Oh my gosh, I took a while to write this. Enjoy, my dears.
Malina was irritated. No, irritated wasn't exactly the word. It was deeper than mere irritation. She could sense her soldiers' energy spiking and a few Soul Reapers' pressures dropping like flies. However…
Her newest acquisition spared a Soul Reaper—and not just any Soul Reaper. She spared the Soul Reaper who had been so toxic the closer they have gotten. Malina furrowed her teeth angrily into her lower lip as her eyes narrowed into mere slits. If she was going to make her ultimate move, she had to make it as swiftly as she possibly could. They couldn't afford to lose to the Soul Reapers. Not again.
A second and third wave had arrived moments after the Queen gave an order. Many survivors of the purging of possessors of the Tamashī no Tankyū-Sha had rained upon the Soul Society, ruthlessly attacking any Soul Reaper in their path. It served to be a devastating blow to the Soul Society—however, Sachiko and Minako could feel their Queen's energy from where they stood over the crippling bodies of nameless Soul Reapers. The next waves were being rushed because something was happening. "What do you think is going on, Sachiko?" Minako whispered.
"You want my honest answer?" asked Sachiko, meeting Minako's eyes.
Minako looked at her ally. "Yes."
"I think it's time to initiate the final phase of our attack."
"Final phase?"
"That's right." Malina's voice cut in coldly and Minako spun around. "The final phase of our attack, my dear."
Rukia was forced into a corner by En. The boy was strong, and he wasn't even using the powers he had been born with. If she recalled correctly, Minako Kazuya had been able to "pierce the soul" just by fixing her stare on her target—if their powers were the same, En should be able to do so as well. Yet…
Yet, he is flat-out refusing to do so. As if making the fight fair…
En raised his blade to strike before his eyes widened at the sudden energy spike. "The Queen is here," he muttered. "Must mean it's time."
"Time for what?" demanded Rukia; gripping her zanpakuto so tightly in her hands, she was sure her hand would bleed from the strain.
"The Queen's initiating the final phase of the attack as we speak," En replied with a sinister smirk. "She requires her entire army to power up our weapon."
Weapon? Rukia's eyes widened.
"I see you're still confused. Give chase if you wish to find out!" With that, En sped of in the direction of—
-Rukia's eyes went wider. Sokyoku Hill…
"If you're going to do it, don't take the coward's way out," White told Ichigo coldly. Ichigo met his Hollow's derisive glare with a glare of his own. Part of him would have been relieved to just have his Hollow part caged away like he should be; however, he was torn between the fact that his Hollow having his own body would make Minako happy. He came to the Soul Society to help his friends fight the invaders, but one of the invaders was the girl he cared about.
"You're an idiot." White's voice cut through Ichigo's conflicted thoughts like a crack of a whip, his eyes narrowed into slits.
"What are you talking about?" Ichigo asked coolly.
"You're so obvious, it never ceases to amaze me. Your energy spikes whenever you think about her." Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise when White didn't refer to Minako as his princess; but the Hollow paid no heed as he continued in an emotionless tone. "You're worried that when we get her back, she'll want me in my own body. While that's true, you don't know her very well after all."
"What do you mean?"
"She doesn't want to choose between us. She separated us way too much and that was the mistake she made."
"What mistake? That she knew we were complete opposites."
"We're one in the same."
"The fact that he's a part of you doesn't change." Minako said that when he found her by the river. White was right; she made the mistake of separating them and she knew it.
"Get it now?" White asked in a low voice. "And while I'd be damned if I let you play hero for her, we got no other choice. Not with bastards like these running loose."
"…She really got to you, didn't she?" asked Ichigo. "It's unlike you to want to protect someone else."
"I protect her 'cause she's my queen."
If that wasn't a flat-out confession, Ichigo didn't know what was. White always called Minako princess—to call her his queen would mean that his Hollow figured out a concept beyond mere desire.
"Do it already," White growled. "If you don't hurry it up, I'll do it for you."
"Fine."
Ichigo stabbed his zanpakuto into his Hollow, unsure of how this would have them join, but a feeling told him to do so. White's black and gold eyes glinted mysteriously as he seemed to fade, flickering to some direction before Ichigo felt his Hollow's energy mix back into his soul.
"Ichigo!" Orihime's voice made him turn around to see Orihime, Chad, and Uryu coming out of a Senkaimon.
"Guys." Ichigo's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"
"We're here to help get Minako back," said Chad, simply.
"Did you find her at all?" asked Orihime, concern glowing in her eyes.
At that moment, Ichigo felt a sudden spike of energies converging in one spot. The reactions his friends suddenly had on their faces told him that they felt the spike too. He gripped the hilt of Zangetsu, knowing that those energies were the enemies, deep down in his core.
His eyes widened further when he felt a familiar energy spike higher and higher—
Minako's hands were crossed at the wrist, bound in a deep crimson light. Her ankles were crossed in a similar fashion, also bound. Her eyes were on Malina, coldly fixed on the woman. "This was your plan? To use me as a weapon?"
"Our ultimate weapon. We knew the rest of us would not be suitable for this honor because our sanity deteriorated," Malina said with a graceful smile that now looked only sinister. Minako's eyes went to the other users of her power, each of them stepping forward to inject some of their power inside her body. Each time was more painful than the last—she was sure merely holding all of this energy would kill her first.
"You're our little supernova, miss," Kin said as he pressed his palm against Minako's head. Minako felt Kin's power surge within her, mixing with the rest of the energies inside her so painfully that she let out a wail.
As soon as the pain passed, Minako felt her body go limp. She couldn't handle any more. The more she had to absorb, the more pain she went through, the weaker she felt, as if the pain alone was draining her own powers. Panting for air, Minako raised her eyes to pierce the steely gray of Malina's. Malina saw the defiance in Minako's eyes, and Malina tried not to flinch. The defiance was also burning with hatred.
"Your Soul Reaper won't come for you," Malina murmured coldly. "Not unless he has a death wish. Let's, however, be realistic. Once we all place our powers in you, you will destroy the Soul Society—which will put an end to every single Soul Reaper!"
"Why use someone who still has their sanity?" asked Minako sharply, biting back a shriek of pain when another member of the "family" inserted their power inside of her body. She could feel the change now. Her body was burning hotter and hotter, excruciating…
She felt a thick, warm moistness dripping from above her forehead before red dripped into her vision. Blood…
She tried to move her bound hands, tried to see if she could break free, but an intense pain shot through her body. "The Soul Reapers are toxic to us, I know that," she forced out. "Why…"
"You would have never agreed if you knew the true reason we had you brought to us," said Kin, walking forward. "We needed a sane user of the Tamashī no Tankyū-Sha to be the supernova to destroy the Soul Society."
Minako felt as though a spell broke, if only a little, inside her mind. She knew these people weren't to be trusted—so Malina's power had been used to convince her to do the raid on the Soul Society. With a painful lurch in her heart, she realized she hurt White and threatened to hurt Ichigo. How could she forgive herself for something like that?
As blood continued to fall down her face in a steady rain, Minako closed her eyes, her mind falling into a haze of memories…
"I don't get it, Ichigo." Minako was taking a break from her work at the café, brushing away at her long hair. "You know this café is a notorious date spot for couples and you keep coming here alone."
"I need a stupid reason like that to visit you at work?" Ichigo asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"You never said you come here to visit me. You say it's just on your way to work—which you are late for by the way."
"My boss won't fire me for being late, Minako, calm down."
"Why don't you go out with anyone anyway?" Minako asked, her eyes narrowed in a soft manner only she could manage. "Like Orihime, for example. I'm sure she wouldn't object to coming here with you, though I would object to you both abusing my discount."
Ichigo's intense gaze studied Minako carefully. "Is that what you want? Me and Orihime to date?"
"I don't particularly care who you date." Minako stood up with a slight smile. "Just like I don't mind that you come here by yourself, even though it's weird."
"So you don't care that I come to visit?"
"I said I didn't mind, not that I didn't care. There's a difference, Ichigo."
"I'll never get your logic, Minako," sighed Ichigo, looking away. Minako had her gaze turned toward her manager gesturing to her that her break was over that she missed the slight blush that tinted Ichigo's cheeks. Ichigo managed to compose himself when Minako looked back at him. "I'd better get back to work. And you need to get to work, Kurosaki," she said, smiling in spite of her attempt to be stern. Ichigo stood up. "Fine," he said. "I'll…call you later?"
"Yeah. Be careful on your way." Minako waved and went back to work.
"Why are you holding the fence like that, Minako-chan?"
Minako looked at Orihime. The two girls were standing on the roof of the school, Minako holding the fence as she looked down below. "It feels like a cage," she told Orihime. "I want to know what it felt like."
"What do you mean?" Orihime blinked at the other girl curiously before a soft frown of understanding overcame her features.
"Orihime," Minako whispered softly, closing her eyes. "What does it feel like to be in a cage? Not having any freedom?"
Orihime sighed before taking Minako's hand with a gentle smile. "You need something to distract yourself! Come on, we can go shopping or something!" she said as she gently tugged Minako toward the door to leave the school. "Besides, we had Michiru take that photo for us and you don't have a frame yet, right?"
Minako's eyes widened slightly before she smiled a close-eyed smile. "Yeah. I need to buy a frame," she said. "Thanks, Orihime."
"Of course!"
Faces of everyone she knew, everyone she cared for, flashed in her mind…Minako felt hot swell of tears from behind her closed lids. I'm sorry, everyone…I won't see you all again…
She felt the energies of her friends from far away before their presence became fainter, almost as if—with all the other powers roiling chaotically inside her body—it drowned out her other senses.
"Majesty, the girl is going to break if we put any more energy inside of her body." That was Kin's voice, Minako realized faintly. He was right; her body felt like it was full of glass shards. It hurts…
"Don't black out."
Minako shuddered at hearing his voice, but it was faint, like it was from a badly tuned radio. White…
"Stay awake, am I clear? If you black out, no one can help you!"
I'm trying…I'm really trying, but it hurts…
Ichigo and his friends ran right for the Sokyoku Hill, where the enemy was converging. He could feel other Soul Reapers heading for that direction. "We gotta hurry," he told his friends.
"They're not going to kill Minako-chan, are they?" asked Orihime, her breaths labored from running. "There's no way she'd hurt anyone."
"The Soul Reapers didn't spare a single one of those who had the Tamashī no Tankyū-Sha," said Uryu. "The fact that these people survived and then took Kazuya-san…"
"Tell the Quincy to put a lid on it," White growled in Ichigo's head.
Where the hell did you go?
"To her. You're wasting time, idiot, she can't hold on much longer."
Ichigo knew he was right because Minako's energy was growing fainter, but the other energies were spiking higher, mixed together in a dark, sinister coil. What can we do, smartass? How can we save her?
"She's gotta tell you everything…"
Ichigo felt White fade into the recesses of his soul with that said. What the hell did he mean by that?
"Ichigo!"
The group stopped as Rukia and Renji caught up to them. Rukia's blue eyes were narrowed seriously. "Any idea what's happening? The enemy just gathered into Sokyoku Hill!"
"And that girl you were so adamant to defend is in their ranks," Renji told Ichigo. "You said she wouldn't hurt anyone and she and another girl killed at least a dozen other Soul Reapers!"
Ichigo's eyes widened at Renji's statement. Minako…killed…
"Minako-chan wouldn't!" Orihime gasped, her eyes widening.
"Well, she did," said Renji coolly. "She showed up, not recognizing anyone, and just went off."
She must have done this after she saw White and me…Ichigo knew deep down Minako would never hurt anyone. The enemy had done something to her to get her to kill Soul Reapers. That was clear more than ever. "We can stop her then. The enemy's at Sokyoku Hill," he said.
"Ichigo is right; Kazuya-san would never harm anyone unless it was to save someone else's life. Even then, she is unable to control her ability very well," said Rukia solemnly. "The amount of control she seemed to exude suggests something was controlling her. And that spike in spiritual pressure…it's obviously coming from Kazuya-san."
"So we should go and get her, right?" Chad asked. "If the enemy is controlling her, then they'll find no use for her soon."
"That's right!" Orihime exclaimed. "We have to go and help her now!"
"We'll help you get her back, but we've got to take her in," Renji said to Ichigo. Ichigo knew that this was the only way they'd have more help on their side, in spite of the fact that he didn't like it. "Fine," he muttered. "Just don't hurt her until we hear her side of the story."
"All right," said Rukia with a brisk nod. "We'll at least provide that for her."
Ichigo nodded. "We should keep going."
"Stay awake, young miss. You're missing it," Kin's voice sounded mocking in her ears. Minako could see the same crimson symbols appearing on her body whenever she would lose control of her powers—only this time, they seemed carved onto her flesh, along with an eerie while glow her skin had taken. She glared at the members of the "family" who made no move to try and free her.
Because they used you…A voice in her head told her. Minako shut her eyes and let her hair fall into her face. I just want to fade away…can't I just fade away…?
"Don't even think about quitting."
Ah…I thought you'd abandoned me…
"I'm not going anywhere, remember?"
Minako smiled slightly through her pain. I can't sense anything anymore, White…you know that now, right?
Silence answered her question. Mm…
"We're coming for you…"
"We…?" Minako opened her eyes slightly. White…
"We're coming to take you back."
Minako felt herself becoming disoriented from the conversation to feel any energies coming in her direction. As it was, she could barely feel anything except knives carving up her insides…
"Minako!"
That voice, calling her…it was familiar. Oddly enough, it sent her heart leaping—
"Damn it, Minako! Answer me!"
Something was reviving in her, a familiar fire of determination that didn't belong to her. Minako forced herself to raise her head, her eyes opening. Her heart sped up again, and she felt whatever was left of Malina's control on her shatter into pieces.
Ichigo had his sword drawn, his eyes furrowed in determination. Rukia and Renji had drawn their swords as a few members of the group made a motion to attack. Orihime, Chad, and Uryu cast wary glances to the entire group. Malina glared at Ichigo, her gray eyes shining maliciously. "So you're the Soul Reaper whose venom afflicted our weapon," she murmured.
Ichigo returned Malina's glare with a fierce one of his own. "You're the one who took Minako."
"I merely had her brought to where she belongs—with us." Malina's eyes turned steely. "And now, she will die in the most honorable way—destroying all of you filthy Soul Reapers."
Ichigo's eyes flickered to Minako, gauging the intense energy building higher from her, noticing the markings on her body and the pale light. The feeling of how chaotic the energies swirling inside of Minako alone was staggering. He and his friends were in close proximity to be incinerated first…
"Sorry to disappoint you," Ichigo told Malina in a low voice, "but I'm taking Minako back after I take all of you down."
Malina turned to look at one of the male members. "Kin, En. Show this Soul Reaper what happens to those who interfere with our plans," she ordered.
Ichigo shot forward as the two males Malina just ordered lunged toward him and his friends. The younger one, the one with black hair, dashed past him toward Rukia, who raised her zanpakuto to block him. That was the start of the melee.
The other members charged, eyes glowing deep red, making ugly noises as they surged forward. Orihime's eyes set in determination as she raised her shield to defend herself and Uryu began firing his arrows at the oncoming enemy. Renji and Chad flanked Uryu, attacking the others.
Either they were quite weakened from placing a significant amount of power into Minako's body, or they hadn't been that strong to start with, as they were easily cut down. Rukia struggled with En, but she saw that he too had been significantly weakened. She swung to En's side and he blocked it half-heartedly.
"Are you even trying?" Kin yelled to his comrade angrily, taking his eye off of Ichigo for a second. Ichigo saw his chance and thrust his blade toward Kin's chest. Kin's eyes glinted viciously as he thrust his blade at Ichigo, aiming for his heart—
The point of Kin's blade broke upon contact with Ichigo's chest and Kin's eyes widened. "What?! What did you do, Soul Reaper?!"
"It's not…what he did…Kin."
Minako's voice sounded forced, as though the pain she was enduring was overwhelming. The light encompassed more of her body, the markings becoming a sinister blood color. Her eyes were full of determination. "That's what I…did…"
Malina's expression was manic fury. "You're not to protect that Soul Reaper!" she screamed before she struck Minako's face with her hand. Minako's head was turned away when Malina slapped her, a bruise forming on her face.
"Kill…" White snarled in Ichigo's head. Ichigo didn't need telling twice; the rage had reached fever pitch when he saw Malina strike Minako. He forced his blade to Kin, wanting to spill his blood, wanting to see him lying cold on the ground.
That's when Kin's eyes widened in shock before he fell back. En—the one who was fighting Rukia—stood behind his comrade, blade stained with blood. His eyes were blank before he turned his blade on himself and impaled it into his chest.
"What in the hell…?" Ichigo heard Renji mutter.
"You little witch!" Malina shrieked, her gray eyes turning manic, crimson as she reeled on Minako. "How dare you!?"
"Don't even think…of using them to hurt Ichigo," Minako growled, glaring at Malina. "Or the next head I take…is yours…"
Malina threw her head back and laughed maniacally. "You think you can stop me from killing your Soul Reaper?!" she shrieked before she used her speed to approach Ichigo. Ichigo, caught off guard, didn't have time to react to Malina's hand flying toward his face, the force behind the thrust throwing him back to where his friends were.
"Your reaction time is too slow, boy," Malina murmured coolly as she walked toward him, her energy crackling violently. "So I'll do you this honor. I will put you to the edge of your life so your friends can die before your eyes."
"We won't let you do that!" yelled Orihime, moving to attack Malina, but the cruel queen's eyes flashed a horrifying crimson. "Stay out of this!" she hissed as a box appeared, caging Renji, Rukia, Orihime, Chad and Uryu. "Guys!" Ichigo yelled before a crippling pain lanced through his body, causing him to collapse.
"Ichigo…!" Minako cried through her damaged throat, fighting against her bonds before she let out a cry of pain, falling limp as agony tore through her body. Time's running out…!
Ichigo felt the pain leave him as Malina glanced toward Minako with a psychotic smile. "It appears that my little supernova is preparing to detonate," she purred.
Ichigo's eyes widened as the light enclosed on Minako completely. Minako let out an inhuman wail, tears of blood coursing down her face. The light that enveloped her body glowed brighter and brighter. The energies within her reached to dangerous heights. Minako forced herself to stop screaming as she opened her streaming eyes. "Run away…please, run," she whispered. "There's not enough time…run away…"
Ichigo gritted his teeth at seeing the pain and despair mounting in her dark blue orbs. Malina's smile turned twisted. "Oh, don't encourage him to flee, little Minako," she sang, tilting her head. "I want him to watch as the girl he loves dies right in front of his eyes."
"Time's running out. Now or never."
Ichigo pointed his blade determinedly at Malina.
Now.