, my, if Hirako Shinji wasn't present, I could've had you silenced in secret."

"Maybe I decided to go to the trouble of showing my face precisely because another captain rank is present?"

"Quite the clever-clogs aren't you? Good grief."

"The danger that you are has touched our very core after all. That he didn't include you among the Special War Potentials, I can only imagine that Yhwach was off his rocker."

Following Lil's words, the sound of a heavy sigh could be heard coming from the communicator fitted to Candice's cap.

"I make no concessions based on blatant flattery. Well, it's true that your ringleader's eyes were as good as blind however. It appears that even if he could forecast the future, he wasn't able to see the reality."

Then, in a somewhat upbeat tone, Mayuri offered a concrete proposal.

"I want to dig up as much data as possible on that colossal mutant of a Zanpakutō, as well as the mock-up Shinigami trial subject standing on top of it. If the lot of you can do that, then I will upgrade your treatment from test subjects to at least the level of mercenary. And if you also happen to capture the Fullbringers while you're at it, perhaps I can even help you grow taller as a special reward."

"Unnecessary. Even If my physique and whatnot got bigger, it would probably only make me get hungry faster. So to sum it up, it's going to be us knocking the wind out of that huge freak right?"

"I don't expect you to go that far. After all, if a subject could be brought down that easily by you lot, then I wouldn't be interested in it to begin with."

"Tch… you underestimate us."

Perhaps regarding it as a completion of the deal, Lil voiced her complaint, following this she poses a question towards the colossal sphere that towers heavenward.

"I wonder if you think the same? Freak."

In response to a confrontational Lil, Gigi who was listening from ground level speaks up.

"Hey Lil, I can't stand it. Helping that black and white clown and all."

It was at this point that Mayuri's voice shot out from Candice's cap in seeming astonishment.

"Even your brain tissue has finally rotted away has it? Zombie girl. The one I was negotiating with is that girl with the big appetite. I never put the likes of you down as a fighting power from the very onset, so you can just go ahead and rot wherever you like."

"…Does someone who stole another person's zombies have any room to talk though?"

"Save it for later. I don't think this is the kind of opponent you can defeat by mouthing off."

Calming Gigi who mumbled in a voice filled with deeply held resentment, Lil raises her eyes to 'Ikomikidomoe'.

"Whatever you do, first things first, we have to silence that behemoth."

"…If you say so."

Despite the smile playing on her lips, Gigi's eyes revealed that she had actually agreed reluctantly, after heaving a sigh she issues instructions to a shadowy figure standing at her back. 

"Go for it, Bambi-chan."

"Uunhh… I, do my best. Because Candi, and Meni, everybody… here…."

Then —— the battlefield which had been engulfed in white lightning only a short while ago, is this time made to be blanketed in the tint of red explosive flames.

"It's that girl with the bombs!? They just had to bring along that bothersome individual huh!"

Watching the zombie girl who came flying out from Gigi's shadow, Hirako involuntarily raises his voice.

As recollections of the moment he was almost blasted to death in the past are vividly resuscitated in his mind, a cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Reishi bullets, which are fired one after another by the girl with dark red skin, make contact with the creatures spawned from 'Ikomikidomoe' and cause her opponent's body tissue to convert into bombs. 

The hot wind from the chain of explosions which subsequently gush forth, vaporised the sweat on Hirako who was standing at a distance. 

"…Gah! As reckless as ever I see. What can I say, I guess this means, sooner or later, I'll also have to consider my next course of action…"

Hirako releases a sigh and places a hand on his Zanpakutō, he whispered to himself whilst contemplating whether he should join a side in battle here, or whether he should allow the dust to settle by contacting Mayuri who was stationed further away.

"That Momo should've reported to Kyōraku san, so there may be some action over there too."

"Oh man, this is turning out to be quite a disaster huh."

Not withdrawing, but not actively participating in the battle either, Ginjō's group avoid the ripple effect of the assault whilst observing the situation.

"If we're going to retreat, I think now is our chance right?"

With a shrug of his shoulders, Ginjō addressed Tsukishima's remark.

"That was the plan… but didn't that brat say 'I'll get you to acknowledge me as king' or something?"

"…I see, are you worried about that?"

When Giriko mentions this, Tsukishima also opens his mouth to speak as if to say he understood.

"Ah, it's about 'XCUTION' isn't it?"

The 'XCUTION' he spoke of is not the group of Fullbringers who were once assembled by Ginjō in the Human World, he is referring to the 'XCUTION' they had heard about a few days ago, a new religious organisation which is making its presence felt in the Human World.

Whilst recalling the information he had gathered in the last few days from the 'newcomers in Rukongai', Ginjō begins to reveal his own speculations.

"…Going by those guys fresh from death, apparently this religious cult organisation known as 'XCUTION' already has devotees in the hundreds of thousands… somehow or the other, I can only imagine that some Fullbringer or Shinigami has something to do with this."

According to the account he heard directly from someone who was a believer in their lifetime as luck would have it, details around such things as the Rukongai and the Shinigami Konsō being noted among them in the creed of 'XCUTION', was almost entirely consistent with the state of the afterworld.

It can be said with certainty that this creed which mentions everything from the existence of Shinigami, Rukongai and Seireitei to the existence of Hollows, Hell and Hueco Mundo, is something that could only be written by an individual who knows about the 'afterworld'.

Nevertheless, in its midst, there was one sole part which deviates significantly from reality.

To be precise, it is a part that depicts the future and it is not yet known whether or not it will come to be.

—— {A new king will be born from the shadows of a turmoil spanning a millennium, and reign over the three worlds respectively.}

At first, Ginjō was of the opinion that the religious cult were associates of the Quincies, and that the 'new king' was perhaps referring to Yhwach.

However, he has heard that Yhwach's purpose was not to rule over the three worlds, but to eliminate the boundaries of the three worlds itself and return everything to the original plane of existence.

He believes that this very passage of the mysterious prophecy is the key to grasping the identity of the other party, it was his intention to even bring up the matter with Hisagi, the self-styled 'journalist' who made his acquaintance just the other day, and draw out the opinion on the Shinigami side.

Yet before he could put this plan into action, a direct hint appeared before his eyes.

"Well… in that case, whose influence should we be focusing on?"

Ginjō was not looking at the monster of a Zanpakutō called 'Ikomikidomoe', rather he cast his line of sight towards the child manipulating it who gave its name as 'Hikone'.

At that point, he noticed something.

Noticed that one of the Quincies who appeared later, slipped through the storm of the bombing raid and drew closer to the child Shinigami. 

"Hey, kid. You said your name is Ubuginu Hikone right?"

What entered Liltoto's eyes, is the form of Ubuginu Hikone standing atop an 'Ikomikidomoe' who remained unscathed. 

Only a few moments ago, they should have been subjected to the lighting strike unleashed by Candice several times over, but putting the creature that is 'Ikomikidomoe' to one side, she is taken aback by the fact that even this Shinigami who is its master was unharmed, at the same time she intentionally opens up a dialogue in order to probe for information on the opponent.

"Oh! You're the Quincy lady who showed up at Hueco Mundo that last time! Long time no see! It's amazing that you'd actually eat up the kin of 'Ikomikidomoe'! It was a pleasure meeting you!"

"I didn't want to encounter you at all if possible. Didn't you say you were going to become king?"

"That's right! Ah, well, to be precise, rather than saying that I am the one who will attain this feat, it is Tokinada sama who is being kind enough to make me king!"

"On top of being some hand-me-down for orders, you'll be just a figurehead king? Isn't there something you want to do through your own damn will?"

Although her manner of speaking was akin to provocation, Hikone doesn't even seem to realise that it is what's known as sarcasm and thus replied with an innocent tone.

"There is! What I want to do are things that are useful to Tokinada sama!"

 "…So if this Tokinada guy you speak of told you to 'die a painful death', would you go ahead and die?"

"Yes! I would do my very best to suffer as much as possible!"

"…Oh, I see."

—— Damn. Talking with this brat is going to drive me crazy.

—— The way it fanaticises about things reminds me of that asshole Lille.

—— Nah, I wonder if this is slightly different from that guy, rather than fanaticism… how shall I put it?

—— I get the impression that the damn kid was set up to be that way from the very beginning.

Lil believed that this did not seem like someone she could get through to, but even so, she continues to question the child all the more.

Aside from the goal of extracting information, she genuinely harboured a suspicion.

"There's something I want to ask you."

It was regarding a certain Reiatsu intermingling within Hikone, which Candice and the others also perceived.

"…Have you ever heard the name… Gremmy Thoumeaux?"

Gremmy Thoumeaux.

The name of a boy who is reputed to be the strongest Sternritter, in fact, it was said that in all likelihood, no one could hope to defeat him outside of Yhwach.

That he is described as a boy, is purely because the body he had imagined for himself was that of a young boy, in actuality, both sex and age were unknown. 

His true form is only a brain floating within a small container; a Quincy who 'imagined' (created) his very own body by using the power of the Schrift V —— "The Visionary" given to him by Yhwach.

Making one's imagination transform into reality as it stands, is evidently a phenomenon close to the power of a god, in the life or death struggle against Zaraki Kenpachi, he conjured everything from a huge meteorite within Seireitei to the vacuum of outer space. 

In the end, he imagined power that could overcome Zaraki Kenpachi and made it his own, but because he couldn't completely imagine a body that was able to withstand that power, it resulted in his self-destruction, he awakened from his dreams, and his brain ceased all function.

Lil caught sight of the moment Gremmy disintegrated with her own eyes, she was also able to confirm that his Reiatsu had come to a complete stop.

She had no idea what happened to the brain container thereafter, nor did she have any particular intention to go searching for its whereabouts.

However, it was a separate matter entirely if one could sense Gremmy's Reiatsu coming from the Shinigami before her.

Perhaps by some chance this Shinigami figure is a mere mimicry, and in truth, something formed after the living Gremmy had 'imagined' it, Lil had surmised as much before posing her question.

"Gremmy… Gremmy san you say…? Aha!"

Suddenly, after a brief moment of consideration, Hikone's face lit up.

"Yes, I know that name! Tokinada sama kindly informed me!"

"……!"

Not expecting the child to return a straight answer, Lil widened her eyes a fraction and waits for Hikone to continue.

However, what is then narrated from Hikone's mouth, was an answer that Lil doesn't really want to hear.

"Gremmy san was apparently… a member among the materials, used at the time of my creation! That's right!"

[the-lightning-underdog]

Continued

(@wildfrau)

“Look, Kid.” Every nerve tensed, every string of her heart frenzied in recoil at him.  “I don’t like you, or that ‘fresh out of Bel-Air’ attitude you have. Get in my face again, and I’ll rip it off. When a girl swats down a compliment, don’t BITCH about it! You’re only showing she had the right idea to tell you to Shove it.”

Kouta stumbled a bit as she violently shoved him out of her personal space and hit the workbench he was working at. He reached up to feel where she had grabbed him by the throat just seconds ago as he tried to process this incident. Did this really just happen? Of course, it did. That was Kouta for you. Always digging himself into holes because he can't keep his mouth shut. You think he would have learned from doing so to the likes of Soifon or both Yoruichi and Kisuke instilling some sort of discipline in him. Yes, he had grown tremendously in the time from the rescue mission to save Rukia years ago, to the battle against Aizen and the Arrancars, to the most recent war against Yhwach and the Sternritter which wasn't that long ago. And yes, he was disciplined. But like any other individual, there comes a breaking point where something just snaps. But to be fair, he probably shouldn't have invaded her personal space and should have left things as they were. But this was Kouta after all and it was clear he probably needed another lesson right here and right now. Wether he would learn it was a separate matter. He wasn't called a bratty mutt for nothing. "Ya know what? I tried to be nice and I made an effort to try to be somewhat friendly." he said this as he slowly removed his welding gear and just let it drop to the ground. He then placed his hand on the side of his neck and cracked it, the joints in his neck popping loudly. "But, man, oh man, am I getting just a wee bit tired of you flicking your snake tongue at me just because I sorta like you." he said to her as he looked at her, his reiatsu beginning to flare up with his irritation and as such creating light blue arcs of electricity in the air from the electrical nature of his reiatsu. The look in his eyes also changed from his typical bored and unenthusiastic look to a cold and predatory look. It seemed like things were about to explode in Kouta's workshop any minute now between the two.

And then suddenly, things subsided. Kouta took a deep breath and his reiatsu subsided. The arcs of blue electricity he was generating also vanished. The last thing Kouta wanted was to create an explosion in his workshop. Especially with all the hazardous explosive materials he had. All it would take is one spark to make this place look like a war zone. He leaned over and picked up his welding gear and turned his back to her. He was so caught in the moment a few seconds ago, he didn't even realize what he said about "sorta" liking her. He liked her??? How was that even possible? They hardly knew each other and were on opposite sides of the war not too long ago. Maybe he found her fierceness attractive? He was always a sucker for a strong woman. Or maybe because she was a fellow lightning user? Or maybe he was drawn to her physical beauty. It didn't matter. What was important from this is that Kouta actually backed down. He didn't flip out and continue to mouth off. He actually calmed down and let things die as they were. Maybe he had grown and matured after all. Now if only he could nail down his social skills with women. Then things would be perfect.

He went back to working on his workbench. "You can stay to talk shop if you want. Otherwise, garage door is right there. Make sure you lock it on your way out." he instructed still unaware of what he said earlier.

[akaluan]

Title Ideas: The Heavens Fell (But the Stars rose up in defiance), Myths are only Stories (Then our blood woke up), and Kirin Kingmaker.

Post-drabble Fluff Fragment

((This is for Kirin Kingmaker. The other two will be written and posted separately

I have no idea where this came from or what it wants to be XD I hope everyone enjoys it!

Now with extra fluff as a second fragment of this au!))

Ichigo breathed out and adjusted his grip on his blades. The Soul King’s throne was just ahead, as were Yhwach and Uryuu. “You ready?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder at his companions.

Chad nodded firmly, armor stretching across his arms and down his torso. At his side, the massive kirin snorted and pawed at the floor, tendrils of flame dripping from their mouth.

Ichigo smiled faintly at the two of them. He was uncertain /why/ the kirin had brought Chad to him, but he wasn’t going to complain. Stalking into the throne room with Chad at his right shoulder and the great, ocean-blue kirin at his side gave him confidence.

(Now if only Uryuu was standing at his left, instead of pretending to serve that monster.)

Yhwach turned to face them as they entered the room, wrenching his blade free of the Soul King’s chest, his expression twisting with frustration and disbelief as he set eyes on the kirin walking at Ichigo’s side. “A /kirin/? Is /that/ your blades’ form in the end, boy?”

“Nah,” Ichigo shrugged, tapping his shorter blade against his leg and shouldering the longer. He caught Uryuu’s gaze and scowled at how /defeated/ Uryuu looked. “This one’s been hanging around since I was little. I think they’ve taken offense at you, honestly.”

The kirin snorted and bobbed their head, baring their teeth at Yhwach, flames licking around their jaw.

Yhwach scoffed and shot the kirin a dismissive look. “A beast out of myth is hardly a challenge. You are too late to save the Soul King, or your world. I will destroy your little protector, and then take you apart in front of your friend—”

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that,” Ichigo muttered to himself as the kirin screamed and charged, forcing Yhwach back and away from the Soul King and away from the three of them. The minute Yhwach was distracted, Ichigo reached out with his reiatsu, sighing in relief when Uryuu reached back and linked their reiatsu together.

Chad’s quieter, darker power slipped into the spaces between them, tying the three of them together firmly, and Ichigo felt himself settle for the first time in a month.

“Come here,” he said, sheathing both blades and stepping towards Uryuu. He reached out and pulled Uryuu towards him, pulling his missing lover into a gentle kiss that had Uryuu melting against him. “We’ve missed you,” Ichigo murmured as he pulled away and Chad moved in to claim Uryuu’s mouth in another kiss.

He could feel the way Uryuu’s powers were… bent, twisted by whatever Yhwach had forced upon him, and the weight that came with it.

“Was this your grand plan?” Uryuu asked when he pulled away, expression wry. “Throw a mythological creature at Yhwach?”

Ichigo shrugged and rubbed at the back of his head, glancing at the combat between the kirin and Yhwach. The two seemed equally matched, at least for now, and he had no idea whether the kirin could actually win or not, given the powers he’d seen Yhwach display. “The kirin’s plan, at least? Or… I think so? They did bring Chad with them, so… maybe not?”

“What about the Soul King?” Chad asked, gesturing towards the odd being behind the now-flickering shield.

“Yhwach plans on absorbing his power,” Uryuu informed them as the three of them moved to stand before the being. He rested his hand on the flickering shield, then flinched back as his hand sank through it. “Something about being the Soul King’s son?”

Ichigo scowled. “Of /course/ he is. Because why not, let’s just make this more ridiculous.” He took another step towards the Soul King, hand slowly sinking through the shield.

Uryuu grabbed his shoulder and held him in place. “What are you /doing/?” he asked.

“Well, if Yhwach’s right, the Soul King’s about to die. And if what I’ve /heard/ is right, that’s bad.” Ichigo shrugged and gave Uryuu a faint smile. “It’ll be fine. Better than /him/ getting access to power like this, right?”

“You’re not doing this alone,” Chad said, hand clamping down on Ichigo’s free shoulder.

“If you think we’re letting you do this alone, you’re insane,” Uryuu grumbled. He shot a wary look at where Yhwach was still fighting with the kirin, looking more scorched and ragged than Uryuu had ever expected to see. It was almost enough to give him hope. “Not that this isn’t insane anyway.”

Ichigo looked between his lovers, then reluctantly nodded. Together, the three of them stepped through the shield and approached the figure. Uryuu’s hand slipped into his, their fingers lacing together, and Chad leaned in against their backs, reaching out to take both of their free hands in his.

“Ready?” Ichigo asked.

“Not on your life,” Uryuu muttered, stepping closer. “If we become like /that/, I’m blaming you forever.”

He laughed, even as the three of them raised their linked hands and set them on the Soul King’s torso. But his words were cut off by a rush of power flooding through his system. It /burned/, like when he regained his powers, like clawing his way out of the Shattered Shaft, like being stabbed and immolated and—

It ripped through him and his lovers, rippling between the three of them and /changing/ them. Yhwach’s powers crumbled to dust before the Soul King’s might, falling away from Uryuu’s soul, from /Ichigo’s/ soul, and leaving the two of them shivering and swaying, held up only by Chad’s strength at their backs.

And then it was over, the Soul King dissolving under their hands and the power settling over the three of them like a cloak. Ichigo slumped back, and Chad lowered the three of them to the ground before they could fall.

“Let’s not do that again,” Ichigo said breathlessly, resting his head on Chad’s shoulder and closing his eyes in relief.

Uryuu’s laughter was edged with hysteria, his fingers tightening around Ichigo’s. “Unless you know of any /other/ gods, I don’t think we /can/.”

“Don’t tempt fate,” Chad said, wrapping both of them in a hug. “Ichigo’s been followed by a /kirin/ since he was little. Maybe this isn’t the end.”

“Ugh.” Uryuu huffed and shook his head. “Because becoming /god/ at eighteen isn’t bad enough. Some days I can’t— oh,” he cut off with a soft, breathy noise, and Ichigo could feel him lean in. “Oh. You’re /beautiful/…”

“Uryuu?” Ichigo asked in confusion, opening his eyes as he felt Uryuu and Chad’s fingers trace over his face. He turned to look at his lover, only to blink at the sight of Uryuu’s face, traced with black filigree lines that stretched down his neck and disappeared beneath the collar of his uniform. Chad, too, had something similar, although the patterns were different and didn’t stand out quite so much against his darker skin. “Oh…”

“This is going to be a bitch to explain,” Uryuu muttered, gaze fixed on Ichigo’s face. He licked his lips, hand slipping over Ichigo’s jaw and down his neck, then shook his head and pulled back. “If we can even /leave/ now that we’re apparently sharing the Soul King’s power.”

“We’ll figure it ou—”

“NO!” Yhwach shouted, snapping their attention to his enraged visage. “What have you three /done/?!”

They scrambled to their feet, and Ichigo barely drew his long blade in time to block Yhwach’s strike. He strained against the man’s strength, body trembling, until Yhwach was forced to jerk back when Uryuu drew Ichigo’s second blade and stabbed at his side.

“Pretty sure that’s not accepted practice,” Ichigo told his lover with amusement. He ducked away from Yhwach’s next strike, letting Chad slip in to land a brutal punch on the man’s upper back.

“Tch, what do I care about Shinigami rules?” Uryuu said. “Besides, it was right there and you weren’t using it.”

“Because my hands were busy!” Ichigo argued. “You have your own weapon, why are you using /mine/?”

Uryuu scoffed, darted around Chad’s body, and tried to stab Yhwach only for his strike to be blocked. “Because stabbing is more satisfying!” he shot back, deflecting Yhwach’s retaliation and moving backward to allow Ichigo to take his place.

“You foolish /children/! Usurpers of my rightful inheritance!” Yhwach shouted at them, expression enraged. “I’ll take back what is mine even if I have to kill my own heir to do so!”

“Yeah you probably shouldn’t—” Ichigo started to say, then winced and stepped back as the kirin reentered the fight with a vengeance. They reared up, front legs lashing out, and crow-hopped forward as one cloven hoof caught Yhwach across the back of his head. “—say things like that. Kirin are, uh… a little protective,” Ichigo informed the downed man blandly.

Yhwach snarled, pushing himself up, powers /flaring/, his wounds flickered away—

—blood continued to mat his hair, his eyes remained unfocused and he swayed in place, confusion writ across his face.

(The kirin snorted and stomped a hoof, satisfaction in their stance.)

“Huh.” Ichigo scratched at his cheek, then glanced over to Chad and then Uryuu. “Ready to finish this?”

Uryuu nodded firmly, hands tightening around the hilt of Ichigo’s second blade. Chad tilted his head a bit, taking a few steps to the left, then nodded his own agreement. At Ichigo’s puzzled look, Chad just shrugged and made a ‘tell you later’ gesture.

They dove back into battle, working together to drive Yhwach back and back again. The longer they fought the easier it was to work around each other, to give the kirin openings to strike time and again.

(Flickers of /potential/ darted through Ichigo’s mind. Strike here. Move there. Until it felt like he was drowning in the knowledge. Until he bit his lip and forced his brain aside and simply /moved/.)

(Was this what Yhwach lived every moment of his life?)

Yhwach fell before them, blade clattering to the ground and fading away, body slumping to the ground. He groaned and tried again to heal himself, desperate and weary, but the kirin stepped up to his body and shoved him over.

The kirin sent a look to Ichigo, then moved to stand between Yhwach and the three. Fire dripped from their mouth, and the kirin lowered their head and /breathed/, their flames rushing out and turning Yhwach to ash in moments, consuming even the blood on the floor until there remained no trace of the man.

“Why didn’t you do that from the /start/?” Uryuu whined, slumping against Ichigo’s side. “Did we /have/ to fight him?” The look the kirin shot Uryuu was equal parts amusement and exasperation, and Uryuu raised his free hand and ducked his head. “Okay, okay! No more demands, I promise!”

Ichigo laughed wearily and settled his blade across his back, then carefully pried his second one from Uryuu’s grip and sheathed /that/ as well. “Well… now what?”

“Leave. Let the Shinigami sort themselves out,” Chad suggested, his armor fading away and revealing more black filigree down his arms and over his hands.

“And all /this/?” Ichigo asked, waving a hand to indicate the patterns all over their bodies. “What do we say about /this/?”

Chad shrugged and said bluntly, “Side effect of fighting Yhwach.”

Uryuu laughed hysterically and rubbed at his temple. “Fuck. I just want to sleep in our damn bed and forget the world exists for a while. Can we do that? We just saved their fucking asses, they can deal with us not being around for a couple days!”

Ichigo wrapped an arm around Uryuu and pulled his lover close. “Of course we can.” He glance at the kirin and arched an eyebrow. “How about it? Want to help us play hookie for a couple days?”

“Ichigo! That’s a /kirin/—”

Uryuu fell silent as the kirin made a sound suspiciously like laughter and daintily stepped up to the three of them, kneeling and gesturing with their head for the three to climb on.

“Why did I even try,” Uryuu said in exasperation as Ichigo pulled him onto the kirin’s back and Chad settled behind him. “Of course you get a creature of /legend/ to carry you around to play /hookie/. I give up. Wake me up when we’re home.”

Ichigo chuckled and tightened his arms around Uryuu’s waist, feeling the way his lover slumped in exhaustion and promptly slipped into sleep. “Thank you,” he told the kirin as they rose smoothly to their feet and set off, pace gentle.

The kirin just tossed their head and leapt, clouds gathering beneath their cloven hooves as they cantered from the room, carrying the new kings from the palace.

[damsclsofdistrcss]

〔🍭 || Second Betrayal: A Drabble 〕

Word count: 772          Rated: T

His words from all those years ago still rang loud in her ears as they walked forth to ‘join’ the shinigami in this temporary little truce.

“ We’re here to kill that bastard Yhwach, and Haschwalth too. ”

Bazz-B... such a loudmouth. Really, the man should learn to speak for himself, for that might be his plan, but that didn’t mean it was hers. She couldn’t care less about the shinigami, she couldn’t care less about Jugram---- all she wanted... was to speak to her Father. 

But fine, let Bazz-B be their mouth piece. The fool was so stupidly direct in everything he did, it would be hard for the Shinigami to think him of lying. The man was a hot head, a wild card, an arrogant prick--- it was easy to tell that Bazz-B believed every statement to come out of his own mouth to be of the highest truth. For now, that would suit her purposes. 

“ Come with me little one, and I will give you a new home, a new family to call your own--- one that will never abandon you. All I ask for in return, is your loyalty. ”

His words from all those years ago still rang loud in her ears as they walked forth to ‘join’ the shinigami in this temporary little truce. 

Observing all the Shinigami gathered around--- these meager remnants of what was supposed to be the strongest military force of the after-life, she had to restrain herself from laughing--- or maybe crying. Of all the soul reaper in existence, only these were strong enough to endure. Pitiful. Yet... she had to remind herself... she was in no place to judge. Only nine of their strongest remained able to fight, and only five of those nine were meant to be alive still... the realization stung.

She was drawn back to reality as handed an orb by Kisuke Urahara--- hard to believe that man was one of the five special war powers. Glancing around once more at the shinigami, she caught the eye of two of the men under Kenpachi Zaraki and drew closer to Gigi protectively. Truce or not, if the one with eyelashes spoke another word against her friend, she would not hesitate in knocking that hateful bitch of a man to the ground. 

Aside from the men whose squad she’d eaten and the special war powers... the only people she recognized were the clown faced bastard, Kurotsuchi... Yoruichi Shihoin... Renji Abarai, and the Kuchiki siblings... the ones who killed As Nodt... She clenched her jaw. 

As Nodt didn’t deserve that... He was a sweet man... he was the only one of them that was truly unselfishly and unwaveringly devout... he just wished to live and serve their God...

Was that why they were forsaken? For their selfishness?

No... that couldn’t be it. If that were the case, that sneaky cowardly bastard, Askin, would have been left behind as well... 

So why?

Why had they been discarded like so much trash by his majesty...? Why had their savior killed those of them who continued to fight on with auswählen...? Why did he try to kill her? Was Robert right? Were they truly that expendable to his majesty?

Liltotto did not want to believe that... yet... She always knew the punishment for losing their battles would be death... even if they survived the loss... She had felt Cang Du’s and BG9′s spiritual pressure fizzle out as Haschwalth’s blazed on coldly... Her hold on the orb tightened and her jaw clenched... 

Cang Du... her dear adoptive brother... gone... As Nodt... her sweet friend, gone... BG9 gone... Meni... she was likely dead too--- Liltotto having had to knock her unconscious because of fucking Pepe--- and she didn’t even know what happened to Candi!

Rage bubbled in her veins and hatred in her heart as they ascended to the Reio’s palace with the wretched Shinigami. 

This wasn’t how their Holy War was supposed to go.

She had been promised... promised a new world with her new family...

Her heart throbbed painfully with the realization of the lie... of the utter betrayal of it all... The girl took a shaky breath, as if to steady herself. 

She had killed the last father who had betrayed her.

She could do it again....

But first... she had one question she needed to ask...

Why?

Liltotto quietly slipped her hand into Gigi’s as the reached the Wandenreich, hanging back to watch the Shinigami’s quick departure down the main road--- where Lille was sure to be stationed. Fucking idiots. They didn’t even try to ask for help. Whatever. They could all go die for all she cared.

“ Come on... ” Turning towards Bazz-B, Bambi, and Gigi, Liltotto jerked her head towards the Sun Gates. “ Let’s go kill our Father. ”

[littlenekosfan]

this thread is just me being a petty bitch so dont take it personally if u feel targeted.. so, lets rant :^) how can ppl look at him and be all like "mmm sexy man" dude..... the more i draw him, the more i realize how scary of a figure he is, he looks so calm and composed and kubo draw him with a slight blue (sad) feeling in his eyes... but when I draw him, its not the same, i dont draw him with the same emotion/feeling, its different...

i know i portray him with a sharp and cold look, piercing eyes, its just so him he's a tall figure, beautiful, imposing, almost angelic, but that pretty image wasnt acquired with altruism nor amour propre (and ill say it, i still dont believe ju has a good self-esteem, or at the very least, not the one he deserves/should be looking upon), he had to be strict with himself when he became a ritter and always have been ever since...

when i say blue its these panels where they show the most, all of these shots are without shinigamis (1st w/ his aide, 2nd bazz, 3d alone) im not saying he's sad, but his heart is not all stone... he has feelings!!! but they are very subtle (hear some ppl say he’s a cold hearted bitch im ???? yall clearly never saw him when he’s not in battle/war)

otherwise we get panels like these where we all know he isnt himself and omg he's scary, like genuinely Terrifying, and even without being under yhwach's power, he is just as scary esp when he interacts with shinigamis

we get to see his look when he’s under yhwach’s power, so i cant really call him jugram ngl, its like a mean side of him that is showing but never had in the first place.. an implanted personality.. and when he’s fighting shinigamis (except for one panel i know), that’s jugram, with a murderous intent and im not afraid to say that really is part of jugram, not a vengeful one, one with power greater than the enemy...

and well, we have Friend chapters where its just.... something else...... please look at this last panel and tell me how desperate he is, HES NOT HIMSELF AT ALL!#?%@ there is like, some kind of anguish in his expression that you can only see here in that single panel (where he calls bazz’ name) and when i say not himself, its not as “he’s ooc”, its as, not the usual composed jugram we’re used, its a desperate one, the one who wants to protect someone... for him to break that composure, then maybe it’s the most himself we get to see since he’s being completely transparent

its even worse when it comes to bazz’ death, the lack of panel showing jugram's face was done on PURPOSE, I KNOW IT!!!! and ppl just think "oh he killed his friend and walked away like nothing" DUDE, HOW CAN YOU SAY THIS?!??! WHEN WE HAVE THIS?!?!?? no expression was shown bc this is how ju handles it (and not the mention kubo PURPOSEFULLY refused to show us any of his facial expression... i fucking hate it, im not saying he’s crying, but he’s certainly hurt, the eyes are the most expressive facial trait, not surprising we didnt get to see them...)

this the only way he could handle it, if he were to show regret, any kind of empathy, he would snap, if you thought killing bazz was easy thing for him, then you dont get his character 

in other words, jugram is really beautiful, but ppl really need to look past it and how his cold look shouldnt make you think he's heartless

ok mentioned earlier about his he "gained" that cold look and while i dont believe he’s faking his composed self (aka, the “normal” jugram) he wouldnt have grown that way if he wasnt enrolled back then, look how innocent he is and how scary he looks after 3 years

3 years is a LOT (esp for his young age), so im not surprised he changed so much, but what bothers me is, "is this what he wants to be?" i would say no, he never desired to become like that, but he just happened to be.. this is what fate gave him so he's not dishonest nor faking, but also younger him would be terrified to know he became like that... does the current ju wanna go back to what he used to be? no, although i believe cold nature isnt his true nature (as in, if the circumstances were different, he wouldnt be that cold) i dont think he wanna go back its just... now part of him, ofc he can be happy and have feelings, he just expresses them less than average... i think ju was the most himself during that 5yrs detaching himself from his abusive uncle and be somehow free, not happy, but just himself

speaking of changing look, jugram went through a personality change 3 times where 2 are linked with trauma, when we first meet him, he's a very unsociable kid who is just looking for love, any kind, deep down, this is caused by his uncle (trauma 1) and making him so... detached from others (unfortunately, this is his initial persona)

this is ofc in order to protect himself (ppl who have DiD ppl mostly suffer from it bc of constant abuse and to protect themselves from trauma, their brain develop DiD ((im not suggesting jugram has DiD bc i dont have it so i cant diagnose it and i dont think there are enough proofs for it, but im not saying its impossible))) bc talking to other ppl could be a problem, so he doesnt befriend bazz at first, but bazz’ concern and the importance he gave to him touched him, deeply, when his uncle died, nothing was stopping him from being closer to bazz, to be more himself

unfortunately bazz didnt bring the best of him, but at least he wasnt restrained emotionally with him (his only inner struggle was being powerless) so he was more free, giving him (change 1) the shy/worried persona, this is the most jugo we ever got

trauma (the beginning of the 2th change): it's not ju joining yhwach but rather, their friendship being torn out, the only person he ever considered as a friend is revealed to have used him, a betrayer, and bazz didnt help himself either... ju just took the safest side

(another trauma sign: to take the safest side) these two werent thinking twice to everything that happened, but what is done is done, ju's whole world shifted (being a leader and military stuff), leading to another persona change (change 2), he prob quickly gained that persona there (bc it was so harsh and quick, one day he want training with bazz the day after he’s yhwach advisor...)

giving us the coldest ju imo (warmest to coldest in 3yrs... damn) i mean, for him to be so unbothered with bazz joining the army after 3 years is so damn cold from him esp when we are shown he never hated him and still cared despite everything...

then with time, he regain more freedom with his emotions and thoughts...which is the 3th change, our current ju, we dont have him joining the army, post-war nor post aushwalen ju, so we cant tell if it affected him somehow.. it would have been interesting..

(since i cant word my thoughts for two cents, i hope this clear it up a bit lmao)

anyways, takes like blonde byakuya, jugo as bankai rukia or just, jugram being a cold hearted bitch who has no feelings or “he’s really attrative, id fuck him, but id never date him” well, 1 he’s gay for one person and 2 dont even talk to me yall really be missing on an amazing character ngl...