the Sokyoku

The next day Zoro wakes up with Rangiku shaking him awake, being already completely dressed for her duties, along with a golden earring hanging from her left ear.

"Hey gorgeous." Zoro greets her with a warm smile, with Rangiku leaning down to steal a kiss from him.

"Sorry, but I have to go. My captain is already waiting for me." Rangiku tells him.

"Hmm the shrimp? Fine I guess duties are duties. But I have to say it looks perfect on you." Zoro says, brushing past the earring and pulls her in for a final kiss, before getting out of her bed and dressing himself as well.

"You can go on ahead you know. I can handle dressing myself." Zoro says with a smirk, seeing her staring at him impatiently.

"Thanks." She says with a bright smile and opens her door, removing the kido barrier.

"Rangiku." Toshiro greets her unamused, having waited in front of her room for the past 5 minutes.

"Oh, captain sorry. The time got away from me." Rangiku apologizes, trying to close the door behind her quickly, but Toshiro manages to see Zoro, who's in the process of closing his coat and securing his zanpakutos.

"Aha, look I don't even want to know what's going on between the two of you, but I need to question you." Toshiro says, looking at Zoro.

"Me?" He asks surprised.

"Yes, while I'm glad you intervened yesterday. It proves you are strong enough to have killed captain Aizen." Toshiro says suspicious of him.

"Well, I don't got much to hide. Ask away." Zoro tells him.

"From the timing you appeared I assume you're one of the Ryoka?" Toshiro asks.

"I guess, somewhat. I tagged along on their trip at the very least." Zoro answers.

"What is your groups objective in coming here?" Toshiro questions.

"The others want to save this Rukia person. I only wanted to visit a special person." Zoro says, looking at Rangiku with a warm expression.

"Rangiku how well do you know him?" Toshiro asks his second in command.

"I trust him with my life." She answers without hesitation.

"Urgh, fine. I assume you really didn't kill Aizen then. It must've been Gin like I was suspecting earlier." Toshiro says.

"Well he always has his own agenda. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch." Zoro agrees.

"Hmm, come Rangiku. We have to look into something." Toshiro tells his vice-captain, going on ahead.

"So you aren't going to try and arrest me?" Zoro asks with a smirk.

"Something tells me I wouldn't succeed if I tried and Rangiku vouched for you. Plus there is something else going on here, someone is using your group as a distraction to achieve their own goal, whatever they may be." Toshiro says and continues on his way.

"See you soon?" Rangiku asks Zoro, getting a nod positive with him saying, "definitely."

Soon after the two Shinigami are gone Zoro is strolling around Seireitei aimlessly, when suddenly an announcement can be heard, announcing that Rukia's execution will be moved up one final time and take place tomorrow noon.

"Hah, who'd have thought. I should probably Yoru-chan to speed up the training." Zoro says to himself and starts his trekk towards his girlfriends hideout .

"Zoro? Can you hear me?" Nemu's voice suddenly appears, originating from his three earrings.

"Yep, what's up?" Zoro asks.

"There is someone you should talk to. Renji Abarai, he's expecting you in the 6th divisions prison." Nemu relays the information after Renji begged her to get him in contact with the Ryokas, having heard that she was seen talking to them.

The two only have to wait a minute or so before Zoro appears in the prison section.

"What's up?" He asks.

"Thanks for coming. I need your help. You probably know where Ichigo is right?" Renji asks.

"Yeah." Zoro answers.

"Bring me to him. I need to help him save Rukia." Renji says with dedication, slicing through the bars of his cage.

"Hmm I like that look in your eyes, fine. I'll tell you where they are if you tell them of the change in execution time." Zoro offers.

"No problem." Renji agrees.

Zoro then tells him were to find Ichigo and Yoruichi, after which the overly eager vice-captain takes off, leaving Nemu and Zoro alone in the room.

"I'm glad you trusted me enough to reach out." Zoro says, turning to the stoic woman.

"It was a logical action." Nemu informs him.

"Maybe, still I'm glad." He says, brushing a thumb over the back of her hand, holding it gently.

"I should probably get back to the captain." Nemu says.

"Before you go, stay clear of the execution site tomorrow OK? I don't want you to get hurt." Zoro tells her.

"I can't really get hurt." Nemu replies.

"Your body may be able to get replaced as long as your core is intact, but we both know you feel everything. Pain being no exception. Remember, when I gave you your soul I was connected to you." Zoro tells her.

"Alright, I won't go." She promises after a short pause.

"Thank you." Zoro says, kissing her forehead relieved.

"What will you be doing now?" Nemu asks.

"Waiting, I guess." Zoro says, shrugging his shoulders and leaves the room, making his way to the execution spot, lying down atop the enormous arc in between which the Shinigami get executed.

|day of the execution|

The captains, Genryusai, Sui fen, Shunsui, Unohana and Byakuya as well as their vice-captains, except for Renji have gathered at the Sokyoku. Many of the other captains and vice-captains couldn't make it, the 7th and 9th division captains because Kenpachi wants to help Ichigo, having formed a connection with the young teen during their fight and takes on the two captains, with his underlings taking on some of the divisions Vice-captains. Matsuri and Nemu have no interest in the event and Toshiro is out looking into what Gin's plans could be. Renji in his quest to help Rukia challenged Byakuya to a duel after learning how to summon his bankai, he got beaten down with ease however.

"It's time to start the ceremony." Genryusai, captain-commander of the Gotei 13 says, standing in front of Rukia, who is standing in between the massive arc of the execution place while the others are standing to Rukia's left.

"Do you have any last requests Rukia Kuchiki?" Genryusai asks her and Rukia requests that Ichigo and the others will be allowed to leave the Soul Society and Genryusai agrees to her request.

"How cruel, there's no way he'll actually allow them to leave, is there?" Isane asks her captain quietly.

"It's not cruel. It's merciful, this way she can face her fate without regrets." Unohana replies.

The team of executioners then move into position, one person standing at each one of the 10 posts tying down the enormous glaive known as Sokyoku, using a technique to release the weapons bindings.

After the ropes around the weapon have disappeared three blocks break out of the platform Rukia is standing on, forming a triangle and levitate her up with her arms outstretched and her feet together.

When she reaches the very top, she hears someone snoring, but thinks that it's just the wind clashing against the arc.

After reaching the top the glaive starts to get enraveled by flames, flying upwards and turning so its tip is pointed at Rukia, begin level with the small girl. The flames around the weapon start to take on the form of a enormous phoenix.

"Hah, who'd have thought it can take on a form." Zoro says surprised, weaking up form the spiritual pressure coming off the weapon as well as the noise the Sokyoku makes with its flames streaming off the sacrificial weapon.

"Who is there?" Rukia asks shocked, looking upwards, only to see Zoro sitting atop of the Arc in a relaxed position, his feet dangling over the horizontal running beam's edge.

"Ah right, we've never been introduced. The name's Zoro. I'm an ally of Ichigo's." Zoro greets her, looking down at her.

"Get away from there, you're going to be killed with me otherwise." Rukia shouts panicking.

"By the bird? Not likely." Zoro says, before turning behind him, feeling Ichigo's Reiatsu approaching fast.

"Yoruichi certainly shared her gadgets this time. Wonder what Urahara told her to make her believe in the carrot top so much." Zoro says to himself.

"Captains, I think there is someone up there." Isane shouts, spotting Zoro through the flames the Sokyoku gives off.

"Who's that?" Sui feng asks squinting her eyes, while Genryusai shows no response. Shunsui however has to stop himself from breaking out into laughter and Nanao glares at him from his side.

The one showing the most emotion on her face however is Retsu Unohana. Captain of the 4th division.

"No, no. It can't be." She says shocked, staring at the green haired man sitting atop the execution platform with worry and horror.

"Get down from there!" She shouts panicking.

"Huh? Isn't that? Heya, Captain Unohana. Long time no see." Zoro shouts down.

"Get away from the Sokyoku!" She bellows up, surprising the other captains.

"Don't worry. I've changed a lot since your verdict about my powers." He tells her with a gentle expression.

"Who's that?" Isane asks her captain intrigued.

"His name is Lorenor Zoro. He was a Shinigami. A gifted one, In fact I wanted him to join our division, but there was an incident. He sacrificed his powers to safe one of our own and lost his abilities. I handled his examination and deemed him unfit to continue as a Shinigami, what I didn't consider however was that the 46 would banish him to hell." Unohana informs her, with the others listening in.

"Is he the reason Yoruichi left 100 years ago?" Sui feng asks her.

"I think so. There was a vote of the divisions and she was pursued by the Central 46 to leave the decision in their hands instead of handling it internally in the Gotei 13. Hers was the deciding vote, which allowed the 46 to banish Zoro to hell. But how is it possible that he's here?" Unohana replies, still staring at the green haired youth sitting atop the execution platform.

"This is the true nature of the glaive Sokyoku, once Rukia Kuchiki is pierced by it the execution will be completed." Genryusai announces, continuing on.

"Captain-commander, there is someone up there." Unohana says, trying to stop him.

"Then his fate will be the same as Rukia Kuchiki's." Genryusai replies unfazed.

A few seconds later the fiery phoenix flies towards Rukia and Zoro, only for Ichigo to stop it, hovering in the air with a cloak around himself, holding his Zanpakuto behind his back to block the phoenix's strike.

"Why are you just sitting there?" Ichigo asks, looking at Zoro with a tick-mark on his head.

"Why not? I wanted to see if you could handle it." Zoro replies with a toothy grin.

"Asshole." Ichigo grumbles, before turning to Rukia.

"You dumbass, what are you doing here Ichigo! You can't win against my brother. He will kill you." She shouts pissed off.

"It's impossible. He stopped Sokyoku, the glaive having the destruction power of a million Zanpakutos combined." Sui feng says shocked.

The Sokyoku then cries out, retreating a bit, to prepare for another strike.

"You're going to take a second shot aren't you? Fine with me." Ichigo says, staring at the Phoenix.

"Uhm, I'm just gonna borrow that." Zoro says, suddenly standing atop of Ichigo, pulling away the cloak and wrapping it around himself while tossing Ichigo atop of the execution Arc.

"Hey! What's the big deal?" Ichigo shouts pissed off, landing on the Arc roughly.

"I just needed to borrow Yoruichi's gadget." Zoro tells him with a cocky grin.

"What are they doing up there?" Isane asks, everyone gathered, staring up at the three people standing in front of the Sokyoku.

Zoro draws his black Zanpakuto, Shusui and cracks his neck before flying towards the approaching phoenix.

Some kind of rope however wraps around the phoenix's neck before stabbing itself into the ground, pinning down the powerful weapons.

"Captain Ukitake, Kiyone?" Isane says surprised, seeing the 13th division captain arrive with her sister and another member of the 13th division.

"Took you long enough." Shunsui says, taking his spot at the pole which stabbed itself in the ground after wrapping the rope around the phoenix's neck, with Ukitake holding a shield, with a marking on it.

The two captains then activate the shield, sending a wave of energy up the ropes towards the Sokyoku, before anyone can react, with Genryusai looking at them angrily.

"No interferences." Zoro's voice can be heard across the mountain top and the rope holding down the Sokyoku falls down, cut through in two places.

"Zoro! Are you dumber than ever? This was our chance to keep Sokyoku out of the hands of Gin and whoever he's consorting with." Shunsui yells up at the former 4th seat of his division.

"Eh? Gin wants the bird? Well we can't have that." Zoro says, looking towards the phoenix and charging at it, with it also striking at him, Rukia and Ichigo again.

Zoro flies straight into the flaming phoenix, with most thinking he's done for, only to re-emerge covered in violet flames with the Phoenix falling into multiple pieces, which turn into yellow streams of energy, which flows into his Shusui.

Moments after the energies flow into the blade Zoro lets go of it, grabbing his hand painfully while the black zanpakuto descends to the ground below, stabbing itself into the mountain top, sending out a pulse which turns the area of 40 feet around it into a black coal with Ash covering the very top.

"Argh. That's hot." Zoro groans, looking at his right hand painfully.

"What did you do boy?" Genryusai's angry voice is then heard, with him walking towards the blade sticking out of the ground.

"No, don't!" Zoro tries to warn him while Genryusai approaches the blade, reaching out for it.

Zoro flash steps next to the gathering of captains, pulling out Shunsui's and Ukitake's blade from the shield and grabs his Kitetsu, yelling "Drown, Kitetsu!" and his Zanpakuto turns into a large white blade with a wave pattern running over its smooth surface and an extension sticking out form the blade's guard (AN: similar to Tier Harribel's sword)

The captains and vice-captains all reach for their Zanpakuto's only for Zoro to stab the transformed Kitetsu into the shield, stabbing it in the ground in front of the gathered group. Once the Shield is stabbed in the ground a massive Water dome erects around the group while Zoro dashes over to Genryusai.

"Captain-Commander!" Sui feng shouts, about to rush out of the dome, but Unohana stops her, holding out her arm.

"Don't go out there." She warns her, having an idea of why Zoro erected the Water dome.

"What…" Sui feng starts to ask, but doesn't finish her question when the whole mountain top is covered in purple raging flames, with the captain-commander having grabbed the zanpakuto, unable to let go of it, while his skin starts to get burned, despite his own affinity to fire due to his Ryujin-Jakka.

"Let go!" Zoro shouts, trying to shield his face, while his torso and legs start to get singed by the fire burning around them violently.

"I can't." The captain-commander tells him shocked, trying to free his hand to no avail.

Zoro then closes the rest of the distance to the man and pries his hand off the blade, with Genryusai's hand having scorch marks all over it, while Zoro's front is bright red from the fire.

"I told you not to grab it." Zoro says, before falling forward, with the water dome dissipating, showing that the only not burned ground is where the dome protected them from the fire.

Before he lands on the ground however, Yoruichi catches him, having waited at the edge of the mountain's top until the fire is gone.

She gives Genryusai a worried look before flash stepping over to the others, basically dumping Zoro in Unohana's arms, who is looking at the woman and Zoro in shock.

"Take care of him." Yoruichi says, before grabbing onto Sui Feng and jumping off the mountain with the captain.

Ichigo then frees Rukia, by stabbing the arc with his Zanpakuto and blowing a huge hole in the construct. He throws Rukia towards Renji who just made it to the execution spot and the red-haired vice-captain carries her away from them.

"We need to go after her." The first division's vice-captain tells his fellow vice-captains and the four of them, as well as the two members of the 13th division run towards where Renji is starting his descend, only for Ichigo to appear in between the group, stabbing his Zanpakuto in the ground and takes all of them out with a simple punch or kick.

Byakuya then steps in and flash steps towards Ichigo, the two clashing blades, while the 6 other Shinigami are lying on the ground unconscious.

"Unohana. Treat the wounded. I will need to discipline my students apparently." Genryusai says and follows Ukitake and Shunsui, who jump of the mountain, to get to a deserted area where their mentors fire ability won't kill everything around them.

Unohana looks at the unconscious, badly burned Zoro in her arms and summons her Zanpakuto, which turns into a giant manta ray like creature and orders it to swallow the six unconscious Shinigami as well as Zoro, before jumping on top of it and flying to the 4th division quarters.