11...Fight Back
The small Espada child wandered through the winding alleys of the eleventh squad territory, mercilessly cutting down anyone who came across him. None ever foresaw his attacks and none survived the first strike.
It was all too easy for him until he came across another child.
The little pink-haired girl beamed an innocent smile as she noticed him. She waved hyperactively as if they were lifelong friends and proceeded to race towards him.
"Hey! Another kid! Will you be my friend?"
The boy glared at her and then arced his head down to the floor. He said nothing.
"Hey! Answer me! Are you shy or something? Don't be afraid!" The little girl was jumping up and down impatiently while trying to coerce the boy into befriending her. It seemed a rather futile attempt thus far.
"You...Get out of my way..." The boy rasped. His voice was unusually dry and husky for a child, almost as if he had been starved for his entire life. "Stupid child."
The girl frowned at him. "Stupid kid? Do you know who I am? If you tease me I'll get Kenny to sort you out!"
"I am not here to play games. Leave now...Or die." The boy raised his hand, revealing his blackened fingernails. The sun's reflection caught long trails leading from his hands.
The girl pouted. "I am Yachiru Kusajishi. I'm not a stupid kid!"
The boy's eyes widened. "Kusajishi?" He swung his hand in a swaying motion in front of his torso and then moving it back again.
Yachiru's cheek suddenly dribbled blood and her left arm was stinging terribly. She leapt back to a safe distance and scowled. "What did you do?"
"I will kill you," The boy snarled. "Assistant captain Kusajishi." He swung his hands again and Yachiru hastily drew her sword. Something struck it but she could not see. She prepared to attack but her sword was dragged down to the ground by an invisible force. She yelped and leapt into the air.
The boy's hand rose as well and the young girl smirked. She wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but she had a hunch...
Yachiru wrenched her sword back suddenly and the boy was thrown into the air. She chuckled like an excited toddler and grinned. "This game is fun!" As the boy hurtled towards her she drew back her feet and as soon as he was within reach she thrust her foot into his gut. "Tag!" She squealed delightedly.
The Espada boy crashed to the ground, throwing dust around the area, momentarily concealing him behind the swirling cloud. Seconds later it was swept away but in their wake, revealed something about the boy's hands. The dust settled on lengths of wire which stretched out from his nails. The boy scowled at his own foolishness and retaliated by swinging the razor wires at Yachiru.
The young girl giggled as she swatted them away and snatched the fifth wire. It cut into her hand but she ignored the pain and started to run along its length, down towards the boy.
"I'm coming to get you!" She chirped.
The boy jerked his hand sideways and the wires became zig-zagging trails. Yachiru's foot fell through one of the gaps and she plummeted towards the ground. Before she hit the boy flicked his wrist, sending all five wires to her. They all slapped her with crushing force, throwing her at high speed into a wall. She hit it so hard that her body made a crater in the thick stone structure which eventually crumbled around her.
The boy retracted the wires and approached the pile of rubble. "Die."
Yachiru pushed aside a piece of rubble but it rolled back into place over her leg, crushing it. She cried out in pain. "Ow! Kenny! Kenny, help! Kenny!" She waited a short while before trying again. "Kenny! Kenn-"
The boy was standing over her now. His hand was closed in a fist but he opened it and let the wires roll about her neck, entangling around her throat. She knew any move she made could potentially end her short life. She was powerless now. Only one man could save her, but it seems he was not to arrive.
The boy grinned wickedly. "Stupid child. I shall destroy you all. The Espada Oscuras will prevail."
"Espada...They are evil! Kenny says they are bad!" Yachiru winced before continuing. "Bad people never win."
"They do now." The boy said in his horrid rasping way. His black-rimmed eyes narrowed and his fingers began to flex slowly, causing the wires to enclose around her. She could feel them just barely contacting her skin but soon they would bury within her and bring about a violent end. If only her knight in blood-stained armour could arrive to save her...
"I'm sorry. You will never witness the downfall of Soul Society, but at least your death will be painless." His fingers curled inwards again and Yachiru felt the razor wires digging into her skin. As a warrior she kept her eyes open, staring deep into her foe.
Her concentration was broken when she heard something...A high pitched ringing sound...Almost like...Bells.
The boy failed to hear it. He was oblivious to the omen. Once you hear the bells, death is sure to follow. His smile spread further and his eyes seemed to glow. He was too engrossed in his victim that he didn't see the great shadow which rushed out from the darkness. Neither did he see the great, rusted blade crash down upon him.
It was only when a sudden burst of reiatsu hurled him back that he noticed he had been interrupted. He tried to reach out for a hand hold but his arm was missing. The amputated limb was still with Yachiru, the wires still coiled around her.
The boy's eyes widened and he stared up at the looming giant who he now faced. This man was not just intimidating, he was downright terrifying. His eyes looked like that of a demon and his jagged smile showed sharpened fangs. His body and sword were both scarred from numerous battles and the look in his eyes showed he was a man of war. There was only one man this could be...The dreaded captain of eleventh squad, Zaraki Kenpachi.
The boy extended a hand and a new set of wires shot forth from his one remaining hand. In a matter of seconds it too was gone. He was so stunned he lost his balance and tripped over. He landed in a heap but had no hands to push himself back up.
The monstrous captain stalked his prey, a menacing smirk on his face. "You hurt Yachiru. You've got some nerve. But from all I can see you're just a weak little kid. You aren't even worth killing, but when Yachiru gets hurt I get pissed off. And when I'm pissed off I can't control my sword."
The boy cursed under his breath. "Damn you...To be beaten by lowly shinigami. What a disgrace."
Zaraki laughed like a madman. "Lowly shinigami? If we are so pathetic then what does that make you? You're nothing! You are just a stupid little kid!"
The boy was about to let out another tongue lashing but he did not live long enough to do so. Zaraki did not use his sword. He merely removed his eye patch. In such a weakened state the boy succumbed to the overwhelming pressure and his body shut down.
Zaraki put his eye patch back on and sighed. "Pathetic...I had to wake up for that. Dammit." He turned to Yachiru and picked her up with one hand, gently placing her on his shoulder. "Hold on tight." With that, he ran off for the infirmary.
Shin'en hesitated for a moment and glanced over the horizon to some far-away place. Ukitake tried to take advantage of the distraction but Shin'en hacked blindly and kept the captain at bay.
"Hmm, Number 10 has fallen...Such a shame, but it is to be expected of a child."
Ukitake suddenly stopped his offensive. "What? A child?"
"Oh yes. Number 10 was a mere child and it seems one of your brutes has gone and killed him. How barbaric. I will be glad when you shinigami are bowing before us and begging for your wretched lives. Maybe then you will feel remorse for your unforgivable actions."
That struck a chord with the elderly captain. Ukitake brought both blades down on the one spot. Even when it was guarded, Shin'en was stunned by the power behind the hit. The two remained with their swords crossed.
Ukitake's eyes blazed as he spat at his opponent. "You vile scum! I have fought for justice my entire life! I have been the defender of peace in my many decades here! How dare you say such things about us! You of all people have no right to preach about unforgivable actions!"
Shin'en pushed his foe back. "Is this about the los of your squad? Or are you more concerned about that blonde girl?"
"Kiyone? Were you the one who..." Ukitake trailed off. His confused stare returned to a venomous scowl. "You bastard!" He charged again and this time broke through Shin'en's guard and thrust a blade into his chest.
The agile Espada narrowly dodged, suffering a gash in his side as opposed to a hole in his gut. He smiled confidently as he manoeuvred around the captain and placed his blade against Ukitake's throat.
"Your skills are impressive, but rage dulls your blade."
Ukitake cursed.
"If you were not so enraged you would have been more than a match for me, but you shinigami are all slaves to your emotions. You should have lost such meaningless things when you died. Now you are forever cursed with the mortal weakness of emotion. This is why you will all die!"
Ukitake jerked his head back but Shin'en saw through it and grabbed his long grey hair. He then dragged the man down to the ground.
"Not a wise move, captain Ukitake. Such a foolish move may just cost you your life."
"Shut your mouth. How dare you speak to me like that! You will never prevail!" Ukitake crossed his sword and swung outwards. Shin'en leapt over the top of him and landed in a crouch several metres away. He pointed a bony finger at his opponent and it soon glowed bright red.
Ukitake watched on as the cero was fired at him. He closed his eyes and waited. The giant blast was heading towards him. He could feel the intense heat as it seared his skin and then-
'Boom!'
Ukitake stood alone on the battlefield. A smoking crater before him. Shin'en was somewhere inside the swirling mass of smoke and dust and rubble. He was down for now.
While he was out of action, there was another matter he had to attend to.
Rukia ducked under another wild slash from her opponent. Yami was incredibly fast and many a time her sword had nicked her, not fatally, but enough to cause waves of pain racing up along her arms and legs and all over her body.
She rolled aside as Yami thrust her sword at her and then in a swift counter-attack she raised her palms and shouted. "Hado 33 Blue fire crash down!" Rukia's hands glowed blue as a large fireball exploded out of her hands and collided with her foe.
Yami emerged from the smoke, barely fazed. She was laughing manically now.
"Ha! Is that the best you can do? I'm just getting started! I'll show you the true meaning of pain!"
Rukia did not want to wait around for that. She drew her sword and pointed it straight at Yami. She chanted under her breath, remaining calm so as not to ruin the incantation. When she was finished she opened her eyes and concentrated on Yami.
A great burst of ice shot forth from her blade. It was headed straight for Yami. It was too fast for her to dodge and it hit with a resounding explosions, throwing icicles high into the air.
Rukia panted, trying to catch her breath from the battle, but already she could feel someone's gaze boring into her back. She spun around only to be slapped hard in the face. She stumbled back and felt a sharp stabbing pain. She looked down and discovered a sword embedded in her gut.
Yami was standing over her, laughing mockingly. "You never even saw me dodge it huh? I'm pretty damn quick you know. Sadly for you, that means it's the end. I know I was instructed to keep you alive but I just can't resist. I'm gonna have to kill you!"
Rukia made an odd choking sound and collapsed to her knees. Blood was surging up through the wounds and covering her hands which feebly covered the wound to stem the bleeding. Her hands were sticky and her head was swimming. She was swaying from side to side like a tree in the wind. She could barely see, her vision starting to blur.
Is this...The end? Ichigo...I'm so sorry...
Yami drew her sword back and was about to deal the finishing blow when a blur of white crossed her vision. She lost focus and looked around nervously, but even then she could not stop the mysterious attacker from slamming himself into her.
They both landed in a heap and scrambled to their feet, immediately commencing a duel.
Rukia watched on dazedly. "Ukitake..."
Her captain glanced back with an expression of fear. "Rukia! You may not be able to fight, but please...Run! Run for your life! Run as far as you can! Don't let them find you-" Ukitake was cut off as a blade went through his back and jutted out his front. Shin'en had returned with vengeance on his mind.
While he was stunned Yami hacked at his front, creating a deep chasm in his flesh.
Ukitake roared with untamed fury and he swiped his blades at both warriors, cutting each one of them. As they moved to a safe distance Ukitake managed to yell again.
"Rukia! Get out of here! I'll stall them for as long as I can!"
"B-But..." She whispered hopelessly.
"RUKIA!" He cut her off. "RUN!"
"I can't!" She cried. "Not again!" I can't-"
"Leave now! Don't disobey your captain! I am ordering you to run!"
The two Espada moved in again. He managed to wound Yami but Shin'en sneaked in another shot at his back. Ukitake fell down on one knee and retaliated with a sudden kido. The explosion sent Shin'en hurtling through the air but Yami attacked his side. He barely managed to block it and became trapped in a deadlock with her while the other opponent recuperated.
The whole time Rukia watched on in horror. Too scared to abandon her captain, but too weak to fight. It was just like back then...Because of her, another person was about to die...
"RUKIA!"
With that she got up on her feet. Ukitake spread his arms wide and let out a roar of utter rage. His body became enveloped in a blue aura and the ground around him cracked and splintered. The courtyard became lost in a great explosion from the sky-rocketing reiatsu.
Rukia turned around and ran.
