A old man with a large wooden cane stood alone on an enormous balcony overlooking the city below. This man was not a human, by any standards. He was a soul reaper. His entire body was covered in scars that he had received from countless opponents. The most visible of this being a large X were two of them crossed on the right side of his forehead. He had lived long enough to know every conflict that had happened to the Soul Society since the beginning of it's existence. This man's name was Genryusai Yamamoto, and he was over 1000 years old.
Such an age was not unheard of in the Soul Society. There had been a few lucky individuals who had even surpassed his age. Life in was extended in the Soul Society, aging was slowed, and people can live incredibly long lives. He had only lived this long because of the amount of spiritual energy he possessed. Without it, he would have passed a long time ago.
Spiritual energy is the amount of sync a person has with their spiritual sensitivity and willpower. Every being alive has spiritual energy. If a human were able to have above-average spiritual energy, which is extremely rare, that human would be granted a few superhuman abilities such as seeing ghosts or other souls. If that human were able to harness that spiritual energy he would also be granted even more powers, such as enhanced speed or strength. The more spirtual pressure a person has the stronger they will become. Although, every soul within the Soul Society possess spiritual energy.
Some special souls within the Soul Society were lucky enough to have greater amounts of spiritual energy, which would allow them to become soul reapers. The job of a soul reaper was to keep balance within the Soul Society and the human world. If one of those worlds were to fall into chaos the other would follow shortly. For this reason, the Gotei 13, or the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, was created.
But now, Genryusai thought to himself, The balance of our worlds is once more at risk. But this time, there is a third world involved... If any of these worlds were to fall into chaos, the others will follow. Something must be done. He heard a knock on the large wodden door. Something has been done. He thought to himself. In a gruff, yet commanding voice, he said "You may enter." The door began to slowly creak open revealing two very special individuals.
One was a boy that could have been thirteen or fourteen, but his real age was much greater than that. He had silver hair that went out in random directions, ice blue eyes, and a sword strapped to his back. He wore light black robes, with another white one covering the black ones to represent his rank. One the back of his clothes was his squad number. The boy's name was Toshiro Hitsugaya, and he was the captain of squad ten of the thirteen Court Guard Squads.
The other was a man with long black hair with slate grey eyes, he wore several snow white hairpieces on his head to signify his position as head of the his clan. He had the same clothes on as Toshiro, and had his own squad number delicately sewed into the back of it. His name was Byakuya Kuckiki, and he was the captain of squad six.
The two captains entered the room silently. They knew something important was about to happen, as they had only been called in to see the head captain personally only a few times before, and each time they were assigned a special task. Now, they would be assigned another.
"Head captain," Byakuya said in a smooth voice,"You asked to see us."
"Yes, that I did," Genryusai said, "I sent that messenger only five minutes ago, and already both of you have traveled more than a few miles to reach me. That is impressive," He turned toward the pair, "Such urgency is the reason I asked both of you two to come here. I know you both care much about your place in this world, its balance, and that peace is kept. Well I tell you now: that peace is about to shatter." He stopped to let the gravity of the situation sink into the two captains that were present. They would need to know the importance of their task.
After a lengthy silence, Toshiro asked, "What must we do, head captain?"
"Ahh, yes. What must be done?" Genryusai asked himself. "I believe that only you two can do what must be done. For what you will be doing will require every skill that you have ever learned in the past... you may even have to use your bankai. You will both need to rely on each other, and carry out your duties flawlessly if you are to succeed. If you slip up once, the mission is at risk." He was silent for a moment, "My question to you is this: do you think that you can handle this assignment?"
"Yes, head captain," They spoke in unison.
"Good, now we can begin." Genryusai walked over to his wooden desk and sat down. He reached in to a drawer, and after a few moments of searching, he pulled out 2 sheets of paper, "This is all you will need to know," He stated. He handed one of the sheets to each captain, who immediately began to read it.
After reading it several times to himself to make sure his eyes were not lying, Toshiro quoted from the paper, "Your main mission will be to exterminate hollows who have been appearing in a new land called Equestria. You will act as father and son in this land. Gigai will be provided for you so you will be able to blend in with the population. It is of utmost importance that you keep your true identity hidden. Should the princesses who rule Equestira find out, they will take every available action to eliminate you. If hollows overrun Equestria, both the soul society and the human world will be affected. All three of the worlds happiness, love, everything and anything that is good and we hold dear to us will be lost. Equestria's destiny, is now tied with ours." Toshiro took a deep breath and put the paper down on the desk. "So, when do we leave?" He asked.
Genryusai looked up at Toshiro, "You have until the sun sets, and not a moment later. You will likely not be returning to this place for the next few months, so make sure you say your goodbyes, and get your squad all sorted out so there will be order for when you leave. We will meet at the senkaimon when everything is prepared." He looked back and forth between the two captains before him, "Make these last few hours count." Both the captains bowed and began to leave the room, "One more thing," Genryusai said "Do not tell anyone the details of your assignment."
Both of the captains bowed before Genryusai once more before slowly leaving the room. As the wooden doors closed on their own behind them, both the captains turned to each other and were silent for a few moments. The situation that they were about to be thrown into was odd enough, but acting as father and son? Toshiro didn't even grow up with a father, and now the head captain was telling him that he had to act like a son to a man who he hardly had spent any time with?
"Father and son," Byakuya said "This shall be most interesting indeed."
"Well..." Toshiro began "Yea, it will be."
After a few more moments of silence, Byakuya vanished from his spot with a small whoosh sound, leaving Toshiro alone in the hall to think about what to do next.
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In a small garden, Rukia Kuckiki and Renji Abarai sat holding hands. They were enjoying watching the cherry tree blossoms bloom, and they were enjoying each others presence. The absolute harmony and peace that was in the area was undeniable. Just watching the pink tree was soothing to the soul, it calmed them both, and filled them with utter peace.
The pair had had a very long history with each other, one that was very quickly becoming more and more intimate as the days rolled on. They had begun to see each other more and more not just because of business, as it had been in the past. No, now they were starting to see each other because of their feelings. They wanted to be with each other now, and nothing could separate them in the future.
Neither one of them noticed a small whoosh sound behind them, but after a few moments they could feel the overwhelming presence of Byakuya's power. Rengi and Rukia turned around to see Byakuya looking down at them. The couples faces turned a bright shade of red, "Brother, what are you doing here?" Rukia asked, embarrassment cloaking her voice.
"I wanted to see you both." Byakuya said, "and confirm my suspicions."
At once the pair began to make up excuses.
"It's not what it-"
"I would never-"
"Here on business-"
"Decided to have lunch-"
"Needed to talk-"
"Wanted to take a break-"
"Enough," Byakuya said. "I have seen all that I needed to. You two obviously have been seeing each other for some time. How I did not notice it before is my fault. But," his face got even more serous,"That is not the main reason why I'm here.
Renji was confused,"Then why are you here?" he asked.
"I'm here to tell you that I will be going away for some time. I do not know how long exactly, but I shall return with the next few months."
"Oh," Rukia said softly,"Is it on clan business or were you assigned this by the head captain?"
"I was given this mission by the head captain," Byakuya said. "But that is not important. I will need each of you to take up my responsibilities while I am gone," He turned toward his sister,"Rukia, I'm making you the head of the Kuckiki clan in my absence. Do not disgrace our family name."
Rukia bowed her head,"Yes brother, I will not fail you."
Byakuya then turned to his lieutenant "Renji," he said in a voice of authority, accompanied by eyes of murder "To you I leave the squad. You shall take up full responsibility of everyone and everything in it. This is a major task that I am giving you. Do not fail me."
Renji hesitated, then he bowed before Byakuya "Yes captain. You can count on me."
Byakuya nodded to them both. His task being complete, he vanished with a small woosh sound.
Silence enveloped the garden. After a few moments of searching for Byakuya's spiritual pressure with her mind, Rukia confirmed that Byakuya had indeed left. "He knows," Rukia said "Rengi, he now knows about us."
"Yea," he replied "Well, at least he is leaving now on behalf of the soul society right? He won't be around for a while." While his voice was trying to reassure Rukia, his mind was traveling elsewhere. When Byakuya had looked at Rengi and told him that he was going to be in charge of squad six, his face and voice had sent a completely different message: touch her and I murder you. Renji shivered before sitting back down.
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Rangiku Matsumoto stood before Toshiro Hitsugaya in a large room. Rangiku had thick orange hair, grey eyes, and a somewhat lazy attitude. She was in fact older than her captain, much older, and she had just received the news from him that she was to be left in charge of the squad. Now normally this news would make someone jump for joy in the Soul Society. It would be a sign that their skills as a fighter and leader are being recognized. But for Rangiku, it just meant more paper work, more boring assignments, and less time to worry about how she looked.
"But why!?" Rangiku whined "Why do I have to be in charge? Can't you make one of the seats do it? I'm sure they would love to take charge of the squad."
Toshiro sighed and said "I really don't care what you think about my decision, it is final. You shall be in charge of squad ten until I return from my mission. I expect nothing but your best when I return." Rangiku groaned and dramatically fell onto the nearby couch.
"But why? Why did you have to chose me?" she asked.
"Isn't it obvious? You're you. And you have been slack on all your paper work. You have been forcing me to do them for you for years since I became the captain of this squad. I think it is time that you took responsibility for yourself now. This should be a good way of doing that." Toshiro said.
Rangiku groaned. She was being scolded like a child by a child. This was going to be a very difficult few months.
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As the sun began to set on the Soul Society, Byakuya and Toshiro stood before the senkaimon. It just looked like an ordinary wooden gate, but it was actually a portal between worlds. It was used so that people from the Soul Society could get back and forth between the human world. Yet now, it was going to be used to transport to a completely new world.
"Are You ready?" Byakuya asked Toshiro.
"Yes. For the good of all, I must be." Toshiro replied.
"Good." He reached his hand out and pressed on the door, and it began to open on its own. This revealed nothing but white, like looking at paper, except it had a slight mist around it. "Lets go. The supplies will be on the other side."
Toshiro nodded, and the two stepped forward into the white.