STOP ME WHEN YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH

So, It Isn't

"Ah, Ichigo. How nice of you to join us. And look, you brought the Espada," Aizen comments.

The surrounding buildings are destroyed and on fire. Traffic lights are on the ground, glass shards from windows are everywhere. Papers flutter through the sky like snowflakes. The sky is gray from smoke, and it suspiciously smells like burnt flesh. That can only mean citizens were caught in the crossfire.

Ichigo is sick to his stomach. People still died. After everything he's done, people still died. Ichigo doesn't deserve Karakura Town.

"The invasion is over. All Shinigami sent to Las Noches are dead," Ichigo reports.

"Excellent," Aizen grins.

"How could you, Kurosaki! You were one of us!" Yamamoto booms. "We welcome you in, and this is the thanks we get? You're despicable."

"Oh, quit lying. You only accepted me when you realized you can't kill me. Oh, and did you try," Ichigo glares. He doesn't quite know what Yamamoto knows, so he'll keep this up while he can.

"You helped a fugitive."

"You made her a fugitive!" He snaps.

He draws Zangetsu, the Espada following his lead.

"What's the plan, Kurosaki?" Grimmjow snaps.

Ichigo never got the chance to reply. Behind Yamamoto comes a wave of the second half of the Gotei 13. They're battered and bloody and ready to kill. Rukia is among them. She stands beside Yamamoto as the rest of the captains join the frontline.

"Such a shame. This all could've been avoided," Shunsei sighs.

"Yes, a shame," Ukitake agrees.

They send Ichigo looks of knowing. That's good. Rukia told them the truth.

The Cero Espada widens his stance and throws his head back into a roar. The rumbling ground ascends to the skies, ripping open the fabric of this world. The Arrancar flood out like a swarm of killer bees. Hiding in their ranks are the surviving Shinigami from the invasion, but of course, the Shinigami don't know that. Ichigo never told Rukia the plan.

His fracción flash to his side. Chad and Tatsuki slam their fists into the ground, shattering the asphalt beneath as a sign of aggression. Keigo summons a lightning bolt into the palm of his hand, and Mizuiro holds a ball of fire. Inoue and Ulquiorra arrive, both glowing with power. Uryū arms himself with a seele schnider, the blue hue appearing to make his eyes glow.

"Those humans," Unohana gasps. "Three of them have been altered recently."

The captains stare, their lieutenants following suit. What does she mean they were altered? Like when Ichigo gave them their powers?

"How could you use the Hogyoku on human children!" Isane shouts.

"What?" They say collectively.

"I hate to break it to you, but we didn't use the Hogyoku!" Mizuiro calls.

"Yeah, Ichigo gave us these powers!" Keigo shouts.

"He gave them powers? Is that possible?" Ukitake frowns.

Ichigo rolls his eyes. "Rukia, are you ready to end this?"

"Of course," she grins.

The ginger matches her grin. He raises Zangetsu into the air.

"Arrancar! Surround the enemy!"

The swarm of enhanced Hollows take to the skies. They circle Aizen in an instant, surprising the shit out of the megalomaniac. In waves, they throw attacks at him from all angles. Fire then ice then lightning then poison. Inoue throws up a barrier to trap Aizen in the toxic air. He is seen banging on the barrier, and Inoue reacts appropriately. She closes the barrier in, shrinking it down to his figure.

"Hurry! I don't know how long I can hold him!" Inoue shakes.

"Shinigami, find Ichimaru! We need him alive!" Ichigo orders.

From the swarm separates the invasion forces. They split up and set off into shunpo. They cover the city, easily finding Gin crossing swords with Toshiro.

"Come on, he's this way!" Renji waves.

"Rukia, get Rangiku!" Ichigo commands as he leaves with Renji.

"What the hell is happening?" Shunsei demands.

Rukia shrugs, but follows out her orders nonetheless. Renji leads Ichigo to Gin quickly before the fight can get out of hand. Toshiro seems to be going in for the kill.

"Toshiro, stop!" Ichigo shouts.

"Stay out of this, Kurosaki!" Toshiro snaps.

He sends a current of ice at Gin, who manages to dodge it. Renji steps in to help Gin avoid getting impaled. Ichigo shunpo's in front of the white haired captain, hoping to distract him long enough to allow the others to escape.

"Hey, listen to me! We need him alive!"

"He hurt Momo!" Toshiro snaps.

That's right. Gin did something to Momo, a dear friend of Toshiro. Wow, there is so much drama and bullshit in that, Ichigo is afraid to delve into it further. Toshiro gets ready for another attack. Ichigo knocks Hyorinmaru off course, and an ice spike is launched away from Gin.

"It was Aizen's plan! There was never intent to kill Momo where Gin is concerned," Ichigo reasons.

"And I'm supposed to believe you? You're with Aizen!" He retorts.

"No, I'm with Rukia. Aizen was in the way of that. I did what I could to overthrow him."

Toshiro points his zanpakuto at the ginger. "Then why is he still in power if you want to overthrow him?"

"Because I need Gin. If you keep attacking him, I won't have any choice. I'll have to fight you."

"Gin!" Rangiku shouts.

All heads turn. The strawberry blonde stands there beside Rukia with tears in her eyes. There's blood all over her shihakusho that doesn't seem to be her's. Poor thing, Ichigo thinks.

"You gotta let him go," Ichigo tells the captain one last time. "For Rangiku."

Toshiro looks ready to complain, but stops when he sees his lieutenant embrace the snake he's trying to kill. They cling to each other for dear life, and Rangiku curses him in ten different ways, ignoring the tears spilling down her face. He apologizes over and over again, but smiles in relief and love and he's so happy to be able to hold her again.

Hyorinmaru is sheathed. A sigh leaves Toshiro's body sagging. "Fine. But if he hurts anyone else, I won't hesitate."

"Great."

If only that's where his long list of problems ended.