What's up, all? As you can see, I've managed to get the beginnings of my second fic on this site. Hooray! I realize that the summary wasn't that great, but I did my best considering the character limit. As I mentioned in the last part, the fic becomes highly OC-centric in the later chapters. But there won't be any signs of some until late next chapter '' Until then, bear with me and sample the intro I've given you as a taste of what's to come. And please, give me any constructive criticism you can. I write not only for myself, but for you all as well. Anything you can give me that will make the work more pleasing to you will be appreciated. That, or a nice juicy review.
So without further ado, here is the intro to my second fanfic ever.
Allies of Soul Society: Introduction
Early on in the war against Aizen, Ichigo Kurosaki had bravely led a group of rescuers into Hueco Mundo in an attempt to rescue Orihime Inoue from the depths of Las Noches. The group had included Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, Chad Yasutora, and Uryu Ishida. Without fear of what lay before them, each had every intention of bringing back Orihime to her friends from Aizen's clutches, no matter the cost.
They had failed.
For even with the reinforcements of Captains Kenpachi Zaraki, Retsu Unohana, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the rescue team was unable to retrieve their friend. Ichigo had clashed with Ulquiorra, but was unable to defeat the mighty fourth espada once more. But before the killing blow was struck, Orihime had intervened, begging Ulquiorra to spare her orange-haired friend. Surprisingly enough, the melancholy arrancar had complied. Having no choice but to fight another day, the four captains then forcibly removed the rescuers from Las Noches, leaving Orihime behind. Soon after they had left, Aizen had begun his plan to destroy Karakura town. To the suprise of many, General Yamamoto and the other captains were there to meet Hueco Mundo's despot, and Karakura town, along with it's residents, was safely in Soul Society. It was now former captain Aizen and three of his espada against six captains, including Yamamoto himself, and five liutenants. Aizen's grand scheme had failed.
Or so it had seemed.
As it turned out, Aizen was not present in the showdown. Shortly after the portals behind the espadas Barragan, Stark, and Halibel disappeared, Aizen's form had vanished, and the realization of the situation suddenly hit all of the Gotei Thirteen captains there: Aizen had fooled them all once more.
And there was only one other place he could be.
The night air was cool against Sosuke Aizen's skin as he slowly made his way through the maze-like corridors of the Seireitei, his white uniform billowing behind him. His two subordinates, Kaname Tousen and Gin Ichimaru followed close behind. The three men made no sound as they traversed through their old home, having memorized most of it's many corridors in the long years that they had lived in Seireitei. Even if there were sentries about in the locked-down kingdom, the intruders probably would have had little difficulty in avoiding them.
"Cap'n Aizen" Gin suddenly piped up "mind explainin' what we're doin' 'ere?"
Gin's dark-skinned ally Tousen scrunched his face angrily at Gin's words. "Gin! You don't have the right to question Aizen-sama like-"
"It's alright, Kaname" came Aizen's deep and calm voice, drawing the attention of both Ichimaru and Tousen "I am not surprised that you have questions".
"No, Aizen-sama!" Tousen stammered "I would never question you! I follow all of your orders without second thoughts!". Aizen smiled and let out a chuckle.
"Of course..." said the brown-haired man as he reached up and slicked his hair back a bit more. After several more seconds of silent walking, Gin spoke again.
"So do I get an explaination?" prodded the silver-haired captain.
"Not yet, Gin. But in time" was the answer he got. Gin pouted, but asked no more questions.
After several more minutes of walking through the seemingly endless corridors, Aizen and his loyal subordinates went around a corner and came to a stop before the gates of a division.
Gin let out a low whistle. "Well I'll be. Ya sure it's a good idea to go in there, cap'n?".
Aizen didn't respond. Instead, he placed his hand out before him and recited an incantation under his breath.
"Destructive Art 1: Sho(Thrust)". The giant gates before the three men were suddenly blasted apart, creating a makeshift entrance. Gin winced.
"So much fer our sneaky entrance. We're prob'bly gonna get found out" he said.
"Perhaps" said Aizen with a small shrug "Come now, Gin. Kaname". Aizen calmly proceeded though the wreckage of the gates, Gin and Tousen close behind.
"I don't understand, taichou" Rangiku Matsumoto whined as she raced behind her captain "Why would the Captain General send us back for?". At the moment, Matsumoto was trailing slightly behind her captain, Toshirou Hitsugaya, as both were running(and sometimes flash-stepping) at top speed through the Seieitei. Running ahead of the two were Captain Soi Fon and, surprisingly enough, Captain Komamura.
Hitsugaya's over-the-shoulder glare hinted at his impatience towards his liutenant. "I would have thought that obvious, Matsumoto" he said curtly "If Aizen was not there at the decoy Karakura Town, then there could only be one other place for him to be. And that is the Seireitei".
"But shouldn't he be at where we have the real Karakura town? Why go back to Seireitei?" Matsumoto asked.
Hitsugaya sighed. "Your guess is as good as mine. All we know is that his reiatsu isn't near where we placed Karakura town. So it's safe to assume that he is somewhere in the Seireitei. Understand?".
Matsumoto gave her captain a cheery salute "Of course!". Hitsugaya could only sigh once more.
"Stop babbling back there!" came the grouchy voice of Soi Fon a few yards ahead of the two "We have to hurry before the traitor causes any damage!".
"She is right. The longer we take, the more likely it is that Aizen might escape" added Captain Komamura, his giant strides easily keeping him close behind the petite second captain.
Several minutes of the group's search proved fruitless. At one point however, the four shinigami were greeted with an unpleasant sight.
Matsumoto spoke first. "Is that?...".
Hitsugaya's expression was grim. "...The First Division's gateway" he finished for his subordinate. The four shinigami were silent as they took in the sight.
"Damn! He's already here!" cursed Soi Fon "It looks like we were too late to prevent all possible damage. But if we're lucky, they didn't go very far. I will head to the Captain General's main complex. You all should search elsewhere".
Komamura nodded in consent. "I will go to the Captain's Meeting Hall" stated Komamura as he stepped past Soi Fon and quickly flash-stepped up the stairs.
"Matsumoto and I will head towards the barracks" Hitsugaya said, nodding in the barracks' direction "If Aizen is not there, we'll alert any division members there to raise the alarm and help us search".
Soi Fon nodded. "Agreed". With nothing else left to discuss, the three quickly went their seperate ways.
Komamura was deceptively stealthy despite his large size. His footsteps were almost completely silent as he made his way down the hallway leading to the captain's meeting room. The areas he had gone through thus far had been empty, but the fox man was no fool. His ears perked at even the slightest hint of sound, and his body was constantly tensed in a preparatory state. Once the captain of Eight Division was in front of the great meeting hall doors, he came slowly to a stop and took a moment to once more listen to his surroundings.
"This silence..." he murmered to himself "It's not natural...And not a sign of any indoor sentries since we entered the compound. Is it really just Aizen here?".Several seconds passed by, but no other sound was heard. Deciding that it was best to continue his search, Komamura placed his great hands against the double doors and pushed them open with a grunt.
Komamura entered the room and took a look around. Aside from there being no other captains there, nothing was really out of the ordinary. No torches were lit, so the room was extremely dark. Nothing that the fox captain's vision couldn't handle, but it was still somewhat of a hassle to deal with.
Suddenly, Komamura's ears twitched simultaneously. A low voice had suddenly broken the deathly silence in the room, and it spoke a phrase Komamura was all too familiar with.
"Cry, Suzumushi"
A high pitched keen hit Komamura's sensitive ears, stunning him and nearly knocking him unconscious. Stumbling backwards and covering his ears, Komamura managed to steady himself and attempt to locate his attacker.
He saw Tousen then, for it was indeed Tousen's zanpakuto that had just been used against him. The former ninth captain stood in the center of the room, his zanpakuto once more in it's sheath, and his gaze directed upon his old friend. Komamura was at a loss for words. The expression that was upon Tousen's face as he spoke his next words was what Komamura might have deciphered as disdain.
"Komamura...it's been a while" said the blind man to Komamura "It is a shame that I have to kill you here. I would have much preferred to have saved you for another time".
The cold and direct message hit a nerve in the the fox man.
"Kaname...is this truly what you want?" Komamura said quietly, his voice almost a whisper "Wasn't I your friend? Isn't Justice what you want?".
Tousen lightly chuckled. "I thought that I had clarified this a while back when I first left, Komamura. The path that I walk IS justice. It offers the least amount of bloodshed".
The dark-skinned man took a few steps forward, so that he was closer to Komamura. "And as for you being my friend" he said haughtily "you were merely another tool. As if a fool like yourself could ever be considered my friend. I do not desire such trivial things. My only desire is to see Aizen-sama's will carried out".
Komamura's eyes widened in rage, and their blaze reflected eerily off of Tousen's goggles. "TOUSEN!!" His fury now far outweighing his anguish, Komamura let out a feral roar and leaped towards his old friend, one of his hands grasping his zanpakuto's hilt.
"ROAR, TENGEN!!" Komamura drew his zanpakuto from the sheath and slashed towards Tousen. Following close behind the fox captain's blade was an even huger blade held by a large armored hand. Tousen was quick to dodge the straightforward assault, leaping far to Komamura's side and into the air, preparing for another attack.
"Smash his limbs, Benihiko" Tousen said solemnly. With a wave of his zanpakuto, Tousen launched an almost solid wave of blades at Komamura.
With a loud marrow-chilling bay, Komamura charged headlong into Tousen's attack. With a sweep of his free hand, Tengen created another massive arm that easily deflected Benehiko's attack, leaving Tousen wide open.
Surprised by the furious charge by Komamura, Tousen attempted to sidestep him once more. But Komamura was prepared this time. The exact moment that Tousen expertly went to the fox man's right side, Komamura came to a dead stop. With another roar, Komamura launched a garbage can lid-sized fist at the former Ninth captain's face. As if by instinct, Tousen threw up his zanpakuto in front of the attack, stopping the attack from hitting him dead on. The force of Komamura's strike drove Tousen back several yards.
But Tousen had momentarily forgotten about the giant disembodied arm that came crashing down upon him.
Splintered wood flew everywhere as the attack connected. Tousen heaved up a large amount of blood, and he let out a pained gasp. And as the blind man attempted to slide away from his attacker, Komamura's gigantic hand clasped around his throat. With little effort, the fox captain lifted Tousen clear from the ground.
Komamura put Tousen's face close to his. "Is this still what you desire, Kaname?! Is THIS justice? Turning on your comrades and causing a pointless war?!".
Tousen's expression was blank. "I never betrayed my true comrades, Komamura. I have always served Aizen-sama. No one else".
With an angered growl, Komamura swung Tousen around and slammed his body into one of the rooms great pillars. Tousen grunted in pain, but said nothing.
"I swore that I would wake you up with my own hands, Kaname Tousen" Komamura said solemnly "So long as you are in my grasp, I won't let go until you remember what you truly stand for, and abandon the madman you follow".
Tousen chuckled. "So be it, old friend. You had better start trying to convince me. But remember, there is little that you can show a blind man".
Aizen and Gin continued their ascent up the huge stairway that they were on. Their goal, a huge pyramid-like structure at the top, seemed much to far away for the former third captain's liking.
"Might jus' be me" Gin said wearily, still keeping in step with his master "but I think that it's a bit pointless for the captain-general to put somethin' so high up. I mean, the old man would have a heart attack goin' up these steps...".
"Now now Gin, what is the matter? Surely a few steps aren't enough to stop you?" Aizen's voice didn't show any signs of exhaustion as he peered over his shoulder.
Ichimaru smirked. "Nah, a few steps ain't 'nough to stop me. It's a few thousand that make me queasy". Gin's complaints weren't without their reasons. The huges stairway the pair was ascending went far higher than either had expected. Each step was about twelve feet wide, and on either side of the colossal incline were jagged peaks of stone. Honestly, Gin had no idea how Yamamoto was able to fit all of this into his small division.
Aizen suddenly came to a stop, nearly causing Gin to bump into him in mid-complaint.
"I don't think that you have to worry about walking for a few moments Gin. We have company". Aizen gestured in front of himself, and Gin had to peer around to see what it was that his master was trying to show him.
Captain Soi Fon blocked their path, arms crossed and her face as deadly serious as ever.
Gin smiled. "Well now, ain't this a surprise? It seems that they caught up to us much quicker 'n we expected, Cap'n".
"So it seems" came Aizen's reply.
Soi Fon glared daggers at the two ex-captains. "This is as far as you go, Sosuke Aizen and Gin Ichimaru. Surrender now, and I'll kill you quickly so that the Captain-General won't get his hands around your traitorous throats".
Aizen chuckled. "I don't think so, Soi Fon. I suggest that YOU move, before I am forced to kill you. That wouldn't be very pleasant for me to have to do".
Soi Fon raised an eyebrow. "Would it now?".
Aizen gestured at himself. "Of course. Blood is difficult to wash out of my clothing. A king must always look his best you know".
The ninja captain sneered. "Just the answer that I would have expected from you, traitor scum!". Bringing her fingers to her mouth, Soi Fon let out a quick, sharp whistle.
The air was filled with the sound of rushing movement and dark shapes flying through the air. Both Aizen and Gin each took a casual look at their surroundings.
About sixty of Soi Fon's stealth corps warriors were surrounding the former captains. Each had zanpakuto drawn, crouched in silent anticipation.
"Whoops! Looks like we've gotten caught" came the enthusiastic response from Gin as he surveyed the newcomers.
Aizen laughed softly, slicking back his hair. "Come now, Soi Fon. Do you think that these men will be enough to stop me and Gin?".
He got no answer. Unless you count Soi Fon shouting "Attack and apprehend!" as a suitable answer.
The first stealth corpsman came in low before Aizen, shifting his grip expertly on his zanpakuto and driving it upwards. Aizen casually backhanded the blade as it came towards his face, shattering it and sending the man flying off to the side. When that member fell, all of the other warriors under Soi Fon simultaneously leapt at Aizen with weapons drawn.
"I'm sorry, but I do not have time for this" Aizen said simply.
What happened next came as a surprise to Soi Fon and all of the Stealth Corps memebers. Aizen at first seemed to be standing completely still. However, once the warriors came within five feet of the former captain, they were all doomed. Soi Fon could only watch in horror as hundreds of copies of Aizen emerged from his body and struck the incoming attackers simultaneously with their zanpakuto.
There was a shower of blood and agonized screams, and then...silence.
Aizen continued his walk up the steps, as blood rained down all around him. Amazingly enough, there wasn't a drop of the stuff on Aizen's outfit or skin. One by one, all of the dead punishment squad members weapons fell back to the ground with loud clangs. There were no other remains to be seen.
Gin let out a low whistle. "As deadly as ever, Cap'n".
Aizen stopped once more and looked at his silver-haired subordinate over his shoulder. "Wait here, Gin. I am sure that there will be more coming after us".
"Righty-oh, Cap'n Aizen" Gin said, his perpetual smile growing bigger.
Aizen suddenly lifted up his right arm. There was a loud thud as Soi Fon's leg connected with the traitor captain's forearm. Aizen turned his gaze away from Gin back at Soi Fon. She was now only dressed in her stealth corps outfit, her captain's haori still hanging in midair where she was standing moments ago before it flew off over the side of the stairway.
"Now now, that isn't very nice of you, Captain" Aizen said "To attack an opponent who isn't paying attention?".
"Any opponent who doesn't pay attention to the enemy is better off dead" snarled the ninja captain "This is where you die!".
Not one to waste time, Soi Fon kicked off of the ground with her free foot. With blinding movements, Soi Fon expertly wrapped her legs around Aizen's arm, dragging it downwards and bringing Aizen forward. With pure abdominal strength, Soi Fon lifted her torso and thrusted her zanpakuto at her opponent's smirking face.
But Aizen wasn't the overlord of Hueco Mundo for nothing. His free hand quickly intercepted the attack, closing tightly around Soi Fon's small wrist. Soi Fon grunted, but she did not allow herself to show Aizen any hints of her pain.
"Did I forget to mention that I had mastered all four forms of the shinigami's fighting styles?" Aizen said, his grip tightening. "You shouldn't have underestimated me, Soi Fon".
Soi Fon's answer came in the form of a wicked smirk. " And you should not have done the same, Aizen".
Aizen raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" was his only response.
Soi Fon gritted her teeth. "Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi!!". Aizen's eyes slightly widened as the blade in Soi Fon's hand disappeared, forming the gold and black gauntlet that was Suzumebachi. The long stinger-like protrusion on her finger extended up to Aizen's nose.
Soi Fon's smirk quickly turned into a deadly glare. "Die, Aizen" With a powerful thrust of her arm, Soi Fon's wrist slid out of Aizen's grip and drove Suzumebachi's stinger straight through his head.
"Oh my" said Gin, his smile still on his face.
As Aizen's body disappeared into dust, Soi Fon landed onto her feet and straightened herself. Looking at Gin, she grinned smugly as she gestured towards the air around her. "Take a good look, Ichimaru. This dust is all that remains of your former master. There is nothing else left for you now. Except for maybe a trial, if any".
Gin's smile did not relent. "I wouldn' be so sure, Cap'n".
As Soi Fon was about to respond to Gin's comment, she suddenly stumbled forward. Confused, the ninja captain looked down at her stomach.
A bloody zanpakuto was protruding from it.
"What?...H-how?..." Soi Fon gripped the zanpakuto and attempted to force it back out. But it wouldn't budge.
Soi Fon's body suddenly chilled as she felt warm breath touch her ear. "It seems that Kyouka Suigetsu's kanzen saimen is too much for even you to handle, Captain Soi Fon". Aizen leaned his head over Soi Fon's shoulder, his deceptively soft brown eyes locking with her silver ones. "I was standing behind you the entire time. It's just that I only let you see me now. I'm afraid that the man you just killed was one of your own Stealth Corps members".
"D-damn...you" Soi Fon growled, blood trailing from her mouth.
"I'm sorry, Captain. This fight is over" declared Aizen, as he slowly started to twist his blade.
But Soi Fon wasn't about to give up. With a yell, Soi Fon threw herself forward, freeing herself from Aizen's blade. Once she hit the ground, the raven-haired captain looked over her shoulder and kicked out her left leg behind her. Several stiletto-like kunai flew from her pant leg at Aizen's chest.
Aizen didn't lose his cool. Taking a step back, Aizen whipped his hand back and forth before him twice, deflecting all of the missles.
Aizen used the same hand he had used to knock aside the kunai to smooth his hair. "Really Soi Fon, did you think that would work?". His boasting was cut short as he was forced to sidestep a blade kick from Soi Fon. Her resolve intensified, the ninja woman began a furious assault of strikes at Aizen. Her singles kicks turned into quick combinations, and the combinations came in such swift and vicious bursts that even a captain would have difficulty dodging them.
But no matter how fast she went, Aizen was always able to either parry or dodge with apparent ease. It definitely wasn't a bluff when he said that he had mastered all forms of shinigami combat. And Soi Fon knew she was nearing her limit. Her wound was worse than she had thought, and she could feel herself slowing down, the adrenaline rush of her desperate attack wearing off.
And Aizen wasn't one to miss such details.
Soi Fon leapt up in the air, rotating in a full three-sixty as she launched a powerful tornado kick at Aizen. Unexpectedly, the ex-captain quickly stepped into the attack instead of avoiding it. With surprising strength, Aizen caught Soi Fon's kick by her thigh, nearly toppling her off balance. Stubbornly and predictably, the ninja woman kicked off of the ground and swung her free foot at the side of Aizen's head. Again, Aizen was able to catch her attack. He now had her by both of her legs, leaving the second division captain in a very precarious position.
Now upside down, Soi Fon was running out of ideas. But she wasn't fresh out just yet. Once again, the raven-haired captain displayed her great muscle-strength, snapping her torso up and driving her forehead into Aizen's.
The ex-captain didn't even flinch.
"Getting tired, Soi Fon?" Aizen said almost tauntingly. Soi Fon responded in kind by spitting at his face. Of course, Aizen simply moved his head to the side so that the spit went harmlessly by.
"Binding Art 61: Rikujōkōrō(Six rods Prison of Light)" Aizen chanted. Soi Fon could only watch as six thin but wide blades surrounded her and Aizen and closed in.
To Soi Fon's shock and horror, the beams passed harmlessly through Aizen and slammed painfully into her midsection. Blood erupted from her open wound, and Soi Fon couldn't help but cry out in pain.
The Aizen that was holding Soi Fon dissipated, and turned into a zanpakuto that fell downwards. Right into the true Aizen's waiting hand.
With a flick of his wrist, Aizen slashed upwards diagonally, opening a huge gash from Soi Fon's left hip to her right shoulder. Blood flew into the air in a crimson wave.
"...Bastard..." was all that Soi Fon could say as she slipped from consciousness. The six rods of light that were restraining her disappeared, and her body fell onto the stairs with a thud. She rolled down a few steps before Gin brought up a foot to stop her descent.
Gin looked at his master. "Ya done?" he asked.
Aizen nodded and sheathed Kyoka Suigetsu. "She was stubborn, as I predicted. It was mostly by her own doing that she is now where she is. But enough of that. As I said before Gin, I want you to remain here and intercept any more interruptions. I won't be gone long".
"Whatever ya say, Cap'n" was Gin's reply once more.
"Good. Because here comes those interruptions" Aizen nodded over Gin's shoulder, which Gin also looked over. The sight didn't please him much.
Captain Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, and a huge group of first division members were heading up the stairs straight for them.
"Gin..." Matsumoto whispered, her eyes slightly glazed over. Hitsugaya glanced at his liutenant and closed his eyes with a frown.
"Matsumoto" he said, taking her out of her daze "I want you to stay here with these men. You'll all just be in my way".
"But Captain!.." she started to protest, but Hitsugaya's fierce stare cut her off.
"Don't disobey my orders. Stay back". The blonde heard the finality in her captain's voice and went dead silent.
His liutenant out of the equation for the moment, Hitsugaya redirected his attention to the obstacle that lay before him: Former captain Gin Ichimaru. The snow-haired prodigy had battled him before, but ever since Aizen's betrayal, Hitsugaya wasn't even sure if the fox-faced man had shown his true power. As far as he knew, the two men could be on entirely different levels.
All of those thoughts and more ran through the Tenth captain's head as be began to make his way to his opponent.
Gin's smile had faltered somewhat upon seeing Rangiku, but he had regained his composure somewhat once he saw 'Ol' Snowball' ,as he like to call the tenth captain, advance towards him. It wasn't an encounter that the former third captain was looking forward to. Gin remembered all too well what Hitsugaya was capable of when taken lightly. Gin had made a personal note to never make THAT mistake again.
Once the two men were about ten steps away from each other, Hitsugaya came to a stop. He surveyed his old comrade with a look of disdain.
"Ichimaru..." he said, with the slightest hint of a growl.
"Toshirou. It's good to see ya so well" replied Gin "Have ya gotten taller?".
Hitsugaya pushed the remark aside. "I'm guessing that you aren't going to step aside?". Gin let out a small laugh.
"Sorry, but 'fraid I can't do that. Orders is orders, y' know" the silver-haired man said.
"Hmph. I thought that would be your answer. Then I suppose I have no choice but to remove you myself" Hitsugaya's hand went to his zanpakuto's hilt.
"Ya sure ya wanna do that? Captain Soi Fon might get in the way" Gin said pointedly. As if to prove his point, Gin stepped aside, revealing the beaten body of the second division captain. Her body was still and unmoving on the blood-soaked steps.
Hitsugaya's eyes widened momentarily, before narrowing into dangerous slits. "You bastard! You're going to use a woman to avoid a fight!?" he snarled.
"That's just like ya, Snowball, jumpin' to conclusions before hearin' the story" Gin said with a slight tone of malice in his usually carefree tone "I'm jus' sayin' that you should move 'er so she won' get in the way". Hitsugaya's skepticism was shown clearly on his face. But Gin made no other movements, other than to put his hands in front of himself.
Hitsugaya sighed inwardly. Although he would rather not trust Gin, he knew that Captain Soi Fon wouldn't last with her wounds. And Gin seemed genuine in letting him move her.
"...Matsumoto!" Hitsugaya called over his shoulder. His liutenant perked up at the sound of her name.
"Yes, Taichou?" she answered, her voice nervous.
"Retrieve Captain Soi Fon and take her to Fourth. Hopefully it will have some members available to help her".
"Y-yes! Right away!" Matsumoto was instantly beside her captain, and she glanced uncomfortably at Gin. Hitsugaya was quick to see the smile falter once again on Gin's face.
Once Matsumoto had Soi Fon in her arms in a bridal-fashion, she carefully but quickly made her way down the stairs. She pushed her way a bit too quickly through the first division members and was soon out of sight.
"...I wonder what kinda things ya said 'bout me to make her look at me like that" Gin said wistfully, as he pushed his cloak aside to reveal his own zanpakuto.
Hitsugaya regarded Gin with a look that might have contained pity. "I did nothing to poison your friendship, Gin. It was your betrayal that made her look at you the way she did".
Gin laughed, though Hitsugaya knew it was far from a light-hearted one.
"Yer right. Who am I kiddin'? But anyhow, shouldn' we get to gettin'? The longer ya take, the quicker Cap'n Aizen is gonna find what he needs".
Although he saw the obvious ploy of Gin's subject change, the information he just gave was too vital for Hitsugaya to ignore. "What? What is Aizen after? Why isn't he trying to make the King's Key? Why go here?".
Gin's smile was creeping back onto his face. "I dunno. He wouldn' tell me. But perhaps..." Gin slid his infamous blade, Shinsou, from it's scabbard and assumed his unorthodox stance "...you can force it out of him after ya beat me".
Hitsugaya took a step back and assumed his own battle stance, drawing his unreleased Hyorinmaru from it's sheath. "Are you ready, Ichimaru?" Hitsugaya said, his blue spiritual aura forming around him.
Gin's own silver aura began to emanate from his body. "Come on, Tenth Captain Toshirou Hitsugaya".
Hitsugaya struck first. With a dash, he closed the ten-step gap between him and Gin and aimed a quick underhand thrust at his opponent's face. Gin was quick to counter, smashing Shinso against Hyorinmaru with a powerful downward strike. Sparks flew from the collision and both fighters pushed against each other with all of their might.
"You'll pay for hurting all of the people who matter to me" Hitsugaya growled, pressing his forehead against Gin's.
In a rare instance, Gin's eyes slid slowly open, revealing ice-blue orbs that were glowing with intensity.
"And I'll kill ya for bringin' Rangiku into danger, Shiro-chan" the silver-haired man hissed uncharacteristically. With expertise speed and precision, Gin reversed the grip he had on his zanpakuto's handle, so his left hand was directly under the hilt and his right hand cradled the bottom of the handle.He then shoved aside both his and Hitsugaya's blade to Hitsugaya's right, leaving his torso wide open. With Hitsugaya's body unguarded, Gin planted a kick directly into the smaller captain's stomach, blasting the wind out of him. The force knocked Hitsugaya off of his feet and he tumbled backwards. Like a shark, Gin closed in for the kill.
But Hitsugaya wasn't any normal opponent. Upon hitting the ground, he quickly flash-stepped backwards away from Gin, then flash-stepped back towards him, at the same time executing a sideways slash from the right. Gin's brow furrowed in concentration as he rotated into the attack and parried the dangerous blade aside. Hitsugaya used his momentum to go past Gin and seize the high ground. Pivoting on his right foot, Hitsugaya turned around to face his opponent, and hacked downwards with a yell.
Once again, Gin was forced to block as he gripped Shinsou in both hands and blocked the attack horizontally. But Hyorinmaru was longer, and it being in the hands of someone on the higher ground gave it the advantage in such a deadlock. The cold blade cut deeply into Gin's right cheek, drawing a red line down the side of his face. Hitsugaya adjusted his grip on Hyorinmaru and forced downwards with more weight, hoping to score a deeper wound.
Gin had other ideas. With quickness that only a former captain could possess, Gin slid backwards and out of the deadlock, disrupting Hitsugaya's balance. He landed about five steps down and turned his left shoulder towards his enemy.
"Shoot to kill, Shinso" he commanded. Gin then threw aside his left arm and thrusted his right arm towards Hitsugaya, launching Shinso's now glowing and rapidly extending blade at the white-haired captain. Hitsugaya quickly leaped into the air, avoiding a serious blow but not getting away unscathed as Shinso cut into his right ankle. The steps that Shinso hit were demolished in a shower of rubble.
Hitsugaya continued to rise into the air, slowly swinging his sword before himself. The temperature in the air dropped as he roared his next words.
"Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!!" As Hitsugaya swung his blade in front himself once more, the tell-tale ice dragon began to form itself in the air around him. Taking Hyorinmaru over his head, Hitsugaya launched the torrent of ice and water at Gin.
Rather than backstep to avoid the attack, Gin dashed forth, moving side to side in order to avoid the deadly ice. Once he had ascended about fifty steps or so, the silver-haired ex-captain spun about and launched Shinso's extended blade at Hitsugaya's back. Hitsugaya had to literally pivot in midair to direct Hyorinmaru behind him and thwart Gin's attack. Ice sprayed about wildly as Hyorinmaru absorbed Shinso's powerful blade.
"Can't stay in one spot forever, Toshirou" Gin shouted as he started to slash Shinso in wild arcs at the tenth captain who, to his credit, was avoiding contact thus far. Rather than stay in the air like a sitting duck, Hitsugaya decided to try and take the attack to his opponent once more. He let himself drop back down to the steps below with a quick flash-step, and hit the ground at a run towards Gin. Upon seeing the snowy-haired captain charging at him, Gin retracted Shinso and launched it at Hitsugaya once more. But Hitsugaya was too quick, easily sidestepping the attack with the speed he had already attained in his charge.
"My goodness, this ain' good" Gin said "Guess it's time for plan B". He continued to let Hitsugaya advance, but in the meantime slowly began retracting Shinso's blade. Closer by the second Hitsugaya was advancing, but there still came no defense from Gin. Puzzled as he was, Hitsugaya was more than prepared to take whatever his silver-haired adversary was going to dish out if it meant that he struck a killing blow in exchange. As Hitsugaya lifted up Hyorinmaru for another attack, Gin flashed him a wide smile.
"Sorry, Snowball. Game over". With surprising speed, the fox-faced man started hacking and slashing back and forth. Surprised, Hitsugaya brought up his zanpakuto in order to guard himself. But it was then that he realized that he wasn't Gin's target.
The stairs were.
Shinso's blade cut through the stairway like a hot knife through butter. Without so much a a rumble, all of the sections that Hitsugaya was running on began to slide downwards, crashing into a giant crumbling pile about a hundred or so feet below.
"Damn!" Hitsugaya grunted. Mustering all of his balance and speed, the boy prodigy started to run across broken sections of the stairs that were falling apart.
Again, Gin could only smile. Hitsugaya once more came within five feet of Gin, and it seemed as if he was going to reach his target. All that was reflected in Hitsugaya's green-blue eyes was the former third captain.
Then Shinso burst from the stone below Gin's feet, impaling Hitsugaya straight through his right shoulder.
Caught completely off-guard and his momentum disrupted, Toshiro Hitsugaya fell backwards along with the rest of the falling stone stairs.
As Hitsugaya fell, Gin waved his hand in farewell notion. "Bye bye" he said.
And the captain of tenth division fell down into the cloud of rubble below.
"Well, that takes care o' him. Poor lil guy" Brushing some stray hair out of his face, Gin replaced his zanpakuto in it's sheath.
With Hitsugaya out of the way, all that was left for Gin to do was to wait for Aizen's return. Once he came back with whatever it was he went to get, then they could get out of this whole miserable place. And maybe we could take Rangiku with us too, Gin mused to himself.
The air around Gin suddenly became deathly cold. Hell, forget cold, it was freaking freezing. Gin was actually able to see his breath. He also noticed, with a bit of discomfort, that his feet had become partially stuck to the steps he stood on. Stuck by ice.
"Gimme a break" Gin complained, as he went back to the edge and peered over.
He wisely snapped his head back out of harms way as a huge wave of ice flew up in front of him.
There was a flash of bluish light as someone flew straight up in front of the ex-captain. Said person circled the air above in a figure-eight, before slowly levitating down to Gin's level, his eyes narrowed in agitation.
Hitsugaya had returned. "Daiguren Hyorinmaru" he said, as he flew forward. His opponent in turn took a few steps back, giving the prodigy some landing space.
"Gotta hand it to ya" Gin said, his tone showing that he was at least slightly impressed "yer a tough one to kill, Snowball".
"Hmph. It's a thousand years too early for you to be able to kill me so easily" Hitsugaya retorted. To emphasize his point, he flapped his great ice wings fiercely, raising his reiatsu and kicking up a harsh wind.
Gin merely shook his head. 'I know how yer bankai works. It's not gonna last long, and it ain' gonna be pleasant for ya to swing that sword o' yers with severed shoulder ligaments".
Hitsugaya snorted. "And what of them?".
Gin shrugged. "I'm jus' sayin' that we don' really have a reason to fight any more than we hafta". This brought a laugh from the white-haired captain.
"Do you expect me to buy that? You just spent the last few minutes trying to kill me, Gin. What makes you think I'm going to believe you when you say you don't want to fight?".
"Was worth a try. I was just told to stall ya, not kill" the fox-faced man replied "'Sides, I know how fond Rangiku is of ya. I'd hate to be the one to make her upset".
The tension in Hitsugaya's shoulders lessened slightly. He narrowed his eyes, surveying Gin carefully. Although it was always difficult to get understand Gin through body language alone, Hitsugaya sensed some truth in his words.
"Ichima-...Gin" he said finally, to which the former captain looked at him "Why are you doing this? If you truly care about Rangiku, then why help Aizen? Why didn't you remain on our side and help stop him?".
Gin's face was hard to read at that moment. His customary creepy smile was replaced with a more somber one. "It's somethin' I gotta do, Snowball. All I gotta say".
Hitsugaya's face scrunched in confusion. "I don't understand".
"Jus' promise me you'll take care o' Ran-chan for me, an' I'll let ya go" Gin said, his voice still serious.
Again, Hitsugaya tried to find some sort of lie or deception in Gin's words. And again, he found none.
"...Very well. But Gin, I want a direct answer from you. What is it you are trying to do?".
"Oh look!" Gin proclaimed cheerfully "Ran-chan's back!". Hitsugaya cautiously glanced over his shoulder, still keeping his adversary in his peripherals.
He spoke the truth. Matsumoto was on the other side of the stairway that had not fallen. In fact, now that Hitsugaya wasn't completely focusing on the man in front of him, he was able to make out the fact that his liutenant was calling to him.
Hitsugaya turned around fully, and he gave his overexcited liutenant his trademark scowl. "What is it, Matsumoto!?" he shouted.
Matsumoto seemed flustered as she cupped her hands around her mouth. "It's Captain Komamura! He has former captain Tousen apprehended!".
Hitsugaya could have sworn he heard Gin chuckle.
"And also...TAICHOU!!" Matsumoto's face suddenly paled as she started screaming hysterically.
Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow. "What is it Matsumo-".
Hitsugaya never got to finish his sentence. The last thing that came from his mouth was a large amount of his own blood. Metal tore into his flesh as the tenth captain felt something turn a full three-hundred and sixxty degrees in his torso. Through his suddenly increasingly blurring vision, he was able to make out a sword's blade that had erupted from his right lung and was, at least in his eyes, moving slowly upwards until it tore free from his left side, cleanly severing his left arm.
"Tsk tsk, you should know better than to turn your back on an enemy, Toshiro. I'm disappointed" said a voice that the snowy-haired captain knew.
Like a frail glass statue that had been struck by a thrown stone, Hitsugaya's great glacial wings shattered, their pieces showering about him like new-fallen snow. In turn, the ice armor that had been encasing his right arm and feet also broke, raining upon the ground in the forms of hundreds of miniature crystals. All of the ice that was falling into the air was instantly drenched by it's owner's blood.
"Ai...zen..." Hitsugaya was able to cough. Then slowly, ever so slowly, Hitsugaya fell forward. Hyorinmaru fell from his limp hands and fell down into the rubble below.
It's master followed suit, leaving a trail of blood and icicles floating after.
The Prodigy of Tenth Division was no more.
Gin's expression was definitely one of surprise. He had not seen Aizen come until it was too late. Poor Snowball didn't even have a chance. But the worst was yet to come.
Matsumoto could not believe what she had seen. It all looked like things were going so well. Gin and her captain were actually talking, not fighting. And for the first time in weeks, the blonde had actually began to hope that things would finally turn around for the better. She had no idea that she was going to lose her beloved captain.
With no strength left in her legs, Rangiku Matsumoto fell to her knees. She fell to her knees and screamed.
That scream froze all of the blood in Gin Ichimaru's body.
The yellow light known as negacion suddenly encased Gin and Aizen. But Gin seemed not to notice. All he could hear was his Ran-chan...screaming in pain.
"It seems that what I was searching for is not here" Aizen said off-handedly, sheathing his bloody zanpakuto.
Gin managed to shake himself from his stupor. "What was it that you were searchin' for, Cap'n Aizen?" he asked somewhat hollowly.
Aizen seemed not to notice. "Something grand, my loyal subordinate. Something that will make the King's Key obsolete".
Gin looked at his master, genuinely confused for the first time in a while. "What could that be?" he inquired.
Aizen smiled before smoothing back his hair. "Let us put it this way, Gin. The key to a palace is wonderful indeed. But if one knows all of the palace's secrets, then surely a subsitute for a such key could be easily found, no?".
Gin nodded, not quite catching on.
"What I am after is not the King's Key" Aizen said, as he surveyed the quickly disappearing Seireitei. "It is his Memoirs".
Gin scratched his head. "His memoirs? How ya gonna get somethin' like that?".
Aizen chuckled, "That Gin, remains to be seen. Until then, I will continue my campaign until more answers are available to me". The tone of his master's voice definitely cued to Gin that the conversation was over for now.
The silver-haired man sighed. Attempting to find something else besides his master to look at, Gin directed his attention to his former home that he was quickly rising away from. He noticed, with a teeny pang of disappointment, another golden pillar of negacion somewhere in the center of Seireitei. That, of course, could only mean that Tousen had managed to slip from the grasp of his shinigami captors once more.
Ignoring the sight, Gin gazed upon the rest Seireitei and it's surroundings, but his was not a scornful look. In fact, one would say that his face held a feeling of longing.
"Hoo boy" Gin said to himself, a saddened smile making it's way to his face "It's gonna be a long war fo' sure".
END OF INTRODUCTION
pantpant Well, that's it so far. Hope it wasn't too much '' Trust me, I tried slimming it down countless times, and this is as small as it's gonna get...So, decent enough for a review or two?