Sing Me a Lullabye

Title: Sing Me a Lullabye

Fandom: Bleach/Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)

Chapter: 35

Chapter title: How It Will Play

Characters: Many people

Word Count: 1,442

AN: And so we start to come around to what is going to happen. We’re picking up pace here people.

*~*~*~*

Everyone that was going to be a part of the final fight had gathered once more in the meeting room around a large table with tea. Ichigo was sitting near his father, who was going to go back to the Living world and work with those Vizards who had stayed as a line against any hollows that came from Hueco Mundo there. Ciel and Sebastian were sitting next to him while the rest of the people sat around the table, waiting to learn what the grand plan of the three mates would turn out to be.

“As most of you know, Urahara has been working with Kurotsuchi to create a type of side pocket, something I’m sure that you would have done with Karakura Town if the war hadn’t stopped when I was kidnapped,” Ichigo started, lacing his fingers together and leaning forward to gaze at the others. He was dressed for a fight, his hair pulled up and back by a pair of hair sticks that hid very thin, very dangerous knives that Ichigo could use if he needed to. Sebastian and Ciel were similarly dressed for a fight, both men wearing suits made of a dark cloth and shoes that would protect their feet as needed.

Everybody could tell that the three meant business and shivered at just how dangerous they could be even just sitting and drinking tea.

“So why is this side pocket needed?” Ikkaku asked, not getting the reason why they needed to go through the trouble.

“Casualties. We will not let the humans in the Living World get hurt, Ikkaku-kun,” Ichigo stated, pointing his finger at the other. “There will be way too many of us with no power restrictions which will throw the balance off of its delicate act and we cannot let that happen,” he continued, getting nods all the way around the table.

“I have heard some of you hide your powers, but this is not the time to do so. We need everyone at the top of their power, saving their most powerful attacks if at all possible until the end,” Sebastian stated, lacing his fingers together. “William and Grell are going to stay here to fight, Pluto, Ciel and I will be with Ichigo though. We’re powerful, but we can’t do it all since we have no doubt that Aizen has some very powerful Espada, as we’ve found out in talking with you all.”

“So I need all of you to be in top fighting performance and willing to break your silences on your abilities, and in some cases, your fears,” Unohana said as her eyes slid over the people before her. “I will be doing the same myself. I may be a healer but at one time I was the taicho of the Eleventh division and still hold many memories of long, hard fights that leave the blood rushing and you covered in the blood of your enemies. I have been working with a couple of people actually to help them get stronger for this,” she continued, smiling softly at the shocked looks that came from everyone but Kenpachi, Hanatoru, Isane, Ichigo and Isshin.

“She’s also my lost aunt, Isshin’s half sister,” Ichigo chuckled at the shocked looks.

“How did...” Yumichika sputtered, shaking his head and snapping his jaw shut. Ichigo snickered lightly and reached out, his smaller Phantomhive ring flashing on his finger as he gently closed the other’s mouth.

“How did I know? Dad knew and he told me,” Ichigo said sweetly, eyes glowing with amusement. “She’s very powerful and from what they’ve told me much like Kenpachi at one time. I trust her to protect my back and you should trust, and respect her enough to not hold back in the fight that is to come,” he continued, serious eyes trailing over every person there. “You are the best of the best. You have power, strength and a bond with your zanpakuto, so use it to your best abilities against your enemies,” he stated, standing up as he picked up a thick manila envelope.

“The enemies that you will being going up against are the Espada and their Fraccion. Some we already know about, including Zommari Rureaux and Szayelapporro Granz,” Unohana picked up as Ichigo handed out the information packets and sat down. Each one had names and known abilities on them, four of the Espada not in there due to them not having actually fought with any of them. “Our allies have given all of the information that they can give us so it is extensive in length. I want all of you to read the information we have been given, learn it and keep training as we set things up,” she continued, eyes dark.

“We’ll be pairing off. If you will check the back, you’ll notice a few of you don’t have assigned partners. Either you will be paired with one at the fight or you’re on your own since we know that you can fight and defend against any of the Espada or Fraccion,” Ichigo continued, crossing his legs. “My mates and I will be going up against Aizen seeing as I have a very large bone to pick with him. As for Ciel and Sebastian...well they’re just overprotective and want to kick his ass for daring to touch me,” he chuckled, giving his lovers an amused look.

“We have plans for his soul should he actually die too,” William stated from his place against one wall next to Grell who was playing with Yachiru’s hair.

“Yachiru-fukutaicho is staying here?” Ikkaku asked, raising an eyebrow at that fact, Grell growling at him as he held her close.

“She’s still a baby and should not be in the way of fights that could kill her,” Grell stated, nodding his head.

“Just don’t try to argue with him. He’s in a super protective state as it is. Only reason Renji is going is because Kenpachi will be there and his partner,” Ichigo snorted, smirking at the tattooed redhead, getting a growl from him. “To move on, when you have your opponent, I do expect you all to fight to your very best. This includes you, you coward,” he continued, dark eyes that flashed red landing on Omaeda.

“Yes, sir,” Omaeda squeaked, shrinking into his seat before the flashing eyes slid away from him.

“Anyways, we will need to train as much as possible, this includes our shikais and our Bankais. Yes, I have been training myself and yes, I will continue to train. Tou-chan has been helping me with that particular aspect since I came back, when I had time,” Ichigo continued, crossing his legs and tapping the file. “In two days time is the new eclipse that Aizen is waiting for and will be the last chance he will have to do what he wants to do for another three hundred years. We must defeat him now or we won’t be able to do it unless we go to him. And we all know what will happen should we go to him,” he growled, eyes flaring brightly.

Everyone went stiff at the slight surge of demonically tainted reiyoku that had flared up with Ichigo’s eyes. They knew that Ichigo was scary strong before, but now, with him being in balance with his hollow and with two lovers that he shared power with, he was probably off the charts and they wouldn’t know it considering he had such control.

“I once heard a quote that really touched me,” Ichigo hummed. “It was ‘We stand in awe of that which cannot be seen, and we respect with every fiber that which cannot be explained’. What it means to me is that we know we have the power, we know we do, but we don’t know how or why, but we have it. And we respect our power, we trust in it and we will not disrespect it by not using it to our full abilities. If anyone, and I mean anyone, runs without good reason, I will personally make you regret it.”

The words were spoken with quite promise, everyone nodding their heads in agreement. They could understand where he was coming from. They were going to a battle that would decide the fate of three worlds and none of them could afford to lose their fights or their lives. It would be the last battle. The very last one and it was the most important.

With that knowledge in mind, they used the next two days to practice, to spar and to get ready for the final battle between them and the forces of Hueco Mundo.