Trial of Fire

Chapter 20
Declaration of War

“Three days, and still he hasn’t stirred.” Kinomi fretted.

Orihime was on the last round of healing and he was looking more like his old self, if not still unconscious and slightly starved looked. It was because of that Kinomi insisted she be the only one near him and that Orihime stay back, or even better, out of the room. She could maintain the technique from down stairs just as easily as in the room.

Despite the fact Grimmjow was a fully aware and capable being, he was still a hollow that required spiritual energy to eat and survive. There was no telling what state he would wake up in and the last thing they needed was for him to eat the first thing he saw because he was starving.

Kinomi was sure she was safe since he know her and she had ‘tera, who’s reiatsu was still encompassing her own like some sort of protective shield. No doubt she ‘smelt’ just like him so she had little to no fear of being mistaking for food.

It was late at night when a spiritual pressure jolted her awake. She had both zanpakuto’s drawn before she was even fully to her feet and was up on the roof looking at the maw of a garganta as it opened.

“Oh god please tell me those things didn’t follow us.” She begged silently.

Ichigo and Ishida were by her side in an instant, weapons drawn and ready to fight. Someone walked through the gate, a body in its arms. Kinomi gasped, and then raced forwards, sheathing the blades and taking the bundle.

Ichigo was by her side in an instant, Ishida still covering their six from the ground. He was glaring at the hollow, but his focus was more on the bundle then the hollow.

“Nel.” Ichigo whispered, taking in her beating up and drained appearance.

“Itsygo?” She whispered weakly.

Ichigo turned to look at the unknown hollow, eyes narrowed.

“Hurón-san.” Kinomi nodded. “Rata.” She acknowledge the rat on his shoulder, who looked surprised at being addressed and stood a little taller. “Where did you find her?” She asked.

“In a cave with what I presume is the rest of the survivors from Las Noches.” He answered.

“We do not have much time. Akusesshou’s forces were moving on them quickly.” Rata hissed.

“Kinomi, you know this hollow?” Ichigo asked suspiciously.

“Yes. I’ll explain later. Is there anywhere for them to flee to?” She asked, turning her attention back to Hurón.
He shock his head.

“Itsygo… please help.” Nel coughed, unable to say more.

“She’s been holding them off for a while now. I arrived in time to save them this time, but…” Hurón left the rest unsaid.

Kinomi nodded her head. She whipped out her phone and started texting, the others looking at her confused. A moment later the phone rang and Kinomi walked off to the side to speak to whoever was on the other end. Giving the Urahara shop symbol on the side, it was a quick guess it was Kisuke.

Kinomi opened her mouth to say something, but a gate opened and they all turned to look at the twin sliding doors that opened before them, one set round, the other square.

Rata hissed and cowered behind Huróns neck. Kinomi felt apprehension rise, but only briefly as Taka and Galgo emerged with one other figure. Kinomi blinked several times to make sure she was seeing right because there was no way he was here.

“Oh my lord, Nel-chan.” Taka gasped as soon as they were through and she had joined them in the air. “Hurón-san, what happened?” Taka demanded.

“I’ll explain later.” Kinomi interjected. “More importantly, how in hell did you get permission to come through?” Kinomi demanded, landing on the ground and looking at Stark in disbelief.

He shrugged one shoulder.

“No one knows.” Galgo admitted grudgingly. “Taka and I were assigned to check up on a tripped alarm. I see there is no worry about it.”

Kinomi nodded.

“Wait, you know this hollow to?” Ichigo asked in surprise.

“No offense, Kurosaki-san, but you really do not pay much attention to detail, do you.” Taka sighed. “This is Hurón-san, we have told you about him before.”

“Itsygo.” Nel panted again.

“We got to move quickly.” Kinomi spoke up. “Otousan, please get Nel-chan inside so Hime-chan can take care of her. Galgo, the restriction law, what constitutes as taichou-class in that rule Yamamoto set down?”

“Theoretically speaking anyone as strong as a taichou, basically having achieved Bankai, and not related.” He shrugged.

“Good.” Kinomi nodded. “Two or more right?”

“Yes. Where are you going with this?” Taka asked confused.

“Otousan and I both have Bankai and are not related, thus fulfilling the requirements.” Kinomi declared, removing the reiatsu restraining bracelet from Starks wrist.

They all looked at her in shock.

“We do not have much time.” She pulled out her phone as it buzzed and nodded her head. “Galgo, go get Azucena, quickly, I don’t care what you have to do to get her, just do it and then head for the S.T.C.”

He nodded and left through the gate. Ichigo returned at this point.

“Kinomi, what are you planning?” Taka demanded. “What’s going on?”

“The survivors of Las Noches are about to be annihilated by Akusesshou, we can not let that happen.” She declared.

“What?” Taka gasped.

“Wait, you are planning to…”

“Yes.” Kinomi interrupted her father. “Nel-chan asked and so we will.”

“Kinomi, are you sure you are not going for revenge for what was done to Grimmjow?” Ishida spoke up for the first time.

She sent him a death glare.

“If I was doing this for revenge I would be heading for the fortress, not wasting time with the dolls.” She ground out.

Before more could be said anther Garganta opened, Ichigo and Ishida aiming for it. The rest of the HMK’s came flying out. Kinomi blinked when she saw Lilinette, Ggio and Yachiru were with them.

“What?” She began.

“Lilinette-san wouldn’t let Azucena go unless she could see what was so important.” Zan explained.

“You called at a bad time.” Leon grumbled. “We were in the middle of dinner so of course a big emergency brought up attention.”

“Pantera-chan, what’s going on?” Yachiru asked curiously.

“I’ll explain later. Hurón-san, can you bring us to the caves?” She turned to look at the hollow.

“Hold on a sec. Why the hell hasn’t Seireitei’s alarms been blaring with all these Garganta’s being opened?” Ishida demanded.

“Plot Device.” Taka answered with a wide grin.

Ishida spluttered.

Hurón opened the gate. Kinomi paused only to remove the bracelets from Lilinette and Ggio before racing through first, both blades drawn. They arrived outside a large, rocky hill.

Kinomi could feel the reiatsu of the survivors. Hurón approached the caves first, leaving the rest of them looking off to the distance.

The radar was going off like crazy and Kinomi scowled at the readings.

“Kinomi, what is going on?” Lilinette demanded.

“We got about ten minutes before they get here.” Taka declared.

Nodding, Kinomi turned to face the three arrancar, one fukutaichou, and one vizard that had accompanied them.

“Our last mission was a lie.” Kinomi stated bluntly, earning raised eyebrows and a what from Yachiru.

Kinomi gave a quick abbreviation on what had happened and what skills the creatures coming at them had and where to strike them to kill them.

“So, they are like zombies?” Lilinette asked.

“More like dolls. They do seem have some thinking capabilities, and since the cores being used are all former Espada, they are strong. Not as strong as they were in real life, thank the heavens.”

“This is going to be fun.” Yachiru chirped.

Kinomi nodded in agreement. Now that Nel and Grimmjow were safe and accounted for all the pent up worry was starting to fade away. It had been a while since she got to let loose.

“Oh, one last thing.” She added, her eyes now focused on the dolls fast approaching. “Other then Taka and I, the rest of us have been hiding out true abilities. Full release authorized. Lets send these things back to Akusesshou.” She grinned feral.

“Wait, what was that about hiding power?” Ggio asked.

Power whipped up around them as they fully released.

“Reina, Barbo, Akutsuchi. Zan, Taka, Akuho. Leon, Galgo Akuwai. I have Akukaze.”

She noticed she did not see dolls of Akumizu and she guessed the lack of water and dead bodies made him more or less useless, nor did she see Akuyami, but she guessed someone with that much power was hard to control and she doubted there were many dolls of him.

They confirmed with a quiet ‘hai’ and broke ranks, heading for the clusters of their respective dolls. The four adults looked at her in surprise, having never seen this part of their children, let alone this commanding part of Kinomi.

Yachiru just giggled, and then in a flash of reiatsu was charging in at the nearest Akutsuchi doll, wide smile on her face. A single sweep of her blade cut the head of one in half, dissolving it to dust to leave the core body gushing out fluids onto the sand.

Ggio drew his own blade and released before joining his son in battling the balls of light that were the Akuwai dolls. Galgo was relying on Garou’s sense of smell to find the targets as the large wolf tore through the ranks, Galgo slashing about with both blades.

“They are weaker.” Kinomi noticed. “Due to the distance or the number perhaps.”

Ichigo was flashing all over the place, heading to where he thought he was needed the most. Lilinette had gone to join Taka, no doubt worry about her daughter pulling her in that direction.


Stark just stood there and watched for several moments before floating to the ground and moving over to where the survivors of Las Noches were staring at the battle in stunned shock.

Some of the arrancar he recognized from his time as an Espada, the adjucas with broken masks and the other arrancar he did not. The all looked at him in pure shock as he approached them.

“Stark-sama?” One of the arrancar stuttered in shock.

He gave a tilt of his head in acknowledgment.

“What has been going on here?” He asked.

The one who had dared to call his name began explaining everything they knew, about how Grimmjow and Nel had rose to rule Las Noches and had taken them in. Most of the adjucas had risen to the max power they would ever achieve and deliberately had been ‘eaten’ so they would no regress.

They were permitted to live in Las Noches so long as they followed the set of rules laid down, the first and most predominant one was to never consume human souls again or raid either the living world or soul society.

The rules more or less had Nel written all over them and it pulled a small smile from him. He may not show it, but he did care a bit for the others Aizen had twisted for his own gain.

It was unfortunate that after finally getting a bit of peace, after all the fighting to consume or to be consumed, it had been ripped away from them by a new threat. A threat that had even him slightly worried.

Only the taichou had really been strong enough to fight the espada, and if someone was making clones of them and sending them out to destroy in an endless wave, well that was most definitely not good.

Even a taichou could be outnumbered and worn down. If there was a factory pumping these things out then they had better find and destroy it before they were overran with the things.

Looking back to the battle he noticed that the creatures seemed to be weaker then what Kinomi had stated they were, but at the same time there seemed to be no end to them. Hurón had joined the fray at this point, the Vasto Lorde a blur of quick motions as he struck.

He had recalled the tale of Kinomi’s fight against an Adjucas that the two girls had been raving to him about after that trip and he had to admit he was surprised the creature had evolved into a Vasto Lorde as so very few did.

“Why are the Shinigami helping us?” One adjucas asked in a hiss.

“Fool.” Rata spat, puffing himself up in pride. “That is Grimmjow-sama’s Son and adopted daughter.”

“Those are the children Aizen bred?” One of the arrancar asked surprised.

Stark nodded.

“Umm, if you don’t mind me asking… which ones are yours?” A voice asked shyly.

“The bird and the wolf.” He answered.

The numbers were starting to thin down a bit out there, but the creatures seemed to be stronger then before now and it looked like the fighters were starting to wear down a bit. Looking at one particular large cluster he didn’t even bother to move as he fired a gran ray cero into it, turning everything in the path to dust.

The mixed group of hollows stared at him in silent awe and fear. Most of them had never seen the power of an Espada other then Grimmjow released before. Stark was far, far stronger then the former 6th.

“Why are the children fighting for your right to live?” He asked simply as he began to walk towards the battle.

The mixed group of hollows shared a surprised look with each other, then looked to the battle where the crushing waves off reiatsu danced about. Two of the arrancar powered up and charged into the fray. As if a damn had been burst the rest joined.

Stark remained where he was, watching the battle and keeping an eye out to make sure no friendly fire, deliberate or otherwise, occurred. The only one who didn’t go was Rata, who did a good job at hiding behind his feet.

The little adjucas was not designed for fighting and the only reason it was probably still alive was because it had hooked up with Hurón.



Kinomi felt sweat stinging her various cuts as she destroyed another Akukaze doll. The more she chopped down, the stronger they seemed to get, as if drawing strength from each clones defeat.

“Or because the puppet master has less distractions so can focus his control on the remaining dolls better.” Kyattsuai pointed out in her mind.

Kinomi sent back an agreement. Before engaging the next opponent she checked on the others, noting they were all cut up but otherwise doing fine. The only one who seemed unscratched was Reina and Kinomi noticed the dolls targeting the young girl tended to refrain from using their weapons.

“So Akusesshou still wants her alive then.” She noted to herself.

Since the creatures seemed reluctant to harm Reina she had made herself the bait while Barbo finished them off with ease.

The fight was starting to drag out due to the shear number of opponents and Kinomi realized they were quickly reaching their limit. They were no where near as experienced as the taichou and as such could only hold their released forms for so long before it drained all of their power.

“Power is power.” Kyattsuai’s tired voice came to her mind.

“Yes, I know.” Kinomi answered.

“So take power to make power.” Kyattsuai suggested.

“Take what power?” She asked.

It was only because her mind was so linked with Kyattsuai she was able to have the conversation while being able to maintain full concentration on her opponent.

“Take the power. It is here, open to you.” Kyattsuai ordered.

“What power!” Kinomi demanded.

She almost froze when a pulse of power vibrated in her hand. Before she could get over her shock there was a large explosion and she turned to catch the tail end of the largest, strongest, gran ray cero she had ever felt or seen.

It was shortly after that the hollows joined in on the battle and they managed to destroy the dolls. They gathered together and Taka confirmed the radar was clean.

“It wont take too long before more of those things come looking for us.” Kinomi growled.

“That was fun.” Yachiru chirped. “Too bad Ken-chan couldn’t come play to.”

Kinomi and Taka shared a tired chuckle as they imagined just how much fun Kenpachi-taichou would have had here.

She turned to look at the group of hollows. There had to be about twenty of them, six former arrancar and the rest adjucas. Despite knowing about them Grimmjow and Nel had never brought them to Las Noches during their visits.

It was clear Lilinette, Ggio and Stark recognized a few of them. In fact now that she studied the three of them she noticed Lilinette was hovering worried over Taka while Ggio seemed to have more life in him then ever before all the while fretting over Reina-sama.

“Of course.” Kinomi realized. “This is the first time in fifteen or so odd years that he has got to go full out without any restrictions.”

Her own father had a scowl on his face as he joined them, sending a glare at the hollows but otherwise ignoring them. They seemed to recognize him, or at least some of them did as they cowered away from what to them was a living legend.

“So what do we do now?” Taka asked, looking at the large group.

“If we stay here we will just be hunted down, a group this big can not hide easily.” Kinomi sighed.

“Well we can’t bring them back to soul society, dear god they would execute us before we could even begin to open our mouths to explain what’s going on.” Leon sighed.

“Which we still need to do, by the way.” Zan pointed out with a groan.

“We can’t just let them loose on the living world either. Dear lord that would be as bad as bringing them to Soul Society.” Taka added.

“I am not leaving them here to be slaughtered just because they are hollows.” Kinomi growled. “Nel-chan wouldn’t and I wont abandon people in need just because they are of a different species.”

Yachiru giggled, drawing their attention to the pink haired Fukutaichou. Through it all not a single one of them stopped to think that someone of actual rank was here, who’s duty it was to report all this.

“This looks like it’s going to be fun. I am going to tell Ken-chan we are going to be busy having fun.” Yachiru declared, pulling out her own little phone and wondering off to call him.

“Shouldn’t we stop her?” Zan asked.

“No.” Taka and Kinomi answered at the same time.

“If anything we should be watching out for Kenpachi-taichou to randomly show up and demand to know why we haven’t been sharing the fun.” Kinomi chuckled.

“Kinomi.” Hurón called her attention to him.

“Yes?”

“I think I know where the rest of us can hide safely, do not worry about us here. You do what needs to be done.” He offered.

“You are trusting her?” One of the adjucas asked in surprise.

“Yes.” Hurón answered.

Kinomi nodded, then pulled out her phone and sent out another text.

“Leon.”

“One garganta coming up.” He offered.

“No. I will do it.” Stark offered.

Leon was looking rather worn out after the long battle and accepted the offer with a smile.

The portal opened and Kinomi wished Hurón luck before they stepped through, arriving outside the house. An anxious Nel was waiting for them, have been fully healed by Orihime in the hour they had been gone.

“You friends are safe. Hurón-san is leading them somewhere they wont be found.” Kinomi assured her, sharing a hug.

“Neliel.” Stark greeted when she noticed the three arrancar with them.

“Stark.” She greeted with a smile. “I haven’t seen you in years. Or you.” She shared a big hug with Lilinette. “My look how much you have grown.”

Lilinette blushed lightly at the compliment.

Nel looked at Ggio, but no recognition flashed and in the end she just introduced herself and shock his hand. They retreated inside and Kinomi wasted no time rushing up the stairs to check on Grimmjow.

Nel joined her shortly and the two of them stood silently looking down on his still prone form.

“Hime-chan told me what happened.” Nel was the first to speak.

Kinomi nodded her head, unable to speak.

“He stayed behind you know. Fighting all six of those creatures to give us time to escape. I should have stayed too.” Nel was crying now, tears streaming down her face. “I shouldn’t have left him, but the others needed me so much.”

The two woman shared a hug, kneeling beside the bed.

“They were so strong. Nothing we did could get past one of theirs armor, and the black one. Oh gods he was so strong.”

Kinomi agreed, she had fought that one and would have died had the blade been up half a millimeter higher. She would have died if Hurón hadn’t found her and taken her in, either from bleeding to death or by being eaten.

“What is Akusesshou?” Kinomi asked.

Nel shook her head, having no answer for her.


Down stairs a different conversation was going on, or more like an argument. Some of them wanted to go back to kill Akusesshou and his men, some wanted to go report this to soul society while others thought it was a bad idea.

The arguing went back and forth until Orihime silenced them all by covering her ears and screaming real loud in frustration. The scream drew Kinomi and Nel down the stairs, the former jumping the railing and landing with both Zanpakuto’s drawn.

There was a rather awkward silence broken by the sound of knocking on the door followed quickly by it being opened and someone walking in.

Urahara almost lost his head to ‘tera as Kinomi jumped and swung around, her nerves rigged so tight and exhausted from the last battle that she reacted with pure instinct to the unfamiliar reiatsu.

“My my, after all I have done to help you Kinomi-chan.” Urahara snapped his fan out and waved it.

“I KNEW IT.” Ichigo roared, leaping over the couch to pin the man against the nearest wall.

“Oh, Ichigo, you where here to.” Urahara chuckled nervously.

“Baka.” A male voice joined the conversation, a black cat sauntering into the room.

“Yoruichi-sama.” Zan and Leon yelped, jumping from their seats to bow before the black cat and leader of their foster clan.

“You know, in any other family or group that might seem strange.” Taka muttered.

“A most agreeable statement.” Reina agreed.

Kinomi shook her head as her father man handled Urahara while the bows continued to worship what appeared to be a black cat. The house was starting to get rather crowded. Eventually everyone settled down in the very crowded living room, the boys having finished what ever contest they had and Yourichi was curled up in Zan's lap being heavily petted while Leon paid attention to her ears.

“I have learned a lot from that Doll you got for me, Kinomi-chan.” Urahara started.

Everyone gave him their attention as all foolishness was set aside.

“I have determined that somewhere their must be a real body, most likely tied up in a spell. The main host is most probably unconscious.”

“Wait. Are you telling me that are still Alive?” Kinomi demanded.

“In a sense, yes.” Urahara answered simply.

“But how can that be? We have three very reliable witnesses that saw at least one of them disintegrate.” Kinomi asked.

“Just because the body is destroyed, does not mean the soul is gone.” Yoruichi spoke up from her place curled up on Zan’s lap. "Everyone here should be aware of such a thing after all."

“Tsukimono.” Urahara said. “The soul was captured and imprisoned. Faux bodies were made and the soul shoved into them. To truly destroy these puppets, we need to destroy or set free the source.”

“Do you think that’s what Akusesshou was trying to do to Otousan?” Zan asked.

“Most probably. Oh, I have made something that should make destroying the dolls easier.”

Urahara dug through his pockets, pulling various weird things out that the others could only wonder about their purpose before he pulled out a box and opened it to reveal what looked like key chains.

“These are Onwoadadekaesu.”

“Onwa whatas?” Leon asked confused.

“Onwoadadekaesu. The reason you can’t find the reiatsu of these things is because they aren’t made from it. They are held together by, well, lets call it sorcery. These charms well infuse your blades with the anti magic needed to disrupt the controlling power.

“Even being near the creatures should weaken them and getting a good jab on them should disrupt the spell holding the doll together and cause it to collapse. It should also break the main spell if you can find the main body.

“Unfortunately, I only made six.” He chuckled nervously as he handed the box to Kinomi.

“Thank you, Urahara-san.” Kinomi thanked as she took one of the charms out of the box.

She passed the box to Taka to hold while she looked at the current charm on Kyattsuai, not really wanting to replace the gift.

“Put it on ‘tera.” Nel suggested softly.

Kinomi looked up at Nel in surprise.

“You have been wielding her for a while now haven’t you? I can tell by the way you drew her when you raced down the stairs and slashed her at Urahara.”

“But, she’s not really mine.” Kinomi protested weakly.

“I think Grimm-chan would want you to take her.” Nel insisted.

Nodding, Kinomi attached the charm to ‘tera. Now who to give the other five to?

“Stark, Ggio and Lilinette, the three of you should return to Soul Society before it draws attention you are missing.” Yoruchi spoke up.

Stark Just nodded in agreement.

Ggio looked very displeased and seemed about to argue until Reina ordered him to obey, to which he responded with a “Yes, Reina-sama.”

Leon shared a look with Zan and sighed. It always disturbed him how much power his sister had over his father and no amount of time had ever changed that feeling.

Lilinette opened her mouth, then shut it again and nodded in agreement.

“Oh, and I so want to go to, but someone is going to have to make a report.” Yachiru pouted.

“Don’t worry about it Yachiru-chan. You can come in at the last second and rescue us once you twist the sotaichou’s arm to come help us.” Kinomi smiled.

“That task should be accomplished with a minimal amount of difficulty. Once Akusesshou has completed his conquest of Hueco Mundo, there is a strong possibility he will not desist in his conquests.” Reina declared.

“What?” Taka asked confused.

“Why can’t she ever use terms the rest of us can understand.” Kinomi groaned to Kyattsuai.

“Once Akusesshou is done conquering Hueco Mundo, he will target other realms next.” Barbo ever so faithfully translated.

“Otousan.” Kinomi called her fathers attention to her. “I know you want to come with us but,” she bit her lip, “if we fail, if Akusesshou assaults the living world or Soul Society with an army of those things, they well need every strong fighter they can get.

“We know our way around and a back way into the fortress. If we can get in and free the souls being tied to Akusesshou and get out again, then everything can end much quicker.”

Ichigo made to protest, but it was Stark who beat him down.

“They know what they are doing and work as a unit in a way the rest of us can not match.” He stared from Galgo to Taka, a look in his eyes no one recognized. “It is hard to watch your children grow up, but it is the duty of a parent to know when to let them fly on their own.”

Taka positively beamed with pride and Galgo just offered his father a soft smile.

Various emotions crossed over Ichigo’s face, until finally he sighed and looked at Zan, and then Kinomi.

“Older and wiser huh?” He asked.

Kinomi offered him a nod and small smile, remembering their last argument.

“I promise, if things look bad Leon will get us out of there. We need you and Yachiru-chan to convince the old bastard that Akusesshou is a real threat that needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible before it is too late.”

Ichigo nodded, then took a moment to embrace his daughter and step son. By Yachiru’s orders Taka, by extension Azucena, and Kinomi were covered, and by Yoruichi’s Zan and Leon. Galgo wasn’t too worried as Ukitake-taichou was very lenient and would no doubt approve of what they were doing. Barbo and Reina also didn’t worry too much as Stark promised to talk to his sleeping buddy on their behalf. If the two taichou were willing to destroy a relic to save Rukia’s life, than they had no doubt the two of them would support them in this as well.

It was later that evening when half the crowd had cleared out, returning to Soul Society via a gate made by Urahara. Kinomi left the political crap and what story to make up to tell Yamamoto to Urahara and Yoruichi. As long as back up came if they needed it or they were not court marshaled when they got back, she would be happy.

Minus Azucena and Reina the others put the key chains on their blades. They would head out first thing in the morning on their mission. Nel would remain behind to protect the coma toast Grimmjow and the others least Akusesshou discover the house and launch an assault.

Stay Tuned for chapter 21: Awoken

Grimmjow wakes up and they find the main bodies of the former espada