War Prevented

(With Orihime: At night)

"What a nice night." Orihime thought as she walked home with a bag full of groceries, a new pink flower choker around her neck. A few days had passed since that meeting between the Exorcists and Issei's group. Irina and Xenovia are now living in Orihime's apartment while she subtly pushes them to be more accepting of others by using the Church's own teachings of love and acceptance, the teams finding no trace of Freed or Kokabiel, and the time has been rather uneventful. This had Ichigo order his people to be on guard and equip themselves with transmitters that would activate immediately if they sensed a spike in adrenaline or injury of a certain level. Orihime's was disguised as her new neckwear. "I wonder if I should make one of my more eccentric dishes for those two?" She asked as a Shinigami appeared from an alleyway.

"Lady Orihime!" He called out, features covered in darkness. "Come quick! My partners are badly injured!" He claimed before rushing into the shadows.

'Good thing we prepared for this.' She thought as she charged into the obvious trap, releasing a few of her spirits while taking out her phone to text Grimmjow. 'Even without the transmitter rule, this guy's spiritual power is sorely lacking to be a Soul Reaper. Maybe an illusion?' She pondered as she continued to follow the fake Soul Reaper down to a wooded park with a large abandoned building. This is where she stopped. "I think this is far enough." She told him as various accessories glowed. "This illusion trick was cute, but ultimately failed." The fake Reaper's face was revealed in the moonlight to be Freed Sellzen, bearing an irritated scowl before howling in laughter as he faded with the real Freed standing atop the building. In his hand was a rapier with a gold crossguard in the shape of wings and a coil going from the hilt to halfway up the blade.

"So you saw through this little ruse, what of it!?" He shouted as he sheathed that blade into his cloak before pulling out the Kris blade. "I'll still be taking you in, bitch!" He moved so fast that he vanished, to most. Speed was among the most valued and practiced attributes among the Gotei and Orihime was well used to fast opponents after ten years. The moment Freed was within striking distance, his Excalibur slammed against an orange barrier with four noticeable points that immediately exploded with the force of his strike, sending the man flying. "AH! NO FAIR! You're not supposed to be able to fight back against me with this blade and where was the chant for that!?"

"That speed was hardly impressive." She returned as she held out her hand, a katana with a pentagon guard appeared in her hand. "And I don't actually need to chant out my abilities. They respond to my will." 'Ventus and Fulgur, grant me the means to move. Terra, restrain him. Ignis, give Masamune some more kick. Masamune, guide your blade.' She thought as a whirlwind spun around her, electricity sparked along her body, the blade caught fire, and Freed started sinking into the ground.

"AH! YOU CHEATING BITCH!" Freed shouted, freaking out as the once solid ground was becoming like muddy quicksand as he tried to crawl away. "THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR!"

"The Gotei fight to win." She said as she flashed to him like a bolt of lightning. It was a common problem among the Gotei to explain how their powers work, a practice Captain Commander Kyoraku worked to fix. Some people thought that it was a way to retain a sense of honor to do it, but Kyoraku made it clear that honor didn't exist outside of arranged duels. The only things that the Gotei need to concern themselves with was preserving the Balance of Souls by any means and to never cross a line where bloodlust consumes you. She tried to keep that in mind with her blade aimed to cut through his spine, when she felt a much stronger presence above her.

"Santen Kesshun!" She called out, creating a shield above her and tanking a sudden and powerful explosion. She looked up to find Kokabiel sneering at her with another spear of light ready in his hand, throwing it toward them. She strengthened her shield only to realize a second too late that he aimed just outside of her shield's reach. Ventus created a buffer of wind as the explosion blew her off her feet and away from Freed. She managed to catch herself and land on her feet, just in time to see Kokabiel try to attack her again.

"That shield's rather annoying." He sneered, looking at with bloodlust and condescension as he tried to stab her with a spear of Angelic light. "But I'll enjoy-" He was cut off when a ball of orange light shot through his left wrist and severed his hand. "AHHH!" He roared in pain as five more shot toward him, forcing him to fly away. Orihime continued to glare at him as the six lights coalesced into a single figure of a man in a black and red bodysuit with small wings on his calves and more prominent ones on his lower back, a scarf around his neck, spiky black hair, and a small scar on his right eyebrow.

"Thank you Tsubaki." She said with a smile as a dozen more figures appeared behind her. "So, are you regretting your choices? Surrender and I can promise you'll survive."

"You fucking bitch!" Kokabiel growled. "How dare a lowly human like you-" He was cut off again, but this time by an ax kick on his left shoulder, shattering it and sending him plummeting to the earth. He created a small crater in the ground once he landed and was immediately stomped on, coughing up blood and bile, looking up to Grimmjow giving a hungry grin.

"I've been looking for ya~." He purred, reaching down to grab onto one pair of wings. "You killed three of my men. I'll be taking compensation." He said to the Angel's face before ripping out both wings, making Kokabiel scream out in pain. "With a bit of interest." Grimmjow promised before reaching for another two, stopping when he felt something slide along his back. It cut through his jacket but failed to pierce his Hierro, same with the next three attempts. On the forth, he reached out a caught a blade, making Freed reappear with a straight sword in his hand and a look of shocked fear. "That's annoying." He said before squeezing the blade, making it crack. He was about to shatter the blade when a flash of bright light blinded both him and Orihime. Unable to see, Grimmjow was blown off of Kokabiel and let go of the sword Freed held onto. By the time the light dimmed away, they were gone. "DAMN IT!" Grimmjow roared, punching the ground as his prey escaped him yet again.

"That must've been the Fallen Angel Kokabiel." Orihime said, walking up to Grimmjow with her healing shield already enveloping him. "They must've seen me using my abilities and thought I was a threat."

"Not surprising." He returned, jumping back to his feet and stretching out. "The power of Rejection is ridiculous. Anyway, you need to be on your guard from now on. They're clearly targeting you." Orihime nodded in agreement.

"I wonder if this is how Yuzu and Karin felt when they were targeted."

(More Time Passes)

The same night that Orihime was attacked, Rias and Sona found out about their servants' team up with the Exorcists and confronted the whole group. Irina, Xenovia, Rias, and Sona all agreed to keep working together and Rias complimented her servants on their initiative. That said, they were all spanked in front of the whole group. Kiba received 1500 spankings for running off and nearly becoming a Stray Devil, Issei and Saji both got 1000 for doing this, and Koneko got a kind 500 for wanting to take on Issei's punishment as well and her desire to help Kiba. Xenovia was passive but surprised by the magic used and Irina was praying for protection against temptation when Issei got on his hands and knees. The two days after that were nominally peaceful, no action from Kokabiel's side and no leads to help track them down. Then the bodies were discovered.

The murders were horrific and bloody, some were notably killed by a blade but others were terribly burned. This consumed the city in the grip of fear and Ichigo sent reinforcements into the city, concerned about a build-up of souls that would attract Hollows with not enough people to fight them off. This seemed to be part of their plan as soon after the reinforcement Shinigami and Quincy arrived, the teams were attacked and killed. Orihime made it to each group in time to reverse their deaths but something more troubling was discovered, a number of stolen Zanpakuto. Initially Ichigo wanted to send Oetsu Nimaiya to find where they were, but he was an eccentric man and did things at his own pace, currently working on a new form of Zanpakuto for the Quincy. As such, the originator of the Zanpakuto was unavailable for the mission. Not that a countermeasure wasn't put in place anyway.

The SRDI performed a software update for the surveillance bacteria to transmit emergency text messages to phones with the receiver program in the event that the subject is attacked. With that done, Orihime was given the task of implanting that program into the phones of the Devils, succeeding with the help of her spirit of lightning, Fulgur. Now the only matter of concern was waiting to see if this would yield any better results. Grimmjow's team now had to focus on the stream of Hollows, relegating the matter of the Excaliburs back to the Devils and the Exorcists.

"It seems that even Grimmjow's team is having trouble." Rias said, sitting in the ORC room with Sona and having tea. Sona wore the Kuoh Academy uniform, had a slim figure with a neck length bob hair cut for her black hair, and had violet eyes. She was the heiress of the Sitri family, the Kuoh Student Council President, and a childhood friend and rival to Rias. "They've been focusing on those weird monsters ever since those murders have been discovered and abandoned the search for the Excaliburs."

"That's their job Rias. To purify Hollows." Sona said, taking a sip from her tea. "We can't expect them to abandon their proper duties to help us. To them and the whole of the Gotei, the Balance of Souls will always take precedence."

"You seem to know a lot about the Shinigami and their faction." Rias noted. "You mind sharing where you got this?"

"My sister's dating their leader. He told me." The Gremory heiress nodded in understanding, before spitting out her tea and looking at Sona in shock. "Please don't waste the tea." The Sitri heiress simply told her.

"When?! What!?" The crimson haired Devil managed to get out, trying to understand how that information slipped by her.

"This has been going on for over five years Rias. You never asked." The Sitri heiress told her friend.

"Well I'm asking now Sona. What can you share and why am I just hearing about this now?" Rias almost demanded, wiping up the tea she spat out earlier.

"I was told that Lord Sirzechs thought it'd be too dangerous to have you meet at the time." Sona closed her eyes to try and fully recall the past. "At the time, you were still engaged to Riser and trying to find a way out of it while Riser would've been quick to attack anyone you tried to approach for that purpose. Your brother was concerned that you talking to Captain Ichigo would've made Riser try to pick a fight with him. None of the Satans really knew Ichigo well enough to guess how he'd react to Riser, but they didn't think the end result would be any good and would strain any attempt at peace."

"That... makes sense." Rias conceded. "And 'Captain Ichigo'?"

"Serafall never mentioned his full name. Although, since he was promoted, I guess it should be Head Captain, Captain Commander, or just plain Shogun." Sona took a sip. "Which reminds me. My sister did mention that Ichigo was named as the leader of all Japan's supernatural denizens."

"Wish I could meet him." Rias sighed, instantly getting the image of a refined and noble samurai warrior akin to her brother's knight, Okita Soujiro.

"I can guarantee that whatever you just pictured is wrong." Sona immediately stated. "By the way, have you tried contacting your brother about what's happening?"

"Have you called your sister?" Rias countered.

"Yes, shortly before we started having tea." Again, Rias looked at Sona in surprise. "I'm fully aware that we can't take on a leader class Fallen Angel Rias, no matter how much you want to argue otherwise and with the Gotei members occupied with their mission, we can't rely on them for backup. And my loving sister said, 'This is supposed to be the Overseer's call. Besides, my favorite Berry wouldn't let anything dangerous actually happen to you'. He hates that pet name." She whispered before the Sitri heiress looked her friend in the eye. "There's no shame in admitting you need help Rias. So do what you should've done when we learned who our opponent is and call your brother." Rias sighed and put down her tea.

"I don't want to waste my brother's time with something trivial, but you're right." She admitted, the sense of defeat on her tongue as she conceded that this was out of her league. She pulled out her phone and was about to call Sirzechs, but that call wouldn't happen as she and every other Devil in Kuoh got a text that shook them to their cores.

"Irina: Dead. Xenovia: Condition Critical. Kiba: in combat."

(Near the edge of the city, along a park trail)

The hunt continued with Kiba, Irina, and Xenovia searching for any trace of their quarry with a strengthened zeal. It was hard to think they'd give even more to their mission, the girls being dedicated to their faith and Kiba wanting to destroy at least one Excalibur to avenge his fallen friends from the Holy Sword Project, but the murders made them push themselves even further with the desire to prevent any more needless deaths. It was an agreement among the Exorcists and the Devils that their enemies were now utterly unforgivable for their crimes, innocent bystanders were supposed to be off limits and Kokabiel's group completely disregarded that unspoken rule. This now prompted the group to fully work together without complaint, leading to this team of three hunting for their enemies wherever they could think to look.

They weren't having much luck but this day felt different, a thick tension in the air as the three made their way down the road. They would unfortunately get their answer when Irina was suddenly run through from behind, her blood revealing the shape of a single edge straight sword but the blade and wielder were otherwise invisible. The only reveal of who their opponent was was a demented cackling that reminded Kiba of Freed Sellzen, though they wouldn't have much time to react as the blade tore through Irina's side and flew toward Xenovia at incredible speeds. She brought her Excalibur Destruction up to block the blade, but then Freed became visible and split into three copies. She was helpless to the attack as she lost her left arm and right leg after managing to block one attack, though she was likewise disarmed of her blade.

Kiba watched in shock at how quickly his two allies were dispatched and found himself frozen at the new and sudden ferocity of his enemy. As Xenovia fell, Kiba remembered the student council president advising him to keep a set of summoning seals to call on each of his peerage members. In an instant, Issei, Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Asia appeared with Asia rushing to Xenovia the moment she saw her and the rest getting ready to fight the mad Exorcist. Issei was growling in frustration, seeing the carnage but forced to hang back while his Sacred Gear's strength started to build while everyone else was ready to fight Sellzen. Freed's response was to laugh maniacally while splitting into multiple copies, almost downing out a voice from up above.

"Cleanse! Purgatio Lux!" Issei looked up to see a Fallen Angel, Kokabiel, missing two wings, a hand, and wielding a halberd like weapon that shone with a light that just seemed wrong. From the spear tip was a growing ball of light that put the Devil on edge.

"MOVE!" He shouted, trying to rush to Asia as a beam of light shot at them, wide enough to cover the entire battlefield.

"Shiten Koushun! I reject!" They heard a familiar voice call out as an orange barrier appeared and weathered the beam of light, blasting back the force and dissipating the attack. "Prism!" More points appeared and surrounded the Fallen Angel before compressing and put him in a near crushing hold. Everyone looked to the ground below Kokabiel to find Orihime walking toward them, glaring at Freed. Sellzen recognized a bad situation and tried to flee but the moment he took a step to flash away with the speed power of Excalibur, he was immediately impaled by earthen spikes across his entire body. "Sorry, but neither of you will be escaping anymore." The Gotei agent said with finality, apathetic to the cries of pain and frustration from her prisoners.

"K-Kurosaki Sensei?" Rias managed to say, completely shocked at her teacher's presence. Orihime's response was to smile happily and wave to her students.

"Hi everyone! Sorry I was late. Oh wait... should I expose myself like this?" She asked as she started thinking. "Maybe I should've come in a disguise." Everything went silent aside from Freed's whimpering as he slowly bled out while the ORC just watched their teacher, still trying to understand what she really was, then Orihime took a pose. "Warrior of love and kindness! Soul Ranger Yellow!" Everyone sweat dropped.

"Actually, she'd look good in that skintight spandex." Issei said, letting his mind wander into lewd territory as a he imagined Orihime in a skintight bodysuit that revealed every curve of her body and clung so tight he could make out her nipples. Rias growled, thinking of doing such cosplay later to keep her pawn's focus on her, before returning her attention to her teacher.

"Sensei, what's going on? Who are you really?" She asked as Orihime got out of her pose and smiled, flashing over to Rias and placed a comforting hand on the Devil's shoulder.

"I'm Orihime Kurosaki. Agent of Soul Society stationed here in Kuoh to keep you and Sona safe. I'm also a loving, devoted, and protective wife, mother, and teacher." She turned to Kokabiel, still struggling against his prison and being repelled by every movement. "Now, let me show you what happens to those that threaten my kids." She said in a low and threatening tone, beginning to walk over to Kokabiel, her Masamune appearing in her hand. "However, I'm not so ungracious as to deny you the chance to pray to your god Fallen Angel." The spirit master declared as the Shiten Koushun barrier expanded, freeing Kokabiel's movements, and opened to allow Orihime entry inside. "Go ahead and do so, it'll be my last mercy." Kokabiel's response was laughter.

"Hehehehe, hahaha." The Angel let out as he lowered himself to the ground, holding up his halberd. "Seriously? I've no need to pray to the dead, but I will enjoy finally killing you." Orihime raised an eyebrow while the group behind her were stunned silent. "Now, taste the superior power of MY Zanpak-"

"So if God is dead, then you have no one to pray to? That... that's pretty sad actually." Everything stopped again as she said that. "I'm so sorry."

"YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT HIM!?" Kokabiel roared in fury, creating massive light spears. "DIE YOU INSOLENT-"

"Sing, Masamune." Orihime quickly called out, a pulse of energy flying from her sword and turning Kokabiel's halberd back to a katana, though the light spears still remained before being destroyed by some orange sprites with both of his arms being severed at the shoulder, causing him to scream in agony. "I'm sorry you have no one to cry out to for mercy. No hope." Her elemental spirits appeared from behind her. "This is only the beginning of an eternity of suffering." She said, bearing a smile reminiscent of Unohana.

(Cutting away. Just imagine the graphic punishment)

"Is... is this really Kurosaki sensei?" Rias asked, watching the horror unfold and trembling in fear. "How could this be our same teacher?" The entire Gremory peerage were witness to Orihime's brutal punishment and torture of one of the strongest Fallen Angels. Kiba was holding Xenovia up, her bleeding stopped thanks to Asia's healing though she was still missing her arm and leg.

"I know I can be sadistic to our enemies myself, but this?" Akeno started, feeling herself gag a bit. "This scares me."

"I used to have so many naughty fantasies about her." Issei said, flinching in response to a particularly loud crack followed by Kokabiel's cry. "I'm too scared to even fantasize about her anymore."

"Yeah. I warned them about leaving Orihime with Unohana." They heard a familiar voice sound next to them. "After the medical knowledge, she would definitely teach Orihime how to strike fear in others." They turned to find Grimmjow, joining them in watching the carnage, with a group of Quincy and Shinigami cleaning up the battlefield and gathering the fused Excalibur, Xenovia's severed limbs, and Irina's body. With them was another man with silver hair and wearing a leather jacket over a green shirt, leather chaps over burgundy jeans, and silver chain on his waist. "I was really hoping to get here before she did this." Grimmjow sighed, the man next to him nodding.

"Yeah... I don't think I'll be able to bring anything back to Azazel." He said, surprising the Gremory members at the name of the leader of the Fallen. "By the way, I'm Vali Lucifer. Descendant of the original Lucifer and the current holder of the Divine Dividing gear Albion." He casually admitted, putting everyone on edge.

"Are you here to fight?!" Issei growled, already manifesting his gauntlet. Vali gave him a sideways glance, then back to Orihime as she kept torturing Kokabiel, before returning to Issei.

"At first, but only Kokabiel. Maybe you or Grimmjow since he'd seem like more of a challenge. But after... this?" He said, gesturing to what they were watching. "My desire to fight is... gone. Just gone."

"If it'll help, she's almost done." Grimmjow said as they saw Orihime put on a glove and grab Kokabiel by his throat before lifting him in the air, with a chain connecting his chest to the broken form at Orihime's feet that was burning to ash. The chain snapped and Orihime tapped the butt of her sword on Kokabiel's head, making him give out an unearthly scream as a beam of light shot from his head and began to form a pair of doors with upper skeletal torsos that began to open. Seconds later chains shot out from the depths, impaling Freed and ripping his soul from his body while another few flew into the city. None of the non Gotei members could focus on those chains as a massive blade shot out from the depths of the gate, skewering Kokabiel and Freed, ending their screams and dragging them in. "Been a while since I saw that." The Arrancar idly noted while everyone else stared in shock as Orihime came over.

"Okay, I'm done." She said with a smile. "I'm guessing those last few chains went to that Valper guy, can I take care of that while you take Irina and Xenovia back to the Bureau?" Being reminded on their dead comrade brought the mood back down for the teens.

"Yeah, I don't mind. Just patch them up first." He said, pointing at the girls and reminding Orihime of the state they're in.

"Oh right. That's an easy fix."

"Lady Kurosaki," Xenovia started, "I appreciate the offer, but Asia's Sacred Gear couldn't-"

"Souten Kisshun, I reject." The Spirit Master chanted, enveloping both Irina and Xenovia in the healing barrier. The teens watched in utter amazement as Xenovia's missing limbs were restored and the hole in Irina's chest slowly closed before she took a deep gasp of air. "There. All better!" She said with a smile as she turned toward the city. "Everyone, I'll see you in class tomorrow!"

"Kurosaki Sensei! Wait!" Kiba called out, letting Xenovia walk on her own again as she went to her comrade. "Please... let me come with you. Valper Galilei is a monster from my past. I need to see this through to the end." He begged, getting a clap on his shoulder from Issei while Vali disappeared.

"Not without us." He said, standing beside the Gremory knight.

"Right. You've caused us enough grief going out on your own." Rias added as the rest of the Peerage gathered around him. "No more running around without us."

"And Lady Kurosaki, I intend to see this mission through to the end as well." Xenovia added while Grimmjow took his team, the swords, and Irina and departed. "Probably my last mission as a member of the Church."

"Well, if you want, I've got a Knight's position open for you." Rias offered.

"Or Soul Society can take you in." Orihime added. "We're not picky." Xenovia looked between the two.

"I'll think about it." She said, earning a shrug from Orihime as each member was suddenly engulfed in a whirlwind. The next moment, they were gone.