Rumi's POV
I was about to strike Aizen when a sword stopped my movements. It was Sakanade, aka Shinji's sword.
My eyes slightly widened as I looked up to see his flowing blonde hair. Suddenly, there was a flash and Shinji's hair appeared way longer and he was dressed weirdly, but it faded as soon as it came.
"Shinji, what do you mean by this?" I asked.
"I'll deal with him first. You can strike him whenever there's an opening. I have to fight him." He said.
I was about to protest, but the posture, the way he was holding his zanpakuto, and the tone of his voice screamed no.
"I get it. I'll stay out of your way... For now. I'll go help Love or something. But it doesn't mean I won't strike against him."
"I know."
I Shunpoed my way out of the inner circle and towards Love and Rose.
They were battling Starrk's and Lilinette's wolves.
"How nostalgic." I muttered as I descended.
One exploded after another in Rose's and Love's faces. Parts of their masks were blown off, and they were quickly getting tired.
Love had said that it was a Cero, but I knew better. How long had I been with Starrk and Lily?
The wolves came back towards the two Visored and I swooped in between them, raising my hands.
"Hajikidasu." I commanded. The wolves were pushed back a few meters after my command.
I saw Starrk's eyes widen slightly, but the dogs attacked again. I raised up my burnt hand and said, "Insaidofosu."
His eyes widened as he tried to call the wolves back, but they couldn't move. They all exploded, but I was shielding the three of us, using my other hand, from the impact. Now that hand was sizzling too.
"Starrk. Lilinette. Let's end this. There's no more use in struggling like this anymore. One of us is going to die." I said, my voice serious.
He began to descend towards the big water tower. As he did so, I noticed something.
"Starrk! Hajikidasu!" I yelled, thrusting a palm towards him.
"What the-" A sword plunged out of his shadow and plunged into a little of his stomach area. I winced slightly, regretting the fact I hadn't seen sooner.
My eyes had shifted once more and because of that, I was able to detect the man that was hiding beneath Starrk, in his shadow.
The man revealed himself and my eyes widened a little.
He had that ability... How? What is his sword...! I looked at his swords and saw two women.
"Women... You have female zanpakuto spirits?" My voice was a whisper now. I had never seen a man wield women-spirited zanpakuto before, nevertheless two spirits.
The sword was pulled out of Starrk's stomach. He turned around, slightly touching his wound. He looked at me, but his eyes didn't soften as they always did.
I see... So that's how you feel.
I closed my eyes, and the redness vanished, leaving my eyes to its original color, a pale green.
I let out a small sigh and raised up my sleeves a little for his next attack. Both of my hands were burnt and messed up, but for now, it wasn't worthy of my attention.
" Kanashimi no Senshi." I commanded. I extended my hand out and a light appeared near my extended hand. It began to form into a sword-like shape and it finally stopped glowing. A sword appeared in my hand, and I clutched it tightly.
"Rumi! You can't be serious...!" Rose and Love yelled. I looked down at them, my eyes paler than usual. They immediately quoted down, and looked at me with worried eyes.
"You guys should rest. I'll take care of the rest. You did well." I said softly.
Then I turned my head towards Starrk and he gave me a nod.
"When the time comes." I told him. I leaped into the air, levitating above all of them, waiting for the time.
I watched them both fight and talk. I got the hint that Starrk wasn't enjoying the fight and that he was slightly oppressed by the old man.
They began fighting again, Starrk with his two swords. I observed the spot where they fought and the cloud of smoke and dust that erupted.
"Lilinette!" Came Starrk's voice.
Impossible... I closed my eyes, trying to detect some part of Lilinette's reiatsu.
There was none.
I opened my eyes and clutched my scabbard tighter. The time was approaching faster.
Starrk was remembering his times with Lilinette and was fighting without thinking.
Then Starrk began attacking again, announcing the color white. He better finish this quickly.
A cloak flung in his face and I was down there in an instant.
I kicked the man's blade aside and was now face to face with Starrk.
"Anata ni jihi o sazuke suru koto ga." I said.
"Thank you, watashi no kawaii imōto. And... I'm sorry." He smiled gently before putting a hand to my cheek.
My blade came in contact with his chest as I struck him down. He descended towards the ground, his body limp. I placed a hand over his body and closed my eyes.
"May the heavens grant you mercy and may you never feel lonely or sorrowful again... Coyote Starrk and Lilinette Gingerbuck. Ten ni kieru." With that, Starrk's body ascended and vanished.
I flung my sword to the side, flicking the blood off of my blade.
I closed my eyes in respect, and I began to recall the first moments the time I met Starrk and Lilinette.
They had been bare except for the cloak on their bare backs. There were mountains of Hollows nearby them.
He had asked me if my comrades were strong. He had told me that he hadn't been responsible for the mountains of Hollows beside them. He had told me they were looking for comrades.
He had hesitated, but got up to follow me.
He said that I didn't look like the type to die by their presence alone.
And that's where it all began.
They were both formed out of loneliness. And they had each other, until the very end.
My hands began to tremble as I began to walk towards Aizen.
I couldn't even control my reiatsu anymore. They began flaring off randomly, but I didn't care.
My hands were already stained. Countless times. I was already a monster. Monster. Monster. Monster. Monster. Monster. Monst-
A hand interrupted my thoughts as it leaned on my shoulder. The hand was slender, long and pale.
"Rumi. Your hands are shaking. Are you all right?" He asked softly.
"Sorry. I'm just excited, that's all." I looked up at Rose and gave him a very fake, happy smile.
I sheathed my sword, and gripped it tightly as I began walking towards where Shinji and Aizen were.
3rd Person's POV
Rumi began trudging towards where Shinji and Gin were fighting.
Rose looked towards her worriedly, but now was not the time. Rumi sought revenge. He felt it on his skin when he had stopped her briefly on the way. She even had the strength to give him a fake smile.
Love wanted to go after her, but Rose stopped him.
"Say... That girl. Why did she get in the way?" Captain Kyoraku asked.
"That Espada... It was Coyote Starrk. A strong fellow, being Primera. Back when she wasn't part of us, she belonged to the Espada. I'm sure she showed you her tattoo. They were the closest to each other, even though they were different ranks. They were like melody and harmony, woven together with an unknown bond. Then she found us and left. They probably understood each other throughout the battle and that's probably why she did what she did." Rose explained. "Well, that's my theory."
"You're wrong, Rose. But that's a story for another time." Came Rumi's distant voice. The three men turned, facing the little girl. She was facing them, her large, pale green eyes holding more sorrow than a girl her appearance should have.
"I get it. Now, go get him, tiger." Love encouraged.
She smiled a little, a little bit happy about them understanding her situation.
"I'm not a tiger. I'm a dragon, remember?" Her eyes lifted as she smiled gently. Then she turned around and continued to advance.
"Her eyes... They're unusual." Kyoraku commented.
"They've gotten paler. When we first met her, her eyes were darker." Rose said.
Those two symbols... And her appearance... She looks like she comes from a legendary story...
Are you sure you're okay, Rumi?...
You're strong, Rumi. Endure it.
Aizen approached Tiel and drew his sword. Before he could slash her though, an unknown force had pushed Tiel out of the way and the sword collided with another as a girl came in-between the Espada and the ex-Captain.
They stood there momentarily, their swords locked. Then Aizen drew back his sword and sheathed it.
"I'm not here to fight you. Gin, Kaname. Let's go." He said smoothly.
"That doesn't mean I don't have business with you, Aizen." Rumi growled, as she brought down the sword to Aizen's throat.
Another blade came down, aiming at Rumi's neck also. She stopped the blade with her hand, making it bleed. Her arm swing didn't stop until a hand caught her wrist from moving.
It was Gin Ichimaru's hand.
She wretched her hand away from the fox-like man with disgust as she clutched onto her sword tighter once more.
"As I said, I'm not here to waste time on you." Aizen said, malice in his voice.
"I didn't come here to mingle with Shinigami or Espada, Aizen. And you know that very well." Rumi growled.
She was about to charge him again when she heard the annoying battle cry of the weird Arrancar.
She looked down, analyzing the fight.
"Mashiro..." She whispered. Then she turned to look towards Kensei.
"Kensei, kill him. He's a nuisance already and he hurt Mashiro. Stop going easy on him 'cause he's a kid!" She commanded.
Kensei winced but nodded. She gave him a small thumbs up, then turned her head.
She then turned her attention to Aizen, who seemed overly happy and cocky about this whole thing.
The rest of the Visored joined together, minus Kensei and Mashiro.
Hiyori and Lisa both made their masks disappear.
"Aizen... Let's settle the score that happened 100 years ago." Hiyori announced. Aizen didn't reply.
"You know... I really liked those days back in the Soul Society! Soul Reapers are always in death's way because of their existence and line of work. We may die the next day. We may be talking at one moment and be dead in the next. No one talks about it, but everyone has that thought in the corner of their minds. We saw death up close. We felt death up close. That's why we were able to cherish each day. Death will eventually come to us all. But that's what made us united. That's what I believed. But you..." Hiyori growled. "Aizen... I don't hate you because you betrayed us. I hate you because you made me hurt my friends! You used me... And trampled on our bonds and our feelings! Aizen!" She yelled, facing him, full of determination and rage. "I'm seething with an anger that's been boiling for a hundred years! I won't go back to the way I was until I kill you!" She declared, swinging her sword at him.
"Don't approach him carelessly." Shinji warned. "Aizen's got that power. If you approach him recklessly, it's over."
"I know that." Hiyori said, her voice fuming with anger.
"You idiot. I'm talking to you!" Shinji yelled, facing Hiyori. "Relax, Hiyori."
"How typical. You have such caring words, Captain Hirako. But it's so silly to say that it'll be over if you approach me recklessly. Even if you approach me recklessly or carefully, or even if you don't approach me at all, the end result will be the same. I'm not talking about things to come. Your end is inescapable. It's an event of the past." Aizen taunted.
Rose and Love clutched their swords tighter at his words.
"What is there to fear? All of you died that night a hundred years ago."
Hiyori launched herself towards Aizen, her teeth clenched in anger and fury.
"Hiyori!"