WOOO! NEW CHAPTER!

Chapter 14

Sora felt his heart grind to a halt as Ogichi leapt forward, nearly faster than he could see, heading straight for Yoru. The elder twin let out a shout, drawing his sword and releasing it in nearly the same breath. Kogasu roared as it shifted, and Ogichi let out a squeal as the fire curled around his arms.

Terror flowed through Sora and he drew his own sword, releasing her and heading forward to try and find some way to help his twin. Yoru was standing, his hands white-knuckled on the staff of Kogasu, his wide teal eyes focused on his father. "Sora…" he whispered. "Sora, what do we do?"

The younger swallowed thickly. "I… I don't know, Yoru. We can't hurt him…"

Ogichi snarled in front of them, saliva dripping from his mouth as he crouched, pressing his lithe body to the ground before launching himself upwards, clawed hands curled and slashing towards them. Sora let out a cry as he was nearly hit, leaping backwards and automatically throwing out a scythe. Ogichi's black/gold eyes flashed as he leapt away, dodging the scythe easily and hitting the ground not far away from the twins.

Yoru couldn't find the will to attack, couldn't find the strength in him to hurt the man that was and yet was not his father. I can't… I can't do it!

Sora growled softly, clenching his hand tighter on the hilt of his right scythe. We have to attack. No matter what, we have to do this. Ogichi is going to kill us if we don't…

Ogichi's wicked grin widened and he crouched again, and then vanished. Yoru's eyes widened, and then he let out a scream, a solid weight hitting him from behind. Ogichi hit Yoru hard, sending him to the ground, his claws digging into Yoru's shoulders and wrenching away blood and flesh. Yoru screamed in pain, trying to counter him.

Sora let out a scream, his hand automatically lashing out, flinging his right scythe forward. Ogichi's screech of pain echoed through their ears as the blade lodged itself the back of his left shoulder, blood falling to hit the ground. Screaming, Ogichi leapt off of Yoru, leaving the elder twin clutching at claw marks scored into his shoulders. The Hollow turned, running for Sora even as the boy pulled his scythe back into his hands and started whirling the other scythe.

I'm sorry, 'Gichi… Dad… please forgive me for what I am about to do!

"Tsugi no Arashi!" Sora shouted, swinging the whirling scythe in front of him, forming a shimmering circle that whirled in front of his body. Ice spikes formed and flew faster than the eye could see, flying towards Ogichi's form.

Ogichi skidded to a halt and turned, barely managing to avoid the large majority of the spikes. One collided with his leg, eliciting a hiss from him and black/gold eyes narrowed in anger in Sora's direction.

There was suddenly a shout, and then a brilliant light from where Toshiro was standing. "Carriage of Thunder! Bridge of a spinning wheel! With light, divide this into six!" Toshiro raised a hand, pouring what spiritual power he had left into this last kidou, using the incantation in an attempt to make it more powerful. "Bakudou 61! Rikujoukourou!"

Six rays of light appeared, slamming into Ogichi's midsection. The Hollow screeched in anger, struggling. Toshiro, breathing hard and with sweat covering his skin, stared in horror and shock as a crack opened on one of the rods of light. "No…" he whispered. I haven't even the strength to perform a strong enough binding kidou!

Ogichi hissed, struggling harder. More cracks opened, and then the bakudou shattered, letting Ogichi loose. The Hollow snarled violently, his black/gold eyes focusing on the first person that he saw; Sora.

With a roar the Hollow turned and leapt, landing on top of Sora's shoulders. The boy let out a cry, tumbling to the ground beneath the writhing form atop him. Ogichi snarled violently, baring his teeth and rearing back.

Sora screamed, pulling sharply on the chain of Koorimasu. The scythe flew back towards him, lodging in Ogichi's shoulder once more, this time digging deeper. The Hollow shrieked, reaching up to claw at the blade. Yoru took that moment to slice towards him with Kogasu, making him leap off of Sora and bound away. Koorimasu fell away from him as he did, clattering to the ground beside Sora.

Yoru knelt in front of his brother, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Sora! Sora, come on, look at me!"

Sora's eyes were wide and sightless, staring into the distance. Tears pooled in his eyes, slipping down his stark pale cheeks as he wrapped his arms around himself, trembling all over. Yoru swore, shaking him. "Sora, snap out of it! I need you here with me! Come on!" The boy growled, his eyes darting to where Ogichi was shaking himself, readying for another assault.

Swearing again, Yoru grabbed Sora around the waist, heaving him over a shoulder and jumping backwards as Ogichi attacked again. Sora fell limp against his brother, and Yoru grunted sharply as Sora's weight bore down on him. He landed with a thud over by Toshiro, who was staring at his husband in shock and terror.

Turning, Yoru swung Kogasu with all his might, letting out a cry. Flames bloomed and flew from the scythe, roaring across the room to put a wall of fire between themselves and Ogichi. The Hollow let out a shriek, diving backwards away from the fire before it engulfed him completely. Yoru willed the flames higher, trying to give them a moment of rest before they would have to attack again.

Yoru set Sora down beside Toshiro, shaking him again. "Sora, wake up! Come on, you idiot, you can't do this right now!" He snarled, rearing back and slapping Sora hard. "We have to protect Papa!"

Sora's eyes focused and he looked up at his brother, still shivering. "Yoru… Yoru, he… he almost…"

The elder twin nodded. "I know, okay? But we don't have time to be afraid. We have to do this, we have to figure out some way to disable him, but not kill him." He reached down, wrapping a hand around Sora's as he briefly pressed his forehead against his twin's in a sign of reassurance. "Now come on, I need you with me. I can't do this alone."

Swallowing, Sora nodded, pulling in a shaky breath. "Yea. Alright, let's go."

Small pale hands suddenly wrapped in Sora's shihakshou, pulling him backwards. Sora turned to look into his Papa's scared teal eyes, blinking. "Papa?"

"Listen to me, Sora." Toshiro said firmly, his expression set and serious. "You must listen to me well." Sora nodded, and the small taichou swallowed before speaking. "I… I understand that you don't want to hurt your father. I want nothing more than to help you, but without Hyourinmaru… I'm not sure what I could possibly do. I don't have enough reiatsu to do anything more…"

Toshiro shook his head, pulling in a shuddering breath. "No matter what, Sora, you have to try to save them. But if it comes down to it… You have to kill him."

Sora's eyes widened in terror, his head shaking slowly. "But… Papa, how could I…"

The small taichou shook his head firmly. "I understand, Sora, but we both know that Ichigo would rather die than have us allow Ogichi to kill one of you, or possibly be set loose. You know as well as I do that if that is the only option we have left, that both Ogichi and Ichigo would gladly give their lives."

The words rang true in Sora's mind; he knew that his Papa was right. He just didn't want to admit it to himself. He swallowed thickly, and then nodded. "Alright… I understand. But only if we have to."

"Of course."

Yoru's voice rang through the air. "SORA!"

The younger twin whirled, leaping up and away from his Papa to where Yoru was blocking Ogichi as the Hollow tried to leap around his Kogasu. Yoru let loose another wave of fire, swearing as Ogichi leapt away and then came back, moving so fast that he had trouble following him. Sora landed lightly beside him, his right scythe moving back and forth in front of him. "Some no Arashi!"

Water formed and flew, engulfing Ogichi and sending him flying backwards. Sora breathed heavily, his teal eyes focused on the form of the Hollow as he climbed to his feet again, shaking himself and growling.

Yoru growled in his throat, shifting his grip on Kogasu. Sora recognized the position, shaking his head. "No Yoru! That will kill him for sure, and we have to try to save him! Neither one of us can use that!"

Swearing, Yoru released the position, agreeing with his sibling. "Yea…" He spun Kogasu beside him, and then swore again. "Damnit. What do we do, Sora?"

"Anything we can."

Sora raised the right scythe of Koorimasu, breathing out heavily. Mist escaped his mouth and then began to filter throughout the room, a heavy fog settling. Ogichi whined as his sight was obscured, but it didn't seem to deter him any. He continued forward, his black/gold eyes locked on the form of Sora in front of him.

Yoru growled, flames flickering around Kogasu's blade as the metal superheated, popping violently. The fog began to dissipate almost immediately at the introduction of heat, and Sora swore inwardly. "Yoru, you idiot!"

Ogichi let out a shriek of triumph, hitting Sora hard in the midsection and sending him tumbling to the ground. He raised his right hand, fingers together and claws forming a deadly spike that headed straight for Sora's chest.

"NO!"

Sora flinched as blood splattered all over his face, his eyes widening in shock as he spotted the white hair of his Papa standing between him and Ogichi. The worst part was the bloody hand that was extending all the way through Toshiro's stomach.

Ogichi was still for a moment, and then something snapped. His golden eyes shimmered, and then focused on Toshiro's dulled teal eyes. Those black/gold eyes widened, and then he choked softly.

"H-Hime?"

Toshiro smiled shakily, coughing. "It… It worked." He smiled, his fingers tracing blood down Ogichi's pale cheek. "You came back…" His face fell. "I'm s-sorry Ogichi…"

The Hollow gasped in horror, drawing back. Toshiro gasped softly in pain as Ogichi's hand left his body, starting to fall. Sora caught his Papa, his eyes wide as he looked up at Ogichi.

Ogichi shook his head frantically, staring. "No… No… NO!"

The orange-head's body seized violently, and then chocolate eyes snapped open. Ichigo breathed heavily for a moment, and then looked down at his hands, raising them and staring in horror at the blood dripping from them. His eyes looked to Sora, who was staring at him in terror, and then down to the limp form lying in his son's lap, dull teal eyes staring back up at him, through him.

"What… What did I do?"