Rukia vs. Sode no Shirayuki

Senna had only a few scrapes. Her injuries came mostly from being caught off guard by a world where Zanpakuto had suddenly stopped obeying.

Rukia looked worse emotionally than physically.

"What happened to Sode no Shirayuki?"

Rukia and Senna explained the Zanpakuto rebellion, Muramasa, the chaos in Seireitei, and Byakuya's disappearance as quickly as they could.

Ichigo glanced down at Zangetsu.

His own Zanpakuto had answered normally.

That alone made the situation stranger.

They went to Urahara's shop.

Kisuke had already gathered Tatsuki, Orihime, Uryu, and Chad. Yoruichi had gone ahead to investigate Soul Society and returned not long after Rukia finished explaining.

"Kurosaki," Kisuke said, adjusting his hat, "I was just about to send for you."

"Then you already know something happened," Ichigo said.

Kisuke nodded.

Tatsuki frowned after hearing the report.

"The Kasumioji mess just ended, and now Zanpakuto are rebelling? Soul Society really cannot go a week without a crisis."

Rukia had no way to argue with that.

"Ichigo," Tatsuki asked, "what about your Zanpakuto?"

"Zangetsu is fine," he said. "I fought Sode no Shirayuki with him just now."

Only then did the tension in Tatsuki's shoulders ease.

"Seireitei is badly damaged," Yoruichi said. "Most of the captains are alive. Chojiro is seriously injured. Byakuya is missing."

Rukia's face tightened.

Ichigo placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We will find him."

"I fought Byakuya myself," Ichigo added. "Even without Senbonzakura, he is not weak. Senbonzakura alone will not be enough to finish him."

Rukia breathed a little easier.

Yoruichi nodded.

"I am going with you. Urahara will stay here."

Kisuke smiled thinly.

"Benihime is still responding to me. That means I can defend the shop, but it also means I should not risk bringing another dangerous variable into Soul Society unless necessary."

Ichigo, Rukia, Senna, and Yoruichi crossed into Soul Society together.

Ichigo wanted to ask about Soi Fon too, but with Rukia, Senna, and Yoruichi beside him, he wisely kept that concern to himself.

Rukia went to Squad Six first. Renji had already organized search parties, but there was still no sign of Byakuya.

Ichigo wanted to check on Retsu, while Senna and Yoruichi went to look for Soi Fon.

Rukia followed Ichigo only a short distance before she stopped.

"Sode no Shirayuki."

Ichigo felt it too.

Rukia's hand tightened around her sealed Zanpakuto.

"Let me talk to her."

Ichigo studied her face, then nodded.

"I will be close."

Rukia found Sode no Shirayuki attacking Soul Reapers indiscriminately.

"Stop," Rukia called. "Sode no Shirayuki, why are you doing this?"

The white-clad spirit turned with cold eyes.

"I am free now. I will no longer obey your commands. I will do what I want."

Rukia flinched at the hatred in her voice.

Sode no Shirayuki raised her hand.

"You cannot release me. I am no longer inside that blade."

Frost spread across the ground.

"You only borrowed my power because you had no other choice. Now I can use that power freely."

"First Dance, Tsukishiro."

A pillar of ice erupted beneath Rukia, wider and faster than the technique she knew. Rukia dodged by a narrow margin, but Sode no Shirayuki's next breath filled the air with snow and forced her back.

The real danger was not only the power. Sode no Shirayuki did not need to step into position the way Rukia did. Wherever her eyes fell, Tsukishiro could bloom. It cost her far less reiatsu and covered a wider space.

Rukia raised her palm.

"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws."

Blue fire gathered.

"Hado Number 33: Sokatsui!"

Sode no Shirayuki froze the spell before it reached her.

For a moment, doubt cut into Rukia. Had she really only borrowed someone else's power all this time?

No.

She had trained. She had bled. The techniques might use Sode no Shirayuki's nature, but the skill had been hers too.

Sode no Shirayuki moved in close and used ice in ways Rukia had never attempted, even shaping a point-blank freezing strike clearly inspired by Ichigo's Getsuga.

If Ichigo could release Getsuga Tensho at close range, then Sode no Shirayuki could force ice into the space around Rukia just as brutally.

Ice sealed around Rukia's body.

Sode no Shirayuki lifted her hand.

"Second Dance, Hakuren."

The white blast began to form.

Ichigo's Getsuga tore through the ice before it could fire.

Rukia stumbled free.

"Rukia, enough," Ichigo said.

"No." She steadied herself. "I cannot always let you protect me."

Ichigo's grip tightened around Zangetsu, but he stepped back. This was Rukia's Zanpakuto. Unless she truly could not survive, he had to let her face it.

Sode no Shirayuki's eyes were cold.

"I hate you. I will take your family, your love, and your honor from you."

Rukia's expression settled.

"I was proud to have the most beautiful Zanpakuto in Soul Society," she said. "But if my own Zanpakuto will hurt the people I must protect, then I will stop you."

Her reiatsu began to rise.

"Even if that means setting you free."

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