ShiKai CH.10: Uneasy Truce

The ice...Hitsugaya watched as the imprisoning walls of Sennen Hyoro broke apart in cascading sheets, won't touch him. How? The blond man stepped forward, his sandal breaking the last layer with a decisive crunch. "Done? My turn."

How is this man so powerful?

Hitsugaya leapt back; water spiraled up in a point at the man's fingertips. "Shinryu-Sui." Eyes the color and depth of the ocean glared like two pinpoints in the darkness. "Ensnare." The column divided, flowing in two separate streams after him. Hitsugaya tightened his hold on Hyourin-Maru, swiping the blade back and then forward, his own wave of frigid water clashing head-on. He grimaced. Everything he had? This man seemed to be making little effort, expressionless even when his attack was diverted. He wasn't worried? Everything about him was unreadable. To the gray-black of the mixed Shihakusho uniform he wore to the lax hold he maintained on the slender-hilted Zanpaku-to. Yes...Nanatsu Kagami certainly was everything and more Yoruichi-san had said.

A flash of red that faded into black in the distance caught his eye. "Seems like Keiko's having fun," wryly he commented, a slight reminiscent smile curving his mouth. Hitsugaya eyed him warily, landing a few paces away. "Fun, you say? Is that what you call basic debauchery?"

"Yowch. Guilty as charged." The man winced and his smile disappeared. "I'm sure our ways may seem strange to you and your fellow Shinigami. But all things considered and aside, this really is our world and you've invaded--"

"This was once Soul Society's charge as well." Hitsugaya testily reminded, his white brows drawing together in a scowl. "Not anymore it is," the man rejoined lightly. He flexed his sword arm and then poised the tip of his Zanpaku-to above the sheath.

"What're you doing?! This battle is far from over!"

The man--Kagami, cocked an eyebrow at Hitsugaya. "Oh? So do you have more little water tricks up your sleeve then?"

He's taking me as a joke?! Hitsugaya chanced a look to the far side where the others were trapped. Their black clad figures starkly stood out against the white wall of frozen water. Inoue and Yasutora...as humans wouldn't survive long if left that way. Everyone...hold on. His eyes closed briefly, "you may think we're in the wrong, but you're--"

"Let me ask you something," Kagami smoothly interrupted, without receiving an answer he continued, "long ago in olden days, Assiah was the place where exiled Shinigami were sent to. Now be it crimes of anarchy--murder--whatever. If the deed wasn't fit to be execution by the Sokyoku; what better way to dispose of undesirables in the land where there are-excuse me-were a thousand Hollows per capita?"

"What're you saying?" Hitsugaya's voice was faint, he was less sure of himself.

"What I'm saying is:" here Kagami's look became sardonic, "don't go on about how great and justified Soul Society is. Now...we finish this. Devour. Shinryu-Saisui."

It was the same attack. Hitsugaya leapt upward at the onset of the first flow as one rose beneath his heels, the second shot out from behind, twining about his arms and chest. Hitsugaya struggled, twisting in the bands of water. Down below, Kagami watched. "Interesting. The Fukutaichou breaks free to help her Taichou...I can honor that type of spirit." He turned to the tall woman in soaking robes, her loose hair clung damply to her shoulders.

"What say in three minutes--"

Hitsugaya screamed above them. Matsumoto gasped, "Taichou! You bastard! What did you do to him?!" her eyes flickered to Kagami's impassive, unmarked face. Not a scratch had been laid on his countenance or body. Seething, Matsumoto was about to repeat herself when he held up a hand.

"Must I explain everything? He was snared from the very first moment my Dragon water splashed him. Just one touch, one droplet lands on you and it's all over." He surveyed her expression with another smile. "They've entered him on the second release. They're hungry. In three minutes his entire body will be consumed from the inside out. You have that long to convince me to reverse the process. Got it?"

"Convince you?" Matsumoto flashed a smile of her own, her hand sliding across her Zanpaku-to's hilt and the cat-shaped guard. "Who said convince? Why not defeat you? Roar, Haineko!" The tang became a wreath of gray smoke. Kagami withdrew his own sword in a single motion from the scabbard at his hip. A ripple in the water at his feet spoke the name of the Zanpaku-to: Sazanami.

Ash and water soon collided.

~*~

Shinryu-Sui...that brings back memories. Kei glanced askance toward the break in the trees that barely afforded her a glimpse of her fellow Captain's battle. And...her eyes widened. "Yo! Forget me?!" Ichigo angrily yelled. A little regretfully, she refocused back to him. "No. Not likely." Her smile was rueful, but her gaze slid back to Kagami. Genei. She parried aside Ichigo's thrust. A shield of compressed water much like the wielder of wind's guard. Except...

There was a change in the spirit pressures.

Ichigo turned startled eyes to the north. "Rangiku..." he whispered.

Like a mirror, it reflects all that breaks upon it.

~*~

"Genei," Kanzaki muttered. He scowled and spat as a drop of sweat rolled down the corner of his mouth. "What did you say?" Ishida demanded. The Division one Captain wiped the back of his hand across his face. "Nothing. Let's continue."

Kagami...

~*~

What the hell was that...?! Matsumoto had narrowly avoided the backlash of Haineko's attack while behind the crystalline confines of the shield, Kagami tapped his wrist to indicate the lack of time. She scowled and gathered the smoky remains back into the form of a blade.

"A Zanpaku-to that becomes a mist of ash..." he mused, his eyes lowered and passed over the circumference of the shield. Nothing could break it, only rebound upon the perpetrator. He could tell she didn't understand. Most likely she had come across various other barrier types and been able to shatter them using only a slicing motion of her ash blade. Hmm... he observed her position. She would strike first and then above. Maybe even...

"Growl, Haineko!"

Behind. His eyes closed in exasperation. "Don't you know already that won't work? This is exhausting--Suiha--"

"W--wait!"

"Taichou!?" Matsumoto cried.

"Eh?" Kagami looked up, "still conscious?"

"Don't--please sto-stop." breathing hard, Hitsugaya gasped out. The water geyser that wrapped about his arms and legs trembled with a gleaming shudder of energy. Kagami frowned, "two minutes have passed. I'm surprised you're even able to still speak."

"Shi--Shihoin asks..."

"What...?" the water wielder's voice became sharp.

"Stand down for me." Hitsugaya finished above a whisper. His body slumped back into the vise of water. Matsumoto's hands flew to her mouth, "Taichou!"

A flicker passed over Kagami's face. With a swipe of his free hand, the Genei shield melted back into the tang of his Zanpaku-to. "Recede, Shinryu," he commanded dispiritedly. To Matsumoto's amazement; Hitsugaya was lowered slowly on a plateau of water. Concerned only with his well-being, she disregarded Kagami and ran to the unconscious boy's side.

"Hitsugaya! Hitsugaya-Taichou!" she cried desperately, her hand brushing aside the damp bangs from his face.

"He'll awake in a moment," the water wielder said over his shoulder. The splintering and cracking of the ice sheet that had imprisoned the others followed.

~*~

"What can he be thinking-?" Kei muttered, her feet leaving the ground in an instant. Earth flew upward in a spray with the impact of a black Getsuga-Tenshou. Ichigo panted, feeling the weight of the white mask that covered his face. He hadn't seen any of the emotion he had come to expect whenever his chosen opponent caught first glimpse of it. Nothing. Not even a flicker of shock had disturbed her countenance. He wondered why.

"Maouen!" angrily she tossed the sword high, the long lean blade rippled into that of the great bird who flew in an arc back. Kei raised her arm and it alighted upon her. Its feathers blacker than the night. The bird inclined its head toward her as if hearing something only meant for it. Then looked inquiringly toward the east, screeching once.

Something answered. A roar like that of a Dragon's from a campy sci-fi movie, came in return. Ichigo started and stared wildly off in the same direction. What the hell was--

"Soryu..." Kei murmured. He turned to her sharply, "what's that?"

"Nothing." with a flick of her wrist, the bird had pitched itself into the sky, winding its way to the South. "It just means," her eyes caught his and held them, "our fight is over. A truce has been called."

~Las Noches~

"My Lord...we have returned."

"Ah, Ulquiorra..." Aizen looked over the group with an indulgent smile, "I assume things have gone according to plan?"

The green-eyed Arrancar recalled the last thing the elemental had spoken to him and ducked his head briefly, "I have every reason to believe so."

In five days...she had whispered, leaning close so that no one else could catch her words, her hand sliding into his; come where the sun rests in the south, there, we will be awaiting you.

The sun rose in the west and set in the south...only before Tsukikage castle.

~To be continued~

AN: I really am exhausted. :P sleepy as well.

Thanks for reading--no flames or idiotic spammers! Reviews are always appreciated! Ocs still needed as well.