"Sizzle, Natsuhikari!"
In a wave of heat, I felt the felt the hold of the hollow release as I fell towards the ground. I landed in the worried arms of my aniki. "Are you alright, Amane?" he asked as the cry of a pained hollow resounded behind us.
"I'm fine," I replied shaken. "Thank you, aniki," I whispered standing up slowly.
"What did you think you were doing?" aniki scolded.
"I'm sorry," I said softly.
"Ahh, I see, you must be a part of that huge plan to kill me. Hah! To bad you're going to die here!" he cackled sending his tentacles at us. "Here he comes!" aniki shouted readying Natsuhikari who was already in its shikai form. I drew Hatsuyuki and placed my hand on the flat of the blade.
"Heed upon-"
My call was cut in half when a stab of pain was felt in my right arm, forcing me to drop Hatsuyuki and become pushed back into a tree by the tentacle. Blood trickled from the small hole caused by the tentacle, and my forehead, from being slammed into the ground. The sound of slicing flesh reached my ear and I was released.
"Pay attention," aniki snapped. I stood up slowly and nodded so as well. "I've got a plan," he said.
"You distract and I'll attack," he said. "Sound simple enough?"
I nodded "Ok, I got it," I said as I picked up Hatsuyuki, while putting pressure on my right arm.
"Let's go!" aniki shouted as another set of regenerated hairy, for a lack of a better word, tentacles flew at us. Aniki quickly flash stepped away as the tentacles began raining down upon me.
It took everything I had just to block them.
"Your flash step is frighteningly slow, shinigami," the hollow taunted.
"Shut up, don't underestimate the power of a 1st division 3rd seat," aniki shouted lashing out with Natsuhikari.
For awhile, the sounds of combat reigned.
Then, all of the sudden, the sounds stopped, however, the onslaught of tentacles did not.
Fear struck me as the possibilities of my very own brother's death rendered me motionless.
That was until 3 tentacles embedded themselves in my lower abdomen. Blood spurted from both the tentacle and my own stomach as I quickly sliced myself free before it could begin to drain my soul.
I stole a glance at my aniki to see if he was alright.
He stood, unmoving, only staring at two figures that hung suspended in the air in front of him.
They highly resembled aniki and me.
"Father? Mother?" I asked taking a wild guess. I didn't remember their faces. I was too young when they had died.
There was a sting of pain at my cheek. "Pay attention to your opponent," the hollow hissed.
"What did you do to my aniki!?" I shouted trying to seem angry but failing since I was really just afraid.
"Oh, nothing yet. I'm just letting him reminisce and talk to his parents," he said sending another wave of tentacles at me.
"Aniki! Snap out of it!" I yelled while blocking the many pieces of flapping flesh.
"He can't hear us, He's in another world," the hollow said. "But don't worry, I'll eat him in due time," he cackled.
"You bastard!" I hissed.
"Father? Mother?" aniki whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
His voice froze me over. Was it really our parents?
"What's wrong? What's going on? Why won't he snap out if it?" I wanted to ask. Everything was going wrong.
Suddenly more tentacles came at me and I blocked but closed my eyes.
I looked at my hand that was shaking so violently.
I was more than afraid.
I was terrified.
