NOTE:~ Next chapter guys =D. Should be interesting. We're back to the regular plot. Chapter 9 was just the explanation of what Aizen has planned. =D Enjoy~!
Your Guardian Angel
Chapter 10: The Rage Behind The Sword
Rangiku's eyes glowed an anger red as she glared at him. "Go away!", her voice seemed to sound strange. It wasn't hers. It was as if she was possessed. "Rangiku, snap out of it! You're stronger than this!", Toushiro exclaimed as he rush after her.
"It's no use, Toushiro. She is possessed by that necklace. There is something inside it...You have to get it off of her!", Hyorinmaru stated within his mind. Toushiro growled. He wouldn't dare raise a sword to Rangiku since it wasn't really her. For now, he would use kido. "Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Rikujokoro!", 6 pillars of light shot over and were placed around Rangiku's waist, sealing her in place.
"I won't be stopped...I WON'T BE STOPPED! I WANT REVENGE!", Rangiku exclaimed, drawing her zanpakuto and slashing right through the six pillars with an amazing reitsu that was not her own. A large wind shot at Toushiro and caused him to stop temporarily as the wind gust by him. He pulled away his arm from his face, looking around. He had lost track of her. "Rangiku...", he murmured.
"We should inform Ichigo and the others. We have to find her and stop her before she does anything", Shinji stated as he appeared next to Toushiro. "You go inform them...I'm searching...", he replied simply before using shunpo to move away from Shinji to find his vice captain. Shinji sighed at this, "Good luck...", he murmured before turning to get the others.
---
'She wants revenge...but who wants revenge? And on who? Who is inside that necklace?!', Toushiro thought to himself. He picked up his pace, trying to track down his vice-captain but he couldn't find her reitsu anywhere. It was like her skill for hiding her reitsu went up to a level even a captain couldn't detect.
He stopped upon a roof top, looking around for any signs of Rangiku but there were none. She was gone. Disappeared into thin air. "Where are you...", he murmured. Just then there was an explosion a few blocks over. Toushiro quickly turned, now looking towards the half destroyed house. He quickly took off towards it.
---
"Give me five more minutes...", Ichigo murmured, turning over and covering his head with the pillow. "Sorry Ichigo. No five minutes, it sounds like the fighting has already begun", Shinji stated, pulling the pillow from the mans head and then removing his blankets. Rukia stood next to him. "Renji, Yumichika, Ikkaku, and Izuru are already on alert and are now trying to find Rangiku. We have to help. Something isn't right with the vice-captain", stated Rukia, reaching over and grabbing Ichigo's ear before dragging him from the bed.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! O-", but before he could let out anymore 'ow's' Kon's soul candy was shoved into his mouth and he was popped out of his body into his shinigami uniform. "Alright, I'll explain it all on the way. Hurry", Shinji stated as he heard an explosion in the distance. The three headed out of Ichigo's house through his bedroom windows and towards the explosion. While they moved, Shinji explained what had happened to Rangiku.
"A necklace?", Rukia questioned.
"Yes. I think it's probably that necklace that is possessing Rangiku. I also believe that it may be a part of Aizen's newly developed plans...", Shinji stated.
"Aizen...That bastard. Of course he's behind this", growled Ichigo.
---
"Rangiku!", Toushiro exclaimed as he arrived, seeing that she had Heineko drawn but she wasn't facing him. As he looked around her, he saw the unconscious form of Mei laying there among the rubble of the house. As the possessed Rangiku took a step towards the girls unconscious form he was quick to appear in front of her, grasping Hyorinmaru and glaring at her.
"Whoever you are...release Rangiku now...!", he ordered, anger clear in his voice.
"Out of my way", the demonic voice emerged from Rangiku, pointing Heineko at him, "I won't have any mercy on those who get in my way! Move or you will be killed as well!".
"Killed...?!", Toushiro looked back at Mei. So this person that possessed Rangiku wanted revenge of Mei...? But why? He quickly looked back at her and adjusted his stance, "It is my duty to protect those of this world from evil. You're a threat. Last chance. Release my vice-captain now".
There was no reply. Simply the sound of metal clashing together as Rangiku attacked. Toushiro obviously was holding back. He didn't want to hurt Rangiku, but he also couldn't let this person who possessed her win. He pushed off of her and jumped back, picking up Mei and jumping off to another roof top. He would have to think of some way to fight that person without harming Rangiku. So for now he had to by some time. Running was the best option.
"Get back here...!", screamed Rangiku, quickly following after Toushiro. She was quick on her feet, right behind him no matter what obstacles he tried to put in her way. "I'll kill you too! How dare you interfere!", she called behind Toushiro, but he only kept on running. He would figure a way to get rid of that person who possessed Rangiku...somehow.
---
"Who do you think is inside that necklace?", Ichigo asked as they continued running.
"I don't know. But it's someone that wants revenge. Who it is, is unclear but obviously they have been brainwashed in some way...Either by Aizen or just by the sheer fact of being locked away like that", Shinji replied, turning a corner.
"Whoever this person is, we can't let them get out of that necklace. Who knows what they will do if they get free....", Rukia stated as they ran, "It would be too dangerous".
Ichigo and Shinji nodded at this. As they rounded another corner Shinji began to notice the direction they were heading. "Oh no...!", he murmured, eyes widening as he suddenly took off ahead of everyone. "Shinji..? Shinji?!", Ichigo exclaimed, calling after the man to slow down but he wouldn't listen.
They rounded the final corner and came upon a burning house that was half destroyed, Shinji standing in front of it with a horrified look upon his face. "The person...she's after Mei...", he stated, not really to anyone in particular. "Shinji...Is this..?", Rukia began, receiving a nod from the blonde. "Where's Mei?!", Ichigo questioned, looking at Shinji sternly. "She...it doesn't look like she's here...", Shinji stated.
"We have to find her!", Ichigo exclaimed, "If this person is after her then this has to have something to do with Aizen. This all is connected! We can't let that person get to Mei!".
"Ichigo!", Rukia exclaimed, pointing towards a nearby roof top. Ichigo looked at her and then followed her finger, eyes growing wide as he saw an arrancar standing there with a smirk. Shinji looked back at the arrancar, narrowing his eyes as he turned towards it as well. "You two go ahead. This is just a distraction. Aizen doesn't want us to interfere in whatever it is he has planned. Go on ahead and be careful. And whatever you do, do not break that necklace...", Shinji stated as he drew his zanpakuto out from under his trench coat.
---
Toushiro was nearing his last straw. He couldn't run away for much longer. Rangiku was catching up and the attacks she was throwing at him were getting closer and closer to hitting him. He landed on one of the roof tops, about to leap to the next until a sharp pain was sent through his left shoulder, crying out as he quickly moved away. Rangiku had stabbed him clear through his left shoulder. He knelt down, still holding Mei in his right arm as he looked at Rangiku.
"Last chance, Shinigami. Hand her over and I will let you live. There is no reason for you to die for her mistakes", Rangiku spoke out, pointing her zanpakuto at Toushiro.
"I already told you I can't do that...", Toushiro replied. "Fine...Have it your way...", Rangiku stated, appearing quickly in front of Toushiro, clashing blades with him. Toushiro groaned in pain since he was using his left arm to wield Hyorinmaru and the pressure was hurting his injured shoulder, causing more blood to flow from the wound. He pushed off and moved away, landing in a nearby park, his breathing heavy as he set Mei down on the ground and switched his zanpakuto to his right hand. He stood up, facing Rangiku as she appeared a few feet behind him.
"Are you done running, shinigami?", Rangiku questioned.
"From you, yes", Toushiro replied simply, adjusting his stance. He still wasn't sure how he was going to fight her without harming his vice-captain. Then it hit him. 'Aim for the necklace...destroy that and the spirit will go away...', Toushiro thought to himself. That was his objective. Destroy the necklace.
"Very well then...", Rangiku's zanpakuto suddenly burst into small grains and headed for Toushiro. He raised up his zanpakuto, "Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyorinmaru!". A dragon of ice burst from the blade as he swung it, roaring as it headed for Rangiku. But the grains circled around her, protecting her from the ice attack.
"You are not dealing with any normal opponent here. I know you do not want to hurt your vice-captain but in order to beat this opponent, it may cost an injury....", Hyorinmaru finally spoke again. 'I will not risk it...', Toushiro thought to Hyorinmaru.
"Bankai!", Toushiro exclaimed, ice forming on the hilt of the blade and wings of ice growing upon his back, stars hung above him giving him his limit for his bankai.
"So you wish to use that....very well....", Rangiku's zanpakuto turned back into its normal state and Rangiku sheathed it. Toushiro narrowed his gaze, confused by this. "You don't expect to fight me in my bankai with your bare hands do you?", he questioned.
"Of course not...", she replied, holding out her hand as another zanpakuto materialized. A familiar zanpakuto to be exact. Toushiro's eyes widened with surprise, "Maboroshi...!".
"Correct", she stated, glaring at him.
'Maboroshi has no voice...she can't speak...and why is she after Mei for revenge? What did she do?! What's going on here?! Is this another one of Aizen's tricks?!', he thought to himself, growling lowly.
"You are probably wondering how I can speak, and why I'm after her..", she pointed back towards Mei behind Toushiro, "I can speak because I am manipulating this women's voice to use it as my own. And my revenge....". She looked away with a sad sort of hate in her eyes as she looked at the new blade now in her hand, a memory returning to her.
~~~Five Years Ago: After The Battle~~~
"It would seem she has sealed herself away since her original plan failed. All of her memories, locked away, buried in the mind of her other self", Aizen spoke as he gazed upon the unconscious and rather beat up looking body of Meimu who seemed to be in a deep sleep.
"Her otha self?", Gin asked, raising a brow, "What do ya mean by that?".
"Her zanpakuto. It is not like an ordinary zanpakuto. It is her other self, created for the same purpose she originally was. She locked everything away within that blade", Aizen turned, looking towards the broken zanpakuto laying on a table, "She has separated and abandoned her other self to protect Soul Society. Because she knew what would happen since no one has died...".
"So what do ya wanna do with'em for now...?", Gin asked, stepping towards the broken blade and picking up a piece, wincing however and dropping it immediately as the blade burned his flesh. Aizen chuckled at this, now facing his loyal companion, "We will seal her away for a while. We'll go about things as we originally planned. And....Keep them separate until the day comes...", Aizen glanced between Meimu and her zanpakuto, a satisfied smirk upon his face. Meimu failed her mission and although it postponed his plans for the mean time, he would enjoy the after show he would receive.
The two left, separating Meimu from her zanpakuto, placing them away from each other. No matter how much her zanpakuto tried to connect with her, Meimu wouldn't allow that. Meimu would not speak to her, she would not even look at her. It was like she didn't even know Maboroshi existed. As a result, Maboroshi saw it as being abandoned, and suffered through many of Aizen's experiments.
~~~Present Time~~~
"She's abandoned me...Left me with him...", she growled, gripping the hilt tightly and looking at Toushiro, angry tears now in her eyes, "You would never understand how that felt! Having your master, the only one to understand you just abandon you like that! She betrayed me...! She forgot al about me! So I will kill her...And make her remember who I am before she dies!".
"Wait...! It wasn't Meimu's fault! She–", but Maboroshi would not listen and she came back at Toushiro now with more force than ever before and as their blades crashed, the shrieking of Maboroshi echoed over the city.
---
"Ahh...!", Ichigo groaned as the shrieking hit his ears, "What is that?!". "I don't know...But I think we should hurry...!", Rukia replied, pugging her ears as she ran. But the two were suddenly stopped as an arrancar appeared before them. "You go no further...Kurosaki...Kuchiki...", the male stated, a cold and emotionless look upon his features as he looked at them with his cold icy blue eyes. But he looked familiar....somehow.
"Move it", Ichigo growled, drawing Zangetsu from his back, "We don't have time for you!". "I can not do that...", the man replied. "Ichigo, go on ahead!", Rukia instructed him, drawing Sano no Shirayuki from her sheath, transforming into the elegant white blade as she drew it. "Rukia...", Ichigo looked over at her. "I'll be fine. Just go and help save Rangiku and Mei", Rukia replied, not taking her eyes off of this strange arrancar before her.
Ichigo nodded and appeared on the other side of the new arrancar, about to leave when something crashed down onto his back, seeming to come from the sky and knocking him onto the ground, face buried into the ground. "I don't think so Mr! No way in hell are you going anywhere!", the small female voice exclaimed, pinning Ichigo to the ground. "What the...hell?!", he managed to choke out, coughing up some dirt as he did so. Who were these two?!
---
"I knew I recognized you...", Shinji murmured, "So you were never killed after all...". Shinji's breathing was quite heavy now, scratches all over his body and the surrounding area in pieces from fighting his arrancar opponent. "I should have figured Aizen would do as much...I guess he perfected it...", Shinji commented, narrowing his eyes on the arrancar.
"The only concern you should have is about your own life", the male called to him.
"If I were you, I would be more focused on what's going to happen to you. No need to worry about me....Kaname Tousen", Shinji stated with a smirk. The arrancar fell silent, but was not still as he suddenly appeared behind Shinji, slashing at his back to make for a fast kill. Blood did fall, blades did crash, but it wasn't Shinji's blood nor his blade.
"Jeez....do I always have to come save your ass?", growled a female voice. Shinji looked back over his shoulder at the blonde standing behind him in a nurse outfit. "Seriously Shinji, stop getting yourself into so much shit you can't handle by yourself...", the female retorted. But she didn't appear to have been injure. So it was not her blood. It was Tousen's.
Shinji turned around, sighing as he shrugged his shoulders, "I was just waiting for the right moment to finish him off. You didn't have to come in, Hiyori...", Shinji replied. "Pfft, it looked as if he was about to take you out, not the other way around, idiot", Hiyori retorted as both her and Shinji gazed at Tousen, watching as his body began to regenerate. "Hmph, new feature I guess", she stated, "My question is what the hell is he still doing alive? Didn't you say he was dead?". "According to Toushiro he was. And he heard that from Gin Ichimaru. I guess this is what that fiend considers to be 'dead'. Be careful....", Shinji replied. "Pfft, he's the one that needs to be careful", Hiyori replied, ready for a fight.
END:~ OMG! People just keep rising from the dead all over the place now don't they?! =P A new and improved Tousen as one of Aizen's arrancar, two strangely familiar arrancar, and Maboroshi is around. But she feels so neglected, abandoned and forgotten....I guess I would be too if my master sealed away all her memories, including the ones about me and her own power....I guess I would be pretty ticked...maybe. I dunno...But I'm sorry it took so long! But I hope you liked and more next chapter! Please review and thanks for reading!