As this is the first chapter, it is a little weak. I promise this will only get better!
Flight of the Phoenix
By: Pharoah103090
Part 1: First Flight
“What is going on around here?”
This thought was the first thing Sion Fierro thought when he walked through the gate entering the Soul Society. His fellow Shinigami were racing around cleaning up the debris of surrounding buildings, and just general chaos was in the air.
“I leave for a few weeks and everything goes to hell.” Sion rubbed his head wondering what could have happened. He jumped into the air and vanished onto a nearby roof and began running towards the Squad 6 barracks. He arrived only to find what he just left; the central courtyard was filled with his squad members racing around cleaning up.
“Well, you’ve finally returned…too bad you missed all the fun.” Sion knew this voice all too well. He turned to see his Squad’s Lieutenant, Renji Abarai standing behind him. Under his robes Sion was able to see bandages, implying there something had happened, and it led to Renji getting injured.
“Renji good to see you; mind explaining what has happened to our beloved Seireitei?” Sion asked this knowing he wasn’t going to like it.
“Before asking that shouldn’t you be finishing your mission?” Renji said this with a raised eyebrow and some insincerity in his voice. Sion was immediately taken aback as he had forgot this important fact, “That’s right I need to head to Squad 2 and turn in my report! Captain Soifong will have my head if I don’t get it to her quick.”
“Well then you best be going then. When you get back there will be a report in your room, read it thoroughly. It will explain everything that has happened while you’ve been gone.” Renji jumped back from the roof and vanished.
“Well now I’m interested, but first things first.” Sion focused his energy into his feet, and jumped as hard as he could off the roof he landed on the complete opposite side of the barracks, and continued the pattern until he saw the Squad 2 Barracks in front of him. He landed and walked up the small road and arrived at its gate. He knocked twice and a small slide opened and a voice popped through.
“Yes?”
“I have business with Captain Soifong concerning a mission she sent me on.”
“The Captain is busy at the moment come back later.” The man’s words were wasted as Sion had already jumped over the door and landed a few yards behind him.
“Wait stop! You can’t disturb the Captain during her training!” Once again the man’s words were wasted as Sion had already vanished and headed to the expansive woods behind Squad 2’s barracks. He landed on a branch and shouted.
“CAPTAIN SOIFONG, IT’S ME SION FIERRO I’VE RETURNED FROM YOUR MISSION, AND HAVE A REPORT FOR YOU!” Sion pulled a small envelope from his inner robe, and held it up. It was in his hands for a mere second before he felt a small gust of wind. Sion rubbed his fingers together and realized it was gone.
“Well about time this got completed. I guess there still are some competent Shinigami around here after all” Sion turned to see the Captain of Squad 2, Soifong, in here training garbs reading the report.
“Thank you Captain, I did my best to complete the mission with the utmost speed.” Sion had been dispatched by Soifong to help build a suitable base for the Stealth Forces on the further reaches of the Rukongai so they could enforce the law and act as a sort of police squad in an area usually filled with chaos. Soifong didn’t like this but felt that it was needed to try to keep the peace all throughout their world.
Sion did these sorts of missions a lot. He had done work for almost every Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads. Mainly non-fighting missions for Sion’s zanpakutō was unstable. When released he had little control over its power, and made it quite dangerous. Therefore through extensive work outside of combat he earned his position as Squad 6’s 3rd seat.
“Well you did the job as asked, and with some time to spare. I’ll be sure to let the Head Captain know of this. Your dismissed Fierro.”
“Thank you Captain” Sion bowed while saying this and flashed out of sight. He began a mad dash back to the barracks to read the report Renji mentioned. He arrived to see most of the chaos had died down. He walked along the corridors of the barracks stopping only to gaze at his Captain’s barrack. It was larger than any other Captain’s barrack as it also served as the headquarters for the Kuchiki clan, his Captains clan. He found the door to his room, and slid it open. Inside on the small table was a large yellow envelope. Sion picked it up, and read its title slowly, only to realize what the title alone implied.
“The Aizen Rebellion”
“Rebellion…what does that mean.” Sion of course knew what the word rebellion meant, but the title implied that the Captain of Squad 5, Sōsuke Aizen, had rebelled against his own people? Such as thing shocked Sion enough for him to tear open the envelope and begin reading. Little did he know it was much worse, as he continued to read he found out all the horrible details of what had happened while he was gone.
A short time later when Sion had finished reading he heard a knock at his door. He barley was able to ask who it was, when Renji opened the door and entered the room. Renji looked at Sion, who had grown much paler and was sitting quite uncomfortably, and smiled a broken smile.
“I see you’ve read the report. Pretty crazy wouldn’t you agree?” Renji said this as he sat and pulled a sake jug from his side. He popped the cap and poured the liquid into a nearby cup. He handed one to Sion as he took another.
“None of this makes any sense. Why did any of this happen? Why would 3 prestigious Captains just decide to rebel like this.”
“No one believes that this was just a spur of the moment deal. A lot of the other Captains believe that this had been in the works for a very long time. Probably since before we became members of this squad.” Renji stared at his glass while saying this, and drank the entire glass, with a deep sigh he refilled his glass, and topped off Sion’s now empty glass.
“I also read about how big of a part Rukia Kuchiki, and these ryoka played in this mess. Hard to believe that there is a substitute Shinigami capable of beating our Captain, and well….” Sion immediately stopped as Renji’s eyes pierced through him.
“I’ll grant that Ichigo has exceptional power, but I too have grown quite strong. I’ll beat the hell out of him next time we meet.” He said this after downing his second drink.
Sion smiled, “Still our Captain that no one we know can beat, was bested by this boy. Its slightly sickening. We have to look really bad right now.”
“Imagine Squads 3, 5, and 9 they all had their Captains turn traitor. Their honor has been completely and utterly taken from them. I think we have nothing to worry about.” This time Renji didn’t down his drink, but merely sipped it. Sion followed watched Renji, reading his emotions; he saw Renji’s pride had been struck a little. He wouldn’t dare mention the part of the report on Renji fighting Captain Kuchiki; he thought that would not be a good idea. Before he could begin his next sentence a knock came to his door.
“Enter, I must be popular tonight.” Sion smiled and Renji let out a weak laugh. The laughs stopped as the door opened, and standing on the other side was their Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, the Captain of Squad 6. His cold face peered into the room and stared at the men, the report, and the sake. He stepped in and the room grew colder Sion thought.
“Might I have a word with the two of you.” The Captains words tore through the air and shocked Sion into going right along with whatever was said.
“Of course Captain please sit. Might we interest you in a drink?” Sion wasn’t sure if the Captain drank, but felt obligated as the host to offer, even though it was Renji’s sake. He had slid around to the other side of the table with Renji so that they both faced their Captain.
“Just one drink please.” Before even finishing Renji had taken another glass, and promptly filled it. He slid it to his Captain who caught it, and began to sip it. He lowered the cup and peered at both men.
“Tomorrow there will be a Captain’s meeting held in Squad 1 Barracks. The nature of this meeting to decide who will take the 3 open Captains positions in the 13 Court Guards. Head Captain Yamamoto has requested that the remaining Captains nominate choices to participate in a Captain’s exam to begin that afternoon. I have planned on nominating 2 members of Squad 6 to participate. My first pick is you Renji, but I have reservations on whether or not to nominate you or not Sion. You’ve never had a stable zanpakutō, and that is why you’ve had to fight hard to earn your position. I don’t want to nominate someone who will make the squad look bad.”
Sion couldn’t help but be irritated by this comment. “To be frank Captain, my blade is more than stable now. If you nominate me, I will win, or die trying.” Sion said this before realizing he had stood up.
Byakuya cracked a small smile and closed his eyes. He opened them and stared right into Sion’s, which were now filled with fire. “Then fight Sion Fierro, fight and win. You both are to be at Squad 1 Barracks at noon tomorrow. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir!” Both men said this as Renji stood with Sion and they both bowed. The Captain then stood and walked out the door. Renji followed a few minutes later, but looked back at Sion with a stern look.
“Looks like things are going to continue to get crazy around here. You can still back out if you’re scared.”
Sion glared at Renji as his spiritual pressure filled the room taking Renji by surprise.
“Back down! I’m not backing down Renji. I relish this opportunity. You best get ready to see exactly what I can do.”
Renji smiled, and let his energy pour out a little. “Then this will get quite interesting. The best of all the non-Captains squaring off. Good luck Sion Fierro you’ll need it.” Renji slid the door shut, and walked away. Sion smiled and laughed to himself. He turned and picked up his zanpakutō, drew it, and pointed it straight ahead. Its blade began to glow with orange energy and pulsed.
“It looks like I’ll finally get to let you out. Good I know you’ve been getting anxious. Don’t worry my friend; we’ll fly again very soon!”
