Ch 7 Lieutenants join the fray

As the two lieutenants sped after the bird Hollow they saw it suddenly veer to the left and land in a beautiful garden. The two women landed near the bird and looked around, recognizing the garden and building complex as that of the Kuchiki family estate.

The large black bird turned towards the two women and started to speak in a surprisingly feminine voice. "How wonderful to see you two again! Momo, Rangiku!" Said the bird to the two women. The two women looked tremendously shocked that the Hollow had addressed them by their names.

"How do you know our names?" Asked the shorter woman, named Momo with suspicion as she tightened her grip upon her sword.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that." Replied the Hollow with an almost teasing wink of its eye. "You'd never believe me. I can say that I'm glad you two were the ones that found me first." continued the Bird. "For now, you may call me Rica."

The two women could tell that the bird must have been smiling under its mask. "That's rich coming from a Hollow." Said the taller woman named Rangiku with disdain as she drew her sword. Rica seemed to deflate a little at Rangiku's statement.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Rangiku." Said Rica with sorrow in her voice as she raised her wings and dropped to a defensive stance. Momo followed her friends example unsheathing her sword, holding it in a normal kendo stance with a determined look on her face.

The small woman then held her red handled and square shaped hand guarded Katana aloft and said "Snap-Tobiume". As she released her blade it became straight with two recurving prongs sticking out on either side of the blade. She drew her sword arm back charging up what appeared to be a large ball of fire. When the fireball reached an adequate size, she hurled it towards Rica.

The bird merely covered itself with its large feathery wings causing the fireball to ricochet into one of the buildings exiting the garden, causing the building to burst into flames as the paper walls and wood caught fire. "Oh dear, poor Byakuya. He's going to be quite angry at you for the damage you've caused." The bird said in a playfully amused manner. "What a pity. I only wanted to talk to you but you've both been naughty girls." The bird continued as its voice started to get more menacing. The bird rose to its fullest height and spread its wings as it let out a long hawk like shrieking cry as it pounded its wings and launched itself towards the two stunned women in a whirl of black feathers and talons.

Squad Eleven Barracks

The third and fifth seated officers of Squad Eleven sat on the roof of the barrack dojo bored out of their minds. The two men were both quite unique. One was muscular, with dark brown eyes and red marks coming from his eyes. He was also so astonishingly bald that his head reflected the moonlight like a beacon.

The other man had colorful feathers on his right eyelashes and eyebrow. The man had purple eyes, jaw-length black hair, and shiny skin. Which, in conjunction with the feathers, gave him a somewhat feminine appearance. The man wore the regular Shihoksho, but he also had an orange piece of cloth around his neck covering his neck which otherwise would be exposed.

The bald man rested his katana against his shoulder as he gazed longingly out towards the far-off battle. The man's sword had a blue sheath and round hand guard. The other man sat cross legged with his Katana resting on his lap. His sword had a bronze hand guard shaped like a German cross, purple hilt-wrapping, and a fuchsia colored sheath.

"Ugh, why do we have to stay here while everyone else fights?" Groaned the bald man.

"Quite your whining, our orders are to stay here as back up and you know it Ikkaku." Said the other man impatiently.

"Oh, shut up Yumichika!" Replied the bald man, a vein popping out against his temple.

The man named Yumichika gave an exasperated groan at his friend's stubbornness as he looked off towards the distant battle. "The Captains really having fun over there isn't he." He said calmly.

"Yeah, he is, I just wish we could be having fun too". Replied Ikkaku with another irritable groan.

Suddenly, a beam of crimson energy lanced over their heads, detonating several meters away obliterating several nearby buildings. Surprised the two men turned their heads and saw a once in a lifetime sight.

The tall form of a Gillian loomed over them blocking out the moon. It's billowing black cloak rippled in the wind as its emotionless reptilian mask leered down at them. "Look Ikkaku, it's mask is different than regular Gillian!" Exclaimed Yumichika in astonishment. Smirking wildly with glee Ikkaku drew his sword, holding his katana in his right hand and sheath in his left hand in a reverse grip.

"Finally, something I can fight, and this one looks powerful." He said excitedly.

"Have fun." Said Yumichika uncaringly to his friend. "With pleasure." Ikkaku replied with relish as he launched himself at the Gillian.

As Ikkaku flew at the Gillian a black robbed white hand smacked him away and sent him crashing into a nearby building. Soon after another Gillian, with a Fox mask wandered up and after passing a silent message to each other the Reptile masked Gillian sauntered off in the direction of its opponent. Yumichika watched the newly arrived Gillian as it turned towards him and let out a howl.

"Well looks like I'm gonna have some fun as well by killing an ugly Hollow." He said with relish as he drew his sword and launched himself at the Gillian.

Kuchiki Estate

Rangiku and Momo lunged out of the way of the oncoming feathery ball of death charging at them. As Rica was about to pass them she twisted herself to the right and lashed out with her gleaming curved talons. Rangiku brought her sword up just in time to block the talons and felt the hit send a vibration up her arm.

"This thing it hilariously strong!" She thought worriedly to herself as she dodged under another swiping talon. Rangiku jumped back and held her sword horizontal in from of her outstretched. The sword was straight bladed with a dark red handle with a hand guard in the shape of a cat's head, with two triangles on the top half curving into ear-points, and the bottom half tapering down into a single point. "Growl, Haineko." She shouted as her sword glowed with white light.

The swords blade disintegrated into a large cloud of ash like smoke. With a gesture of her wrist the smoke flew at Rica. Surprised Rica ducked under the cloud as it grazed her upper plumage. The smoke barely past her before with another twist of the wrist Rangiku sent it whirling back around. Understanding flashed in Rica's eyes as she stood to her full height and flapped her wings with all her might at the oncoming smoke blasting it backwards.

As Rica turned in Rangiku's direction a fireball exploded on her from behind. Reeling forwards from the surprise attack Rica turned towards Momo. To Momo and Rangiku's astonishment the hollow didn't look angry it looked sad. Her sorrow filled eyes gazed at them as she turned to face both. Suddenly several hooded and robed figures wearing purple robes emblazoned with the Kuchiki clan heraldry surrounded the three combatants.

"This is getting sadder and sadder by the minute." Said Rica remorsefully as she launched herself into the air above the garden. "Out of respect and care for all of you, I will make this as quick and painless as possible." She said as her wings became sheathed in rolling black flames. "I will finish this, with, one, swift, stroke." She said with deepest sorrow as she beat her wings with the force of a hurricane sending the flames covering her wings roaring down towards the ground and the people below.

As always

I will see

YOU

In the next Chapter

BYE BYE