Rangiku and the Human Shield

Ichigo watched Haineko and Tobiume argue in front of him and wondered if they had been sent to delay him on purpose.

If so, the plan was almost working.

"Hey, Ichigo Kurosaki!" Haineko shouted as he tried to move. "Don't run!"

She chased first. Tobiume snapped back to the situation a heartbeat later.

"Don't you dare run!"

Thankfully, help arrived before Ichigo had to decide how much force he was willing to use on two female Zanpakuto.

Rangiku Matsumoto and Momo Hinamori landed nearby.

For once, Momo's legendary survival record was useful. The woman could take punishment that should have folded half the Seireitei. If anyone deserved the title of human shield among the lieutenants, it was her.

"Ichigo, go!" Rangiku said, stepping between him and Haineko. "We'll handle this."

Momo nodded and raised her Asauchi.

"Leave them to us. They are our Zanpakuto."

"Thanks."

Ichigo did not argue. Fighting women was not his specialty in any sense of the word. Chasing Byakuya fit him better.

Haineko and Tobiume both flinched when their masters appeared.

Rangiku took one look at Haineko's exposed outfit and grabbed her by the hair.

"Is this really what you look like when you get to choose?"

Rangiku's own style was bold, but Haineko had taken "bold" and kicked the door open. Even Rangiku looked ready to disown her.

Haineko attacked.

Rangiku dodged, her expression sharpening.

So her own Zanpakuto truly was willing to fight her.

Momo and Tobiume were worse. Their clash looked less like a duel and more like two women about to start pulling hair in the street. Tobiume mocked Momo's flat chest. Momo hit back even harder by calling Tobiume the Zanpakuto of a woman Aizen had abandoned.

Some people watched sword fights for technique.

Some people would watch this one for the drama.

In the end, Rangiku and Momo won. Both lieutenants were excellent with Kido, and neither Haineko nor Tobiume had enough raw power to compensate once their tricks were understood.

The two Zanpakuto were captured alive.

...

At the same time, Muramasa was in Hueco Mundo, devouring Hollows.

Even a special Zanpakuto like him could not remain materialized forever after separating from his master. To maintain his body and complete his true goal, he had chosen to consume Hollow power.

Ichigo continued after Byakuya and followed him into a stone forest.

By then, Ichigo had understood the pattern. Byakuya was not simply fleeing. Someone was deliberately using him as bait.

The attack came as soon as Ichigo entered the stone forest.

Ice pillars shot toward him.

Ichigo drew Zangetsu and cut through two of them without slowing. Four ice dragons followed, large and dramatic, but no different in result. Each one fell apart under a single swing.

"Who are you?" Ichigo asked, landing on a stone pillar and looking down at the blue-green-haired man below.

The man had a white cross-shaped mark across his face.

"No one," he said coldly. "Just a passing masked... no, wrong story. You are Ichigo Kurosaki."

Ichigo stared at him.

"Yeah. And you know my name because?"

"As expected. Your strength is extraordinary." The man raised his Zanpakuto. "Muramasa told me not to attack you, but I cannot ignore this."

Moisture gathered in the air and condensed into four ice dragons. They circled Ichigo, then froze him inside a massive prison of ice.

Ichigo released a burst of reiatsu.

The ice shattered instantly.

"Strong attack," he said. "If it had been stronger, maybe I would have needed Bankai."

"Bankai?" the man repeated.

Ichigo frowned.

"What?"

"That sword in your hand. Is it your Zanpakuto?"

The question made Ichigo's suspicion deepen. Every Zanpakuto he met today was stranger than the last.

"What is your problem?"

The man studied him, almost confused.

"Are you not my master?"

Now Ichigo was the one left speechless.

"Master?"

"If you are not my master, then I have nothing to say to you."

The man turned to leave.

Ichigo saw through him at once.

"You're Hyorinmaru."

Ice erupted from the ground around him. A dozen pillars rose into the air, surrounding Ichigo with a cold deep enough to slow even him.

Then a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Hyorinmaru!"

Toshiro Hitsugaya arrived and landed in front of the Zanpakuto spirit.

"I am your master, Hyorinmaru. My name is Toshiro Hitsugaya."

Hyorinmaru looked at him and gave a cold laugh.

"Is that meant to be a joke? A child like you could not possibly be my master. Do you truly expect me to believe such nonsense?"

Hitsugaya stiffened.

"You forgot me? Did Muramasa do something to you?"

"No. When I was released from my master's restraint, I lost my memories. For now I am staying with Muramasa, but my mission is to find my true master."

Hyorinmaru's gaze swept over Hitsugaya with open disdain.

"My power is immense. Only a handful of the strongest Soul Reapers could wield me. Certainly not a child like you."

Hitsugaya's face tightened.

He had heard Hyorinmaru mistake Ichigo for his master. He knew Ichigo was stronger than him, but hearing his own Zanpakuto reject him still hurt.

"My strength may not be enough yet," Hitsugaya said, "but I am your master."

"Then prove it."

Hyorinmaru vanished with Shunpo and struck from behind.

Hitsugaya turned fast enough to block, but the blow still launched him backward.

"Bakudo Number 63: Sajo Sabaku!"

Yellow chains wrapped around Hyorinmaru. The Zanpakuto spirit barely glanced at them. His cold froze the chains solid, and his reiatsu rose high enough to gather black clouds overhead.

Water in the air formed into a massive ice dragon behind him.

Ichigo, who had been ready to intervene, stood nearby watching.

Hyorinmaru noticed that Sennen Hyoro had not truly stopped him. Irritated, he thickened the ice around Ichigo again.

Hitsugaya shouted, "Stop! Your opponent is me!"

"Hado Number 31: Shakkaho!"

The weak fire spell died with a wave of Hyorinmaru's hand.

Hitsugaya rushed in with both hands on his Asauchi. Hyorinmaru did not even open his eyes. The ice dragon behind him slammed Hitsugaya to the ground.

Hitsugaya forced himself up, leaning on his sword.

"I heard Zanpakuto obey their instincts after breaking free from their Soul Reapers," he said. "What is your instinct? What does your soul want? Have you forgotten even that?"

Hyorinmaru looked at him.

"What my soul seeks is a place to belong."

Those words struck something inside Hitsugaya.

He remembered his own childhood. His spiritual power had been too strong, too cold, and the people around him had feared him for it. Then he had met Rangiku and Momo, and for his grandmother's safety, he had left Rukongai and joined the Gotei 13.

Understanding settled in him.

His Shikai returned.

Hitsugaya drew his power to its limit.

"Ryusenka!"

It was a technique normally possible only with Hyorinmaru's Bankai, but Hitsugaya forced it out through Shikai. The ice caught Hyorinmaru and sealed him.

That was when Ichigo finally moved.

"Getsuga Tensho!"

A black crescent tore through Sennen Hyoro from within. Ichigo stepped out just as Hitsugaya and Hyorinmaru were frozen together.

"Hyorinmaru!" Hitsugaya shouted. "Remember!"

The familiar face and familiar reiatsu reached him.

Hyorinmaru's power surged. The ice of Ryusenka shattered, and the Zanpakuto spirit transformed into a great ice dragon coiling around Hitsugaya.

Hitsugaya smiled weakly.

"So you finally remembered. Also, I am not 'brat.' I am Toshiro Hitsugaya."

The dragon roared in answer.

Then the ice broke apart, and Hyorinmaru materialized again, catching Hitsugaya as he lost consciousness.

He had recovered his memories without being beaten down.

Ichigo appeared at their side.

"Toshiro!"

"He is fine," Hyorinmaru said calmly. "He only exhausted his spiritual power. I will look after him."

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