::The traitor Aizen Sōsuke has fled to Sokyoku Hill. Be warned that his true shikai is illusion-based and undetectable when active.::

“No…” Jyuushiro disengaged from his struggle against Yamamoto and leapt backwards, glancing over his shoulder at Sokyoku Hill. Kotetsu’s words echoed through his mind and worry filled his heart; they’d left Rerugen there atop the hill, grounded and defending two defenseless souls.

Worse, Rerugen didn’t know who Aizen was. If Aizen managed to release his shikai and trap Rerugen in illusions…

Jyuushiro swallowed against the sudden dryness in his throat and traded concerned looks with Shunsui.

“What now, Yama-jii?” Shunsui asked, settling into a loose stance. “I don’t think there’s any reason to continue this fight.”

Yamamoto snorted and reeled in the crushing weight of his reiatsu. “Go,” he ordered them coldly. “We will discuss your actions of allying with an Elder Dragon later.”

Jyuushiro didn’t wait. Launched himself into his fastest shunpo. Tried to breathe through the terror that froze his chest. Tried to remind himself that Rerugen was wary, was clever, and would never allow Aizen to draw his blade much less release it.

It didn’t help.

Jyuushiro had survived the Quincy War two hundred years ago. He knew the terrifying strength of an Elder Dragon on the rampage. Knew how unprepared their current peace-softened forces were against such a foe.

(And Rerugen was stronger, had powers Jyuushiro had never before witnessed.)

(He would devastate their forces in a heartbeat.)

His focus narrowed: Rerugen’s presence and Aizen’s reiatsu and—

The world shattered. Melted away like ice. Left everything sharp-edged and bright and clear for the first time in… in…

Jyuushiro staggered to a stop. Clung to Shunsui’s shoulder and just breathed, trying to reorient himself.

(Oh. Oh.)

(That was… that had been…)

“Well. I don’t think we need to worry about Aizen turning your friend against us anymore,” Shunsui said, tone dry and eyes wide in shock. “Did the world just..?”

“Yes.” Jyuushiro forced himself to straighten and shared another look with his friend. “Come on.”

They took off. Raced each other to the top…

Skid to a stop the instant Rerugen’s head swung around, lips pulled back and teeth lit with the deadly glow of dragonfire.

“You seem well for getting into combat with… him,” Rerugen rumbled darkly, fire dying away and head lifting to a more neutral position. He swung his muzzle around and bobbed his head towards something laying on the ground not far away. “You came for them, correct?”

Jyuushiro stepped around Rerugen’s side and took in the three bodies laying on the ground. Aizen was sprawled where he had fallen, haori dyed crimson and reiatsu entirely gone. Tousen and Gin lay nearby, reiatsu dim but present, though Tousen’s body was contorted as if he’d been thrown.

“Only killed Aizen?” Shunsui asked as he crossed to the three traitors and knelt, checking each in turn. “I’d have thought—”

“That I would take any opportunity to enact revenge?” Rerugen asked archly, then snorted and let the tip of his tail thump once against the ground. “There is a saying amongst humans: ‘An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.’ What use is revenge to me? It will not return those you Shinigami killed. It will not make the world a safer place. All it will do is further the hate between our people and lead to my death.”

Jyuushiro grimaced at the reminder but held his tongue; Rerugen was correct about the Shinigami response and they both knew it. Even now he wasn’t certain how Yamamoto would take an Elder Dragon interfering with Shinigami matters.

(Or how he would take Jyuushiro allying with such a being.)

(His words had not been promising.)

Shunsui rose to his feet and stared up at Rerugen, one hand on his sakkat and the other hanging loose at his side. “Well, I appreciate your actions.” He slanted a glance at Aizen’s body and said, “It’s going to take a while to figure out the truth… if we even can. At least we have two people to question.”

“I wouldn’t trust their answers.” Rerugen made a shrugging motion with his wings. “Tousen appears to be a fanatic with a distorted view of justice, and based on Gin’s reaction to Aizen’s death, I believe him to be a traitor to all sides.”

“A fanatic and a traitor… Aizen sure picked his lieutenants, didn’t he?” Shunsui asked. “Guess we might never know the truth.”

Rerugen snorted, sending sparks scattering from his muzzle. “It’s unlikely. I would suggest that you consider all major decisions since you’ve been ensnared and ask yourself how Aizen might have benefited by twisting the truth.” His wings rose and fell once more and he looked away, eyes narrowing as several other Shinigami began to appear. “What you do with that knowledge is up to you,” he added dismissively, then mantled his wings and growled at Soi-fon as she took a step towards him.

Jyuushiro sighed and straightened his haori, then crossed to stand between Soi-fon and Reregun before either of them could do something they’d later regret. “We’re all allies here, there’s no need for violence anymore,” he announced, aiming his gentlest smile at Soi-fon.

“Allies with a Quincy?” she asked, eyeing Rerugen with disdain.

“Problem, little Shinigami?” Rerugen asked, his silken tone sending chills down Jyuushiro’s spine. “I suppose it is unheard of. Your kind has such a fascination with seeing mine dead, after all.”

“Your kind will bring about the destabilization of the Three Worlds—”

“Cease your drivel!” Rerugen roared, wings snapping open and body unwinding to loom over them all. “We Dragons were here before you humans were even a dream in the creator’s mind! We shepherded the souls and kept the cycle alive for millennia before your kind began to dabble with powers!” His head dropped lower over Jyuushiro until he was nearly within reach, and when he continued to speak his voice was so deep Jyuushiro felt it in his chest. “You little Shinigami are very, very lucky that your false god sits upon his false throne and regulates the cycle for you. Because your actions, your attempts to purge us from this world, have done more harm than you will ever comprehend.”

Soi-fon took a step backwards, hand drifting to her zanpakutou and her eyes narrowing. “Lies,” she said with a scowl. “Quincy are nothing but rapacious beasts who destroy souls and the very balance our worlds rely upon.”

Jyuushiro wished he dared move, but he’d seen how quickly Rerugen could strike when focused; his frigid, sharp-edged rage would only grant him more speed and strength. Nor was Jyuushiro the only one frozen in place: Shunsui’s lips were thin and bloodless, his knuckles white around the hilt of one sword, as he waited for the smallest hint of danger. Other Captains, including Shihoin herself, stood in a loose circle around them and waited with varying degrees of patience.

(He hoped no Shinigami would strike the first blow. Hoped they had not traded one danger for another.)

(Why couldn’t Soi-fon have left well enough alone?)

Rerugen snorted and straightened up, his great front paws coming to rest either side of Jyuushiro’s body. “Rapacious beasts, are we?” he asked with deceptive calm, reiatsu still heavy with ice-cold rage. “I believe the the human saying is ‘it takes one to know one’.”

“We are not—”

“However you justify your actions so you may sleep at night is not my concern,” Rerugen said dismissively. He sat back on his haunches, presence lightening enough that Jyuushiro dared to glance over his shoulder at him. “Our people have fought and you were the victors. You killed until none remained to stand against you, no matter how young or old. Elders, hatchlings… the difference mattered not at all.” Rerugen swept Ishida and Kuchiki up, cradling them in one great paw against the scales of his chest, and glowered down at Soi-fon. “Tell me then, who sounds like a rapacious beast if I speak the unadorned truth of your actions?”

“We were protecting the Three Worlds!” Soi-fon shouted.

“You were doing as you were ordered without thought or consideration, an argument that holds no weight amongst humans,” Rerugen snapped, then shook himself, tail lashing against the air. “I refuse to continue this futile argument. I hope one day you open your eyes and understand the horrors your people have committed.”

Rerugen turned his head to glower at every Captain around him, before his gaze settled on Jyuushiro and a strange glint appeared in his poison green eyes.

“Ah, Rerugen-san, wh—”

One of Rerugen’s giant paws lashed out. Captured Jyuushiro before he could react. Followed through and swept Shunsui into his grip as well.

(Panic choked his voice and stole his breath.)

(He’d seen dragons immolate themselves, holding their victims close—)

“We can continue our conversation in more pleasant surroundings,” Rerugen announced, paw lifting up to tuck Jyuushiro and Shunsui against his chest scales. His body tensed. His wings spread wide.

Rerugen leapt into the air and drove himself higher. Higher still. His wings loud and powerful and like nothing Jyuushiro had ever experienced.

(It was terrifying.)

(It was exhilarating.)

“A little warning next time, please,” Jyuushiro forced out around the knot of panic lingering in his chest.

(Around the cough that wanted to emerge.)

Rerugen hummed. Angled his head to peer at them from the corner of one eye. “That was rude of me,” he said. “I apologize and will endeavor to not do so again.”

“Thank you.” Jyuushiro rubbed his chest and breathed carefully. “If I may ask… where do you intend to bring us?”

“Your property, of course.”

Jyuushiro blinked, bemused by the answer. It did make a certain amount of sense but he still hadn’t expected it. Hadn’t expected Rerugen to return them somewhere Jyuushiro would have an advantage.

Shunsui huffed a weary laugh and squirmed a bit until they were a little less squished together. “What a day.”

“It’s only going to get longer,” Jyuushiro reminded his friend, twisting around until he could rest his head on Shunsui’s shoulder. He breathed out, stretched carefully in hopes of loosening the muscles in his chest, and tried to enjoy the flight.