I do not own Bleach or any of their characters. All props go to Tite Kubo.
I do however own my characters, territories, ideas, and everything else that is not originally included in the Bleach story.
"Dad?" Yua asked, her eyes piercing through him, searching for answers. "You said that this was Hakubi-sama, you never said it was - her."
Jashatirou sighed in defeat, "I'm so sorry Yua. I had to protect you from-"
"From what?" Yua interrupted, furious, "The only thing you did was ruin my trust in you, over something so important to me."
Jashatirou remained silent. Yua looked around him at the others, including those from the Meido District, "You all knew?"
"I didn't Yua, I swear." Yun said softly.
Yua stared at all of the guilty faces of those that she thought she could trust. She turned to her mother, who still stood and stared as if she were unconscious. Her eyes shifted to Solomon's, where there was no emotion whatsoever in them. She looked back to Kiyori, who held the same expression. That couldn't be right. Kiyori wasn't built to be melancholy. Either the woman was still unconscious, or she was literally under the control of Solomon's power.
"It matters not, Yua." Solomon said, "Your mother is free."
"That doesn't hide the fact that every single one of these people lied to my face, and for what? To hide that my mother could have been saved years ago?" Yua hissed.
"Do not blame each of these people at my expense, Yua. It was all my fault that I had to keep it from you. Had you known at such a young age while I was gone in war, you would have tried to sneak off into the Blackness and attempt to find her Opposite." Jashatirou said, stepping forward.
"I can't believe you." Yua said while on the verge of tears. She looked up at Kiyori, still lost in some other realm. She inched to her until Solomon spoke, "Do not touch her."
"W-Why?" Yua asked.
"She is still in the state she was when in the Blackness. If you snap her out of it, she will see that all of us are the enemy because she is under the influence of Kuroji."
"How can she come back?" Yua asked.
"I must get my share of the power, but she has to do it."
"Well well well; there she is." Came from behind them. It was Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. His eyes were locked onto Kiyori Kurotsuchi's form, ignoring everyone else in the perimeter. Yua instantly looked to her father, noticing that he visibly became angered at this Arrancar's presence.
She had still been shaken from how the man had her pinned beneath him against her will. Her eyes were wide and full of fright. Jashatirou unsheathed his Zanpakutou, as well as everyone else. Grimmjow's smirk grew larger as his eyes shifted from Kiyori's to Jashatirou's momentarily.
"That's right, I'm alive." Grimmjow said to Jashatirou, shrugging.
"I will kill you again and again if I have to." Jashatirou said.
"I suppose so." Grimmjow stated.
The two men were preparing to engage in a heated battle, but were interrupted by the presence of Almalexia and Avelle, including Crispin. All eyes were on them, most especially Almalexia, who was now dressed like a queen, rather than her outfit for slumber. Each of them touched the stone of the Meido District, between Grimmjow and Jashatirou to prevent battle.
"This man is not yours to kill." Almalexia stated, facing Jashatirou. Her eyes slowly traveled to Kiyori Kurotsuchi's form, remembering the woman's power well.
"It is not your place to intervene." Jashatirou said.
"It most certainly is." She said, "You had your chance to kill him, and now it is my turn."
"Thanks to your lapdog shrew." Jashatirou replied.
"Ah yes, it is Avelle's fault this Arrancar fiend took an interest in Yua. I guess it is also her fault the sick fiend attempted to rape your dear daughter too?" The new queen replied with sarcasm.
Jashatirou's green eyes widened dramatically. He looked to Yua for a split second who seemed embarrassed that this news just entered everyone's ears, then his blood began to boil. Jashatirou charged at Grimmjow, via Sonido, ignoring Almalexia's warning. The two clashed blades and Almalexia frowned, lifting her hand to draw fire to attack Jashatirou, but just as she did, Vivec's hand grabbed her high wrist, preventing it.
Almalexia whipped herself around, offended by her brother's actions.
"How dare you, brother!" Almalexia hissed, "I had just recently forgiven you for your sins and yet you prove me wrong once again. Avelle," Almalexia said, looking to a silent Avelle, who still stared at her feet. The woman looked up to her queen.
"Yes, your highness?" She replied.
"Kill him."
Yua and Yun seemed stunned at the sudden change of attitude in Almalexia over the simplest subject. They both looked to Solomon, who stared, emotionless. Yua attempted to keep her eyes on her father and Grimmjow who pursued in their battle, seeing that Grimmjow was able to hold his own against her angered father. Her eyes, however, if not on her father's or Vivec's form, moved without her permission to Tanoshi, who stared directly at her in a stunned manner. She could easily tell how the young man felt.
Tanoshi had believed that it was all his fault. Had he never left Yua alone, Grimmjow would have never laid a finger on her. He sighed in frustration and rubbed his temples, trying to keep his mind on the battles that persisted before them, though the two of them kept making eye contact. He shook his head, moving his eyes away, keeping them on Almalexia, Avelle, and Vivec.
It was still a bit hard to try and move his anger for Vivec to Almalexia, now knowing that the prince was the innocent one. It was just difficult to have the same yearn to kill the true enemy, Almalexia, simply because she was a woman. She was definitely bipolar. Moments ago, everything was fine between Vivec and her, but now she wanted him dead? And at Avelle's hands?
What Almalexia had said, though even through sarcasm, made much sense. Avelle did revive Grimmjow. He would have not been a bother had she not came into the picture. But then again, had the prince never left the woman at the altar, she wouldn't have such a thick hatred for him.
Though, if she had such a thick hatred for Prince Vivec, why did she not directly follow Almalexia's orders?
Avelle stood there, her fingers pointing at Vivec as if she would shoot a deadly fireball point blank at him, but she had yet to do so. Her hands shook in fright, and Vivec stared at her.
"You, you left me at the altar." She mumbled to him.
"I did it because you were too young, Avelle." Vivec said to her.
Avelle shook her head, "You ruined my life."
"I did not think that would happen, nor did I believe that you would become the pet of my sister. She uses you because you are so powerful Avelle, you do not have to listen to her anymore."
"You called me crazy."
"You are crazy." Vivec whispered.
Avelle bared her teeth and charged her attack, her fingers only centimeters from Vivec's face. He quickly grasped her hand, slowly moving it away from him. Avelle looked as if she were going to weep, her charged attack dissolving. Vivec pulled the woman closer to him, whispering in her ear that he would marry her soon.
"Oh that's just beautiful." Almalexia stated, not amused. "But now, cut the crap Avelle, and kill him."
Avelle looked into Vivec's eyes before turning around to face Almalexia, "No." She said, "I won't do it."
"No?" Almalexia asked with a frown.
"You can't make me do anything anymore." Avelle replied.
"Well that's a shame, but are you sure?" Almalexia asked.
"I'm absolutely sure." She said.
"Oh well, I guess I'll have to get rid of you." Almalexia said. The queen quickly shot an unexpected bolt of flame towards both Avelle and Vivec, where both of them were able to sense the deadliness of the attack. Out of instinct, Avelle pushed away the prince, where in the process, Avelle was hit entirely. The attack was powerful enough to send the woman far towards the outer wall of the Meido Fortress.
Vivec immediately turned to rush to Avelle's aid, but Almalexia peered before him. She stood there, her next attack waiting. The Prince hadn't imagined that he would have to fight his sister, possibly killing her, simply to get to Avelle. The two turned in circles, and finally, Vivec caught the eyes of Yua, where with a look, he told her to go to Avelle instead.
Yua nodded and eased away from Yun and Solomon. She glanced at her mother's still body, then her father who was still in battle with Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, both of them equally injured. She inched past her mother, nearing Yumaki, MiroTano, Tanoshi, and the Head Cascabel. Once successfully out of harm's way, Yua quickly made her way in the direction of Avelle's limp body, which was still quite a distance away. She glanced at each of those who resided with her in the Cascabel Manor, still slightly disgusted with them, but more so with Tanoshi, though it seemingly wasn't as much.
Yua, then, was startled by a new man who Sonidoed in front of her, much taller than her and wore purple robes. She looked up at him, almost bumping into him, recognizing him to be Rasajouji's pupil. Fire of Almalexia and Vivec's battle erupted, splitting the population into three groups. Rasajouji's pupil quickly reached and grasped Yua's throat, lifting her.
"Yua!" Yumaki exclaimed, rushing forward to her, however, was halted by the Head Cascabel.
"What are you doing?" Yumaki asked him.
"He's not one to trifle with." The Head Cascabel replied, "The blade the man holds, it can kill any with just a cut, and there will be no life after."
"Why does he have Yua?" Tanoshi asked.
"He thinks it's her mother."
Yua was in the process of being stared down by Rasajouji's pupil, overhearing the Head Cascabel, where she began to panic, unsheathing her golden dagger to its full length, just as he frowned in disappointment. She shoved the entire length of the shining blade into his chest. The pupil dropped her, forcing her to pull the majority of the sword out of his chest. She stared up at him, where his skin began to melt away, only to reveal what he truly looked like. He was entirely golden, his eyes and fingertips replaced with jewels, just like Rasajouji's true form, but less complex.
He grabbed onto the blade and pulled the rest of it out of his chest, staring at Yua. Her eyes were wide, and she was unable to move, even as the golden man leaned forward, reaching his hand towards her neck.
"I had failed to notice that you were the heir," He said, his index finger plunging into her brown locks. He twirled a long section of her hair around his golden finger, staring deep into her soul and gathering the image of Mao Kurotsuchi, "So I shall place the difference between you and her, with a simple change of your hair." As he spoke and twirled Yua's hair around his finger, her hair turned from a chocolate brown to a caramel color, her hair now in loose curls.
She gasped at the change, watching him walk past her towards her mother.
"Why is he here?" Yua asked the Head Cascabel, trying hard not to look Tanoshi's way.
"He wants to kill your mother, and he certainly has the ability." He replied.
"What?!" Yua asked. She turned to her mother's direction, where she still stood, unmoving. Her eyes met with Solomon's, who seemed to be watching the entire time.
"He's going to have to get through him." Yua said, watching Solomon step forward.
"If that guy is here, then wouldn't Rasajouji be here too?" Tanoshi asked.
The Head Cascabel nodded, "He is here." He turned towards the Inferno and pointed, "Down there." A distance away, there was Rasajouji in his ancient disguise, sitting, looking tiny compared to the great Inferno.
"Why do they want to kill my mother?"
"To keep balance."
Yua looked to Solomon, then at the increasing blaze of the two fighting Phoenix twins. She remembered about Avelle, and looked to where she was, still limp.
Avelle, however, unbeknownst to everyone else, was but a pair of arms, chest, neck, and head, still burning from Almalexia's fire. Avelle lifted her hand, her eyes on Almalexia, pressing her fingers together, "Die." She said, shooting her last fireball, full of anger and hatred for the queen who had mentally destroyed and manipulated her for years.
The attack, however, though it did head straight for Almalexia's unexpected self, but also Solomon, Kiyori, and Rasajouji's Pupil. Faster than a meteor, the fireball flashed right past Yua, exploding behind her. She turned around in fright, stunned by the massive explosion. She searched for those who evaded, seeing that the Head Cascabel and others successfully got away, including Yun, Crispin, and Vivec.
She searched frantically around the borders of the fire for her dad, glad to see he was okay, but badly burnt, where Grimmjow began to gain the upper hand. She gasped to see the scene, but her eyes went to the source of the attack, seeing Avelle. Yua Sonidoed to Avelle quickly, shocked to see that she was almost completely dismembered, and nearly unidentifiable. Yua knelt down and began to regenerate Avelle, allowing the rest of the woman's body to reform, and her layers of skin repair, along with her clothes. In minutes, Avelle was completely healed, stiff.
"Is Vivec okay?" She asked.
Yua nodded, then spoke, "You sent that thing towards my mother and Solomon."
"I didn't mean to." Avelle said, sitting up, wincing.
"Stay here." Yua said, "I have to help my dad."
Avelle nodded, exhaling, releasing the intensity of the flame.
Yua Sonidoed towards Grimmjow and Jashatirou, both of them stunned in their own ways to see her.
"Yua, what are you doing?" Jashatirou asked, "Stay away."
"No dad, I want to help." Yua said.
"You can help me out, young lady." Grimmjow said with a smirk, causing both Jashatirou and Yua to hold a face of disgust, through anger, Jashatirou slashed the Arrancar across his chest before kicking him away into a tower. Yua went to Jashatirou, hugging him and burying her face into his chest, regenerating some of his burns.
"What happened to your hair?" He asked.
"Rasajouji's Pupil," Yua replied, "He changed it just by touching it. He wants to kill mom, Rasajouji wants to kill her."
Jashatirou nodded, already knowing this information, "Yua, I am sorry." He said, moving her so they made eye contact, "I couldn't let you go out there by yourself, so young."
She stared up at her father, nodding, "I understand." The two engaged in another embrace, where Jashatirou kissed her forehead.
"I know that I may have angered you by doubting your strength and willpower, but you have proven to me that you have more than enough strength. I just hope that you can forgive me for keeping the truth of your mother from you."
"Dad, I-" Yua began, but was cut off as a Zanpakutou pierced through both of them. It was Grimmjow's, where he laughed sadistically at this, twisting the hilt, and forcing it out of them, painfully. Yua was pierced through the throat, and Jashatirou, his heart. Yua coughed, unable to gather air until the wound slowly regenerated. She felt the entire weight of her soundless father collapse on top of her. Yua knelt, beginning to panic once more. She flipped her father over, stunned that he was as limp as he had been.
Was he dead?
She had never regenerated anyone back from the dead before. "Dad!" She said, shaking him. His eyes were still open, shocking her. She looked to her right to find Grimmjow still laughing manically. She stood up and held her weapon in her hand.
He smirked at her, charging. Yua blocked his attack, moving the fight away from Jashatirou, who was then joined by Yumaki, MiroTano, and Tanoshi. Their fight moved towards the remains of Avelle's great blast, where Grimmjow was obviously the more dominant one with more experience. Yua caught sight of Solomon, who stood, where he held the cremated skeleton of Almalexia, which turned to dust in his grasp. He let the dust and her crown fall to the stone of the district, emotionless.
Rasajouji's Pupil and Solomon came face to face. The Zanpakutou held by the Pupil was completely black, and there was no action taken between them, just a grand stare down. Yua and Grimmjow's battle continued, where he had hit Yua's blade so hard, it sent her backwards, towards Solomon. Luckily for Yua, Solomon caught her, stunning her. She stared up at him and moved her eyes to her mother's. Both of them were unharmed.
Yua wanted her to snap out of it already and move because she was in danger with the Pupil standing there.
Seconds passed, and generated from the Ancient Man far from the fortress, Rasajouji broke out of his disguise to his true form with his crushing Reiatsu. It had no effect on Solomon or Kiyori, neither did it have any effect on his Pupil nor the Head Cascabel, who now stood by Jashatirou.
Yua clenched onto Solomon's armor, finding it hard to stand with such a powerful Reiatsu upon them. Solomon let her go, gently sitting her down on her knees. Yua looked up at the gold and silver, shining Titan, his body made up of all things precious. He held a giant white ax over his shoulder, which nearly scared her to death.
She looked to her mother, who had yet to move. Noticing their danger, Solomon moved a few meters away from Kiyori Kurotsuchi with Yua in hand. Yua's eyes were wide as the Pupil pulled back his blade, readying to swing it at Kiyori. He stood directly in front of her, closer than any had been this day.
Yua looked back to Grimmjow, who was currently forced on his hands and knees under the pressure of Rasajouji. She looked back to her mother and the Pupil.
As he swung his blade at the Positive charge and Successor, she met his attack with Shouji in hand, her power so much more distinct than his to the point that a single swing of her blade shattered the Pupil's Zanpakutou into pieces.
The entire fortress gasped at her movement, still unsure if she was stable or controlled by Kokuryu's power.
Rasajouji's Pupil's eyes went wide as Kiyori stared at him with the darkest of glares. With a single step forward, she grasped his throat, reading him and his purposes. She snarled, then threw him into a tower towards her left, completely obliterating the building.
Rasajouji lifted his ax backwards, readying his attack. He forced his ax forward, a gold light following it towards Kiyori, but with her Bird's Eye view, she sensed it long before he knew. In a split second, Kiyori was able to charge her Interstellar Flight, and shoot herself out of harm's way.
Yua stared, absolutely fascinated. That power, that quickness. It was unreal!
Kiyori flew around at an extremely fast pace, circling the central tower, soon standing on the very tip top, staring at Rasajouji.
"It is time, the Great Meido Power must be laid to rest." Rasajouji said, "If you are to be alive, the other Districts will suffer and return to violence because of the Inferno. They will lose prosperity."
Kiyori laughed, "Who put you in charge? And you call this prosperity?" She asked, looking around the Meido District, "My District, it's completely deserted, it looks of death, this is far from prosperous."
Kiyori looked beneath her at those who were still there, far down below. She Sonidoed down to them, startling them. She stared at each of them, her eyes shooting wide when they landed on Yumaki.
Kiyori was ready to exclaim her friend's name, but something else caught her attention. Jashatirou.
She gasped and went to him, parting the sea of people surrounding him, paying them no attention. She knelt beside him and kissed him, pressing a hand on his chest, instantly healing the wound and bringing him back to life. He gasped for air, and blinked, then looked up to Kiyori.
"Kiyori." He said, stunned.
"Happy J," Kiyori replied with a smile. She kissed him again several times before staring at him. She smiled again, "You look at me as if you haven't seen me in years, Happy J."
"You have no idea." He said to her.
"Enough." Rasajouji said.
Happy J pulled her ear to his lips, speaking, "Your Opposite is here, do what needs to be done now."
Kiyori moved away and nodded, standing. "I want all of you to leave this place. Leave or stand far from here. Ever since this corruption began, I haven't always been in control, so this is just my warning to you all."
Solomon studied Kiyori and her words, "She doesn't realize that she's been in there for all these years." He said quietly to Yua.
"You're sure?" Yua asked.
Solomon nodded, "I suggest you leave."
"What? No way." Yua replied.
"You're brave, and that's admirable, but you do not wish to be a friend of me when my power returns."
"What about Almalexia?"
"She's dead."
"If she weren't, would she be worth it?"
"The City of Light had come its closest to an empress, but she is gone."
"If there's a way to bring her back, would you take her with you?"
"That was my plan."
Yua blinked and nodded, separating herself from Solomon. She Sonidoed to her father, who now sat up. She knelt down to match his height and embraced him. Kiyori had been walking forward to Rasajouji, who's ax was back over his shoulder, ready to attack again.
The Head Cascabel stepped forward in front of Jashatirou and Yua, facing Rasajouji, "Rasajouji, I urge you to lower your weapon and step down."
"Absolutely not." Rasajouji replied, "This corrupted woman must be stopped while it's still possible."
"You may try to reform the Underworld by allowing all of the violence to have spread out, but that is not the way it was meant to be. There are only two passive Districts, not all nine of them. You yourself are constructing imbalance by these actions."
"I am doing what will be for the good of this world." Rasajouji said.
"It is not your place to make decisions. The majority of our brothers may have fallen, but it does not give you power." The Head Cascabel said.
Kiyori stopped walking, looking around, and successfully spotted Solomon. However, seconds after, Kiyori spotted that unforgettable shade of blue hair between them. Instantly, she frowned. Her mind wandered.
Why would he be here? And why was Happy J hurt? They must have been fighting.
She narrowed her eyes, feeling that same dark feeling begin to overcome her senses. She snapped them shut, concentrating on trying to stop this evil force, but it was far more superior. A massive migraine flooded her head, just like all the other times before. She shuddered, removing her eyes from Grimmjow to Rasajouji's form, then to Solomon.
The two made eye contact and stared at one another, Solomon knowing that his power was consuming her once again. From Rasajouji's words, it seemed so that the Titan wanted Kiyori to be killed and the great Meido's power destroyed completely, but Solomon wasn't about to let that happen. He held Kuroji tightly in his hand, finding the blade he had carried most of his life to be of no use to him anymore.
Kiyori, as she grew closer to Solomon, gazed. She had remembered such a familiar face from visions she would acquire when she was but a girl, but seeing him in real life and in person was a completely different thing. He wore dark armor encrusted with gold and other jewels, so he was obviously of some high rank or status. His hair was very long, draping down his backside, almost a black color, but it was still obviously brown. He possessed only manly features, and a long black cape, where its underside was red.
He was handsome, she thought, with the wonder if this was what she would look like as a man. Had it not been for her headache, she would have easily face-palmed herself. She felt her right hand tighten around her Zanpakutou without her permission. She gasped, and Rasajouji must have noticed the change, because down his ax swung at her for the second time, but she could not move.
However, Kiyori was quick enough and had the ability to move her left hand. She directed the power of Kokuryu to her index fingertip and shot it directly at Solomon only milliseconds before she was completely destroyed by Rasajouji's white ax. At the sudden force of the red light that shot from Kiyori's hand, Solomon was sent backwards towards the outer wall of the fortress.
When Rasajouji lifted his weapon, Kiyori was not there.
"I have given you my warnings Rasajouji, and yet you did not heed them." The Head Cascabel said, "You have sinned, therefore you will pay the ultimate price."
The Head Cascabel began to walk forward, away from the group. Yua gasped, simply because she knew what was about to happen. Did that mean that Rasajouji successfully killed her mother? She searched frantically for her, but only found Grimmjow inching away towards a bridge.
Within a few moments, a second, more powerful and more crushing Reiatsu was added upon them. Yua shrank into her father, who was obviously able to handle it better than she could. They stared at the Head Cascabel, watching what look like his body rip apart in halves, and up rose a shining white giant, far bigger than Rasajouji, even bigger than the Meido Fortress.
Each of them looked up in absolute awe, to find that he was now behind the Central Building, and was still very visible over even the peak of the tower. His eyes were closed, and Rasajouji instantly begged for forgiveness. He was joined by his Pupil, who watched resignation clear in his mind.
The Head Cascabel, now obvious to everyone as the Antoine Cascabel, stepped a single step forward, small compared to him, and opened his piercing red portal-like eyes that spun in a spiral motion.
"Look away!" Yua said to everyone. Their eyes reluctantly turned away to the direction of Rasajouji.
The Precious Titan's own bejeweled eyes followed the pattern of Antoine Cascabel, same for his Pupil, standing, staring at the greatest of them all. Both of them glowed bright, lighting up white, while what seemed like their insides were transparent beneath it all. Unmoving, and without resistance, Rasajouji and his pupil began to fade away as if their existence were erased. As seconds past, they were completely gone, both of their Reiatsu missing from the Underworld.
The pressure upon everyone alleviated, and Yua took the chance of looking up at the Head Cascabel, finding that his bright titan eyes were now closed again. She looked to the center of the dead gardens, seeing that her mother was still missing. Along the edge of the level, Yua saw Solomon climb up, seemingly out of energy. His dark plate body was gone, revealing his muscular chest with a fresh Great Meido Tattoo on it.
Yua gasped and got up, heading towards him. "Solomon!" She called. She saw him stand up and stare at her. She grinned and began to run towards him.
"Yua, no!" Said Tanoshi, just as she reached him. Tanoshi Sonidoed directly behind her, spinning her around in time and taking her position as Solomon slashed Kuroji across his backside. He grunted in pain as Yua gasped just as she heard everyone back near the tower do so, now feeling the weight of Tanoshi nearly overcome her. She met eyes with Solomon, who seemed full of anger and had a hint of despise within them.
"Solomon?" Yua asked, holding Tanoshi.
He said nothing, and Yua's mind sparked, remembering his words: "You do not wish to be a friend of me when my power returns."
She gasped again and began backing away, holding Tanoshi's superior weight, struggling. Solomon stood and stared. Yua watched him lift Kuroji halfway, pulling it back. He swung the blade, creating a thick black light that followed his motion, heading straight for the two. Yua snapped her eyes shut tightly, but was stunned as she saw that a bright white light met the attack, cancelling it, creating a misty explosion.
Yua felt Tanoshi's head look up, despite the amount of pain it caused him. He looked behind her, causing her to look. Yua was awestruck as she saw her mother, standing only inches away from her, holding Shouji in hand. Kiyori's eyes remained on Solomon, however, for a moment, they drifted down to Yua's.
Her serious expression faded as she looked into the mint green of Yua's eyes, followed by looking to the marks on her face that she remembered her toddler daughter having when she had returned from the Blackness as a failure what seemed like hours ago. Her eyes widened dramatically, and she nearly dropped Shouji. Kiyori's eyes looked around the Meido District, the fortress most especially. They then traveled to the group of people that sat at the main doors to the Central Building beneath Antoine Cascabel.
Were those all who were left? Surely she hadn't been gone that long!
She looked back to Yua and found herself staring again. "Yua?"
Yua's face saddened, but she nodded.
Kiyori gulped, "I-It can't be."
Yua couldn't speak. Kiyori shook her head, processing thoughts and in disbelief. She looked to the ground, visibly shaking. Shouji fell from her grip, onto the compacted dirt of what would have been a flowerbed. Her eyes went to Yua's again, where this time, both of her hands reached out to caress her face. Yua felt her mother's hands shaking as she obviously seemed stuck in disbelief. She hadn't noticed that tears left her eyes until Kiyori wiped them away with her own sad eyes. Kiyori then looked to Tanoshi, studying him with a frown. Her first thought was that it had been MiroTano, but she recalled him standing next to Yumaki earlier.
"...Tanoshi?"
Tanoshi blinked, unable to speak with the amount of pain caused by the wound Solomon gave him, where the Insho was only suppressed by Yua's regenerating grip.
Kiyori was about to speak, but was cut off as a spark of power was sent towards them. Shouji flung to Kiyori's right hand, and she stepped forward, away from Tanoshi and Yua, slashing white light from Shouji to cancel the dark light of Kuroji, creating another explosion, sending powerful winds their way, making Shouji's bells sound off and Kiyori's cloak sway backwards, nearly touching Tanoshi. Yua shielded her face in his shoulder before Sonidoing away to her father and them.
Yumaki and MiroTano immediately went to Tanoshi who was still held by Yua. The second the two separated, Insho formed at the wound, causing more pain for Tanoshi. He winced, baring his teeth as Yua grabbed a hold of him again.
Kiyori and Solomon's battle began to take a dangerous turn, attacked nearly hitting them.
"In there, both of you." Jashatirou said, directing Yua into the Central Tower with Tanoshi. As the two entered, Yua sat directly to the right of the open doors, still holding Tanoshi, who now knelt between her legs, slightly laying on her.
"Tanoshi, you didn't have to do that." Yua said, "I could have easily regenerated."
"Not from that." He grumbled.
"What makes you so sure?" Yua asked.
"If your mother wanted to fight him without her Zanpakutou, don't you think she would?" Tanoshi asked.
Yua blinked then frowned, "I guess you're right."
"Now I guess you can say you finally met your mom for the first time in," Tanoshi winced, "Sixteen years."
"Yeah." Yua said after a few long seconds.
"What do you think?" Tanoshi asked.
"I can't erase the look she had out of my head. She looked horrified."
"It wasn't at you, Yua, I'd say she was horrified that she had been away for so long and missed out on your whole childhood." Tanoshi said.
She shrugged lightly, where they remained in silence, listening to the loud booms of Solomon and Kiyori's attacks.
"Yua?" Tanoshi asked.
Their eyes met.
"I'm sorry." He said, "I'm sorry for lying to you all of these years."
She moved her eyes away from his, now uncomfortable.
"You have to understand that I couldn't tell you. I know that I probably made it worse by having to lie about it so much, but I wanted to give you hints so badly, Yua. I tried to, but you never understood them. It just wasn't my place to tell you. It was your father who had to."
"I thought you were going to apologize for something else." Yua said while blushing, leaving Tanoshi confused.
His eyebrows rose when he realized what she meant, "Oh... That." He said, "I'm not sorry for kissing you, Yua."
"Why did you do it?"
"Well." Tanoshi said with a sigh, "When you had told me you liked me, I didn't know what to say. I didn't believe it at first, and then you began freaking out on me and calling out my lies, and I didn't know what to do, and I didn't want you to hate me, so I kissed you. I didn't plan to kiss you more than one time, I don't know what came over me, and I guess I could be sorry for that. That and leaving. And that Grimmjow - I shouldn't have left. I'm sorry Yua - that was completely my fault."
"It's okay Tanoshi."
"Not it's not."
"I'm fine, aren't I?"
"I guess." Tanoshi said with a shrug.
Yua didn't say anything back, and there was another wave of silence.
"Do you hate me Yua?"
"No." Yua replied, "You just jumped in front of Solomon's attack for me, how could I?"
"Had I not, would you hate me?"
"No."
"I'm glad you don't." He replied.
"Why is that?" Yua asked.
"I know we didn't have the greatest relationship when we were kids, and I know that I did a lot of bad things to you and made you feel..." Tanoshi searched for the words, but Yua spoke for him.
"Worthless? Ugly? Humiliated?" Yua said. Tanoshi's mouth closed and his lips thinned. Yua then continued, "You made me feel all of those things, and yet I still ended up liking you anyway."
"I don't understand how you could possibly like me either." Tanoshi said.
"But I do." She said, "I know I told you earlier that I didn't like you a lot, but I lied."
His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Really?"
Yua nodded, looking away. Tanoshi smiled, noticing her even redder blush.
"You've been blushing the entire time we've been speaking in here. Do you want to stop?" Tanoshi asked.
"There's no point. If I let you go, that Insho will kill you." Yua said.
Tanoshi shrugged in response, making her frown.
As the third awkward silence kicked in, Yua's frown got bigger, "Tanoshi, did you even want to kiss me?"
Tanoshi was stunned, "Well, yeah." He said.
"Everything is going to be awkward after this, extremely."
"It doesn't have to be awkward." Tanoshi said.
"What do you mean?" Yua asked.
"Well, I mean, you and I - we - could..." He paused, his turn to blush now, "I mean only if you want to."
"You mean like... Boyfriend and girlfriend?" She asked.
"Well it doesn't necessarily have to be that way, but we could work towards that."
Yua smiled and looked away, beet red, "That would be nice."
Tanoshi smiled in response, staring at her, "You know," He said, "I like your hair like this."
"Do you?"
"It suits you."
"I don't even know how I look."
"You look beautiful."
Yua smiled again, deciding to change the subject, "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Tanoshi said.
Yua sat up onto her knees and looked over Tanoshi's shoulder down at the wound, which was now noticeably smaller.
"It looks better," She said, while reverting back to her old position. Halfway there, Tanoshi stopped her by wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into a kiss for the second time. He heard her gasp, and could definitely feel her increasing pulse, but she didn't fight it nor the next several kisses she willingly met him with.
So while the two rising lovebirds locked lips, they ignored the terrorizing booming from outside of the central Building of the Meido Fortress caused by both Solomon Cutthroat and Kiyori Kurotsuchi, both equally matched. Kiyori had been relieved that Jashatirou and the rest of them had moved out of harms way, including the Head Cascabel, whom had returned back to his old form.
She couldn't help but have the burden of Yua rest on her. How old was she? She had looked to be in her late teens, so there was obviously no hope in trying to raise her or teach her everything a girl had to know. As Solomon shot attacks, Kiyori was able to meet them with the thought of her aged daughter in her mind.
While in midair, the two fought, blades crashing almost every second. It wasn't anything Kiyori was not used to, thanks to her time in the Blackness, and now, her energy was not able to run out since she was no longer corrupted. But Solomon's surely would in time.
After many minutes, Solomon Sonidoed back a few paces away from Kiyori, where she did also, but instead of standing on spirit particles, she chose to Sonido down to the stone ground. As she did without Solomon's presence, the missing flowers of the gardens began to grow back, blooming once again in all different colors, and the darkened tint of the fortress slipped away, returning to the bright marble-colored stone it had been. Behind Kiyori was the Central Building, and through the doors watched Tanoshi and Yua, in awe over the fortress being brought back to life.
Along the outer walls, the starved skeletal women shaped themselves upright, gaining life, holding their arms out. The columns then turned around to face the center of the fortress where Kiyori stood, their arms reaching as if they attempted to hold hands, to lock everything in and keep everything out. Yua and Tanoshi seemed confused at this, even Kiyori, though she was given the knowledge that Solomon had released Kuroji, as her amazing power warped around the man, his Great Meido symbol glowing a bright scarlet just like Kiyori had remembered Kokuryu's doing.
The whole fortress shook as Solomon was taken over by Kuroji, and the eyes of the columns of the outer wall lit up red. Red bolts of electricity traveled up Solomon's body and along the stone of the fortress, and combined with Kiyori's touch that brought everything to life again, the ashes that lie beneath the crown of queen Nolamandi and spread around the safe haven bound themselves together again.
Up from those bounded ashes rose Almalexia, woken from death and in between the battle. She looked around with her dark glass eyes, her vision blurry. To her left, she spotted Kiyori. The queen's eyes widened in shock, but was given a severe migraine from the furious rumbling and power of the Meido Fortress and some unfamiliar evil force to her right. She looked there, attracted upwards to see Solomon, his glowing Great Meido Symbol and hollowfied eyes. His mint irises had turned red in the process, terrifying her.
She began to inch away from the middle of their fight, looking around the now lively fortress. Her eyes went to the sky, watching the dark clouds disperse, and the galactic light of the Meido District night return. Yua stared at the sky in shock, as she had never seen anything like it before.
"You two, get out of there. Go towards the outer wall. It's not safe here." Kiyori said, not turning to face them.
Both Yua and Tanoshi nodded, Sonidoing towards the wall, but stopping halfway there, "Is that... Almalexia?" Yua asked.
"That is her." He said, "Leave her."
"But she could possibly stop Solomon!" Yua said, Sonidoing to her with Tanoshi in hand. As much as he didn't like to, it did seem possible.
Almalexia gasped at Yua's sight, but wasn't allowed to speak because she was instantly grabbed and Sonidoed to the outer wall with them.
"I swear, I was killed." Almalexia said to them.
"You were, but my mom's power revived you."
"Unfortunately." Tanoshi murmured.
Almalexia ignored his remark and looked to Solomon, who now began to clash with Kiyori.
"What happened to him?" She asked.
"He released his Zanpakutou." Yua replied, "It made him become that thing."
Almalexia stared at the fight, quietly. Yua looked to the outside of the fortress, surprised to see the Head Cascabel standing there. She rushed to him, "What's wrong?"
"You are all trapped inside, and no one else can get inside." He said, "Once Solomon's release ends, it will force your mother into her released state, and only a piercing from Kuroji can stop it. If not in time, everything, including you, will be sealed."
Yua gasped, "What?!"
"You're going to have to let Solomon know this somehow." He said before disappearing.
She immediately looked to Almalexia who was still watching without a word.
"Almalexia you're going to have to go up to him and tell him that."
"Why me?" She asked.
"Because, you're the one who is most likely able to reach to him." Yua replied.
"I understand." She said before disappearing.
Solomon and Kiyori stood a ways away from each other, staring and catching breath for a few moments. Kuroji was just a thread away from completely taking over when Solomon sensed someone behind him. He whipped around, Kuroji following him, but stopping the blade millimeters from Almalexia's neck. He stared at her with his completely hollowfied eyes in silence. After a few seconds he moved away his Zanpakutou and turned around to face Kiyori.
"Wait!" Almalexia said.
Solomon, seemingly annoyed, turned back around. Almalexia went to him, to everyone, even his own surprise and wrapped her arms around his bare torso, burying her face into it.
"I don't want to die." She said.
"You will not." Solomon replied, his voice under the influence of Kuroji's release.
Almalexia looked up at him, "You have released your Zanpakutou, therefore Kiyori Kurotsuchi will enter her release, and I will die no matter what."
Solomon frowned as she spoke.
"Even you may die." She said.
"I will not, I cannot."
"But I can, and only out of luck was I given this life once again." Almalexia said. "Do not let your weapon control you." She said, just as Kuroji's power enveloped him entirely, red electricity traveling across him. Through Solomon's eyes, only what little bits of his vision that remained left him, and for precautions, he pushed Almalexia away from him as gently as he could in this state. Almalexia, unprepared for the push, fell onto her butt a few feet away from him.
"Solomon!" She called as he began to turn around. He ignored her, or that's how it seemed so.
Yua and Tanoshi Sonidoed over to Almalexia, where by this time, Tanoshi's wound was healed.
"Solomon, now that you've entered that state, it will force my mom into hers once yours ends! We'll be doomed after that!" Yua said. "Once your release ends, you need to force Kuroji into my mom's hollow hole to prevent it!"
Solomon said nothing, so Yua spoke again, "Think about your empire. Didn't you say you wanted Almalexia to be its empress?"
Solomon audibly sighed, Sonidoing to Kiyori to attack, whom blocked it with Shouji, continuing their battle.
"He won't listen." Yua mumbled.
"What of everyone else who were here?" Almalexia asked.
"They're outside of the fortress." Tanoshi said, careful not to speak of Vivec or Avelle.
"And my brother? What was his fate?" She asked.
"He survived." Yua replied.
"Very well." She said, "If Solomon wishes me to join him in his empire, I shall. My kingdom will be left to him."
"So you're giving up your title?" Yua asked.
Almalexia nodded.
Yua thought it was quite strange how quickly these two had already devoted themselves to one another, considering they only met last night.
"That's if we live." Tanoshi said.
"Hopefully Solomon was able to hear me when I said that." Yua replied.
She watched her mother and Solomon fight, still ever so fascinated that she was able to take him in that state. She had so many things to ask her, so many things she wanted to learn. This battle had been going on for too long, and Yua just wanted it to end already, hopefully, in good terms.
After a while, they started to notice that Solomon's release began to calm down. He Sonidoed backwards to the outer wall in front of a column, facing Kiyori Kurotsuchi who was in front of the Central Building in midair. Solomon's left hand went to his head in attempt to suppress the ache of the migraine now caused by Kuroji's release slipping away. He took heavy breaths, his eyes directed to the ground. It was clear that his release had ended once he used Kuroji to balance himself.
Almalexia went to his side, but he ignored her to watch Kiyori's actions.
Kiyori closed her eyes, knowing what was to come. She felt a deep pain in her chest, causing her to open her eyes and look down at the shining Meido Symbol. She looked to Yua, who was with Tanoshi, now next to Solomon, telling him to do something. Of course there was only one thing he could possibly do.
Blots of Kiyori's vision began to blacken, and the pain in her chest increased as she felt the radioactive bolts travel across her body. With the pain there and decrease in control, Kiyori gripped Shouji harder, pleading with him to not take over, but she knew it was useless to try and stop him.
She stared at Solomon who pulled back Kuroji and threw her like a javelin in her direction, and instantly, Kiyori did the same to him. The two Zanpakutou, Shouji and Kuroji, were penetrated in the Hollow Holes of their Opposite owners; Kiyori was pinned, unconscious midway up the Central Tower, and Solomon to a column - also unconscious.
Their Meido Symbols darkened to its normal state, and the red eyes of the columns of women went out. Yua stuck her foot out beyond one and felt no barrier holding them in.
"He did it!" Yua exclaimed.
There was a wave of relief, and after a few seconds, they were joined by the rest of them that fled for safety. Jashatirou met Yua and gave her a warm hug, where Tanoshi was bombarded by Yumaki with kisses to his face. Vivec and Avelle steered clear of Almalexia, whom stood in front of Solomon, staring.
"How do we wake them?" Almalexia asked.
"I'm not sure." Yua replied.
The Head Cascabel stood in the center of the Fortress, searching. Along the ground, he noticed the crown of Nolamandi. He picked it up and stared at it, reminiscing. In the corner of his eye, he spotted Grimmjow on a bridge. The Titan held out his finger tips, motioning a Garganta beneath the Arrancar, making the blue haired man fall into it - the coordinates set for Las Noches. The Head Cascabel had preferred that the man left without a single word.
The Garganta closed, and he turned to face the group who still surrounded Solomon Cutthroat. He Sonidoed to them, speaking, "Rasajouji was the one to remove the Zanpakutou from Hakubi and Kokuryu the first time, however it can be done by you, Yua."
"Me?" Yua asked.
He nodded, "Simply remove Shouji from Solomon Cutthroat's body."
"What if he goes crazy and tries to attack me again?"
"He will not. He hardly has enough energy left." He replied.
"Okay then." Yua said, moving towards Almalexia. She grasped the hilt of the Zanpakutou and tugged, finding it very difficult to remove, but was able to after a hard pull. Solomon fell onto his knees, still unconscious, where Almalexia knelt with him to keep him up. The columns of women then turned around, reverting to their old positions.
Solomon's mint eyes opened, his sight first catching Almalexia. He blinked before looking around, spotting Yua with Shouji in her hand.
"You need to remove Kuroji from my mother." She said.
They all looked to Kiyori, who was slumped against the wall of the Central Building, Kuroji firm in her chest. Almalexia helped him stand, where he began to walk forward before Sonidoing to Kiyori's location. Everyone followed, but remained on the ground. Solomon forced Kuroji out of Kiyori's body with one easy pull, holding her up to keep her from falling.
He levitated down with her, touching the ground with his feet.
To his and everyone's surprise, she did not wake like he had done. He held her body out to Jashatirou, who held Kiyori close to him. Jashatirou kissed her forehead, and Kiyori opened her glazed eyes. Everyone was able to tell how exhausted she had been. Kiyori looked around, seeing Solomon standing there with Kuroji in his grasp.
"I do not wish to fight with you any longer. I only wish to return to my home in the Blackness." Solomon said.
Kiyori nodded, "Perhaps if we cross again, we do not have to fight."
"Perhaps." Solomon said.
Kiyori looked up at Jashatirou, and he set her down, holding her slightly just in case she lost her balance. Kiyori stared up at the tip of the Central Building, and Sonidoed up to it. She reached into her pocket, pulling out the Nightshade Seed she was given by Rasajouji. Shooting energy into it, the flower blossomed, it's tint red thanks to Kiyori's acquired Great Meido Symbol. Below her, the lives of the dead and their bodies began to restore, including every broken aspect of life and creation. Even Solomon's armor was restored, covering his own Great Meido Symbol.
Within minutes, the population was restored, already bowing to Kiyori.
She levitated down back to Jashatirou, but faced Solomon, whose arm was hooked by Almalexia. Kiyori nodded to him, and he nodded back before looking to Almalexia. Her eyes met his, and he opened a Garganta.
"Vivec." Almalexia said, halting Solomon's movement.
Brother and sister made eye contact, and she spoke, "Take care of your new kingdom, will you?"
Vivec was stunned at his sisters words, and spoke nothing as both Solomon and Almalexia traveled through the Garganta, leaving all of them behind. The Garganta closed, and Avelle embraced him from the side.
The Head Cascabel walked to both of them, Queen Nolamandi's crown in hand. He placed it atop of Avelle's head, surprising her.
"You are the rightful one to wear this." He said, "It seems so as she believes it as well."
Avelle grinned at him, then up to Vivec who also smiled.
Kiyori was then mauled by Yumaki with a huge hug, where they both shared laughs. She hugged most around her, including Yua, where the two's hug was extra long compared to everyone else. They separated, and someone had made the comment that Kiyori looked absolutely exhausted.
She was, in fact. Kiyori looked to Jashatirou, and he went to her. He pulled both Yua and Kiyori into a warm embrace, finally having the ability to do so for the first time in years. He let them go and held Kiyori by wrapping his right arm around her.
"I'm tired Happy J," Kiyori said, "Take me away from this place."
"You don't want to give any sort of announcement?" He asked.
"I guess I should." Kiyori then said.
"Everyone." She spoke, and instantly those around her grew silent to listen. "I know that I have been gone for a very long time. At first I hadn't a clue that I was missing from your lives for so long, and even now I don't know how many years it's been."
"Sixteen." Jashatirou said.
Kiyori blinked and nearly winced at the high number, "Wow. Sixteen whole years." She said. "It was never my intention to be stuck away. I tried as hard as I could to find that man, my Opposite charge, Solomon Cutthroat. I was so close the last time him and I had come in contact, but corruption got the best of me. I hope that you can all forgive me for failing you, but for the meantime to remain in prosperity in our revived home."
Kiyori looked to Jashatirou who nodded and held her again before kissing her. Within a half hour's time, those who lived with the Head Cascabel prepared to leave back to his manor, and Crispin, Vivec, and Avelle said their goodbyes, leaving via portal to the Sixth Torture District, off to Sun's Peak once again.
"I will give it a few days before I allow myself to be forced into a coronation ceremony to become king followed by my wedding. It would be nice to see you all there." Vivec had said before leaving.
The Head Cascabel opened a portal to the Second Torture District, where they all entered.
No one had dared disturb Kiyori and Jashatirou, though it was clear that she was only put to sleep for the remainder of the morning and much of the afternoon. It was hard for Yua not to spring up into her father's bedroom and talk to her as much as she had been wanting to, but she knew that the woman needed her rest.
At lunch, Jashatirou had brought Kiyori food, waking her. He sat at the edge of the bed.
"I've brought you lunch." He said, setting the steaming food off to the side.
"Thank you Happy J." Kiyori said, slightly sitting up.
They stared at each other and Kiyori smiled, "What's wrong?"
"It's been so long since I was able to speak to you, or even look at you." He said.
"Well, I'm here now." Kiyori said.
Jashatirou sighed, and Kiyori noticed the sadness in it.
"Tell me." Kiyori said. He shook his head. Kiyori sat up then got onto her knees, embracing him from behind.
"Yua will need to go through Inferno Training soon, and it will be another fifteen years without you." He said.
"I'll give it a month or two before her and I have to go." Kiyori said, "The day after her birthday, perhaps."
Jashatirou sighed again. Kiyori kissed his cheek, "I am able to leave while I'm in there. It's not like I can't visit you."
"But Yua cannot."
"I understand that -"
"I just want both my daughter and my wife at one time, for once." Jashatirou said.
"You will before you know it, Happy J." She said, "Don't be so sad about it, we'll be fine."
"If you say so." He said.
"I know so." She replied. She then sighed and shook her head, moving herself from him.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked.
"It's just crazy how long I've been gone. I missed out on Yua's entire childhood." Kiyori said, grabbing the plate of food.
"It was really hard on her. Both of us, actually."
"I bet." Kiyori replied, "It's like I stepped into the shoes of my Old Man - not able to see his daughter. Except, he obviously had it harder. I'd say it would be like both of our sorrows combined to form what he had to go through."
"I give him kudos." Jashatirou said, "He was awfully depressed."
Kiyori nodded and there was a short silence, "Did you eat yet?"
"No." He said, "I came to give you your food first."
"Well you should go on ahead and eat." Kiyori said, "I'll be fine alone. I need some time to think anyway."
"Alright." He said. He leaned in and kissed her, finding it hard to pull away. He stood and headed towards the door, "I'll wake you in a bit, if you'd like."
"An hour or so before dinner. Bring Yua with you, I would like to have a talk with her." Kiyori said.
Jashatirou nodded and opened the door, but Kiyori spoke, "Happy J?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
Jashatirou grinned, his heart full of happiness for the first time in a long time, "I love you too, Kiyori."
YES!
YES!
Yay omg.
Kiyori is back and gathered and yay. I didn't add too much action between Solomon and Kiyori, well, there was, but I just didn't go into detail because well, It wasn't necessary.
Yua and Tanoshi, what the what? Stuck in a friends with benefits situation until they're ready if you were wondering. Speaking of relationship, I know that Solomon and Almalexia's seems kind of quick, but as royal people, they know their duty to get with other royal people to make royal babies, numtumbout?
Plus that whole love at first sight (For Almalexia) obvi, so I guess that's cool. I know Solomon doesn't show much affection at all, but remember, he's the opposite of Kiyori. - Emotionless! Most of the time.
Also, All hail King Vivec! Soon. Soon that is.
If I bounced around a lot in the story (which I know I did), it was because I wrote in 3rd person. I tried to make everything flow perfectly, but no one's perfect!
There is more stuff to come, so don't think this is the end yet, because there will be a few more chapters. I'm really hoping to finish as soon as I can, because lemme tell you, college at this point, is whack.
So, please everyone! I know you're out there. Review!
I love you all!
Forever and Always,
Paloma
R&R!