TTGL: So this is the Heavens.
Chapter 10: This is war.
"So let me get this straight. You interrupted a secret meeting about recruiting new members into the largest gang of bandits. It turned out to be a trap and you were all outnumbered. You were on the verge of death but then your zanpakuto spoke to you, unlocked itself for one time only and you destroyed someone equivalent to a third seat with one punch?" said captain Shuhei in the debriefing session after the students had returned.
"Exactly!" boasted Kamina from the other side of the desk. His body was badly damaged and after his finishing move he was completely exhausted but he was still buzzing with excitement at his epic triumph.
"This could be troublesome." frowned Hisagi. "Just small bands of thugs have been causing us problems for years. If they were to unify then it could mean a large scale conflict. I need the Head Captain's thoughts. You're all dismissed. Go get some rest, you all earned it."
The assembled students filed out of the office. Clara was positively beaming after being given a raise for permanent squad leader. The others ranged from simply glad to be alive to swelled with confidence and pride at their victory. All were ready to drop though, including Kamina.
They shuffled off to bed but seemingly no sooner had Kamina put his head on his pillow was he being woken up again. Judging by the light it looked to be just before dawn. It was a shinigami that woke him.
"You are to report to the main hall immediately. Captain Shuhei's orders." the man reported.
"Damn Scarface." muttered Kamina sleepily. He yawned loudly as he lazily drifted through the corridors toward the main hall.
He had been expecting a private meeting with Hisagi but when he slid open the door, the main hall was already full of students, every student if Kamina was to guess. Myu and Kenpi were stood near the edge of the crowd looking shattered. Kamina stepped over to them.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"No idea." answered Kenpi. Myu didn't look like she was in a state to reply. She really couldn't handle early mornings. "We got the message just before you. Nothing has happened since we got here."
Kamina asked around but none of the students knew what was happening. They had all been given the same message. They chattered anxiously but fell silent when Hisagi appeared on the stage.
"Sorry for waking you all so early." Hisagi started briskly. "Important developments have occurred over night and it is essential that you hear them. To show the seriousness this will be explained by Head Captain Hitsugaya."
The young white haired head captain joined him on the stage. There was an awed silence only broken by Kamina's loud call of "Hey! How you doing , whitey! Long time no see!" Hitsugaya's eye twitched slightly but he managed to stay calm.
"You have all been called here because operations among the shinigami have just been stepped up. The enemies of peace and justice who reside out beyond our walls are banding together in an attempt to oppose us. Too long have we sat and done too little. Before they have the chance to unify we will shatter them."
Hitsugaya continued after the student had a brief cheer. "We will strike every known bandit hideout simultaneously, wiping the threat out before it has a chance to develop. Due to the scale of the operation all shinigami, including Academy students are being called upon to help. You will all be given the chance to volunteer. Just remember that this is a real mission where injury or death is always possible. If anybody proves themselves then they will be placed into a squad straight away. Make your decisions wisely. You have an hour to think things through. Return here when the time is up."
Most of the students didn't go far from the hall, already resolute in their participation. Kamina was among them.
"Aren't you scared?" asked Myu. "It's a big bad world out there. We nearly died yesterday yet you're already prepared to put your life on the line again."
"Why are you here then?" smirked Kenpi. All three of them were waiting to go back into the hall with about ninety percent of the other students.
"'Cos without me you'd both be doomed." she grinned.
"We've got to do this." stated Kamina. "Every battle makes us stronger and makes our enemies weaker. Weaker enemies means safer people."
Kenpi was about to comment on how emotionally deep Kamina had become when the brawler continued. "That and the fact that if we win I get put in squad so will be equal to that damn Keero bastard."
The door slid open causing silence to descend upon the yapping students. They flooded inside but didn't have to wait like before. Three shinigami were already stood upon the stage, each wearing the white robes of a captain. Hisagi and Hitsugaya were both still present while the new captain was a tall, well built middle aged man with long, spiky ginger hair.
"Your commitment is much appreciated." began the Head Captain. Due to you inexperience you will all be placed under the direct control of a captain. Years four five and six will be under Captain Shuhei while years one two and three will follow Captain of the Fifth Division, Captain Kurosaki."
"Holy hell! We're with Captain Kurosaki. Best day ever!" raved Myu. Even Kenpi looked impressed.
"What's so special about this guy?" asked Kamina.
"Seriously?" responded Myu incredulously. "Ichigo Kurosaki was the man who defeated the traitor Aizen centuries ago, saving the world. He has the highest number of hollow kills and has the most spiritual pressure out of all of the captains. He is a frikking legend!"
"How come he isn't Head Captain then?"
"He doesn't want to be. It's as simple as that."
"All fourth years and above, follow me." called Hisagi. "I'll brief you in the dojo." A good portion of the room's occupants left.
"I'll leave this in your hands, Captain." spoke Hitsugaya before he himself left. Now there was just the rookie students and the strongest shinigami in existence left in the room.
"Hey." Ichigo said, somewhat less dramatically than Kamina had imagined. I am Captain Ichigo Kurosaki and from this point on, you are all members of my team. We fight for each other and as long as I draw breath I'll fight to protect you all. Tomorrow we set out so today we prepare."
He spoke simply, as though to equals rather than subordinates or greenhorns. Kamina couldn't detect any spiritual pressure coming from him, net even at the low levels that the other captains had when masking its presence. He felt more like a void in power.
"Our job is to clear out a base in the mountains and neutralise the surrounding area. It is suspected to have many men but all of them normal thugs with little to no spiritual power. You should have the advantage over them. I'm only there to oversee your safety. Just make sure that you never become overconfident and you'll do just fine."
"Pack your bags. Make sure to bring along our gift for you." Ichigo motioned to a few boxes near by. Another shinigami reached inside and pulled out a set of full shinigami robes. "For this mission, you are all shinigami. Do us proud."
"Yes, Captain!" chorused the students.
"Yo! Ginger. Can I get a transfer to a slightly more kick-ass mission. Several dozen students and a mega powerful captain against a few thugs doesn't sound a very thrilling fight." shouted Kamina.
"Hmm. Kamina Jiha. You want action? Your results are always interesting. Pick thirty students. You are in charge of scouring the mountains. Dangerous terrain, traps, bandits and even the chance for hollow attacks. Does that suit your liking?"
"More like it. Still rather fight someone more powerful though." muttered Kamina.
Ichigo laughed. "You remind me of Kenpachi if he wasn't intimidating."
"I'll show you 'not intimidating!'" growled Kamina. Myu and Kenpi held him back as he swung his sword in Ichigo's general direction.
"Gather outside at six tomorrow morning. Anyone who lays in is left behind." the second he had finished he flash stepped away.
"Yeah, that's right, run away!" jeered Kamina. He strode over to the boxes and grabbed the black robes. "Tomorrow, we change the world." he grinned.
Morning came and Kamina stepped out into the freshly risen light in the black shinigami robes. He'd spent much of the night sewing the Dai-Gurren symbol onto its back. The shades were on his face and he was ready for business.
Ichigo and the other students were already assembled outside.
"You picked your team then, Kamina?" inquired Ichigo.
"Sure. The same guys as my last mission then whoever the twenty one people closest to me now are." Kamina answered absently.
"Nice to see you put a lot of thought into this." smirked the ginger haired captain, amusement playing across his narrow eyes. He stroked the ruff stubble on his chin with a coarse hand. "You're now head of Fire Team 2. Lets head out, those bandits won't beat up themselves."
"Wouldn't want them to." said Kamina, punching the palm of his hand for emphasis.
The mountains were far away but the group made good time. Ichigo set the pace while the students were eager to please so kept up with him. They passed through several small villages and the people had gathered outside as they passed through, cheering as the black clad warriors marched to battle against their oppressors.
When the mountains were finally reached they encompassed the group like teeth of a giant monster. The ground was barren and rocky with little sign of life. It was the perfect place for an ambush, every rock or crevasse a potential hiding spot for bandits. They moved on with caution.
"Their base is in the very centre of the mountain range. The land dips down into a bowl there. A single mountain sits in the middle of this bowl that has been burrowed into. That is their base. It will be well defended." informed Ichigo. "Kamina, take your team and do whatever you feel best to remove any bandits outside the base. These passes are crawling with them."
"Just leave it to me, we'll be finished and ready to steal all your opponents before you've even warmed up." boasted the brawler with all intentions of following up on the statement.
The squad splintered, Ichigo taking the majority of the students on a direct path to the central mountain while Kamina skirted around the edge. Fire Team 2 spread out to cover more area, forming a net that would find and trap any unsuspecting bandits.
They had all been given small communication devices that sat in their ears and it was through this that Kamina heard of the first contact. The voice of another first year student, Minoa Fusioka filtered into his head.
"Sir, two bandits sat on a rock fifty yards north of my position. They haven't noticed anything yet. Your orders?"
"Clara, take your guys around to the opposite side of them. Minoa and his team will approach from his current side. Take them out quickly and quietly. We wouldn't want the rest to be alerted and run do we?" Kamina ordered into the mike.
He was use to leading but the whole stealth and thorough tactics were strange and new to him. Dai-Gurren had always just needed to blow stuff up to win and it had always worked but now things needed more thought.
After a moments thought he assigned each group a direction and pretty much told everyone to do what they felt was best. He himself stuck with Myu and Kenpi as they sped through the rocks uncaring of ambushes. as long as they found someone to fight they didn't care in what way.
After ten minutes of nothing Myu suddenly stopped. both Kamina and Kempi could see or hear no signs of life.
"Captain Kurosaki has entered their base. I can feel that groups spiritual pressure suddenly raise."
"Damn. We'll have to speed up if we want to beat them." grunted Kamina.
"Wait. There is something else too. Quiet."
Kamina listened and this time he heard something, faint voices nearby.
"Quick! Get outta there before Kurosaki demolishes the whole place!"
"Sounds like a lead." Kamina hissed as he started forward. He leapt over a large rock in an over dramatic way, dashed around the corner and hopped up another rock. From this high ground he towered over the two bandits below him.
Beside the two men was a hole that had a basic set of ladders which led into the darkness below. A stone on wheels was positioned next to the hole, evidently there as a cover to the tunnel. Even as Kamina watched, a third bandit scurried through the tunnel to join his companions.
"Hey hey hey, just what have we got here?" announced Kamina, a dark glee in his voice.
"Oh shit! More of them!" shouted one of the bandits.
"Forget him." ordered another. "What's one shinigami. Kill hi-"
Kamina roundhouse kicked him. The bandit spun through the air and hit a mountain. The other two whipped around to face him but one was instantly taken down by a swift slash from his sword. There was a flash of light and the last bandit fell to the ground with chains of energy fastened around his arms. Myu and Kenpi joined him.
"So, mister bandit, what's going off here?" asked Kamina, leaning down low so that his face was close to the bandit's.
"Go to hell, shinigami scum." spat the thug. Myu kicked him in the groin.
"Tell me everything you know or I'll find a corkscrew and a nutcracker and then set to work on the real interrogation." she had the evil gleam in her eyes.
The bandit eyed her for a moment, trying to work out how serious she was. When she slowly reached into her robe and pulled out a rusty corkscrew he began to sweat. "Okay okay! I'll talk, just get that crazy bitch away from me!"
"Where does that tunnel lead?"
"Into the base, it's a secret escape route. We weren't about to stay in there and face off against Kurosaki and an army of shinigami.
Kamina moved away from the others and activated his microphone. "Clara, how is the sweep going?"
A static voice replied. "We've found several bandits and neutralised them. There is an outpost up ahead but it shouldn't pose a problem."
"Right. You can take care of that. I've just found a hidden tunnel into their base which we're gonna take."
"Good luck."
Without another word Kamina jumped down the hole. Then tunnel was long and dark with several offshoots buy Myu was able to sense which way there was souls. With her lead they were easily able to work their way through the maze and emerge inside the base.
In the distance was the far-off sounds of battle but here in the foreground there was silence. The place looked incredibly similar to the underground complex at the last bandit base they had been to, as though the two had been constructed by the same people. The walls were a cold stone and the only light was an occasional torch that were seemingly positioned at random.
"Its too quiet." breathed Kenpi.
"That's cos there's no one here." stated Kamina loudly. He stepped through the door opposite him and a hundred heads all turned in unison to look at him. "Ah. I think we should try a different door."
Kamina turned to leave but was stopped by a man who had suddenly appeared behind him. He was tall but lean with a large mane of bronze coloured hair and a crimson robe that mimicked that of the shinigami in style.
He spoke with a deep, melodic voice. "What do we have here? A squad of young shinigami that made it down here before the great destroyer, Captain Kurosaki. That is unfortunate, for you."
"You obviously have no idea who you are talking to." blustered Kamina.
"No, I do not. Nor will I ever as in a brief moment there will be nothing of you left to talk to."
"Like hell there will be!"
Myu fired off an imprisoning kido as Kamina and Kenpi struck in unison. The man didn't flinch. The two blades hit him with a metallic crash but caused no damage. Through small gashes in the robes the glint of metal became apparent.
The assembled bandits moved to attack the shinigami but the man held up a hand. "Leave them to me." he twitched his arms and the kido chains around him shattered.
Slowly he slid his sword out. "That's a zanpakuto." exclaimed Kenpi. "He's a shinigami."
"Goody for him." growled Kamina. He attacked but the man vanished. Two thuds alerted Kamina to Kenpi and Myu hitting the floor, wide slits across their chests.
"Damn you and your tricks!" roared Kamina. "Fight me like a real man!"
"If you say so." came a voice from behind him. He turned only to receive a fist to his face that sent him flying backwards. The bandits parted with eerie efficiency to allow him to rocket past.
Before Kamina had even risen to his feet the man had him by the throat. He whispered softly into the young student's ear. "The Apostils of Satos will defeat the Shinigami. We will strike very soon and none will stand against us, not even your precious captains." he tightened his grip and Kamina's vision began to turn red.
How am I suppose to limit your power if you keep getting into suicidal fights? Came a deep inner voice.
"What can I say?" half chuckled half choked Kamina aloud. There was a sigh from the inner voice then Kamina felt his body become infused with fresh power. "Let's make them grit their teeth, Gurren."
The world lit up for a brief moment before returning to normal, the only trace of it ever happening being the giant black shades held in Kamina's hands. I second later he forced more power into it, flames erupting along its surface.
"A shikai? How unimpressive. Do you think that it will make a difference?" taunted the man.
"Hell yes!" Kamina struck out, shattering everything around the man but not inflicting a single scratch upon him.
"Your power increase means nothing to me. It only serves to show just how far below my level you really are.
"I am the mighty Kamina! I always win and that is a universal law. To defeat me is like to defy gravity!"
"You do realise that shinigami can walk on air." pointed out the man.
Kamina ignored him. "With the combined awesomeness of me and Gurren, nothing can stand in our way. Just who the hell do you think I am!"
His shades split into two. He threw them, pinning the arms and legs of the man. More shades grew out from his fist. "Finishing move. Giga…Shade…Break!"
At the last possible second the man somehow managed to release one of his arms enough to position it in front of his chest. He caught Kamina's fist. The attack exploded. The man stood unharmed where he had been. Kamina screamed out, his hand mangled and bloody.
"Was that really the best you have to offer, boy?"
Kamina lashed out in rage. The man blocked the attack with his little finger, shattering Kamina's shikai like sugar glass. A wave of pain smashed through Kamina at his zanpakuto's destruction. He fell to his knees.
"Its over." stated the man. "Or should I say, it is finally beginning."
The wall in the room beyond was suddenly obliterated. Rocks flew around wildly, killing several of the surrounding bandits. From the newly formed hole, Ichigo flew into the room. His robes were different that before, a darker black lined with blood red. His sword had also changed, no longer the giant carving knife but a sleek, pure black katana.
He swung the sword and a wave of black energy ripped through the assembled thugs. In that one attack, the entire room was cleared. He turned his attention slowly onto Kamina and the other man.
"Kurosaki, pleasure to see you again." smiled the man.
"So this is were you fled to, Ordius Akilay. Followed the true path of a traitor I see." said Ichigo in a low tone.
"Bankai." spoke the man, Ordius, with a trace of anticipation present within his voice. His blade shimmered then became a double ended sword, both sides glistening with purple flame.
Kamina threw himself out of the way as the two charged at him, both seemingly forgetting his existence. The sheer power that the two were giving off felt like it was blistering his skin. They fought on equal grounds for a few minutes before Ichigo began to take the lead.
Ordius noticed this too. In desperation he broke away from the combat and screamed. His arm unravelled itself, beneath the skin being only a colourless void. The limb of darkness split into a dozen tendrils which all elongated and shot out at Ichigo, perforating his skin. Ordius began to laugh manically as Ichigo coughed blood.
Without a word, Ichigo put his hand to his face and a white mask with red streaks appeared. Emotionlessly he slashed at Ordius, reducing the man to a stain on the floor and walls. The instant he was finished the mask disintegrated back into nothing.
"Are you all okay?" the captain asked, his attention now on Kamina Myu and Kenpi. "I'll call for a medi-"
"Captain! Captain!" screamed a man who rushed into the room frantically. His eyes were wild and his whole body was shaking uncontrollably. "Captain! T-the Seireitei. It's-it's been destroyed." he bawled.
"What! That cant be." exclaimed Ichigo.
"I-it was A-Ai-Aizen. One second everything was fine, the next a giant black hand appeared in Aizens cell, and every other cell, and took all the prisoners away. A second later they were all at the heart of the Seireitei. Then bandits hollows attacked from the outside, strange hollows, bigger and stronger than normal. We were overrun before anyone even knew what was happening."
Harsh, pained laughter came from nearby. Everyone looked down to see Ordius's head, rolling across the floor with laughter, only a small strip of spin showing that the head ever had a body.
"Like I said, we will destroy the shinigami. This isn't a petty raid. This is war." he laughed again then coughed violently before falling silent.
Everyone was completely motionless for several seconds. "We need to check this out for ourselves. Kamina, get a medic to heal you three up. I…I… Hell, I don't have a clue what to do. This cant be real…"
A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. This should be back to every Friday now, although no promises as we're just entering exam season.
Kamina got his ass kicked again - I know, sacrilege! This was the last chapter in that arc, now we're heading onto the War of Survival.
If the fist half is dull then I apologise and if any of it seems disjointed then its because I've been writing it on and off four nearly a month now between my of commitments. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed. Until next time - Sayonara.
-FWF