SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 19 out, this is Chapter 20 and the final chapter of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.

Chapter 20: Invading Army Arc, Final Conclusion!

"Bankai, huh?" Yushima was not impressed.

"Want to find out?" Ichigo went into offensive mode. "You guys wait here. I'll finish this in an instant." vanishing in a Shunpo, he and Yushima crossed blades.

"Damn it!" Kon cursed, rushing forward when he saw Ichigo was on the defensive.

"Kon, wait." Rukia voiced.

"What're you saying, nee-san?" Kon snapped. "We can't stand here and wait. At times like this, we should fight be fighting together."

"You don't know when to shut up, do you?" Ishida sighed, obviously not very happy being berated by a Mod Soul.

"If you insist on going," Rukia picked up her Zanpakutō. "We'll all go together. First Dance: Tsukishiro!" she fired off her ice pillars at Yushima.

"You people never learn." Yushima spat, deflecting the attack. "Stop making trouble." he absorbed the ice pillars and sent them back at the group. Dodging Ishida's arrow, he moved behind the archer and smacked him away. He then deflected Renji's extended Zanpakutō and sent the redhead crashing into one of the ice pillars.

"El Directo!" Sado came down from above. "Damn it." he cursed, skidding to a stop when Yushima used a portal to whisk himself off, the Fullbringer was then tackled from the side by Yushima.

"Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui!" with Kon hanging on her shoulder, Rukia fired off the Hadō spell, managing to catch Yushima unaware and forcing him to use his Zanpakutō to stop his fall.

Ichigo then came in from behind, in full Hollow mode and clashing blades with Yushima, allowing Rukia and Ishida to move Sado and Renji out of the battlefield. "Getsuga Tenshō!" he fired the energy wave at point-blank range at the falling Yushima.

"He's unable to absorb Kurosaki's Getsuga." Ishida remarked, Inoue's barrier was already erected. "As we suspected, Kageroza is unable to harness Hollow powers."

"I admit you're different compared to when we last fought." Yushima admitted. "However," he used the spatial displacement technique to move himself behind Ichigo after dealing a slash on the Shinigami Daiko's back. "It hardly matters."

"At this rate, capturing Kageroza will be difficult, much less saving Nozomi." Rukia realized.

"Is there some way to save Kujo?" Sado wondered.

"Saketsu and Hakusu..." Ishida immediately came up with a suggestion. "The two vital points of a soul, if we can shatter his Saketsu..."

"I get it." Renji realized what Ishida meant. "If we stop the flow of Reiatsu within his body, there's a chance he will split back into two."

"The Saketsu, right?" Kon popped up from Rukia's shoulder. "I'll go tell Ichigo." he hopped off.

"Is that the best you can do with the help of your so-called friends?" Yushima mocked.

"I thought I told you, as long I can save Nozomi and protect my friends, then it doesn't matter." Ichigo shot back.

"In that case, I'll end it quickly for you." Yushima swore, parrying Ichigo off.

Kon jumped in, just in time to snatch the phone strap that had been cut off.

That split second allowed for a slight deviation from Yushima's attack as his blade stuck Kon, giving Ichigo the small opening he needed to block Yushima.

"This is what I've been waiting for." Ichigo grabbed hold of Yushima's Zanpakutō, securing him in place as he donned on his Hollow mask. "Take this." ducking Yushima's punch, he fired a Hollowified Getsuga Tenshō in reverse-grip at Yushima at point-blank range.

"Damn you..." Yushima cursed, now sunk into the deep crevice Ichigo's attack caused.

"Stop it." Ichigo jumped down as Yushima reached for his Zanpakutō.

"What's..." Yushima gaped as his arm glowed blue. "Happening to my body? My head." he suddenly clutched his head in pain.

"Ichigo..." Nozomi panted, having taken temporal control. "Finish us. This is our only chance."

"Ichigo!" Kon ran up. "The Saketsu: shatter his Saketsu."

"Damn you..." Yushima forced his control back, blocking Ichigo's attack.

"Stop fighting a futile fight." Ichigo warned. "You've lost."

"You think I've lost?" Yushima spat. "I'll show you if it's futile or not." he snapped. "If I'm going to lose this body, I will destroy everything. Renzan: Hajō Kūri!" he activated the 'Hajō Kūri' technique again, the expanding Reiatsu forming an even bigger fortress-like structure than before.

"What is this Reiatsu?" even Renji was shocked.

"He still has this much power left?" Rukia gawked.

"No," Ishida corrected, realizing what Yushima intended to do. "This Reiatsu is the Reishi of Soul Society itself. He's absorbing it?"

"This isn't part of the plan..." Reigai Hisagi gasped.

"It would appear you guys weren't expecting this, either." Komamura told his Reigai counterpart.

"That much power with just one blast..." Guardian Frost whispered, seeing the destruction caused by the energy beam fired from the Reiatsu fortress.

"It's growing bigger and bigger." Kyoraku noted. "I think we're in trouble."

"Captain Kyoraku, please stop stating the obvious." Guardian Frost deathpanned.

"We have to act fast." Hitsugaya looked at Guardian Frost.

"Ah, crap." Kyoraku muttered when an energy beam headed towards them.

"Dankū." Guardian Frost reacted in unison with Yamamoto, a dual Dankū barrier was erected to block off the attack.

"Inaba Kageroza's, or should I say, Yushima Ōko's every scheme is spurred by vengeance against Soul Society." Yamamoto explained. "He intends to destroy Soul Society along with himself."

"Never did I dream the end would be like this." Yushima admitted in the center of the Reishi fortress. "But, so be it. Come with me, Kurosaki Ichigo, to that place between chaos and nothingness."

"It's getting bigger." Hitsugaya warned.

"It's up to us to stop it." Byakuya remarked.

"Wait." Komamura voiced, entering with Iba.

"Reigai..." Suì-Fēng gasped as the assorted Reigai also moved in.

"Going for an all-out attack?" Yoruichi asked.

"That's not it." Reigai Hitsugaya corrected.

"Do you recall, Genryūsai-sensei?" Reigai Ukitake turned to Yamamoto. "The time has come for you to understand the meaning of those words."

"You claim that what you protect is very clear to you." Reigai Hitsugaya explained. "And it is for us, as well. We will protect Soul Society in our own way."

"It is the duty of us Mod Souls to stop a fellow Mod Soul that has gone out of control." Reigai Ukitake declared. "Let's go." he gave the Reigai the order and the Reigai charged straight into the roof of the Reishi structure, the Reiatsu outsurge shattering their faux bodies.

"You're not stopping me." Yushima promised, channeling more Reiatsu into the technique. "Again?" he hissed when Nozomi fought for control.

With the help of the rest of the Reigai, the Reishi fortress crumbled, the gathered Reishi imploding on itself.

"Looks like your invasion force didn't work out the way you planned." Ichigo told Yushima, as he prepared for the final attack. "Now all that's left is to rescue Nozomi."

"Why?" Yushima demanded. "Why can't I defeat you? What drives you so far?" letting his tattered uniform burn, he walked towards Ichigo. "Damn you!" he roared, clashing with Ichigo. "You have something to protect, don't you? You have friends to be there for, to shield, to be close to. So why..." he roared, Ichigo swatting his Zanpakutō out of his hands and he reached to reclaim the blade. "Why are you so strong?"

Ichigo struck down, scattering Sumitsukigasa into pieces.

Reaching for a blade shard, Yushima renewed his attack on Ichigo.

Ichigo ducked the assault, slashing Yushima across the chest and forcing Inaba and Nozomi to split.

"Nozomi..." lying on his back, Inaba started. "Were we mistaken?"

"I don't know." Nozomi sat up as Inaba started fading into Reishi and leaving his Reigai Pill behind which then melted into Reishi in Nozomi's hand. "Kon..." she spotted the plush toy running towards her. "Your right arm..."

"This is nothing." Kon bragged. "All's good now, right? Let's go back to the Real World now. You're..." he gasped when Nozomi started to fade into Reishi.

"Forgive me." Nozomi voiced. "This is the only way."

"Ichigo, what's going on?" Kon pressed.

"Kon," Nozomi caught Kon's attention. "This is as it should be. At the very end, I told him: this time, I will be his friend. I learned what it meant to have friends. Now it's my turn to teach him. Thanks for this, Kon." she picked up the phone strap he had gotten for her. "We were alone. But, we're at peace now. It's because of all of you: because Ichigo and you were there, Kon. All this time, I couldn't hear it, but now I can. The voice of my soul deep inside me."

"Don't forget us." Kon wept.

"I won't." Nozomi nodded. "After all, we'll always be..." her words trailed off as she faded into Reishi.

"Friends forever." Kon agreed, picking up Nozomi's Reigai Pill and letting it dissolve into Reishi.

Omake: Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book

In front of the Senkaimon...

Ukitake: Ichigo. Let me return this to you. (Pulls out the Shinigami Daiko badge) You dropped it in the Dangai, didn't you? You saved us again. I have one for you, too. (Hands out a smaller version of the badge to Kon)

Kon: No thanks. I have something a lot better. (Turns to show the handphone strap on his back)

Ichigo: Okay, let's all head back to the Real World.

SailorStar9: Well, this fic is officially complete and I'm off the Bleach fandom.

Now that's done, read and review.