Cut The Strings

I wake up in the now familiar infirmary. It seems all I'm good for now is getting hurt and clogging up their precious beds. I'm just an irritating burden to these people...

It's dark in the room so I guess its night time. Hazy memories flood back to me, but one thing is burned into my eyes, clearer than the surface of a lake. That is Rukia's terrified expression, the look of shock and fear and betrayal that was suddenly etched upon her features as I mercilessly attacked her. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick.

How could I have done such a thing? Sure I'm possessed or drugged or under a spell or whatever the hell Aizen has done to me...But I should have been able to fight it. I should have been able to resist against such a sickening and monstrous order...Right?

I'm disgusted in myself, but I'm angrier at the cowardly puppet-master who has been toying with me and everyone within Soul Society. If only they would show their face I would tear them apart and make them suffer for what they have done to me!

"Over-confidence will only bring about your downfall."

Ok, what the hell was that? Someone just spoke, but I see no-one in the darkness. Not even a shadow! But I know I heard that voice! It was calm, yet menacing at the same time. A chill runs down my spine. Something makes me want to cry out for help but I doubt anyone will really come to my aid, not after what I've done – No! What I've been forced to do! I had no choice in the matter, but if I had I damn well would have kicked the puppet master's ass that's for sure!

"You think you can stop me? A humorous proposition. I am your master now. Your body obeys my command."

"Where are you?" I cry, spinning around to scan the entire room.

"Where am I indeed. Perhaps I am outside? Perhaps I am hiding in here? Perhaps I am...Behind you"

Instinctually I whirl around frantically and almost lose my footing and trip. I curse my foolishness especially when the mysterious stranger laughs a dry searing chuckle.

"So foolish. Well you will be pleased to know that Lord Aizen no longer wishes to have you under control. Your part has been played well."

"So you're done with me?" I ask.

"In a sense, yes. You are no longer necessary in the following stages of the plan. But," the stranger pauses for a moment before continuing, "This means you no longer need to live. A puppet without its master to pull his strings has no purpose and so he must be discarded of properly. I'm sure you understand this. So please, lay back and die!"

Something hits me from behind, so hard that it knocks me across the room and into the wall. My already injured body slams against the wall with such force that a spider-web of splinters and cracks spreads out from the site of impact.

I groan pitifully as I drag myself onto my hands and knees, only to be kicked onto my back again. I glance around frantically, but I can't see anything, even when the bastard is booting me in the ribs! Where is he? What is he? Why can't I see him?

"Do not resist. Allow me to make this quick."

I get the feeling that a sword is being drawn. I can't even see a glint of steel in the weak light, but experience makes me roll away. My fears are confirmed when the floor where my head once rested becomes a crater.

I crawl to my feet and desperately run for the door but after only a few steps I feel a sudden burning pain in my chest. I'm bleeding and quite badly too. I must have opened a wound or-

"Argh!" My body crumples to the floor as a sensation like a knife being twisted in my guts hits me with extreme force. I try to reach up and grab at the invisible hand that must be holding the weapon, but the puppet master tugs at the strings and places my arms rigid by my side and keeps them there. He then coaxes my body forward, deeper into the blade held out in front of me. The splattered fluids from my wounds make a vague outline of a sword and soon I can see a hand. It would be an advantage if I could move, but I'm stuck here, a sitting duck.

This must be it then. I'm going to die before I get to apologise to Rukia...That just makes the pain worse.

"This is the end shinigami child." the creep laughs in his unsettling way again.

One of my eyes closes but the other stays half open, just enough to see my blood gushing out all over myself and the hidden killer. My blood is warm but my body feels cold, really cold. I cough violently and my head rolls forward, but my body is kept in place by the blade which skewers me like a piece of meat on a kebab.

Just when I think it's over I start hallucinating. I start seeing flower petals. How stupid! Why am I fantasizing about god damn flowers at a time like this?

"Scatter, Senbonzakura!" A familiar voice slices through the empty room and suddenly the enemy becomes visible, a transparent form covered in lacerations. He curses and leaps to the other end of the room, leaving his sword stuck in me. Without his control, I flop backward and hit the floor hard enough to send waves of searing pain throughout my brain. I scrunch my face up and grit my teeth, letting out a grunt of pain while sounds of battle unfold around me.

"So my suspicions were correct." Byakuya murmurs, "You hid your reiatsu and even your appearance so that you could follow Alex. I do not know how you managed to pull that off, but that is none of my concern. I am here to destroy the one who has brought harm to someone precious to me."

Don't tell me Byakuya's got a man-crush on me! I mean I'm flattered but no thanks!

As if he read my thoughts, Byakuya shoots me a fierce glare, one that says, "You fucking idiot!" Oh that's right! Rukia is his sister! That was who he meant. But now I'm not only in pain, I feel so incredibly stupid I kind of wish I could just curl up and die...

"The other Kuchiki girl? A necessary sacrifice for the success of our plan. I suppose she is on her death-bed right now?"

Byakuya scowls, but his expression has barely changed from before. He always scowls. But that's not the point. He looked angrier. "You really think that a proud shinigami would fall to your cowardly trickery? You are as deluded as that fool Aizen,"

"Fool? Deluded? Ironic words to be spoken by a shinigami-"

"Enough." Byakuya interrupts drawing his sword. "I am sick of your very existence arrancar. I shall end this quickly."

"Is that so?" the stranger speaks mockingly.

Byakuya seems to be struck by something and his left leg begins trembling, slowly edging forward as if he is unsure of himself. But that is not the case. Byakuya is as surprised as I am at his leg's sudden jerking movements and he quickly glares up at his foe who has begun to laugh louder.

"Your leg is under my control now shinigami! Nothing can withstand my power, Amore! I will bring you under my control and you shall do the hard work for me! Ha ha ha!"

Byakuya doesn't even blink as he drives his sword through his thigh. He smiles thinly at his invisible foe and points his bloodied blade to him. "Your wicked spell is undone. How childish of you to think that such a cheap trick would-" Byakuya's sword arm suddenly drops. His eyes narrow and he hastily snatches the sword out of his own grasp just as his wild hand clasp around his own throat. He hacks away at his upper arm and lets it flop down by his side limply.

The assailant laughs maniacally and claps. "Well done shinigami! You have severed the nerves to cancel out my Amore, but do you think that will work forever? You will just end up cutting yourself into tiny pieces for me!"

Byakuya sighs and bows his head, "No, I am done with you now. Scatter-"

"Ha! You think that will work twice on me? I can just take control of all of those little blades and turn them against you!" the assailant's confidence does not seem to disturb Byakuya however. In fact it makes him smile (Well sort of...)

"All of them? Let's see you try it then. Scatter, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." Byakuya's single working arm shoots forward as he utters a single devastating word, "Bankai..."

The puppet master throws his hands forward and lets out a cry of rage. It seems he's trying to curb the oncoming flood of blades, but he isn't fast enough and he is swept up like a boat in a tsunami. A final scream echoes out from his transparent body before it is drowned out by the thunderous roar from the swirling mass of blades.

When they at last subside a dismembered corpse is left. A man with dark skin and unusual wide eyes lies on the floor in a pool of his own blood. He wears the same white uniform that Ulquiorra and Aizen wore. Also, he wore a little bracelet on his wrist. It's been sliced up by Byakuya's bankia but it is still slightly recognisable. The triumphant captain snatches it up and then departs without a word.

Moment's later fourth squad arrives.


It's been a few days since that arrancar was killed before my very eyes. I'm not even sure what an arrancar is, but I know they work for Aizen and that they are extremely dangerous. The other squads seem to be in frenzy now. I guess they are afraid that there are more arrancar lurking within Soul Society.

I have been locked away in a cell for what they told me was for my own safety. I highly doubt that however. I'm sure it is more likely so that they can watch me. They aren't sure if I'm free yet and they don't want me going on a rampage again.

It's mind-numbingly boring in here. The only activity I actually manage to participate in is idle conversation with a young fourth squad recruit who re-applies my bandages once or twice a day. No captains come to see me, my friends aren't visiting either...And I still haven't seen Rukia. I need to apologise and make it up to her for what happened.

And so I lounge about on the hardened, stony mattress and await the moment for my release. I try to utilise this time to remember exactly what happened when I was sent to Aizen's palace. Aside from his deceptively tranquil appearance and the feeling of being crushed by his presence, I can't recall anything further. He smiled at me and then that was the point where I blacked out. Next I knew it I was in Soul Society, being scraped from the courtyard grounds.

"Alex," A demanding, authoritive tone alerts me and I spin around to face Ukitake. His expression is grave and I can't help but be afraid of bad news. I mean if it was good he wouldn't be frowning like that would he?

"Yes?"

"We've received word from twelfth squad. They analysed the body as well as the items it carried."

"And?"

"Well, we've confirmed that you were indeed under this arrancar's spell. We were wrong to suspect you. Also, the bracelet on his arm...Captain Kurotsuchi has analysed it thoroughly and he suspects it to be a sort of cloaking device."

"So that was why no-one could sense him or see him?" I ask.

He nods. "Precisely. He wore it so that he could track you all the way here and make suitable commands. In fact it is most likely that he was here with you the moment we found you. Ever since he had not left your side."

"So can I get out of here now?" I inquire. He regards my question but he seems distracted. Ukitake makes a face and looks away.

"We received another message."

"Huh?"

Ukitake stares straight at me, his gaze boring through me. "Aizen sent another message."

I can't resist wincing, "How bad is it?"

Ukitake's expression was dead serious. His voice flat-lined as he uttered the fated words that had been on his mind.

"Karakura shall be our battlefield. Winter shall be your time. I will be your death."

We both fall silent. Winter is not far off. Soul Society is in an uproar over such a blatant security breech and the mobilisation has been hindered by the set-backs. Soul Society is not ready for the coming battle. None of us are...Except Aizen...

And worse still, Karakura is deemed to be the fated grounds of this bitter war. Many innocent people will be killed no doubt, caught up in the bloodshed. That is a definite problem.

"Is there anything we can do?" I ask in a trembling voice.

Ukitake sets his gaze upon me and sighs. "No, there is nothing we can do. Aizen will meet us at the break of winter in Karakura town. Our Captain Commander has already made his plans for the battle and he demanded everyone be present."

"But surely we could strike first? We could bring the fight to Aizen and launch a surprise attack!"

Ukitake shakes his head, "I'm sorry Alex. It has already been decided. I suggest you begin training for the battle ahead. That is all." He turns away and walks off, leaving me sitting in the dark alone. The cell is open but I don't feel like walking out. I just sit there, head in my hands and curse. Curse my weakness, curse Soul Society's indecision and curse Aizen for his very existence!

As the moon begins to rise, a shadow falls over me. I look up and see a familiar face, a friend I haven't seen for a while. He offers a hand and lifts me to my feet, then he smirks, "You heard the news didn't you?"

"Of course." I grumble.

"So are you thinking what I'm thinking?" the fiery young youth asks.

"What would that be?"

Ichigo steps into the light and clenches a fist. His bright determined eyes gleam in the fresh moonlight and a thin blue aura coats his figure. He chuckles to himself and cries, "Let's go stop Aizen!"


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