Maybe if I predict it'll be a long period of time, then perhaps I'll update a little sooner next time... Although, to be honest, I think there will probably be a bit of a pause before chapter 12. I want to see what will happen in the manga before continuing, although I have a general idea of where this is going to go. Even though this is an alternate course of events, I still like to try to make my story and the main storyline fit together (you know, with little visits to Soul Society by 4 Arrancar that just happen to take place before or in the middle of battles in the real world...). I might just have to give that up in favor of finishing the story, though!
Thanks again to all people leaving reviews. I really appreciate it. They mean a lot, and they help me continue planning out plotting out the chapters ahead! So, clearly, if you want to see the next chapter sooner rather than later, you'll have to review more! Um, maybe. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 11: Attack
A shock of warning flashed through Nanao. She whirled and slid across the floor just in time to avoid a massive bolt of energy. She panted heavily as she crouched on the floor, more from surprise over the attack that had just been levied against her than by physical exhaustion. Even so, she felt a twinge of pain in her still healing shoulder. Her eyes stared at the remnants of Yamamoto Sōtaichō's desk. The ends remained intact, but the center was reduced to a smoldering hole. Even the chair had lost its back. This was a powerful attack. More to the point, it was a powerful cero. From that alone, Nanao knew to be wary of her opponent even before she located who that was. She had a fairly good idea of who that would be, though.
Across the room, a thin woman with long hair and an even layer of bangs stepped out from behind a column. One hand was raised to her face, the fingers hidden by the long sleeves of her white dress. The other was still outstretched and preparing another cero blast. Nanao raised her own arm and was able to quickly counter this attack, which, while still strong, did not have the power of the first.
"I've been watching you," the Arrancar stated, as if in explanation. Nanao's brow knit. The newcomer smiled coldly and shook her head. "Not at the palace," she continued. "I was here. Watching you. I've been here since Stark arrived. You aren't the only one with the power to hide your reiatsu, you know. I could have killed you so many times, but I had to wait to see your power. If only I'd arrived a little sooner, I could have watched what you did to Lilinette, but, ah well. After your conversation with your zampakutō, I gather you won't release her without being engaged in battle and so, well, you give me few options," she finished apologetically.
"Sun-sun," Nanao stated quietly.
"Well, of course. There really aren't many other options, are there?" She pushed her green hair over her shoulder and pushed a small trident out through the opening of her long sleeve. "Would you like me to begin, or would you prefer to start?" Sun-sun asked politely.
Nanao stepped warily to the side but did not reach for her zampakutō yet. "Why would you come here? You must have heard from Aizen about my powers. What advantage could you have in seeing them for yourself."
"I have heard about your powers from Halibel, the Espada that I serve. She was privileged with the information from Aizen-sama, not me. She did tell me all that she could, but ultimately, it seems your fully realized powers are still a bit of an enigma, to be honest. A shinigami who becomes lieutenant without relying on her zampakutō, yet displays an extraordinary talent for kidō? If she was unskilled with her sword, surely she would have been accepted into the fourth or the second division rather than the eighth. And yet, as a mere child you were recruited by Kyōraku Shunsui, favored by Yadōmaru Lisa, and quickly rose to take her place after, well, 'the incident.' Despite your enormous potential, you rarely drew your weapon. Halibel informs me that Aizen-sama confessed he had to think for quite some little while to remember your utilizing shikai even once. But then, he did recall a single time in battle where you withdrew your zampakutō and fired. He read a report about your interesting skill – the power to make anyone truthfully answer whatever you ask. I have heard that for all your carefully hidden insecurities you are remarkably bright, and even if you have not understood just what your power's implications might be, your surprisingly astute captain would have noticed. How disappointed I am that your reticence has forced me to attack you personally. I would have much preferred to observe," Sun-sun stated sadly.
Nanao was taken aback. Her power's implications? For this war? Against Aizen? This was not something she had considered. Was this what Morrigan had been hinting at? Had her captain actually deduced this and not told her? What did it mean? What was she missing?
Sun-sun took a ready stance and watched Nanao impatiently. She finally sighed, straightened up and shook her head. "I do not know what has you so dumbfounded, but it really is time for us to begin. I do have other duties, you know. I admit I was amazed at how easily you were lured into using you're a partially realized bankai with Lilinette, but aside from that, you've been rather difficult. She was not mistaken. I do have to stop by the palace before reporting back to Aizen-sama. So, please, if you would not mind, could you simply call forth your bankai now so we can finish this quickly?"
Nanao drew her small blade out from within her sleeve then gently laid it on the charred remains of Yamamoto's desk.
"Your intelligence is not incorrect. I do prefer to rely on kidō. If you wish to fight me, it will be without my weapon and without bankai," she replied in a steely tone.
Sun-sun gave her a look of supreme annoyance. "You are either extremely arrogant or extremely stupid. I respect neither trait and therefore I cannot respect you as an opponent," she stated harshly. "I had looked forward to meeting you, Ise Nanao," she said with a sad shake of her head. "I thought I might perhaps find an intellectually stimulating adversary worthy of fighting. I'd hoped to see you bring forth your bankai as a tactical advantage in the midst of battle. Surely that was the reason you have been so hesitant to rely on it prior to this point. Surely you simply did not want those subordinate to you to see your real power revealed and therefore reserved it for only the most deserving of opponents. Yes, that would be a tactic suitable for the intellect I hear you possess. Instead, I see nothing more in you than complete stubbornness. If you will not bring forth your bankai of your own volition, I will force it out of you or kill you in the process. Either way, I will have accomplished my duty," she finished calmly with a mild trace of regret.
Sun-sun's triple-pointed sai flashed pink and she raised it high above her head. Its light reflected in her yellow eyes. Nanao prepared herself. She glanced at her zampakutō. She would not rely on Morrigan now. In the future she might, but not now. There was something to her power that was important to Aizen, and by no means would she demonstrate that to Sun-sun before discovering it for herself. There was hope for her terrible power, and she could not afford to risk whatever advantage she had by revealing that now. She turned her eyes towards Sun-sun and allowed her hands to fill with a growing kidō ball. What Sun-sun could not see was the fact that there were really two energy balls, one in front of the other. She might know to expect such an attack from Aizen, but knowing something theoretically was far different from experiencing it.
A split second before Sun-sun expelled her energy blast, Nanao released the first kidō shot. Without an incantation, the binding spell was not as powerful as it might normally be coming from Nanao, but it was still effective and, more to the pont, it took Sun-sun by surprise. The blast split into three beams and pierced through the Fracción. Nanao quickly recited the incantation for sōkatsui and released the second energy blast. Multiple beams of reiatsu struck Sun-sun, giving Nanao enough time to chant and form the tornado-like attack that made up tenran. She saw Sun-sun's eyes grow in horror as tenran approached. It would not kill her, but it would leave her incapacitated and allow Nanao to increase her attacks.
At the last minute, a yellow blast sliced through the tornado. Two more female Arrancar stood by Sun-sun. Presumably these were the other two of Halibel's Fracción, Mila-Rose and Apache.
"What are you doing?" Sun-sun cried angrily as Apache knelt to pull her up.
"Shut up and get on your feet!" Apache shouted.
"We have to return," Mila-Rose responded as her large, Amazonian frame faced Nanao and prepared to attack.
"I have to finish this fight!" Sun-sun snarled.
"Halibel has entered a fight with a shinigami captain. We must distract and annihilate his lieutenant. The mission has changed. Report what you can when have finished," Apache stated. Sun-sun looked away. Nanao surmised that Sun-sun was often the leader of the three, and disliked having to take a subordinate position at this time. However, she did not argue in a situation where Halibel was involved. Nanao found this interesting.
"What do we do with her?" Mila-Rose asked, indicating towards Nanao.
"If we cannot observe her power then we must try to eliminate her. Stark has already sealed the bankai. If she tries to call it forth, she will die." Sun-sun looked at Nanao with cold eyes. "Unfortunately, she must have realized this as she refused to call it forth and even discarded her zampakutō. We will have to kill her ourselves before returning to the real world."
The other two nodded and stretched out their hands. Sun-sun followed suit. Nanao incanted a spell for protection, but there was little she could do against a triple cero at such close range. She flew backwards into the wall. As she struggled to keep conscious, she heard a large tear forming.
"We have to go now," Mila-Rose said quietly.
"She isn't dead yet!" Sun-sun hissed.
"Get over it," Apache stated. "Halibel needs us. Besides, she is no threat to Aizen-sama now. Stark did our errand for us. There's no need to stay."
Nanao felt Hinamori's spirit energy enter a moment later. Her arms wrapped around Nanao and helped pull her into a sitting position against the wall she had crashed into.
"This is turning into an unfortunate habit today," Nanao commented as she winced at the pain searing through her from the burns covering her body.
"Will you be all right?" Momo asked as she knelt and looked in Nanao's contorted face.
"Yes. It only knocked me back for a moment. I can heal this pretty quickly. Have they gone?"
"Yes," Momo replied. "With your leave, I… I would like to go after them."
Nanao turned to look at Hinamori's face. There was an unstable fierceness under the calm exterior. Sensing hesitation, Hinamori stood and went to the desk. She returned with Nanao's zampakutō and held it out to her.
"Test me if you will. I know where my loyalties lie. Let me help the ones I have betrayed. I feel I will be of better use down there than I am up here."
Nanao looked for a long time at Hinamori's face and the determination in her eyes. With a sigh, Nanao picked up the small blade but then lowered her arm.
"You do not need me in order to prove yourself. Go ahead, and I hope you are successful."