A/N: Here is the next chapter, its really just a battle chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Battle for Survival
The group stood at the ready. Their enemy was near. Ichigo and Rukia had their zanpakutōs at the ready, with Sode no Shirayuki already in its released state. Uryū had his bow at the ready. And Chads arms had already transformed. Their three friends stood back; distancing themselves from the oncoming battle. Sound of snapping twigs was approaching them. He was playing with them and they knew it. With every snap his reiatsu would slightly increase. He came into the clearing in his new attire. They all looked at him trying to figure out how he came across an arrancar attire. They didn't have wait long to get the answer.
"Like the new outfit," Noburu asked with sadistic smirk. "Picked it up from one of those pathetic hollows; still smells though." He laughed at his own little joke, but the others found no humor in what he said. "Tough crowd." He looked around at the group and notice the absence of the two he wanted the most. "Where are Hayato and the girl," he asked with a frown.
"We don't know," Ichigo answered, "and even if we did we wouldn't tell you." He quickly disappeared and reappeared behind the first hollow and swung Zangetsu down, colliding with Noburu's forearm.
"You're pretty fast kid but you still don't stand a chance against me; remember what happened last time."
"Last time you didn't take this at point blank range. Getsuga Tenshō!" Blue energy arched out from the blade and sent Noburu into the ground. When the smoked cleared the First Hollow stood up and looked at his torn sleeve.
"You little prick; you just ruined my new…" His short monologue was intruded when a black fist slammed into the side of his skull sending him flying across the clearing. Before he even hit the ground blue bolts followed him. Rukia thrust her palm forward towards the growing cloud of dirt.
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!" As she spoke out the incantation a red ball of light began to form in front of her palm. "Hadō 31. Shakkahō" The red ball of energy launched forward towards Noburu's location, as soon as it reached him an explosion created an even larger cloud of dirt. There was a long silence before are red light could be seen from within the cloud. Soon a cero shot out towards the raven haired soul reaper. "Bakudō 39. Enkōsen." Her still stretched out palm was quickly joined by her other hand holding her zanpakutō; a dull yellow spinning disk forming in front of her. The cero slammed into her only line of protection and it was quickly weakening. She could feel her feet digging into the ground as she was pushed back. Cracks began to show in her barrier and soon shattered; she closed her eyes as she prepared for the attacks force; but it never came. She opened her eyes to see a giant in front of her. His right arm in the form of a shield, blocking the attack that soon dispersed. "Chad?"
"Rukia are you alright," he asked? He turned around to check on her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." He gave her a nod.
"Guys look out," Ichigo's voice yelled out! They quickly redirected the gaze towards Noburu only to see a red ball rapidly coming towards them. The bala slammed into Chad's chest sending him smashing into Rukia; they both flew back a few yards before they hit the ground. "Getsuga Tenshō!" Another blue arch of energy flew towards Noburu. He quickly jumped out of the way and landed on a tree trunk. "Chad, Rukia are you alright?"
"I'm alright," Chad answered.
"I'll be alright," Rukia struggled to say, "once you get off of me Chad." The kind giant quickly got up and helped the noble up.
"Get down!" The three immediately hit the ground as thousands of blue bolts flew over them at an incoming Noburu. He threw up his arms in defense to the barrage; each bolt clipping his clothes. He soon disappeared in a loud boom.
"Uryū get down! El Directo!" Chad thrust his arm towards the quincy who dropped to the ground the moment the attack was launched by Chad's fist. The attack hit Noburu dead on. His body slammed into a tree in the opposing direction.
"Tsugi no mai, Hakuren." The icy blast soon followed the direction of Chad's attack and encompassed the first hollow. "Is it over," Rukia asked as she looked on at the block of ice she had created?
"This battle is far from over," the glass clad teen said as he joined his friends. Cracks began to appear around the block of ice; soon a red glow began to emanate from within. They all jumped out of the way when the ice shattered and a cero shot towards them. Noburu slowly got up and brushed any remaining bit of ice off of himself.
"Not bad, you almost had me there," Noburu said as he brushed of the last bit of ice. He slowly raised his head and looked at his opponents with a smile. "Evinces on the almost." Ichigo slowly approached the overconfident hollow. He lifted Zangetsu until it was pointing straight at Noburu; his right arm fully stretched out with the blade.
"I think it is time I show you what I am really capable of."
"Is that so?" Ichigo slowly lifted his left arm until it was firmly grasping his right forearm. The long cloth that hung of his hilt soon started to wrap itself around his right arm.
"Bankai!" Black energy soon erupted from Ichigo encompassing him and shooting up into the sky. Soon the energy dispersed reviling Ichigo in an open black shihakushō with x-shaped straps going down the middle connecting the opening, with a white undershirt; his hands her coved by white cloves. His large zanpakutō had shrunk down to a long black katana; three protrusions along the blunt end of the sword close to its tip; a long chain coming down from the base of the blade connecting to his right glove. "Tensa Zangetsu." Noburu started to laugh.
"That's it. That's the true form of you power. Hayato was more impressive. It doesn't even compare to…" Ichigo disappeared causing him to stop his monologue.
"Getsuga…" The first hollow quickly looked behind himself to see the orange haired boy, his sword lifted over his left shoulder; black energy with a red glow wrapping around the blade. "…Tenshō." With one swing Ichigo unleashed his attack point-blank. The moment it hit him Noburu could already feel the trees slamming into his back. Once he finally came to a stop he just laid on the ground for a while.
"Okay," he said with a groan. "That hurt." He sat up and checked his back and felt nothing but a tear in his cloths. He slowly got up and brushed the dirt of his clothes. With one swift push he shot back towards the substitute soul reaper. Before he could reach him he was bathed in white light causing him to stop in confusion.
"Some no mai, Tsukishiro." He had just started to leave the pillar of light before the ice shot up; his entire body except for his head and shoulders was caught inside.
"Damn you!"
"Chad now," the petite women called out. The kind giant soon was face to face with the first hollow. His left armored arm was pulled back, his fist clenched, lighting emanating from it.
"La Muerte!" His fist collided with Noburu's head; the force of the attack shattered the pillar of ice and Noburu body reached for the ground. When his body met the ground large chunks of ice fell on top of him. Soon a bala shot out and slammed into Rukia; as her body hit the ground. Chunks of ice shot up into the sky as Noburu launched out from the pile towards the adopted noble. She had no time to defend herself.
"Roar Zabimaru!" A blade segment rammed into the side of Noburu sending him into the opposite direction.
"Renji," Rukia called out? The red haired soul reaper was soon at her side.
"Are you okay," he asked?
"What are you doing here?"
"Got promising from Captain Kuchiki to come and help."
"My brother?" Suddenly Ichigo was at their side.
"Who invited you pineapple head?" Ichigo gave a mocking smirk.
"I don't need you promotion strawberry." Renji gave his own mocking smirk.
"Why you little prick!"
"What comes around goes round." They both stared each other down.
"Ouch," they both yelled as they rubbed their heads staring at Rukia's clenched fist.
"You idiots! We're in the middle of a battle! We have no time for you childish bullshit!" They were soon joined by Uryū and Chad.
"Another insect has decide to show up I see," Noburu said as he got up.
"So this is the First Hollow?"
"Yeah," was Rukia's response. The lieutenant of squad 6 took one look around and noticed the absences of the auburn haired princess.
"Where's Orihime?"
"Long story," Uryū informed him. Soon Noburu was upon them and they scattered. Uryū unleashed a barrage of arrows at him, forcing the First Hollow to put distance between him and the group. Renji took the advantage and swung Zabimaru; Noburu put up his hands as the first segment came at him and grabbed the blade.
"Is that the best you can do insect?"
"No, this is. Bankai!" His zanpakutō lit up before the force of energy from the blade kicked up dirt covering a vast area. When the dust settled Noburu found himself face to face with a giant skull.
"What the hell?"
"Getsuga Tenshō!" Before Noburu could even look the attack slammed into his side sending across the clearing before slamming into the ground. Renji jumped into the air dragging Hihiō Zabimaru up with him before Noburu came flying out of the cloud of dirt towards Ichigo; he then took one mighty swing.
"Higa Zekkō!" The bone segments of his zanpakutō began to detach from one another; when they reached the snake skull it spun a full 360 degrees before unleashing a red blast. The attack hit dead on kicking up a massive amount of dirt. As the dust cleared there was no body to be seen. "Where'd he go?" He soon felt a great pain in his chest. His grip on the bone handle loosened and slipped from his hand; as Higa Zekkō fell it reverted back to a normal katana. Renji looked down to see a hand sticking out of his chest.
"Renji," Rukia screamed as his body fell to the ground! The three boys instantly reacted and attack the first hollow at the same time as Rukia ran to Renji. "Get up," she yelled as she shook him! "Wake up you stupid idiot!" She shook his cold body harder. "Wake up Renji," she cried!
Uryū tried to get a shot of but Noburu was on him before he could; he latched on to the quincy's right arm and threw him into the ground just a couple of yards from a shocked Rukia. Chad to make contact but his fist was caught in the hand of the First Hollow; he could feel the pain as his hand was being squeezed before he was thrown down next to Uryū.
"Getsuga…" Ichigo began to yell but stopped when Noburu disappeared from sight. He felt a small tug on his sword; when he looked he saw the First Hollow having a firm grip on the blade.
"I'm done playing." With one firm swing he launched the substitute soul reaper into the ground next to his friends. "It's been fun," he said as he raised his hand and started to form a cero, "but it is time for all of you to die." He could feel a presence behind him; when he turned he was looking into the fierily eyes of Rukia Kuchiki. She unleashed a barrage of swings from her sword. Noburu was barely able to dodge the angry swings. He quickly landed on the ground, Rukia chasing after him. "Come on you little…" Rukia passed him before he could finish his mocking comment.
"Some no mai, Tsukishiro!" Noburu was consumed in the pillar of ice. Rukia began to slowly walk back to the group; in particular her lifelong friend.
"Rukia behind you," Ichigo yelled! Before she could turn around she felt the bala slammed into her back sending fly towards her friends. Noburu began to stalk towards them readying the killing blow. He then felt a log smash into his back, shattering into pieces. He turned to see a raven haired girl, one of the three humans with no sign of powers.
Tatsuki knew it was a stupid idea. She knew she had no powers. She just could no longer stand by and watch her friends get hurt. She felt like she had to do something. Noburu hand lashed out in an instant and wrapped around her throat and picked her up. She dropped the remaining half of the log she had used and grabbed the First Hollow's arm in an attempt to support herself so she could get air.
"You're very brave and very stupid," Noburu said as he prepared to crush her throat.
"Put her down Noburu," a voice called out. He looked towards the source to see none other than Hayato.
"Hayato, you're just in time for the show. Now watch as this girl dies." He clenched his hand and felt… nothing. He looked and saw that the girl was gone; he hadn't even felt her leave his grip. He then heard coughing; he turned to find the girl near the group he had defeated , the other two humans running up to join them. "That was a neat trick Hayato." He returned his attention to the old soul reaper. "I suppose it is time for us to finally finish our little conflict?"
"I am not your opponent." The First Hollow raised an eyebrow to this response.
"I am," a delicate voice spoke from behind him. He turned to see the auburn haired girl who had wounded him. And just for a moment, he could have sworn he had seen stern blue eyes overshadowing the young girl's hazel ones, staring into his own.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed. As always I open for any improvements you believe are needed. Just to make sure their is no confusion, the line stern blue eyes overshadowing the young girl's hazel ones means Noburu could still see Orihime's eyes, but there were transparant blue eyes just in front of them. For those wondering why I didn't have Ichigo put his mask on, it is because I'm not sure if he got his hollow back when he got his soul reaper powers back. Next chapter Orihime vs Noburu.