Disclaimer: Bleach is copyrighted by Tite Kubo (characters, series, and concepts). The only elements that shall be exclusive to me will be my OCs and their respective original content.
Of Bonds & Promises
Before she turned foot as well, Yukimano noticed some strange activity in the residual smoke. "Hm?" Suddenly, streams of scattered vine-like Ceros shot out from the cloud. None of them were actually aimed at her, but Soi Fon. "Captain!" Yukimano shrieked as she Flash Stepped behind Soi Fon and used her own body to intercept one of the modified Ceros.
Alarmed and wide-eyed, Tsu Lung screamed, "Kiyone, Sentaro, Captain Ukitake!" Before she could tend to her fallen comrades, Tsu Lung was suddenly stabbed with much brutual force. Pain quickly surged through her, but time seemed to slow down in order to make her suffer. "Xioyuna-san/Tsu Lung!" All three of members of the 13th Division exclaimed in shock.
"That is correct." Hutike confirmed, holding up his zanpakuto. "Like so." He then jabbed the black stainless steel sword into the Garganta portal in front of him. Instantaneously, another Garganta portal materialized behind Raidon and the katana stabbed straight into his back and through his chest. As the electric blonde's crimson widened, a good amount of his blood spilled from the wound. "RAIDON!" Ichigo screamed out.
When Raidon, Tsu Lung, and Yukimano were struck with those fatal blows, Aizonde and Hono felt coldness practically freeze their spines…
"Raidon…Yukimano…and Tsu Lung too?!" Aizonde and Hono thought in distress.
"Aizonde, watch out!" Nanao's voice yelled out. The waterbending Shinigami snapped back into reality upon the lieutenant's cries. A rainstorm of glass needles was heading his way. "Shit." He cursed inwardly as he swung Ryujin. The resulting wave fabricated another wave that destroyed most of the needles and faltered the rest. Aizonde simply used Flash Step to avoid those remaining. "What happened?" Casco asked from afar, "You lost concentration for a bit." Aizonde's powder blue eyes glared at his opponent as he retorted, "None of your business."
"Don't lose your focus, Shinigami!" Coctelera roared as he emerged from the sand in front Hono and slammed down both of his arms. Hono snapped back into reality, but not fast enough to dodge the attack. So, Kenpachi took the liberty of blocking it for him. "Damn it, rookie, this ain't the place to space out!" "R-right…" Hono sputtered out. Both Coctelera and GGG charged up their respective kinds of Cero. Alarmed, Hono grabbed his captain and used Flash Step to avoid the close-range shots.
"It can't be…" Aizonde said mentally as he clashed weapons with Casco, "They can't be dying! They just can't be!" Hono, after regaining his composure, charged at CGG and SGG and attacked, thinking the same sort of thoughts, "We promised...that we would leave this place together!" As the two male Soul Reapers continued to fight their opponent, they mentally yelled in unison, "STAY ALIVE! I CAN'T BEAR THE THOUGHT OF LOSING YOU GUYS!"
(A/N: More sudden transitions, just be aware.)
In the midst of their varied conditions, their subconscious forcibly drifted to their inner worlds. How and why were perhaps unanswered questions. Yet, they were curious, so they wandered about their inner worlds for suitable answers.
Raidon found himself on the same street where he first met his deceased "Hollow" persona. "Man, my inner world goes on forever." He said inwardly. Even as quiet as he was, his voice slightly echoed across the abandoned street. "Well, you're search ends." A more dignified, masculine voice stated. Cautiously, the electric blonde turned to the origin of the mysterious voice. Whoever the person was, the character was inside an alleyway….a rather familiar alleyway. "Who's there?" Raidon interrogated, eyeing the figure covered by shadows. The person, obediently, stepped out.
The character had a cape that resembles tucked-in wings. The "wings" are actually stone with patterns to resemble wings. Olympian style clouds adorn the top of the cape and parallel lines come down from the clouds straight to the hem of the cape. His whole body and clothes have a rich, golden hue. Around his neck is a gold metallic plate that resembles the headset of an Egyptian pharaoh (but fashioned as a necklace). His shirt is long-sleeved and sheet-like; his pants are a toga-like shirttail (touching the ground) tied to his waist by a golden rope. The blonde graduate's crimson eyes widened, "R-Raijin?!"
Aizonde's search led him to his favorite lake. To reminisce the good times, he continuously walked laps around its perimeter whilst looking at his reflection in the perfect blue water. "Heh. I remember this place completely," He said, "Still, that doesn't explain how I got here…" "Want me to explain, Aizonde?" A soft, feminine voice proposed. The male Soul Reaper immediately diverted his field of vision to the female on the sandy "dock" of his lake.
Her body, clothes, and accessory were covered in a blue hue (similar to Raijin). Her hair flows downward like a waterfall and small droplets of water are even excreted from the ends. She possesses a metallic hairband (the only thing of a different color; grey-silver). She has a silk tube top and an elbow-length mantle. She also possesses a knee-length skirt with short shorts underneath it. Lastly, she has metallic boots. Her symbol is on the emblem of her necklace. Aizode's powder blue eyes shimmered in disbelief, "Ryujin? What are you doing here?"
Yukimano let the eternal breeze sweep up her long hair and loose Shinigami outfit. She had the perfect view of the starlit night and breathtaking moon. When she woke up in her inner world, she decided to get to the summit of the tallest tree to in order to investigate anything in peculiar. "Huh. Nothing. Guess I could just stand here and keep looking…" She stated. "Enjoying yourself?" A stern yet collected male voice asked. Yukimano gazed in incredulity as a figure landed on a tree of an equal height in front of her.
The man had pale silver skin and a large, obese bag attached to his back. A handkerchief adorns his neck but is turned so that the majority covers his left shoulder. A metallic shoulder pad covers his right shoulder and a long tarp connected to it hides the majority of his right arm. He has no shirt and only wears a long tarp around his waist that reaches his bare feet. Although his off-white hair is short, it flows in the wind that is eternally produced by him. Lastly, he wears fingerless off-white gloves that bear his symbol on their straps. "Fujin?! You summoned me?!" Yukimano questioned in shock.
Tsu Lung, with a heavy sigh, sat herself at the base of a woodland tree. "I'm getting nowhere…" She groused with closed eyes. "God, you give up too easily." A rough-sounding, grumbly voice complained. Before she could check her soundings, an empty banana peel fell on her ebony hair. "Eh?" She squeaked inquisitively. She removing the yellow fruity exterior from her locks and looked up. She gasped in surprised when she did.
On a branch sat a male. His body and clothing are enveloped in a celestial Alice-blue color. His elegant and expensive robe is actually the fur of werewolves. This is made obvious by the fact that his headwear is the head of a wolf with his face shown in the open mouth (two long incisors/fangs are chin-length). Near the hems of the robe are black markings that resemble claw marks. His furry and black pants are smoother and groomed. His boots (only the base of the boots is shown) have designs to make it seem like wolf's feet are embedded on it. "M-Mikoto?! Why are you here?!"
Hono aimlessly sauntered on a trail, each side accompanied by forests of thin leafless trees. The trail he was traversing on seemed to drag on infinitely, and it didn't seem he was making progress either. He had long abandoned his search. "This is BS…" The rust-headed graduate grumbled. "Everything is to you, knucklehead." A feminine voice, almost similar to Ryujin's, reprimanded.
Leaning against the tree nearest Hono was a woman. She had long, elegant hair that is actually alit fire. and her skin is Caucasian-colored. She possesses a belly shirt with sleeves that are as long as a kimono's. The aforementioned article of clothing is red with orange flame patterns. Connected to her waist is a long evening gown-like skirt made of flames. Her symbol is on her hair, reminiscent of a hairclip. "Amaterasu? What the hell are you doing here?"
Raijin stood in front of her owner and said, "That is correct." Raidon swallowed the lump in his throat. Sure he had spoken to Raijin before, all Soul Reapers are required to speak to their Zanpakuto Spirits. But the current occasion he was summoned out of made this particular conversation somewhat nerve-racking. "Now, I'm not going to mince words. I shall get straight down to business, Raidon." Raijin said bluntly.
"What are you talking about?" Aizonde asked his Zanpakuto Spirit, confused. Ryujin turned to face the beautiful body of water and sat down on the sand. "Come. Sit and I will tell you." Unquestioningly, Aizonde walked over to the "dock", stood right beside his Zanpakuto Spirit, and sat down. "The reason why I summoned you here is you were feeling your friends in distress." Ryujin said, hugging her knees to her chest.
"I see." Yukimano replied staring at her windy Zanpakuto Spirit, "Though I kind of figured that considering I took a fatal blow for my Captain." Fujin responded, "Hn. However, that was a highly admirable action you took, no one can criticized you for that." The dark emerald-haired looked at the starry and windy night before asking, "So you called me and because my friends and I were in distress. What are you going to do about it?"
"Thought you'd never ask…" Mikoto said as he jumped down from the branch. Like a cat, he landed perfectly on his feet. "Though, I ain't too sure I should offer this to you." He added grimly. "Why?" Tsu Lung timidly inquired. "Well, all five of your friends have their quirks. I mean Raidon was an airhead, don't know if he still is. Hono is a wild dumbass. Aizonde is an arrogant, quote-on-quote, "cool guy", so vain. Yukimano is waaaay to serious, not to mention I think she's still hotheaded. Then there's you. Tsu Lung, you nearly went unconscious over a stab most Soul Reapers endured numerous amounts of. You're too soft and kind-hearted. " Mikoto retorted in explanation, crossing his arms and walking in circles around the tree. "H-How could you say that?!" Tsu Lung exclaimed, both surprised and disappointed at her Zanpakuto Spirit's opinion of her and her friends. "Simple. I just did." Mikoto rejoined in a smart-alecky tone.
"Frickin' smartass." Hono snarled at his fiery Zanpakuto Spirit. Giggling, Amaterasu removed herself from the tree. As a result of her abilities, the tree disintegrated into a small puddle of lava. She then walked over to her owner, saying, "I'm only cautious because, as a Zanpakuto Deity, not only is it my duty to fight side-by-side with you, but to make sure my partner is the right one." Hono's glare lightened up somewhat, "Well, then what is the right one?"
"The right one, in all Zanpakuto Deity's perspective," Raijin answered with closed eyes, "is someone who belives in bonds and the benign."
Ryujin rocked slightly back-and-forth in her fetal position as she continued, "And I know how you and your other friends are deeply connected to each other, but hear me out."
Fujin held up his palm letting controlled wind appear in it. Looking at the lunar object Yukimano was looking at, he explained, "Zanpakuto Deities' powers are nothing more than the same as regular Zanpakuto Spirits, we're just a special classification because we are fragments of Human World gods. Some regular Zanpakuto Spirits are naturally stronger, smarter, and more beautiful than Zanpakuto Deities, some are not."
Mikoto stopped his circling around the tree and squatted in front of his owner to be eye-level with her. "Even with all that bullcrap, the owners of us Zanpakuto Deities, as well as ourselves, are highly responsible. If our owners died, so would the fragments that create us. And if we did, then our actual selves would have failed their purpose. That ain't fair, isn't it?"
"Hell no it's not." Hono responded as he walked with Amaterasu down the path. "I thought not." Amaterasu said with a chuckle. A laconism befell between the two creatures as they continued to travel the trail. After a couple of seconds of walking (and meditating in Hono's case), a yellow-orange light peeked over the horizon. "Hey, is that the sun…?" Hono inquired while he ceasing walking. Amaterasu stopped walking as well, but she knew what the sudden arrival of her element symbolized. "Hono, if you truly think you are ready for my true power, allow me another question."
Raidon continued to walk down the street, unfazed by the roars of thunder and flashes of lightning above-head. "What would that be, Raijin?" He asked. Following behind his owner, the golden Zanpakuto Deity asked, "Which do you want to use my powers for? To win or to fight?" Upon utterance of that, Raidon stopped dead in his tracks.
"Now before you even answer that," Ryujin cautioned as she placed a hushing blue finger on her bearer's lips, "Think. There is a veritable difference between the two." She then removed her finger from his lips. Aizonde remained silent and obviously in thought. "Let me give an explanation as an incentive for your choice." Ryujin announced.
"Winning is claiming victory over someone. It is a highly sought-after achievement in which one is able to move up in their life. Triumph is automatic, unlike fighting." Fujin explained as he jumped from treetop to treetop with his owner. To add ambience, he deliberately increased the wind velocity in the environment. Yukimano stayed quiet in order to let this elucidation sink into her mind.
Mikoto sat beside Tsu Lung as let the sparkling Alice-blue moon descended further to them. The multiracial Shinigami was left breathless at the lunar ministrations her Zanpakuto Spirit could perform. "Now, fighting, like I said, is a different story. Fighting is to participate in violence or opposition. That's not necassrily bad now, don't get me wrong. Sometimes fighting is just struggling determinedly, to keep pushing on to reach your goal. Fighting, essentially, offers you a bit more freedom than just winning."
"Let those differences sink into your mind." Amaterasu advised. "Then make your choice. No matter what is it, I will support you. Just don't abuse my powers or I will kick your ass." She said with a grin. Hono grinned back and responded, "I'll keep that in mind."
All members of the Rookie 5 halted their current physical action (if they hadn't already) to contemplate on their choices. Their respective Zanpakuto Deity was offering him or her power, but a choice that would set the basis for that power. Even so, the Zanpakuto Spirits said they were support their decision. That meant this decision was purely up to how the Rookie 5 felt; their verdict had to be entirely derived from their judgement, motives, and morals. And, surprisingly, their answer came quick.
"Neither!"
All of the Zanpakuto Deities turned to their respective bearer in shock (rather, in Fujin's case, merely raised a curious eyebrow).
"I don't have to intentions to either fight or win!" Raidon said as he sharply turned to his Zanpakuto Spirit. Aizonde stated, "What I want to do with your power is to help my friends!" Yukimano pointed a finger at her Zanpakuto Spirit and added, "Before we came here to Hueco Mundo, we made a promise!" Tsu Lung sharply stood up from the ground and eyed her feral Zanpakuto Spirit, "A promise to not die and go back to the Soul Society together!" Hono crossed his arms and finished, "And that's what I want to use your power for! To maintain that promise and protect my friends!"
All of the Zanpakuto Deities only stared surprised. Now, it was their turn to fathom the circumstances. Their original given choices were both denied in exchange for something that made more sense. "Heh. Admirable choice." The five Zanpakuto Spirits commented.
Raijin stood directly in front of Raidon as a huge lightning began to descend to them. Ryujin placed her hand against the surface of the lake and all of the water formed a tsunami that began to descend at them. Fujin increased the wind velocity even more so that a wind funnel surrounded him and Yukimano. Mikoto stood as up the moon and its light began to approach their bodies. Amaterasu grabbed Hono and began to direct him into the sunset. As these actions were going, the Zanpakuto Deities said, "With my power, perform your objective…"
The Rookie 5 exited their subconsciousness with a newfound bravado ready to be unleashed in the heat of their battles.
Soi Fon carried the limp Yukimano around as she evaded attacks from Immune. "If I just let Yukimano down, this Hollow will kill her when she gets the chance…" Soi Fon thought. The butterfly-like Combinado Hollow fired her standard emerald green Cero at the 2nd Division Captain. She merely back-flipped to dodge the attack. However, Immune appeared behind her the moment she landed on her feet via Sonido. "YOU'RE MINE!" She shrieked and thrusted her arm at the petite female. Soi Fon looked over her shoulder in horror. However, she also felt something gripped her battle outfit. Before she could fathom the cause, she was instantly transported via Flash Step away from Immune.
"Yukimano?!" Soi Fon exclaimed as the women in question squirmed out of her captain's arm and stood on her feet again. "I'm fine, Captain…" The dark emerald-haired Soul Reaper reassured as she walked in front of her. "Want more punshiment, huh?" Immune asked with a smirk. "Quit the contrary.." Yukimano answered as silver Spiritual Pressure appeared around her. She then held up her Shikai as her silver eyes glowed with resolve, "It's high-time we finish this once and for all…"
CGG and SGG cornered a still Hono and discharged their respective kinds of Cero. "Hobo-kun!" Yachiru screamed, noticing that the Amaterasu-user was not making any efforts to evade. "Oh shit!" Kenpachi exclaimed as he redirected his attention toward Hono and ran over. "Don't you DARE turn your back on me!" Coctelera roared as he and his conjoined GGG submerged themselves into the seas of sand.
Both blasts of Cero connected against Hono producing many amounts of smoke. Kenpachi stopped in front of his cloud in shock, "ROOKIE! ANSWER ME!" Zaraki definitely got his answer; both CGG and SGG were knocked out of the smoke with great force. Then, massive amounts of orange Spiritual Pressure blew away the smoke. Kenpachi grinned when he realized the moment at hand. "How's it feel, rookie?" Hono, whose orange reiatsu flared wildly around him, grinned at his captain and reacted, "Feel's good." Holding up his Shikai in a cross formation and orange resolve glowing in his eyes, he said, "Now move out of the way before you get cooked."
Tsu Lung, her briste eyes shadowed and still hanging from Absimo's leg, allowed two prominent streams of tears to fall. "Awww. Is the little baby crying?" Abismo mocked in a babyish tone. Tsu Lung, actually the opposite of sad, smiled and replied, "Because I'm scared of you? Absolutely not…" The multiracial female gripped her Shikai as she continues stating, "These are tears of joy…because I know I'm going to win this battle." When she said, Tsu Lung smiled and glowing Alice-blue resolve shone in her eyes. All four of Abismo's eyes widened in outrage, "Y-you..fucking wench!" With a grunt, Tsu Lung swung her Shikai upward and severed Abismo's leg from his body. Screaming in pain, Abismo backed up, "AHH Damn it! Fucking bitch! AHHHH!" Tsu Lung pulled the dead appendage out of her body and tossed it aside. As she did so, Alice-blue Spiritual Pressure surrounded her body. "You're going down…for good!"
"The final blow!" Casco shouted as she lashed out her crystalline whips with sharp jagged edges at Aizonde. The Ryujin-user clutched the hilt of his hydrokinetic zanpakuto. His glaring powder blue eyes suddenly alit with blue resolve. "I think not." Aizonde reassured as blue Spiritual Pressure graced his bodily outline. Right before the whips made contact, water bursted out of Aizonde's position. "What?!" Casco exclaimed in shock. A water lotus surrounded Aizonde as it shattered the whips easily. "My next move will be the final blow…"
"GETSUGA TENSHŌ!!!" The Substitute Shingami roared mightily as he swung his zanpakuto. It released a massive wave of sable energy outlined by crimson. The calculating Arrancar simply "hmph"-ed and jumped backwards into a Garganta portal. The moment it completely sealed up was when Ichgo's Getsuga Tenshō connected upon the ground. A mammoth crown of black and red decimated the targeted area. Ichigo, Bankai-activated, panted heavily at the release of so much power. Ultimately, the crown disappeared into oblivion; when it did, another Garganta opened up and Hutike stepped out. "Not even close." The former Espada stated. "Tch! Damn you!" Ichigo snapped holding up his black zanpakuto. "I find it interesting to note that you are having a considerably difficult time handling me solely than when it was two-on-one." Hutike stated as his sword emitted more ceil reiatsu.
"Whatever…Bring it!" Ichigo charged at Hutike with Zangetsu leaking out black and red energy. When he was in front of the Arrancar, he swung. Both zanpakutos clashed, releasing large quantities of black and ceil energy. They stayed like this for approximately one minute until they separated, ending their high-powered struggle. Ichigo panted while Hutike was calm and barely seem to have broken a sweat. Just when the slightest amount of lax cursed Ichigo, Hutike appeared behind him by the use of Sonido. "You're dead." Hutike said as he prepared to unleash his Cero. Stunned, Ichigo turned his head, just in time to for his eyes to meet the bright light of a ceil Cero.
Before Hutike could attempt to utterly scar Ichigo's face, a lightning whip suddenly grabbed him (more particularly his arm) and hurled him away from Ichigo. The Cero, therefore, misfired off into the skies of Hueco Mundo. Next, Hutike felt massive volts of electricity electrocute his body. Refusing to scream, Hutike gritted his teeth and snarled loudly in pain. After that, he was violently thrown back.
Ichigo set his sights on the the cause of the sudden ambush. "Raidon!" He exclaimed. The electric blonde recalled his lightning whip, reverting it back to its blade-like standards when it reached normal length. Raidon, just like what his other friends were experiencing, had a great golden aura of Spiritual Pressure; his crimson eyes glowed with golden resolve. "Yes. I'm fine…" Raidon said, "But Mr. Asukake won't be after we're done with him!"
The Rookie 5 concentrated their Spiritual Pressure and focused on the power that their Zanpakuto Deities supposedly awarded them with. Locating what they believed to be that power inside their souls, they clutched the hilts of their swords and prepared to show their opponents the true power of bonds.
"BAN-KAI!"
From those four spots in Hueco Mundo, pillars of yellow, blue, Alice-blue, silver, and red shot up to the sky.