Ichigo vs. Sode no Shirayuki

"Tonight," Muramasa said, "the rule of Soul Reapers over Zanpakuto ends."

The manifested spirits gathered behind him like an army.

"From now on, Zanpakuto will control Soul Reapers."

The declaration sent a chill through the cliffside.

Muramasa produced a purple Zanpakuto from empty air and drove it into the ground. A heavy surge of reiatsu split the earth open, carving a deep divide between the Soul Reapers and the newly manifested Zanpakuto.

Shunsui did not care about the theatrics.

"I only have one question," he said, stepping forward. "Where is Old Man Yama?"

Muramasa then revealed that Head Captain Yamamoto had already been sealed. Ryujin Jakka had refused to join him, so Muramasa had used Katen Kyokotsu, Sogyo no Kotowari, and Minazuki to suppress the old captain's power.

Shunsui and Ukitake exchanged a look.

It was a relief that Ryujin Jakka itself had not rebelled, but that did not change the immediate problem. Yamamoto was unavailable, Chojiro had been gravely injured, and Seireitei was burning.

Soi Fon and Retsu Unohana both thought of the same person.

If Ichigo were here, this would be much simpler.

Retsu's concern was not only tactical. If Minazuki was being used to help seal Yamamoto, then her own Zanpakuto was also outside her control. Few people in Soul Society truly understood how dangerous that could become if it turned against everyone nearby.

"Captain Unohana," Isane asked quietly, "what should we do?"

"Squad Four can still use Kaido," Retsu said. "Our priority is treatment and evacuation."

Shunsui glanced toward her.

"For now, please focus on that, Captain Unohana."

Ukitake nodded.

They both knew that if Retsu truly entered the battle, the situation would change in a very different way.

The captains and lieutenants scattered as the fighting began.

Senbonzakura, masked like an armored samurai, crossed blades with Hitsugaya. Suzumebachi, tiny and fairy-like, attacked Rangiku. Soi Fon tried to move toward Muramasa, but Kazeshini blocked her path.

Senbonzakura's appearance was nothing like Byakuya's elegance. The spirit looked like a warrior from the Warring States era, covered in armor and wearing a demon-like mask. Without Hyorinmaru, Hitsugaya could not suppress him through raw strength.

Rangiku had a different problem. Suzumebachi was even smaller than Soi Fon, almost a tiny fairy, but her speed made her impossible to ignore. Rangiku could not rely on Haineko to scatter into ash, and every movement became dangerous.

Soi Fon wanted to fight her own Zanpakuto, but Kazeshini intercepted her. The scythe-like spirit's presence was vicious enough that even she could not simply turn her back on him.

Most of the Soul Reapers were at a severe disadvantage without their Zanpakuto.

Soi Fon was one of the few exceptions.

Her Hakuda alone made her dangerous.

Muramasa pointed calmly.

Ashisogi Jizo and Zabimaru released their Bankai. Kinjiki Ashisogi Jizo and Hihio Zabimaru surged toward Shunsui and Ukitake.

Poisonous vapor rolled from Kinjiki Ashisogi Jizo, while Hihio Zabimaru gathered a red cannon blast. The battlefield collapsed into chaos at once.

"Everyone," Shunsui ordered, "do not force a losing exchange. Find openings, rescue the wounded, and keep moving."

Retsu and Isane withdrew to begin treatment.

...

In the Human World, Rukia stared at the Zanpakuto in her hand.

"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki."

Nothing happened.

Sode no Shirayuki did not answer.

Rukia tried again, but the blade remained silent.

She turned to Senna.

"Can you release Mirokumaru?"

Senna frowned and tried. Mirokumaru gave no response either.

"Call forth the Twilight, Mirokumaru."

The staff did not change.

Senna stared at it.

"Huh? Why?"

The two women immediately realized something had happened in Soul Society.

They chose not to wake Ichigo.

Rukia knew he had only just returned from the Kasumioji incident and the exhausting aftermath. Senna agreed. If this was only a problem with their own Zanpakuto, they could investigate first.

They crossed through the Senkaimon and arrived in a Seireitei already thrown into chaos.

Materialized Zanpakuto were hunting Soul Reapers through the streets. Buildings burned, panicked officers fled, and no one seemed to understand the shape of the enemy yet.

Renji was running from Gonryomaru and Kazeshini when they found him.

"Renji! What is going on?" Rukia called.

Renji landed beside her and immediately dodged another slash from Kazeshini.

"Rukia, be careful. The Zanpakuto have rebelled."

"What?" Senna said. "All of them?"

The two women looked at each other. That explained why Sode no Shirayuki and Mirokumaru had gone silent.

Before the two manifested spirits could close in, Byakuya appeared and raised one hand.

"Bakudo Number 61: Rikujokoro."

Six rods of light locked Gonryomaru in place.

"Brother!" Rukia called.

Byakuya did not look away from the enemy.

"Leave. This is not a battlefield you can handle right now."

Muramasa appeared with Senbonzakura at his side.

His target was clear.

Byakuya faced his own Zanpakuto without hesitation, but Senbonzakura released a storm of petals that pinned him down and slammed him through nearby stone.

Rukia called out to him, but Byakuya's presence disappeared into the chaos.

Senna suddenly turned.

"Rukia. Another one is here."

A woman in white stepped from the drifting frost.

Sode no Shirayuki.

Rukia's breath caught.

Sode no Shirayuki raised a hand.

"Second Dance, Hakuren."

White cold rushed toward them.

Senna dragged Rukia away before panic could make her run toward Byakuya. Renji was cut off by the ice on the other side, and there was no time to regroup.

"We are getting Ichigo."

...

In the Human World, Ichigo opened his eyes before the gate fully formed.

Rukia and Senna had gone to Soul Society without him. Now their reiatsu was returning in a hurry, with something cold following close behind.

He caught them as they stumbled out.

One arm caught Rukia. The other caught Senna.

"What happened?" Ichigo asked. "Did Soul Society fall apart again?"

"Ichigo..." Senna started.

Sode no Shirayuki emerged after them.

She stood on the bridge beneath the moonlight, beautiful enough to look unreal and cold enough that her killing intent could not be mistaken for anything else.

Ichigo stepped forward and released Zangetsu.

"Cry out, Zangetsu."

Rukia and Senna both stared. His Zanpakuto could still release.

"Getsuga Tensho!"

The black crescent smashed through Hakuren and scattered the freezing wave.

Sode no Shirayuki moved gracefully aside. Frost gathered around her and shaped a false body of ice.

"Those are my techniques," she said.

"Yeah," Ichigo replied, lowering his blade. "I noticed."

She exhaled a cloud of snow and used the opening to retreat through the Senkaimon.

Ichigo did not chase immediately. He turned to Rukia and Senna first.

"Are you hurt?"

x

x

x

If you're enjoying the story so far, consider supporting me on Patreon ❤️
You'll get weekly early access to chapters, along with some exclusive content:

https://www.patreon.com/cw/auroraclairevale