IT'S FINALLY HERE! CHAPTER NINE IS HERE! After WAY too many months, Chapter Nine is at long last, here. I hope you all enjoy it and once again, I apologise for the wait. Please Read and Review!
Chapter 9: Devastation
"So, how is everyone? It's been ages since I've seen them all." Ichigo asked,
"Yeah they're good, I've been training Rukia for about the past year now, she's improved so much it's unbelievable!" Drakerla replied,
"Drakerla, you know I've lost most of my Soul Reaper powers right? Last time, against Aizen, I used the Final Getsuga Tensho. And by final, it meant that my Soul Reaper powers were gone afterwards. So I don't know how I'm going to defeat him this time."
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure that the Head Captain knows about your Soul Reaper powers, he can restore them, I hope." They got to the Soul Society, where they ran to the Squad One barracks, where they went to the Head Captain's office. He was sitting patiently in his chair, with his lieutenant, Chojiro Sasakibe, standing beside him. Drakerla knocked on the door. "Enter." Said the Head Captain, they walked into the room. "Ichigo Kurosaki, do you know why we have asked you to come here?" He asked,
"Yeah, I know that Aizen's back, but I lost my Soul Reapers in the last battle against him. I don't think that I can get them back."
"Yes, I know that you do not have your Soul Reaper powers; I can restore them for you. And with that technique that you used, your powers will not be lost this time. Please, follow me." The Head Captain opened a door and went into a side room, Ichigo followed him in.
Whilst waiting for Ichigo and the Head Captain, Drakerla and Chojiro were talking about what they were going to do now that Aizen had returned. "Well, I'm helping Ichigo fight him, what are you going to do here in the Soul Society?"
"Oh, we'll prepare all of the squads on standby, in case Aizen makes a move here."
"He probably will, that's why Ichigo and I are staying here."
"Shouldn't one of you be in the World of the Living? He could strike there first."
"Kisuke Urahara's put some barriers so that Aizen can't get through, so we don't need to go there." After another hour of waiting, Ichigo and the Head Captain came out from the side room. Ichigo had a big grin on his face. "He did it! I got my powers back!" He exclaimed, Drakerla stood there and smiled, he thanked the Head Captain and they left for the Squad Six barracks, as Ichigo wanted to surprise someone (you can probably guess who that is!).
Drakerla and Ichigo sped to the Squad Six barracks, where Byakuya had, surprisingly, been waiting for them. "Ichigo Kurosaki, why are you here?" He asked.
"Why do you think? Someone has to take down Aizen again! Who better to do it than the guy from the first time?" Ichigo replied,
"Technically it was Kisuke Urahara who defeated him before." Byakuya stated.
"Oh whatever Byakuya! I did the hard work, Kisuke just finished him off!" When they had finished their bickering, Drakerla told Byakuya that he was helping Ichigo fight Aizen. Byakuya shook his head and said, "Absolutely not. It's out of the question, you could get killed, and the Kuchiki Clan have already lost enough people in one lifetime. Also, I have a job to protect you. Going to fight Sosuke Aizen... if you go through with this, I will not be able to protect you."
"Oh come on Byakuya! I am the Captain of Squad Nine of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, the Head Captain said I can fight so I'm going to! And you're not stopping me! I am a Soul Reaper in my own right, I deserve some respect adn I don't deserve to be patronized and treated like a little kid!" The younger Kuchiki brother yelled, Byakuya shook his head and raised his hands in defeat.
"I am not stopping you, you may go if you wish." He said, a hint of compassion heard in his voice, Drakerla smiled.
"Thank you, brother." Drakerla left the barracks. Ichigo was about to follow him but he was abruptly stopped by Byakuya. "Ichigo, look after him, please. I know that he is a great swordsman, but he can be arrogant and reckless, so please, just look out for him." He asked, Ichigo nodded his head and donned a big smile on his face.
"Don't worry Byakuya, I'll make sure that he's alright." Ichigo smiled once more, and left the Squad Six barracks. He was ready.
Ichigo and Drakerla flash stepped to the Senkaimon, as Aizen was believed to have left the Soul Society and had travelled into the World of the Living. As soon as they arrived they had spotted him (he wasn't that hard to miss after all!). Drakerla smirked. He was looking forward to beating Aizen. "Drakerla, we fight him together - " Ichigo began, but was interrupted by Drakerla,
"No, I'm taking him now!" He exclaimed, he charged at Aizen, who chuckled to himself and turned his body to the side as Drakerla lunged in to strike. The former Soul Reaper captain then turned around again and threw a punch right into Drakerla's stomach, severely winding him. Drakerla fell to the floor at Aizen's feet and Ichigo then charged, a lot more sensibly however. His zanpakuto drawn, Ichigo leaped into the air and then fired a very powerful Getsuga Tensho, with the destination being Aizen. Aizen, however, managed to dodge it just in time. He came away with a slight scratch on his face. Drakerla, still being on the floor, lifted two of his fingers and, aiming at Aizen, yelled, "HADO NUMBER 4: BYAKURAI!" Lightning shot out of his fingers and then rushed straight towards Aizen, who was completely oblivious to it, until the last second. Aizen quickly spun round but was unable to stop the lightning bolt from hitting him. A cloud of dust had kicked up from the impact. When the dust had cleared, Drakerla and Ichigo were both astonished to find that Aizen was still standing! However, Aizen's right arm was now smearing with blood from where Drakerla's Hado spell had hit. Aizen looked angry. Very angry. He snarled at Drakerla, and then charged at him. Drakerla saw that Aizen's emotions were getting the better of him, so he did exactly the same thing that Aizen had earlier. The Squad Nine Captain turned his body to the side as Aizen lunged in to strike. He then turned around again and threw a punch into Aizen's stomach. Drakerla then whispered into his ear, "Seem familiar to you?" Aizen then fell to the floor, as Drakerla drew his zanpakuto, and called upon his Bankai. His spiritual pressure started to increase dramatically. He then positioned his zanpakuto so that it was vertical to his face.
"BAN...KAI!"
Suddenly a huge wall of flames sprouted up from the ground around Drakerla. Then the flames died down, and the similar golden armour covering his right arm and hand had appeared. "Moeru Fenikkusu no taito." Aizen was still on the floor, but he didn't looked fazed by Drakerla's Bankai at all.
"So, this is the third time you've shown your Bankai now, correct? Aizen asked. Drakerla's eyes widened in shock, how did Aizen know how many times he'd shown his Bankai? "I know what you're thinking Drakerla, and I've been watching you for a long time now. You see, even in Muken, I could still see the outside world. So I scanned the Seireitei, and I found you. The hotheaded Soul Reaper that is so powerful, but actually manages to control his power, so that he can surprise his enemies in battle. I have to say, a cunning strategy, but one that won't work on me. I watched and listened to your conversation with the Head Captain. You thought you'd never seen my Shikai release, correct? Well, I'm sorry to say, that you're wrong. When you had seen me in Muken, I sought out the opportunity and released my Shikai, but you hadn't even realised. So, with that, shall we have a contest of Bankais?" He said, Drakerla was paralyzed in shock, he couldn't believe what he had just heard! Drakerla quickly turned to Ichigo and exclaimed, "Ichigo get out of here! I know what his Bankai is, and once he activates it, you're gonna be in much more danger than we both are right now! Please Ichigo you have to retreat! Get back to the Soul Society and inform the Head Captain that I have seen Aizen's Shikai release and that he's activated his Bankai, he'll know what to – Argh!" Drakerla fell to the floor clutching his head.
"Bankai. Kanzen'na Kyoka Suigetsu." Aizen said, Ichigo gasped in surprise, then sped off as fast as he could towards the Senkaimon that would take him back to the Soul Society. Aizen moved to chase the Substitute Soul Reaper, but was stopped by Drakerla grabbing his leg. Breathing heavily from fighting (and still fighting) Aizen's Bankai, Drakerla managed to say, "You've haven't got me yet. I'm going to fight until the very last moment. And we will win… and you will lose." Aizen chuckled, and replied,
"If you say so, but I will have you in a manner of moments, no matter how hard you fight. And that, my friend, will make the difference." Aizen put more energy into his Bankai, to speed up his control over Drakerla. "You see, Drakerla Kuchiki, I have been watching you ever since you first entered the Soul Reaper Academy. My Bankai then developed a bond with you through my observing. That is why you will help me, you can't help it. Because you see, whilst my Shikai is complete hypnosis over someone, my Bankai is complete control of their mind and body." Drakerla's eyes widened in despair, he didn't know that Aizen's Bankai could be that powerful! Aizen again put more energy into his Bankai, causing Drakerla to cry out in agony as Aizen finally began to gain control. Unable to control his body anymore, Drakerla became limp, and he slumped onto the floor, still crying from the pain that Aizen was inflicting on him. Darkness started to overcome Drakerla, as he felt himself fade away into nothingness…
So I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter. I can confirm that Chapter Ten has been finished and I am currently in the process of writing Chapter Eleven! I'm doing quite well if I may say so myself!
Chapter Ten: Attack on Seireitei - What can be done about Aizen's evilness? Can the Soul Reapers way a find to stop his control over Drakerla? Find out in the next chapter!
Chapter Ten shall be released on Friday 17th April :D I'm sorry for making you wait!
