I walked up to Captain Kenpachi when the squad had been dismissed. I felt very nervous. To suggest what I was about to suggest was absurd. I didn't even know if i could do it.
"Captain," I said. "I know a way to get everyone to our assigned post."
Captain Kenpachi looked down at her with interest. "What is it?" he asked.
I concentrated and the light appeared. Kesshō akuma came to my mind. He saw what I intended to do. "Hold on to something," I muttered.
The light engulfed us. They sped through the tunnel. No one knew what was happening it was like time was standing still. In an instant we were on the direct path to Seireitei, which was at our backs.
"What the hell?" the Captain asked.
There were cries of alarm and confusion all around. I placed my hands on my knees. The "teleportation" had drained me. It was hard to breathe.
"We're here," I said to Captain Kenpachi. I straighten. "I'll go set up."
I hurried away. Once everyone had recovered from their shock, sentries were posted and the camp was set up. No one knew how long that battle was going to take. It could takes years, weeks, days, months, no one knew for certain. Everyone was on edge. The battle was only a few hours away. Ikkaku and Yumichika-san joined me as I finished.
"That ability of yours sure came in handy," Yumichika said.
"I figured we needed all the time we can get to prepare," I said.
A strong breeze stirred through the camp. I put her arm over my face. Whatever Katsu was up it wouldn't be pretty. "I only hope it doesn't rain," I said.
Three hours until dawn, Captain Kuchiki's Squad appeared a couple of miles away from their position.It seems like the Captain-Commander is having all the Squads surround Soul Society, I thought. Katsu will have no choice but to attack head on. The sky was turning pink, orange and purple with each passing minute. There was still no sign of my brother. The tension could be cut with a knife.
My tent flap stirred with a faint breeze. Involuntary, I looked over my shoulder. It was my tent only my tent. The sun peaked its head over the horizon. The ground rumbled. I hurried to my feet and toward the battle area. Captain Kenpachi was already in place with a smile on his face. The other squad members hurried to his side. Ikkaku and Yumichika-san were one of them.
The ground began to split. White goo started to leak out of the cracks. I pushed my way to the very front. I stared at the goo in horror. What is that? I thought. Is this Katsu's army? Spiritual energy appeared out of nowhere. I felt my back bend a fraction. Chills crawled down my spine. The spiritual energy was nothing like I had ever felt before.
"What have you created brother?!" I asked.
The white goo spread over the ground with a flood. There were murmurs of uneasiness spreading through the squad. The goo stretched as far as the eye could see. The "army" was massive. The goo began to the shapes of Hollow!
"Hollow-?" came the surprised question from the Squad.
"Where the hell did they come from?" Ikkaku asked.
What kind of device had Captain Kurotshuchi created? The Hollow's cries shook the air. I saw a few members touching their Zanpaktou for comfort. A huge blob of goo rose up in front of the Hollow. It rose up and shrunk to the size of a standard male shinigami. It was wearing the same outfit as the man who attacked Rukia and I and as my brother. It was only an entirely different face.
"Who are you?" Kenpachi asked.
"I'm the man who's going to kill you," the man said.
Captain Kenpachi laughed. He drew his Zanpaktou. Yellow spiritual pressure surrounded him. Squad members fell to their knees from the pressure. I could barely keep my feet under me.
"I would love to see you try!" Kenpachi yelled.
The two men threw themselves at the other. I covered my face from the dust. I could hear the Vice-Captain laughing and giggling. The Hollow were upon us in no time. Zanpaktou were drawn and battle cries could be heard.
A Hollow came howling for my blood. I jumped in the air, Kesshō akuma appearing in my hand and brought it down on the Hollow. I touched the ground swinging my Zanpaktou to the right without breaking a stride and slashed the Hollow. No matter where I looked there were Hollow every where even in the air.
The Eleventh Division was having the time of their life. Sure Hollow weren't the ideal opponents but the squad members got to fight. Captain Kenpachi was off fighting the General somewhere. His spiritual energy was very close. The sun had risen fairly above the horizon throwing shadows across the ground. I was sure the Hollow weren't going away until Katsu was dead.
Hollow fell left and right yet more of them took their place. I threw myself at the nearest Hollow cutting it in half. Kesshō akuma howled in glee. It was kill or be killed. I couldn't help up think that something was wrong. Why only Hollow? Surely, Captain Kurotshuchi had made a device more powerful that just to summon Hollow. I jumped up and cut a flying Hollow in half. I landed behind Ikkaku. His Zanpaktou was already released.
"Damn, there's no end to them," Ikkaku growled. "Where are they all coming from?"
I slashed at the nearest Hollow. "I don't know," I answered. "Katsu must be controlling them some how. That device Captain Kurotshuchi made must be entangled with all of this."
The Captain's laugh echoed through the air. The masks on some of the Hollow cracked. Sweat rolled down my neck. "The Captain sure is having fun," I said.
"There's no stopping him," Ikkaku agreed.
They attacked the Hollow. They had no strategy to the reaping. How long can we keep this up? I thought. I feel so drained. The Hollow began to shake. It was like vibrations were being transmitted throughout their heirro. The Hollow were being drawn to each other. I took a step back, dumb folded. The Hollow were merging with one another!
"What the-?" came the gasp of everyone close by.
The Hollow grew twice their side in length and height. They attacked again-sure there were fewer this time but their strength had not diminished- swinging their massive arms at the shinigami. I jumped in the air and swung my Zanpaktou at the nearest Hollow. It swung its arm at me.
I cut the arm. The Hollow bellow in pain. I struck again and this time sliced it in half. I flipped over the Hollow and landed on the ground. I looked back. The Hollow was still there! I sliced its head open, I thought. How can this be possible?!
The Hollow's tail knocked into my back. I was sent stumbling forward on my face. I came to a stop and swirled around putting my Zanpaktou up in defense. The Hollow swung his uncut arm at me. I laid upon the ground waiting for the blow to strike. A huge white slash appeared and the Hollow dispersed. Ikkaku dropped down beside me.
"Get a hold of yourself," he said.
I scrambled to my feet. My cheeks were bright red. "That-that was my Hollow," I said hotly. "It was mine! I had it!"
Ikkaku smirked. "Whatever," he said. "I saved your ass."
He leaped away heading toward another Hollow. I wouldn't be able to live this down. He would remind me he had saved my life. A sudden wave of uneasiness fell over me.
"Reflect," I cried out.
An invisible mirror appeared all around me. I swirled around as a Hollow brought its fist down. The mirror cracked. I "pushed" the mirror toward the Hollow causing the Hollow to stumble. The mirror dispersed and I jumped and brought my Zanpaktou down on the Hollow slicing it in half. I stumbled suddenly exhausted. I felt drained.
The Hollow can't be draining our spiritual energy, could they? I thought. That would be insane.
"Ikkaku!" I yelled. "I think the Hollow are draining our spiritual energy!"
I jumped back as the Hollow came after me. There was only one thing to so to test my theory. I raised my left hand and said, "Shakkahō!"
A red beam burst out of her hand toward the Hollow. The demon spell dispersed before it hit the Hollow. I flinched. If the Hollow continued doing what they were doing, the shinigami wouldn't stand a chance. There is one thing to do, I thought. Katsu must be killed.
I took a step back from the monkey Hollow. How long is this battle going to last? I ran at it and used flash step to move behind it. I brought Kesshō akuma down, slicing the Hollow in two. I spotted Ikkaku and flew toward him. I dropped down behind him.
"Ikkaku," I said. "They're draining out spiritual power. I can't even release my shikai. I need more spiritual energy than I have."
Ikkaku pressed his back against mine. "What are we suppose to do?" he asked.
"Kill my brother," I said grimly.
"You make that sound easy," he said.
"You're damn right it isn't," I said.
The sun had risen. The cool breeze of the morning blew through the battle field. I had my Zanpaktou gripped with both hands. I looked at all the Hollow surrounding us. There seemed to be no end to them. Yumichika-san appeared beside us out of nowhere.
"There seems to be no end to them," he said.
A howl split the air. A light, blue bat-like Hollow dropped out of the sky. I could only stare as it dived toward me and plucked me off the ground. I was carried off as my comrades looked on in shock. I cried out afraid.
"Kagami!" Ikkaku yelled.
I kept on screaming. Kesshō akuma dispersed and I held on to the talons. I couldn't help but look at the ground. The Hollow and shinigami were still fighting each other. Where is it taking me? I asked myself.
"Unhand me," I commanded the Hollow. "Let me go this instant!" I looked at the ground again. My vision blurred. "Don't let me go! I don't want to fall!"
The Hollow cried out and disintegrated. I was suspended in the air for a few seconds before plummeting down. A scream tore free of my mouth. Fear had frozen my mind completely. My eyes were stuck on the sky becoming further and further away by the second. I closed my eyes.
This is it, I thought. Kesshō akuma, I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you. The I stopped falling. I forced my eyes opened. I was in someone's arms-Captain Kuchiki's arms. My face was burning with embarrassment. Most importantly I was relieved.
I cling the the front of his robes. My body wouldn't stop shaking. I pressed my face into his chest to hide my tears. I felt so stupid for not doing anything to save myself. Thank you, I thought.
"You know," came a voice in my head. "I was suppose to save you."
I pressed my face in harder. I couldn't let anyone see my tears let alone a Captain from another squad. My Captain's reputation and the Eleventh Squad was at stake. In the silence, I could hear my pounding heart and the low pounding of blood in my ears. I took a deep breath to calm myself and let it out slowly. I turned my head and glanced at the ground. I felt a slight throbbing in my shoulders.
"Captain," came Renji's shout.
Byakuya landed on the ground and gently placed me on the ground. My legs felt like jelly. They could barely keep me upright. I looked around. The cracks were still in place and no sign of the Hollow.
"Thank you," I said softly. "For saving me. I owe you my life."
"You were in my way," Byakuya said. "I just happened to be there when you fell."
Renji came running toward us. He looked drained. "Kagami," he said surprised.
"What is it?" Captain Kuchiki asked.
"The Hollow have all gone," Renji reported. "They froze, turned back into the freaky goo and went back underground."
"Not to mention that they took all the spiritual energy we used to kill their comrades," I muttered.
"What are you suggesting?" Byakuya asked.
"I think this attack was a test of our strength or a distraction. I think it was a test of our strength," I said. "When they attack again-I'm sure they will-the Hollow will be stronger and we'll be drained."
A messenger appeared before Captain Kuchiki . "There's been an emergency Captain's meeting," he said.
"Very well," Captain Byakuya said.
The messenger disappeared. "I better be going," I said.
"You're coming with me," Byakuya said.
"Huh-?" I asked.
Renji looked surprised just as she. "Captain-" he began.
"Let's go," Byakuya interrupted.
He used flash step and was gone. Renji and I glanced at each other before I followed after him. All the Captains were arriving at the Captain-Commander's campsite. I didn't want to be there. All the Captain's were heading to a large tent at the very back of the camp. I hid behind Byakuya without making it look like I was hiding.
I gently touched my shoulders. They felt hot and swollen. I stumbled slightly and righted myself almost immediately. Byakuya didn't seem to notice. We passed all the other tents slower than we should have. We stopped in front of the large tent.
"Stay here," Byakuya said. "When I call you enter." He walked in.
I hopped from one foot to the other. I felt like I was going to betray my brother. As children, we had promised that we would always protect one another no matter what. Does that count now? I asked herself. He did die after all . . .I killed him.
I looked around. A faint breeze was rustling the leaves on the trees. It seemed impossible that they had been attacked only minutes ago. What does Katsu want with all the spiritual energy his Hollow gathered? I asked myself. What is he planning?
The tent flap opened. "Come here," Byakuya said.
I walked past him and came to a stop a few inches from the other Captains. Byakuya took his place among them. Every pair of eyes were on me. I gulped.
"Tell them exactly what you told me," Captain Kuchiki said.
I hope this doesn't count as betraying my brother, I thought. I don't want to do this to him. What am I suppose to do?