Incomplete thoughts Chapter 11:
Sakura Blossoms in the Wind
Koichi walked along a stony path with Emi, the two were heading towards a shrine to wish for good luck, that and Koichi promised Emi he would take her to one eventually. As the two walked up the stone steps, Koichi thought he felt a small pulse of unfamiliar reiatsu but shrugged it off as it vanished. Koichi glanced at Emi worriedly; she had been quiet for some time, ever since they had left the park;
"Koichi-kun… Do you trust me…?"
Koichi glanced at Emi and smiled softly as he nodded;
"Of course I trust you… I wouldn't be with you if I didn't."
Emi glanced away slowly and began to speak as they reached the top of the steps and smiling happily Koichi held Emi by the arm and began walking towards the Shrine. It was eerily quiet and a strange wind began to blow through the trees as if to warn them. Koichi stopped dead in his tracks as he felt a strong spiritual pressure behind them and turned. His eyes widened as he saw the long white scarf and captain obi flowing in the wind. Sakura blossoms floated about him as if he controlled them; his flowing black hair billowed in the wind. Koichi couldn't break the cold gaze the Shinigami had fixated upon him. He had heard about this man from his father, he was known by the name Kuchiki Byakuya.
"K…Kuchiki-taichou. What are you doing here…?"
Koichi began to tremble slowly as he felt the overbearing spiritual pressure, but regained his composure and glanced at Byakuya in the eyes. The cold unfeeling stare did not leave the man's face as he glanced at Koichi then Emi;
"At least you are more respectful than that man which you call father."
Byakuya pointed at Emi slowly turning his piercing gaze towards her;
"The girl."
Koichi widened his eyes and glanced at Byakuya again making sure he wasn't pointing at some other girl. And pulled Emi behind him;
"Don't be foolish child. Step away from her or I shall kill you."
Koichi stood his ground and glared at Byakuya;
"What do you want with Emi?"
Byakuya kept his glance upon Emi as he slowly unsheathed his sword;
"I have no need to speak on such trivial matters. But as you are more respectful I shall than that man I shall tell you. That girl, she is not one of us."
Koichi glanced at Emi then back at Byakuya;
"She may not be a full fledged Shinigami but that's no reason to take her!"
Byakuya's Glance grew colder still;
"You misunderstand boy. She is a spy… and we have been assigned to terminate her."
Koichi's eyes widened as he gulped slowly;
'He…. Cant be serious…Emi isn't… No. She's not they must have the wrong person!'
Koichi stood his ground as he stared down the man his father once faced before.
"sou kaa. I'll do what needs to be done. Chire Senbon zakura."
Koichi quickly Pressed his Shinigami emblem to his chest and released his shikai;
"EMI! Stay close to me!!"
Emi wrapped her arms around Koichi's waist as he spun his blade by its hilt wrapping, he grabbed it by the hilt quickly and thrusted the sword into the ground, launching up a wall of reiatsu around them, the Sakura blossoms bounced of the wall and quickly began to whip around in the wind as Byakuya began to control their movements with his hand.
Koichi dispelled the barrier and held out his sword, his father had told him about his battle and knew he needed speed.
"BAN-KAI!"
A whirlwind whipped around Koichi and he was attired in his bankai outfit. He dashed towards Byakuya and lashed out at him with a kuroi Getsuga. Byakuya countered by using his Sakura petals as a shield. Koichi jumped back and glanced at Byakuya;
"I won't let you take her! You're mistaken about Emi!!"
Byakuya dispelled his barrier and outstretched his hand;
"Have it your way boy."
Byakuya sent two groups of Blossoms, one directed towards Koichi, the other towards Emi. Koichi glanced back and forth quickly and gritted his teeth as he dashed in front of Emi and Took the full blow of the attack upon his body. The petals began slicing at his skin and were called back. Koichi breathed heavily as blood dripped down from his torn clothes. Emi gasped softly as she reached a hand out to Koichi and spoke in a fearful whisper;
"K….Koichi…."
Koichi raised his head slowly and glared at Byakuya;
"I won't let you lay a finger on EMI!!!"
'I have to keep going like this… I promised her I wouldn't use my mask…'
Emi glanced at Koichi as she clutched at her chest slowly;
"K….Koichi-kun…."
'He…should just use his mask… wait… he can't be…no!'
Emi cried out towards Koichi as she realized that he wasn't using his full potential. Koichi dashed towards Byakuya and disappeared before reaching him, Byakuya glanced around and Koichi lashed out at Byakuya's back. A red scar ran diagonally across Byakuya's back as he vanished from site. Koichi glanced around as he jumped into the air and his eyes widened as he glanced back down towards the ground Byakuya had a hand raised at Koichi and 3 pillars of Blossoms lunged towards him. Koichi deflected the first pillar but was engulfed by the second and crashed into the ground by the third. He stood up wearily, his sword as a crutch he began breathing raggedly as he coughed up blood.
"It's over boy. You're at your limit. You…"
Koichi fired a beam from two of his fingers, Byakuya barely dodged the beam as it scraped against the side of his face;
"So you had enough to muster one last attack. Admirable. But It ends here."
Byakuya stretched his hand out and the Sakura blossoms hurtled towards Koichi. Koichi stood his ground and breathed heavily as the attack neared closer. Just as it came within striking distance of Koichi an arrow shot out of the forest and dispelled the Blossoms. Koichi glanced to his right and a teen with a web of light formed bow stepped out. Koichi laughed softly;
"You cut it really close there Tray."
Koichi glanced towards his friend Tray, who smirked slowly;
"Well I was just in the neighborhood and… well Hello there miss….May I inquire your name…?"
Tray grasped the back of his head as a red lump appeared and Koichi stood behind tray his a fist held at Tray's head;
"Back off Tray… She's with me…."
Tray stood up and laughed as he shook his hands;
"Alright I see how it is. So you're fighting Byakuya huh? Why not use your mask? You could take him then."
Koichi glanced at Byakuya who kept the same cold glare as always and then at Emi;
"Because I Made a promise…"
Tray rolled his eyes and laughed as he began walking towards Byakuya and gave a wave;
"Alright I see how it is, Go ahead Koichi I'll take care of Pretty boy here."
Tray's Quincy garbs billowed in the wind as he smirked his bow forming an arrow he aimed at Byakuya. Koichi picked Emi up into his arms and nodded;
"Thanks… and Tray. Don't die."
Koichi shunpoed off with Emi towards the city, Tray standing across from Byakuya smirked again.
"A Quincy… but how?"
Tray laughed loudly as he pulled his sling back;
"Perhaps you've heard of my father Ishida, Uryuu"
Byakuya nodded and outstretched his hand;
"I see… alright."
As the Sakura Blossoms hurtled towards Tray He launched his arrows at the barrage, as Koichi and Emi dashed towards the city in the distance explosions could be heard. In the city the weather began to grow eerily cold…