A/N: I do not own Bleach

Also, sorry for taking so long to post more. My muse decided to go on vacation for a while but now I'm back, so there's no need to worry!

-chapter start-

The cavern was silent with the exception of a faint dripping sound from somewhere deeper in the cavern. Grey cat ears twitched slightly before Koudoutai lifted their head as they came

out of their meditation. Their long tail swished back and forth slightly and it tickled to nose of one of the twins who were sleeping on either side of Koudoutai. The twins were identical in

every manner. Both were child-like with large, light green-colored eyes, that were currently closed, and short silver hair that was pulled back into ponytails. Their clothing was identical as

well with both of them wearing light blue robes, light blue triangular shaped hats, beige hakama, and blue shoes. Koudoutai's tail swished again, tickling the twin's nose again and the

twin sneezed before sitting up, rubbing his nose. The other twin sat up as well but he was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Is something wrong, Koudoutai-san?" asked one twin.

"Yeah, is something wrong?" asked the other twin. Koudoutai glanced at both twins before nodding.

"They're coming." said Koudoutai "They're close." Koudoutai stood up.

"Who?" asked both twins in unison as they stood up as well, clasping hands as they did so.

"Our wielders." replied Koudoutai.

"Yay, new people to play with!" said the twins as they climbed up onto Koudoutai's back.

"Let's go meet them!" said one twin.

"Yes, let's go!" said the other twin.

"Hush you two." said a female voice "You can play later but for now, we have a job to do."

"But we wanna play!" said the first twin.

"Yes, we wanna play Katen Kyōkotsu!" said the second twin as two people came out of the shadows. The first was a tall woman with a red ribbon around her neck and an eye patch

covering her right eye. She wore an indigo cape with a skull imprint on it and a long, dark dress with a significantly low-cut neckline exposing her well-endowed bust. Her left eye was

turquoise and her long purple was worn in two ponytails and decorated with a golden bone headdress. The second was a teenage girl who was wearing a dark top that covered her lower

face, neck and arms, close-fitting shorts and knee length socks. Over this she wore a purple, hip-length coat that was fastened at the front by a dark purple sash. The middle of her chest

and abdomen, as well as the top of her thighs, were left exposed. Like the taller woman, her eyes were turquoise and her hair was purple but her hair was chin length with a large skull

decorating the left side.

"You two need to be serious." said the tall woman.

"Leave them be." said Koudoutai as the twins continued to climb all over them "They're just children."

"You're too soft when it comes to them, Koudoutai." said the tall woman.

"I cannot help it." said Koudoutai "Our former wielders hold very strong feelings for each other and that has passed onto us. The only difference is that we have more of a sibling like

affection for each other."

"Yep!" said the twins in unison. Katen Kyōkotsu sighed before looking at her shorter half, who nodded before disappearing into the shadows.

"We should get going." said Katen Kyōkotsu.

"Fine." said Koudoutai "Sōgyo no Kotowari, hold on tight, we're going to for a short trip."

"Yay!" said the twins happily as they gripped Koudoutai's shoulders tightly "Let's go!" Koudoutai crouched before leaping up onto a stalactite and slinking to the other side before leaping

off into the darkness of the cave. Katen Kyōkotsu sighed heavily before walking after them, disappearing into the darkness of the cave as she did so.

-meanwhile-

"Do you feel that?" asked Masako as she stopped walking.

"Feel what?" asked Juushiro as he and Shunsui stopped and looked back at her.

"It feels like we're being watched." said Masako as she looked up at the shadowy ceiling. Both Juushiro and Shunsui looked up at the ceiling as well before Juushiro walked back to

Masako and slipped his hand into hers.

"We need to keep moving." said Juushiro.

"Alright." said Masako as she allowed herself to be lead away but she still glanced back at the shadowy ceiling before focusing on the path ahead. Suddenly, Masako yanked her hand out

of Juushiro's and turned, drawing her zanpakutou as she did so. The sound of two swords meeting rang through the air as a diamond blade locked with Masako's black blade. Both

Shunsui and Juushiro turned to see Koudoutai standing there, pressing their sword down onto Masako's blade. Masako's gaze hardened before she shoved Koudoutai back and stood up

straight.

"Go ahead." she said without looking back "I'll catch up."

"Right." said Shunsui.

"Be careful." said Juushiro before the two of them took off. Koudoutai watched them leave before returning their attention to Masako.

"So you wish to die alone?" asked Koudoutai.

"No," said Masako "Not alone and not now."

"You have no choice!" said Koudoutai before lunging. The sound of clashing blades filled the air as Shinigami and Zanpakutou fought, neither summoning their shikai, for their sealed

blades were all that was needed. After a while, Masako found that she was starting to wear down and she knew that she needed to end this now if she wished to regain her comrade and

friend. Jumping away from Koudoutai, Masako stood straight and tall as she looked at her zanpakutou spirit.

"Are you finished already?" asked Koudoutai.

"No." said Masako as she held her blade horizontally in front of her "But you are."

"You don't have enough reiatsu to use that attack!" said Koudoutai "It will kill you if you use it."

"That attack would." said Masako as her blade and her eyes glowed "But this technique won't." Her reiatsu began to swirl around her as a glowing circle appeared beneath Koudoutai.

There were twelve smaller circles on the outside circle and within the circle were numerous smaller circles, each getting smaller until they stopped at the one that surrounded

Koudoutai's feet. The twelve smaller circles on the outside circle were all interconnected to each other and to the smallest circle, creating a spider's web of sorts.

"Full Release," said Masako "Gathering of the Zodiac: Elemental Binding." The twelve circles on the outermost circle glowed and within each one appeared a sign of the zodiac in their

humanoid form. Ropes of elemental energy shot out from the circles they were standing in and these ropes wrapped around Koudoutai, preventing him from moving. Masako moved

forward and once she was closed enough, she held her sword above her head.

"Forgive me." she said before bringing it down. The sword whistle as it sliced through the air. It was followed by a cracking noise before the sound of porcelain shattering upon the stone

floor was heard. Masako slid her sword into its sheath before sighing.

"How are you feeling, Koudoutai?" she asked. The light that had surrounded Koudoutai and the fragments of her zanpakutou had faded, leaving Koudoutai kneeling on the floor. They

had changed somewhat now that they were freed from Muramasa's grip and reunited with their fragments. Koudoutai's cat ears and tail were no longer grey, instead they were a calico

patchwork of colors while their hair remained the same, except a bit messier than before and it hung in front of their face because their head was bowed. However, a pair of vibrant,

blood red eyes was visible from underneath their grey hair. Their clothes were now brilliantly colored and on the back of their top was a yin-yang emblem and surrounding it was the

emblems of all twelve members of the zodiac.

"I shall be fine." said Koudoutai "But right now we should be worried about Muramasa's plot." Koudoutai stood up "He plans on using Ichigo to break Yamamoto-sama's barrier in order to

gain control of Ryuujin Jakka."

"Then we need to hurry." said Masako. Koudoutai nodded before reaching into their sleeve and pulling out a vibrantly colored scarf, which they wrapped around the lower half of their

face. Masako just rolled her eyes before running off in the direction Juushiro and Shunsui went, Koudoutai following close behind.

"So where is Yamamoto-soutaichou?" asked Masako as she looked at Koudoutai.

"Very deep within these caves." replied Koudoutai as they ran up beside her "Juushiro-san and Shunsui-san are close but Sōgyo no Kotowari and Katen Kyōkotsu are keeping them busy

at the moment, though they'll most likely get there before us."

"Then we need to go fast." said Masako. Koudoutai nodded, their blood red eyes glowing as they raised their right hand.

"Hideaki, lend me your strength." said Koudoutai before they began to glow. Koudoutai quickly snatched Masako into their arms before they disappeared with a flash. When they

reappeared, they were in a cavern and in the center of the cavern was Yamamoto, who was encased within a barrier. Not far from him was Ichigo, who was engaged in a fight with

Muramasa. Koudoutai set Masako down just as Ichigo fired off his strongest attack.

"We're too late." said Koudoutai as Muramasa deflected the attack at Yamamoto's barrier. The attack hit the barrier just as Juushiro and Shunsui came running into the cavern with their

zanpakutou spirits. Koudoutai grabbed Masako and leapt out of the way as a wave of fire swept over where they had been standing moments ago. Koudoutai and Masako landed next to

Juushiro and Shunsui as Sōgyo no Kotowari and Katen Kyōkotsu attacked Muramasa, only for them to be struck down. Then Muramasa vanished with Byakuya and Senbonzakura, who

had opened up a Senkaimon gate. The newly freed Ryuujin Jakka prevented any of them from giving chase, trapping them within the cave.

-end chapter-

Finally, I'm alone. (Except for my muse)

And now I can focus on my writing.

I'll be finishing up the bonus chapters soon and getting back to the actual story!

Please review!