Breakdown of the Sphere

I do not own Bleach.

Chapter 12: Will This Never End?

"AHHHHHHH!"

Ichigo watched with wide-eyes as Yachiru pushed the small pink-haired girl out of the way. She flew in the air and crashed into the wall behind her, wincing in pain.

Rukia swung her sword at Yachiru's feet, the long ribbon trailing around the taller woman. Yachiru jumped up, and stomped onto Rukia's head, crushing it to the ground.

"Smart idea, attacking my weak point," Yachiru chuckled. Rukia groaned as she rose, her face blooded and bruised. Yachiru grabbed her and pushed her into a wall.

"But I'm not weak anymore," she hissed. Rukia cried out in pain, but held her sword par to Yachiru's neck and went for the swing. Yachiru smirked and held it back with just her hand.

"Don't try." Yachiru grasped Rukia's neck and lifted her into the air. Rukia pulled at Yachiru's fingers, but she merely laughed and swung Rukia behind her. She went flying, but was caught by Ichigo who put her down carefully. His eyes narrowed at the enemy.

"Finally gonna join the fight." Yachiru swung her sword in a circle around her finger, and then held it parallel to the ground at arms length. Ichigo's zanpakuto was out in front of him, in a defensive pose.

Both of them took off at the same time, their swords clashing against each other's. Metal grinded metal, and they both fell back. Yachiru's previously injured hand was healed, and braced her as the other held her zanpakuto out in front of her.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

This time it was not a scream of pain. Yachiru Kusajishi flew from Yachiru Gekisen's back in rage, her sword Kendo style. There was blood trickling down her face, but determination was clear. The green haired woman smirked, and she threw her arm back to block. However, at the same time Ichigo flew forward, and Yachiru was forced to push herself back. She skidded on her side for a few feet, wincing as her arm was scraped.

Rukia struggled back to her feet. Her blooded face was fierce as she held a battle pose. "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!" she yelled, as her sword glowed and transformed into the most beautiful zanpakuto that it was known for.

"Juhaku!" Rukia stabbed the ground, and ice traveled in a line straight at Yachiru, engulfing her. However, Yachiru grinned inside her icy prison and a fire looking substance covered her from the inside. It crashed the ice open. Yachiru jumped up and sent an electric bolt at Rukia, who jumped away when it hit the wall.

Yachiru took in a giant breath, and released it into a roar. However, this was no ordinary scream. A wind current erupted from her mouth, and was strong enough to pick up all the Shinigami and send them flying in opposite directions.

Groaning, Ichigo stumbled to his feet. Looking around, he saw that both Yachiru and Rukia were out. Now, it was only he against this strong girl.

She was indeed strong. He was still unsure of what her powers were. He had thought it was lightning based, but after the last few attacks he wasn't sure if that was it. It looked as if it could control any of the elements and use them to repel the enemy's attack. This didn't make Ichigo feel any better.

He watched her closely. She was pacing, her head in her hands. She was fighting at the same strength as before, but now it didn't come as easily. It was as if… as if she had to force herself to fight. She also kept glancing over at the now conscious but barely moving Kenpachi.

Her attitude was strange, Ichigo thought. Shaking his head, he swung his sword and a black wave formed. It soared through the sky at Yachiru. However, she began to glow, and the wave was retracted. Ichigo barely could avoid it.

She was really strong, and possibly unable to be defeated. He didn't want to give up, but soon it would look like he had no choice.

And he hadn't even found her Hogyoku piece. Way to go, Ichigo.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Ichigo turned to the sound, and his eyes widened. Kenpachi had risen. Despite a dazed look upon his face, he was smiling maniacally, as usual, and looked happy to go up against such a strong enemy. Ichigo doubted that he would be able to beat her, especially in the state he was in. Heck, he wasn't even walking straight; instead, was moving in a zigzag line as if he were drunk. Ichigo was about to help when…

Ding! Ding! Ding!

That sound. It was the chimes of Kenpachi's bell ornaments. Ichigo had grown very familiar to the sound, as he learned to run when he heard it.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Normally, Ichigo wouldn't give a care about it, but it was wrong. It sounded wrong.

Wait, what?

He thought it sounded wrong? What was wrong with him? How could anything be wrong with the way bells rang?

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Ichigo closed his eyes and concentrated. This was stupid. There was nothing wrong with Kenpachi's bells. He was just feeling the stress of battle. But yet he held still, listening.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Why would he care about how bells sounded? Bells could change. Damn, this was stupid. There was nothing wrong, he was just going crazy with the fight.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Ichigo opened his eyes. There was something wrong. That wasn't the total amount of bells ringing. There were eleven spikes, but only ten rang.

Wait what?

It was a crazy thought. How could someone count the amount of bells rung? How could he notice one bell not ringing? Shaking his head in utter disbelief at his stupidity, he started to stand.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was there again! He couldn't stop thinking about it. It bothered him like crazy. Sitting back down, he huffed and continued to stare at Yachiru and Kenpachi's fight. More specifically, Kenpachi and his stupid hair bells.

He froze.

Kenpachi was blocking Yachiru, which gave Ichigo a clear view of the top of his head. The bells were rusted with blood, and had little shine to them. However, the third to last one on the left was different. It shone brightly in the dark sky.

Ichigo stood and leaned closer. It couldn't be! His eyes widened.

The rest were a murky gold color, yet…

That bell was blue.

"Don't worry, little boy," she murmured, "All I wanted to do was touch your hair." She ran her hand up one silky hair spike, ending with a small jingle of the bell.

Ichigo thought back to that moment. Which hair spike was it? Closing his eyes, he focused back to that moment.

His eyes snapped open.

Her hand ran up from right near Kenpachi's ear, as she leaned and whispered into Kenpachi's ear, it reached to the top the third hair spike. It made a sound as Yachiru… enclosed… her hand around it…

He took off running. Kenpachi turned to protest he needed no help, but was surprised at the intended target instead.

"I-Ichigo?" he questioned. The boy in question showed no emotion as he skidded to a semi halt in front of the Captain and swung upward.

Hitsugaya flew in the air, landing at the top of the warehouse where he first saw Kana standing at. Surveying the area, he was dismayed that none of the others were as safe as he was.

Matsumoto and Orihime were in at a curb, Matsumoto feverishly tending to her many wounds. Ishida tried to defend them, but his Seele Schneider was the only of his weapons that was any help against this new Kana. He was hit all over, and could barely stand.

Hisana was defending herself with her now useless zanpakuto. After she had lost the power of the Hogyoku, her Shinigami powers were void. She did not originally have them, learning them using the spiritual power given by the Hogyoku. The training proved useful because she was able to help herself, but was still having trouble. She was at a big disadvantage with no initial power.

Isshin and Byakuya stood side by side, their swords out as they swung at all the hair strands that aimed for them. Isshin let out a Getsuga Tensho that was easily blocked by Kana.

Hitsugaya looked up at Kana. She had changed completely. This was a frightening form of her, and Hitsugaya had no idea if they would be able to beat it.

She had merged with the mountain that she sat upon, her body growing within it. Her eyes were pure white, and her skin was a heavily contrasting black. Her hair had grown and possibly multiplied, as there were many more strands to dodge. She no longer had the baggy nightgown on. In fact, Hitsugaya wasn't sure if she had any clothes on, as everything was black.

This form was a fusion of both her previous forms. Her hair was used as a weapon, more like tentacles that acted like rope with sharp ends. Her sword had merged with her hands, and both could shoot out the fingers to act like spears. The wristband with spikes was shown in this form as well, and was like the hair, extending and retracting at Kana's will.

This entire form was frightening, disturbing, and a little disgusting in Hitsugaya's mind.

One of the hair strands came straight at him, and he jumped out of the way as it crashed in the spot he was just standing in. He jumped off the building, his sword out as he swung his crescent blade at her. She grabbed it with little ease, but he pulled, leaving a wide gash on her hand. Falling, he landed on the ground next to Isshin, who gave him a grin as he unleashed a Getsuga Tensho.

"Can you use your Hyoten Hyakkaso attack again?" the older man asked as the black wave made contact with her chest. A liquid, maybe blood, flowed from the cut, but only in a slight trickle. It stopped when the wound covered itself up.

"Unfortunately, no." Hitsugaya replied to Isshin's question. "She's too big now." Isshin grinned even wider.

"Too you, she is." With a smirk, Isshin took off before Hitsugaya could reprimand him. He took two deep breaths and focused on the problem ahead of him.

Finding her Hogyoku piece.

That was supposed to be the simplistic way to beat her, yet it was taking way to long. He figured that he was the only one out of the group that remembered, with everyone else too busy trying to survive.

"Try the wristband!" Someone screamed out. Or not. The former enemy herself gave him this perhaps useful tip. Hitsugaya took off, dodging the weaving tips that had extended from the wristband. He extended his crescent blade, wrapped the chain around all the long ropes, and gave a giant tug. They all cut and fell to the ground. Hitsugaya wasted no time in cutting off the remainder of the wristband, swinging his long sword Kendo style down so that the band snapped off.

"Raaaahhhgggghhhh!" Kana screamed. Clutching her wrist, her hair went wild as she swung her head in pain.

Despite this obvious gain in the game, this was not the Hogyoku piece. She retained her form, and if possible, was even more angered.

"Bankai, Daiguren Hyorinmaru!" he shouted. The sky darkened even more, and Kana was indistinguishable against the black sky. This was perfect.

"Cover me," he whispered to the other Shinigami on the ground. Isshin and Hisana looked confused but followed as Byakuya and Matsumoto took off to the air. Ishida stayed with the healing Orihime to protect her.

The four fighters stood in the four directions apposing Kana. Together, they let out a collective attack.

"Growl, Haineko!" An angered Matsumoto concentrated all the ash around Kana's body, taking revenge on what she made her do to her friend Orihime.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura," A swirl of cherry blossoms was pointed at her direction, each deadly enough to go for the kill.

"Getsuga Tensho!" Black wave after wave shot forward at the monster.

On the ground, Hisana powered up a Shunko, a tired but determined look upon her face. She was weakening due to lack of spiritual pressure, but was determined to bring her former ally to justice. The Shunko flickered, but shot out at Kana's feet.

All the attacks hit at the same time. Kana howled out in rage, and the ground trembled. However, Kana stood straight, her arms wrapped around her head. Red blood poured from the pitch-black skin, but she continued to stand there.

"Did you really think you could beat me?" she giggled, despite her hurt state. "That was weak compared to what I've face before." She swung her hair around, pushing all four of them into different areas.

At the same time, pillars of ice formed around her body, glowing brightly against the dark site. They crashed into Kana's body. She let out another scream as they enclosed her in a stronger ice cage, her scream cut off as they completed around her body.

"Thanks," Hitsugaya landed on the ground, his Bankai crashing away as his time limit was up. The rest of the Shinigami got up, groaning.

Yap! Yap!

"Goddamnit!" Hitsugaya yelled out. Everyone looked wide-eyed at him, but they were feeling the same.

They had heard the fox call twice. In both instances, the enemies had grown stronger.

"Can they give us a break?" Matsumoto hissed, but that went unheard. The ice crashed, and everyone ran to dodge the falling pieces.

"Sorry, we can't," her deep voice was what they heard first. Then the eggshell white eyes opened against the black sky.

"Cause we're too powerful for you~" she lilted, and once again the onslaught of attacks came, perhaps more stronger then before.

Hitsugaya dodged a hair strand. Everyone was tired, hurt and overall incapable in fighting anymore. Yet the enemy stood, stronger then ever.

Will this never end?

"What the hell Ichigo?" Kenpachi asked, as he blocked yet another Getsuga Tensho. He liked fighting yes, but this was getting ridiculous.

At the same time, Kana released a fusion of fire and water at the two. She had an elemental-based zanpakuto, but with no specific element. Instead, she could control them all, as the demon could. It was frightening, and definitely not helping in the situation.

Pulling both him and Ichigo out of the way, Kenpachi fell to the ground with a loud thud. Ichigo took advantage of this and swung his sword down. However, Kenpachi blocked with his fist. Blood began to pour from the point of contact, but he pushed Ichigo back.

"If ya really wanted to fight," Kenpachi started, but Ichigo swung a Getsuga Tensho at his hair. It missed the intended spot by a few inches.

"Ichigo, I'm not ready to go bald!" he growled. Ichigo stiffened as the Captain came charging at him. He really didn't want to fight the monster, but he couldn't let the enemy know that he knew what she wanted hidden.

"Stop fighting! Fight me!" Yachiru Gekisen ran at them both. Ichigo saw two monsters charging at him. Great, my day's just getting better now…

He jumped and they crashed. Metal clanged and two zanpakuto fought. Ichigo joined the fray, and it was a bloodthirsty battle to beat the others.

"Stop! Everyone!" They froze and turned to the voice. It was Rukia, but eyes averted to Yachiru next to her. In her hands she held a round object. Yachiru Gekisen's eyes widened and her hands went to her pocket.

Damn! It fell! Yachiru gaze went straight to Kenpachi's hair. A small pink blur passed by her sight. The bell that had hung from the third spike was gone. Yachiru saw it on the ground, and it flashed.

It was the shape of a cut sphere, one forth to be precise.

Kenpachi stood there, eyes wide. Watching the young girl speed straight at him with her sword out was scary, but now knowing why made him let out a sigh of relief. Turning to Ichigo, he grinned to see the male back off from the Captain. He wouldn't let the kid forget this fight; maybe then they could have a rematch. But first, to defeat the current enemy…

Gekisen fell to the ground, next to her piece, and slowly cupped it into her hands. Everyone watched in silence as she held it into the dim light, where it flashed again.

"What are you guys still doing here?" Their eyes furrowed in confusion. The girl on the floor turned to them.

"Don't you want to help fight against the other remaining enemy?" she asked. Ichigo stepped forward.

"B-But our fight…" he stuttered. Kenpachi nodded in agreement, taking a step forward. Yachiru cut him off.

"It is over. You have won this game. Perhaps you need to help the others." She murmured. Kenpachi growled and shook his head.

"This is stupid, we need to fig-"

"Go."

Her voice was soft, but firm. The Shinigami gave her a long stare, but turned on their heels and ran to the site of the other battle. They sensed she needed time alone. They also knew the severity of the other fight. Hearing the battle cries didn't sound so good.

Yachiru did not follow. Instead, she sank down to the curb, sighing. She leaned against a lamppost and tears unconsciously began falling from her face.

This wasn't supposed to end like this. She was supposed to win.

They needed her to win. Maru-dono. Aoitsu. Kana. Hisana. They counted on her.

She failed them.

She failed herself. She has been failing at all her task, ever since so long ago…

Yachiru walked down the hallway, and everyone cowered from her presence. Usually, they would bow their heads low until she passed, but today they plainly stood out of her destructive path.

She fumed as she stomped her way to her office. How dare he! She just received word that her fiancé, Isshin Kurosaki, had run away from the Soul Society, following the path of the traitors from 70 years prior. The Soul Society still had not found replacements for the hollowfied shinigami, and now another one had left.

They blamed her, asking why she couldn't keep a firmer hand on the captain.

"Heh, it's idiotic that Isshin left you right?" Yachiru groaned softly at the playful voice above. There sat Kana Tamasa, her hair covering all but her malicious smile.

"Don't you hate it too, seeing as he was your captain?" Kana's smile dropped. Jumping, she landed in a flurry of robes and hair in front of Yachiru.

"I don't care, cause I'm Captain now," Standing, Kana resumed her grin, but in a more suspicious way.

"Hello Kana-sama, Nezumi-sama." Yachiru flinched. She hated when they called her by her pseudonym. Granted, she had given that name when she applied to the Shino Academy. However, she liked to hear her real name from time to time, despite the shame it would bring.

Turning, she saw the petite Hisana Kuchiki, wife of the famed Byakuya Kuchiki. The usually present soft smile was there.

"Hisana, you don't need to call me that. No one is around," Yachiru smiled at smaller woman. The females from the five noble houses were the only ones who knew Yachiru's true identity.

The Shihoin, Kuchiki, Kurosaki, Shiba and Tamasa. The Five Noble Families, the most distinguished of Soul Society. Nezumi Uwaki, the adopted daughter of the Tamasa's was to bond the Kurosaki's and Tamasa's together. Too bad the groom ran from the altar.

Of course, no one would blame him. They turned the complaints to Yachiru, shaking their heads at her inability to keep a marriage afloat.

'Cough, Cough!' Hisana fell to the ground. Yachiru sighed. Hisana had turned very sickly a few months ago, but no one knew why or how. They were still looking for the cause.

"Hisana, go in and rest," she insisted. Hisana turned to protest, but Kana took her swiftly away. Yachiru entered the now empty office, and sat down with a huff.

She supposes they were right. She didn't know how to please a man, preferring to fight them. Isshin was no different. No matter how much he romanced her, she brushed him off indifferently, afraid of doing something wrong.

He didn't need her she supposed. No one ever did. That was why the Tamasa's were marrying her off as fast as they could, get rid of the burden they unconsciously took in. Isshin was just going to marry her because he was told too. He would always have pretty girls to keep him company, ones that definitely knew how to entice the male population.

She looked on her desk, and groaned at the large stack of paperwork. Kenpachi Kiganjo had left all the paperwork to her. She didn't mind, but the fact that he wouldn't let her out of the office and out to the battlefield nerved her. In fact, the last mission she took was a couple of years back. She knew Kiganjo was just waiting for her to quit. He never liked the fact that he had to have a female lieutenant, as it has been for thousands of years. Therefore, he went through them like Yachiru went through pens to sign.

"Uwaki-sama!"

Looking at the door, the only other female in 11th stood there, a panicked look on her face. Kannichi Aoitsu was the only one that paid attention to Yachiru. While the men called her useless, Kannichi looked up to the vice captain, to a point that annoyed even Yachiru.

"AAoItsuuu," Yachiru drawled, looking back at her papers. "I will not fight yo-"

"It's Hisana Kuchiki-sama." Her eyes snapped up. "She's dying."

It was raining. Perfect weather for a funeral, Yachiru thought. If only it wasn't Hisana's.

Yachiru and Kana walked away from the Kuchiki estate. Seeing Byakuya's sad face was painful for them. It was a sad day for them all. Despite being a commoner, she had charmed most of the noble houses with her graceful appearance and kind but dignified actions.

Walking down the path, Yachiru and Kana remained in silence, thinking of the small smiling girl that was forever in their hearts.

"… so that's why we had to kill her!" Eyes widening, both girls looked at each other and then where the voices came from.

"Awww… Aizen, it ain't so kind ta kill." They snuck up to the open door, and looking inside, saw the newly promoted Captain Sosuke Aizen and his Vice Gin Ichimaru. Kana's eyes widened. Gin and her had grown close, but here he was talking about killing someone.

"She was getting too close to finding out-"

"She just over'eard us talkin'!"

"About the plan! It was too close! Come on, I need you to inject the third seat of 11th company, she saw the blueprints and was going to tell her Captain!" Yachiru's eyes widened. 'That's… Aoitsu!'

"Can't we use Kyoka Suigetsuuuu…"

"Wait."

Kana and Yachiru held shuffling, and then the door was pulled wide open. They fell into the room, and looked up to see the 5th company's' higher ups looking down.

"Kana-chan?" Gin's shocked voice rang clear even though his face betrayed no emotion. Yachiru jumped up into a defensive pose.

"Wait until the Captain-Commander hears this!" she growled, and backed away slowly. "Two captain class shinigami betraying the Soul Society, they won't give you an easy punishment!" Turning, she ran into Captain Aizen, who smirked down at her.

"You mean me?" he breathed softly. Yachiru began to scream, but Aizen put his hand over her mouth and she began to feel dizzy and faint. She felt a sharp jab to her back, and before she completely blacked out, she saw the smiling faces of the two traitors.

Yachiru sat up with a gasp. She looked around to see her sitting on a bed. Confused, she realized her hands were shackled in.

"Hey!" she yelled, "Anyone out there?" A voice chuckled, and in the shadows a person shifted.

"You finally woke up," the light switched on and Yachiru was momentarily blinded. When she regains consciousness, she saw herself in a gray room with no way out.

"Calm down!" the voice continued as Yachiru jerked around, trying to get free. She stopped, and turned to see Gin Ichimaru.

"You jerk!" she screamed. "You betrayed the Soul Society! You betrayed Kana! You killed… me…" her voice trailed off, looking down at her in confusion.

"He didn't," a new voice quietly said. Yachiru looked up with wide eyes to see Hisana and Aoitsu walk in.

"W-Wha-" she sputtered. All three of them took a step closer.

"So, ya 'eard how me and Aizen was plannin' ta betray Soul Society," Gin started, and Yachiru nodded furiously, wondering where this was going.

"Well, I'm plannin' ta betray Aizen," he continued, but Yachiru cut him off.

"Bullsh-!" she cried out, but Hisana put her hands over Yachiru's mouth.

"Listen," her firm voice stunned Yachiru that she silenced herself.

"Actually, that's all," he grinned, and Hisana and Aoitsu looked in confusion. He shunpoed to there sides and knocked them out. They fell to the ground, but he picked them up and laid them on beds adjacent to Yachiru's. Looking around, she saw another bed, holding Kana.

"What the hell?" she yelled. Gin continued to smile as he went up closer to Yachiru.

"Unfortunately, that's all ya have ta here right now," he smirked, and put his hand to her forehead. She began to feel dizzy again.

"I really hate-"

"…You."

The first words that came from her mouth were the continuation of her sentences almost 20 years back. He continued to grin as he unshackled her. Next to her, she saw the rest of the girls getting up with dazed looks after their 20-year slumber.

"I know, I know," he answered to her statement. The final cuff snapped, and she rubbed at her raw wrist.

"So? Are you gonna explain more?" she continued, but he didn't answer.

"Well?" she demanded. He turned to them.

"I'm dead." Their eyes widened. "Aizen killed me, so the plan I had went array,"

"But-" he cut off their incoming protest, "I have this." He held a small glowing sphere. The four girls gasped at the looks of the famed Hogyoku.

"I'm gonna give ya all a piece," he smiled, and they looked surprisingly at him. "It's too stron' for one person ta have, and y'all… fit require'ents ta take them pieces." They looked at him in confusion, but he smiled.

"We have a year ta prepare for the ultimate battle," the Hogyoku split, and each girl took one part in their hands. It felt warm to Yachiru.

"But what for?" Kana's voice sounded scratchy after 20 years.

Gin chuckled. "Deep in yur 'eart, ya'll know the reason."

WoW. You've got to love Yachiru. This is a chapter primarily on her. Obviously. The title might be a Hitsugaya quote, but think of what it has to do with Yachiru…

(Actually, I only used it cause I wanted a question for a title…)

I loved her backstory so much. I don't want my characters to be all-powerful, so I try to think up sad reasons to their actions.

Hypocritically, I made Kana stronger. Again. I didn't want too, but I had typed that part there and decided it sounded nice.

Hmm… What did Gin mean by that? Back in chappie 2 is the reason, but don't worry, it will come again soon…

Three more chapters to go! I'm sort of happy; just cause then I can start another one. I don't wanna leave this one hanging, that's all.

Oz yeah, Kana's form is based on Riful from Claymore.

Review please!

~~~EeLgIrL (^.^)