A/N: Who'd have thought I'd be suddenly picking up steam, is another chapter on the loose? Why yes it is! Prepare yourself for a quick and impacting chapter. This new exciting chapter will bring us straight to the Winter War, how will it begin? All from one standpoint and just how far is Kousou willing to go to help the arrancar? We will find our most surely as this continues. Stay tuned!
And minor reminders:
'This speech belongs to: Kazashiryuu- Kousou's female zanpakuto spirit
'This speech belongs to: Yami-Kou(Dark Kou/Houkou) his inner-hollow
'This speech belongs to: Kousou Yuushin
and all of the speech above is in his mind and cannot be heard by anyone else.
(End A/N)
Chapter XIII: A shift in currents, the actions of an Empress
The night between both fraccion and espada had passed with little incident, only that the shark empress was presently laying over her still sleeping subordinate with an unreadable expression on her features. It was as if she was trying to get some kind of answer from him as he slept; something that not a single word could get out on its own. Just what was it about Kousou? It was a question that would have to wait a long period of time, undeterminable judging by the resistance of the shinigami. But finally it would come to pass and no one would ever have to sacrifice again: this was the ultimate goal of the Tres Espada. She knew that all of her fraccion would help her towards this goal, whatever the war's outcome she would be in their debt. Such loyalty that was undefined by anything short of sheer servitude and that was only through their faith and believing in her. It was something that kindly caught her awe: what had she done to earn this degree of devotion from the four fraccion she was indebted to have…whatever forces had allowed it did have her thanks.
She would have to give her thanks to Kousou's parents for their part in this as well: for even though they were obvious enemies in this moment just by association, it was they who created their son. The very reason that brought them here today, she knew of their will to rescue him and a secondary focus on the other human in their midst. It was nothing that honestly troubled her, despite not knowing the upper echelons of their strength, which even at this point was undetermined. Just the fact that Kou's father apparently was facing off with Ulquiorra single-handedly spoke of his process with a blade, she had surmised that he was likely a Captain-level opponent who easily surpassed the imagination. He was something comparable to his son, but much stronger and more refined. His reiatsu was clear of any taint of hollow powers, but it was something that she knew instinctually. There was no chance that Kousou would have learned about the hollow nature of his powers without an instructor to show him: Tou Yuushin was certainly a Vaizard himself.
It explained the battle that she was feeling below, as the two energies rose in order to meet the demand of the other. It was comparable to an all too familiar struggle of shinigami and hollow, a feud that was growing to a near climax by this point. There would not be any way simpler to have this effort put aside; she imagined that Ulquiorra would have to do something more serious soon. He was not pleased with having his opponent hold their ground as easily as she knew that Tou was. Would he try to tilt the match in his favor quickly?
-The lower levels of Las Noches-
As a blast of pure reiryoku cracked the surrounding pillars, Tou drew back Getsushiryuu and twisted the polearm with masterful handling, something clear that despite his inconsistent activity that at least the practice had showed off the success at present. He wasn't so surprised that the Cuatro Espada was handling all he dished out, in the fact that he batted aside some of the raw energy from his zanpakuto, it was natural to understand that he was rapidly gaining respect for his opponent. Though out of almost sheer urgency he knew that he had to end this and quickly. Something was going to happen and simply put: neither he nor Niyna could allow it to happen.
"We've played long enough Ulquiorra, it's time for me to give you a sample of some of my true power." The grin that was present on the vaizard's face before was back again as his left hand rose to part over his face, immediately the sea green took a dark red shade that followed around it, as the energy surged in from the surrounding space and the mask began to form from nowhere. The Chinese-Lion mask that appear was three colors: Dark red around the edges, the face was a bright sea green, and the decorative markings were golden.
The surge of energy was enough to throw the cuatro espada back in his tracks somewhat, as the pressure built around Tou's body for a second, as he locked his eyes upon the intruder's form he was a blurred mass who moved past his right-Had he escaped his pesquisa for a moment? The pale white skin was visible on his left arm, sliced finely by the sudden action. So his power had increased this much? It was still of no matter since it was simply a matter of overcoming the odds, something that he more than had the means to do. It was just going to take a moment of focus for him before he would delve straight through his foe. As Ulquiorra reached into the tremendous depths of his power, a heavy surge fell over the surrounding space while taking a dark green glow in the sudden instant he released it.
As the two disappeared from view once again, passing each other rapidly and meeting blades, it became clear who held the initiative and the advantage of the battle as it were. What things were going to happen would come to pass very quickly. Once the cuatro espada had pointed his katana at Tou, ignoring the new slice along his right arm entirely, a new pressure entered the surrounding space and offered very little comfort to Niyna who could at least tell that this new combatant had an espada-level reiatsu. The appearance of Wonderweiss meant one thing to Ulquiorra: that he had to take the woman and ensure that Kurosaki Ichigo did not interfere with rescuing her. It was obvious to the number 4 espada that the near mute arrancar would serve a fine purpose when facing off with these two intruders, despite their great strength.
"Wonderweiss, I will leave them to you." was all the cuatro espada said before he'd disappeared in a quick haze, leaving only the resonant sound of the 'blur' sound in the air. At first there was a moment of silence between the three, something that came to an end once Wonderweiss looked to them and tilted his head to the side.
"Haaohh?" as if asking a question, the arrancar moved faster than Niyna could react and with his hand aimed for her chest, attempted to kill her.
The attack surely would have succeeded if her husband had not headed off the sudden move, something that Tou reacted harshly to in that very stead. As Wonderweiss's hand was violently slashed away from his wife's direction, the polearm's blunt end was brought down from a quick spin and brought down on the youthful appearing arrancar's neck with tremendous force. The blow that sent a tremor throughout the room's vast expanse, as a large plume of dust and energy shot off from the impact from Tou's blow; he'd taken advantage of this moment and made a quick use of shunpo with his wife in tow.
Though Niyna had caught the latter end of the actions, she found herself still in shock as her husband dragged her down the hall at his incredible speed. The surrounding world was nothing but a blur to her and as she reached for the words to ask her husband what had just happened, she instinctively caught herself and increased her pace; trying to match his speed. She knew that the true power of her husband was well beyond her own; despite the fair amount of power she wielded.
"We're getting to our son now, Niyna. That guy back there...he's something else and we don't have time for him. I know I couldn't beat him without use of it. You know that even you wouldn't handle the energy from it well, I can't risk you." his words were full of something uncommon for him: worry.
She gave him a soft nod, it was true that if he were to use his Bankai that she would probably have been seriously hurt, given the fact she couldn't follow his mask enhanced reiatsu without great focus. Normally she would have seen Wonderweiss's movements given her sensory talents, easily surpassing that of most individuals who excelled at it, at least amongst her siblings. Niyna chose to put those talents to use right now and reached out for Kousou, reaching out with her skills in order to find their son, it would help to locate him. It felt like something of an eternity to her, sifting through various reiatsu readings that were obviously arrancar in nature, she felt something that troubled her: several small traces of her son's reiatsu. As if parts of him were being shared by someone, what was going on?
"Where are we going, Niyna?" it was almost as if her husband knew, it was one of those things that he did that irked her.
"Up, go up right now! He's in trouble, I feel him strange, scattered...fragmented, hurry the hell up Tou, now!" her turn lost all of her containment, her emotions exploded and her reiatsu rose in order to meet her desperation.
Heeding his wife's reaction, Tou did just what she asked and leapt up towards the ceiling, spinning Getsushiryuu wildly in order to slice the stone material into chunks and clear the path for them. Finally they'd found Kousou, Tou had plans to grab Kou first and then worry about the trouble from their opponents after. He knew that Niyna needed to get it together, seeing his wife surge out of control bugged him. He'd have to take it out on their opponents for all of this trouble, oh yeah there would be hell to pay.
-Back with Kousou and the fraccion-
The shincy had shuddered as he followed Mila-Rose, Sun-Sun, and Apache into the over sized transport gateway room. Feelings of dread began to fill his consciousness and brought out second thoughts about his choices, he knew exactly why his mother and father had stepped into Hueco Mundo. His mind could not help but leave him in fear for those he'd grown close to, his battle partners and lovers...yes he could say that now lovers, something that came as a result of a rape in one way or another. He was fully aware of just how it happened, why he chose not to be conflicted about it was something of denial? None of it really mattered since only one thing would happen when his mother and father arrived: they would slaughter the three women in front of him and fight Harribel. He knew the wrath of his parents only in passing: a near torturous level of training that was supposed to improve him and teach a lesson. What would they be like when they were truly upset? As he felt his parents reiatsu getting closer, he felt very unsettled and almost hoped that they could just hurry through the barrier already; since the pace of his parents was many times that of the light pace taken by the Tres Espada and fraccion as they stopped by the large gateway. He felt slightly better, the targets that were truly responsible were in this room. He hoped that both of his parents would focus on the very same fish that was sought out by Soul Society: the traitorous, Aizen Sosuke.
No sooner had he looked to see if Aizen, Gin, or Tousen would react to his parents and their fast approach to their location. Finally Tousen responded by placing his hand on his zanpakuto as both of his parents' reiatsus shook the room and the blind captain chose to turn his head back towards the doorway.
"There's no need for that Tousen-san, allow our guests into the room." the words coming from the soft smirk ever present on Aizen's face.
The door was hardly a barrier for Tou Yuushin's blade, as a single swing brought a violent cleave that bisected the door and as if a surreal moment, both Yuushin parents were staring at their son for the first time in a number of months: a moment eternal for both shincy and his parents. Tou stepped forward and gripped his zanpakuto tighter around the center while assessing the total reiatsu levels in the room, as he suspected each of them were many times stronger than the one he'd been fighting earlier. There were enough in the present that starting a battle with all of them would end in his and Niyna's death. He spat at the ground and looked at Aizen with cool eyes, forcing himself to take a step back while he considered the best means of proceeding here. With his son mere feet from him he had not intended to back down, not after coming so far.
"So Aizen, why'd you do it? Why did you take my son captive?" Niyna's words got straight to the point, she felt no need to put anything less than pressure on the traitor before them. She knew that in his standing his arrogance would suit his own purposes, she needed to stay calm.
"Your son made me curious, as to how both the powers of a shinigami and a quincy could show themselves evenly without ripping him apart? He handles the pressures well and even manages to be a mock arrancar...he is an excellent subject to study. I've been observing him for some time." the warlord turned his back to them and pressed his fingers against the fabric of space, reacting to his touch the Garaganta formed out of thin air and opened in a massive gate of black cloudy space.
Niyna reacted first and formed her bow faster than anyone who was watching her could react, she had her sights set on the back of Aizen's neck, but had not fired.
"You are going to let him come back with us or so help me..." determination was steadfast in her voice, what more could she do? She couldn't let Kou go into this, she knew what was on the other side of the gate.
"You are my guests in my palace, you may stay as you wish. I'm afraid your son is going to help me attend to a matter, now if you'll excuse me." the words casually ignored the ultimatum and he took himself straight into the gateway of darkness, with the Espada members and their respective fraccion following with no words to either of the shincy's parents.
No sooner had he stepped to the garaganta, did Niyna release her charged arrow aimed for the ex-fifth captain's neck. The result was the arrow being sliced in two by the blind ex-9th captain's blade. As Aizen disappeared into the belly of darkness, soon the Primera and Segunda Espada did as well. This left only the Tres Espada and her fraccion as a collective briefly watching the desperate display of Kousou's parents. Niyna quickly disappeared in mid-step via the use of Hirenkyaku(Flying Screen Step), she tried to grab Kou before he disappeared again. She found herself reacting by second nature as she dropped to the ground and avoided having her head sliced off. Tucking and rolling off to the right, she felt her body and clothing dragging on the ground as she broke the tumble and slid to the west side of the gateway, with her knees still bent and one hand helping to direct her slide.
Her attacker simply gave her the unfading kitsune-like smile present on his face, both eyes shut as he slipped back into the closing gate. Meanwhile Tou was engaged in some quick swordplay combat, just before the blind captain used a kido attack to separate them.
"Hado#32: Okasen(Yellow Fire Flash)!" with no incantation backing the spell, it was not particularly powerful but the sheer amount of reiatsu put into it forced Tou away from the blind ex-captain who had moved back into the closing gateway. Kousou's father had guarded himself from the attack with his bare arms and while taking negligible damage from it, it was enough to stall as the doorway closed.
"Bye Bye." the almost jovial waving that accompanied Ichimaru Gin's response only served as a bitter reminder of their failed attempt to save their son.
Niyna fell to her knees and felt bitter tears of her anger sliding down her cheeks as she punched the floor. She did not want to cry...why was she losing control? Oh right, because she just failed to rescue her son. That bastard was holding him hostage for his curiosity, he was condemning him to die serving a traitor. How dare he...what she wanted to do to Aizen, she wished that she only had the power to do it. She had never noticed her husband's silent approach to her side as he took her into his arms and hugged her close. She turned in his arms and pressed her face to his shoulder and at least for the moment would allow herself to cry her frustrations out. Though it would not last for too long since the race was on to get back to Karakura Town, they had no time to lose!
Words that would not come to his lips were instead circulating in his mind, the time was close and chances were slimmer than ever. If either he or his wife made another mistake when trying to save their son, they might end up burying his remains...if there would be any left after his doing what he was in the present state: facing down the Gotei 13's best in an all-out war to decide the fate of Karakura Town.
'Forsake your very soul...your plans, Aizen Sosuke! You'll pay for everything you've done to my family!' the words echoed in his inner world and resonated with his will. He would be the one to punish Aizen should he get there in good time.
-In the Garaganta-
There was a solemn silence that loomed over Kousou after they had left his parents at Las Noches. Something bittersweet about not saying anything to them even though the first instinct was to run to his mother and hug her tightly, he wanted to tell her everything was okay and that he knew what he was doing, but he knew that it wasn't right. It was not fine for him to fight for the enemy, to serve an Espada that he was 'forced' to stay with for so long. It was not alright that he'd fallen so deeply into Stockholm that his own feelings made him feel lost and neurotic. Dare he say that he felt safe with the women that now surrounded him and that...he could go as far as to perish for their sakes if he could. So much clashed in his mind and was just more wrong than right.
"Kousou, clear your mind of any doubts as we go to our battlefield. Remember all you've gained and use your hollow powers proudly, you are not the same when you first came to me. You are truly one of my fraccion, I will rely on you to hold your own with the same earnest talent that you have shown in the past. Show your enemies no quarter." the words of his Espada commander helped to settle his feelings for now and help him calm down.
She was right since this was no place for him to be held back by doubts, if he were alive after the war then he could feel them all he wished and face them down then. As the Garaganta opened up, each Espada and their fraccion stood at the ready, overlooking the hometown of the shincy; the ill-fated Karakura town was going to be the site of one of the biggest battles within the history of both the living world and Soul Society. The gateway spawned multiple openings as each of the respective Espada emerged with their individual flocks trailing after them. The show was about to begin...Kou was frightened to a degree, to see the battle hardened faces of the Gotei 13 Captains was a thing that instilled fear in anyone who knew their reputations: Kousou was one such informed youth. Though he did not show it and quickly released a breath as he let his feelings settle back in the pit of his stomach.
At first they simply stood their grounds, watching the start of the situation as the Captain-Commander sealed Aizen, Gin, and Tousen within a large fortress of flames. As it seemed, the initial start of the conflict was well out of their hands. Harribel-sama stood idly to the side with Sun-Sun, Mila-Rose, and Apache all awaiting the time they would act. Kousou stood at Apache's side and took her hand within his own, as if for sheer reassurance since he was still shaken. The reiatsu levels of those fighting were not specifically spectacular, in terms of power they were no more or less stronger than he was though it varied amongst those who felt weaker. It was nothing that left him underestimating those who fought, quite the contrary: it was his option to note each of the shinigami lieutenants and their choice forms of combat and zanpakuto powers. Something that would come in handy depending upon whoever he ended up facing down.
"What are ya shaken for? You're stronger than any of those weaklings out there!" the annoyed tone of Apache broke through the shincy's thoughts, as she squeezed his hand and looked at him with cool eyes, she could see that he just needed reassurance.
Something that she made herself understand through the months with him, despite his skills and great experience in combat it did not change the fact that he was a teenage boy who'd been forced to fight for their side. He was still as capable as any of them and she refused to let him think anything less than that. Wanting to show affection but choosing not to, she settled for rubbing his hand lightly and looking ahead at the ongoing battle. Was this supposed to interest them? Watching Barragan's fraccion in all of their arrogance was annoying to her if at all. There was nothing here that was remotely catching her eyes.
As the period went on, one by one the fraccion of Barragan began to fall before the various talents of the shinigami, it was without a doubt something that Mila-Rose was not expecting. She could hardly believe that the pathetic levels of reiatsu coming off of these various subordinates of the Captains was enough to defeat a competent arrancar, though she scoffed at their losses. They obviously weren't competent and just full of the supreme arrogance that their Espada had in supreme abundance around him. While she kept her thoughts to herself, it was easy to see what little she felt towards the loss of life, even if technically they were comrades-in-arms; the only ones that she truly cared about were already at her back. If these weaklings could fall before their enemies then Harribel-sama and they would clear the field of their foes.
The unusual behavior of her fraccion had caught her attention slightly, though her eyes never deviated from the battle as it raged on, she allowed herself to consider a moment their antics. The minor murmuring that was cast amidst Sun-Sun and Mila-Rose over how Apache was closer than needed to be to Kousou, she would have laughed at it were the situation open to it. But this was war, she decided it was time to put an end to it very quickly,"Ladies there is a war going on, pay attention to your enemies." the words were stern and to the point. A directness that was only applied due to the severity of the moment.
While they argued both Ggio Vega and Nirgge Paduoc had engaged the number 2 Captain and her adjuctant, the time for them to act was now. Without more than a single gesture, the four of her fraccion moved into battle with great haste, acting as a unit they neared the number 10 Captain and his Lieutenant, engaging them was the shared focus of their attempts.
"Taichou, please go ahead and take on the Espada. I will handle the four of them alone." the tall shinigami fuku-taichou spoke with determination.
"Are you certain of this?" A single question from Hitsugaya to his subordinate as he eyed the four present, three of them were certainly arrancar, but the fourth was a shinigami who's level seemed to be somewhat weaker in appearance...though he could sense something off about it.
"I am sure, Taichou, hurry now." the words came as she placed her hand on the hilt of her zanpakuto, looking to her surrounding opponents.
As Hitsugaya quickly moved off with a step on shunpo, Kousou let him go and kept his focus right on the problem at hand: a wily and skillful opponent in Matsumoto Rangiku. This could be a problem if she figured out the lack of harmony in his comrades' that was often present whenever they argued. He needed a means of putting a stop to her quickly, at best to crush her resistance so they could coordinate to defeating the young prodigy that he knew was engaging Harribel-sama.
'Provocation is her first move...chances are, she'll prod those she sees.'
'That leaves what for us kid? How're you gonna do this?'
'Well I'll need both you and Kazashiryuu to give me a quick boost, though I'm not releasing first. I'm gonna leave her clueless of my skills until its too late.'
The briefing was over, he'd made his plan and was simply going to see if Kaza had the right idea, he was sure that Matsumoto would. To be honest it would be too easy to pass up, Apache was so hopeless in that regard. She couldn't help but show how easily affected she was by the slightest change.
"Now what was that about taking the four of us on? You are one suicidal heifer." the words came with a smirk that followed afterwards.
"Oh really? I was afraid that your ears were as bad as your horrid look and terrible face." Matsumoto responded without fail.
"What was that!? You dare to insult me, you fat cow udders?!" Apache launched herself forward in that instant, though it was fortunate that she was grabbed by Mila-Rose, who held her by her collar firmly.
"She's just provoking you, don't listen to everything she says, moron." the reprimanding words were wisely spoken, but almost seemed futile.
"You should listen to the female gorilla, she's right you know." her choice of words flawlessly chosen, to her success it struck quickly and the amazon-like arrancar woman retorted harshly.
"Who the hell are you calling a gorilla, you fat butter face!?" her glare showed the loss of focus, she was absolutely livid.
"Honestly you two, giving the enemy what she wants, its so unseemly." the teasing words of the serpent princess only seemed to make things worse, amidst the madness Matsumoto was watching them and preparing to make her move.
As the trio argued amongst themselves, a loud clash of blades caught the girls' attention. As Kousou attacked Matsumoto during her preparation and was presently engaged in a trade of sword passes with her. Something that he excelled in, as above all else his sword technique was polished. It was what allowed him to cope with the lieutenant's swordplay, as the shincy ducked beneath a horizontal slash and countered with a rising adjacent swing. The parry was something Matsumoto blocked using the flat of her blade, why was the enemy so particularly skilled? She needed to get him with those girls all together somehow.
"Hado#33: Shakaho(Red Fire Cannon)!" the sudden release of a close-range kido sent Kousou back in his tracks, even though he'd blocked the technique with his zanpakuto, he was forced to retreat due to lack of visibility. She had managed to position him in line with the arrancar women, whether or not he was a shinigami of kinds had not mattered, he was an enemy to defeat and so she did not hold back.
"Unare (Growl), Haineko!" her pressure rose and left a pressure amidst the air while the radient ash flew at Kou first, she figured that herding him towards the three would work. Though to her surprise it wasn't necessary...
The ash was blown away by a swift rain of cero, shortly following her release had the three fraccion joined their comrade on the battlegrounds. Apache looking utterly furious at the cow uddered woman, how dare she attack Kousou! He was hers to protect and she'd be damned if she didn't look after him now. The sentiment was at least in part shared by Sun-Sun and backed by Mila-Rose, it was inexcusable for some shinigami dirt to rise above its position.
"You're going to pay for that, cow udders." was all that Apache said as she stepped towards the ash haze blasting around them, unafraid of what it might do to her.
The walk had caused her to become the target for Rangiku's sudden attack, as the instant that she'd touched the ash cloud, did the fuku-taichou swing her blade and slice Apache's arm several times. The slight damage made her jump back and look at her arm.
"Apache!" Mila-Rose's tone of concern went off at the result, which prompted an explanation.
"That is the true ability of Haineko, that entire ash storm is my blade, anything that touches it will be shredded." the words spoken with an assured feeling that it would work. As she drew her right hand outward, the ash began to whorl around the four of them, "Be careful...for nothing that goes into my ash's path will survive."
Kousou looked on in some irritation, did she honestly think that was special? The ability has its merits, but she'd given away her secret and now it was going to cost her. Once he was sure that his vision was back to normal again, his pressure began to rise on a sharp incline, responding to his vibrant reiatsu level the other fraccion began to gather a new array of cero to dispose of this helpless attack.
"How very naive of you." were the only words to be heard from ashen storm, just prior to a deadly but gorgeous array of red, purple, and dark pink cero blasts cleared away the storm with ease.
"Did you really think that would hold us?" the three arrancar women looked at Matsumoto skeptically, while Kousou spoke up next.
"The true battle begins now, Matsumoto Rangiku. Kaah!" drawing his zanpakuto, he charged at the orange haired fuku-taichou with a navy blue aura burning around his body.
"Haineko!" was the only word spoken as Matsumoto charged into battle against the four fraccion, the determination shining in her eyes showed that she would not fail her captain now.
The four fraccion quickly surrounded the mighty fuku-taichou and engaged her quickly, breaking the illusion of the mighty adjutant of the young taichou. As their leaders clashed, the group of them quickly making the battle difficult for Matsumoto's efforts. In just the methods of her attempt to contain the arrancar females and the shincy male who was giving her great trouble. Clashing against her attackers with her ashen blade, she found that she was capable of keeping them off somewhat. While Kousou was planning to leap upon the opening, though as he noticed the defeat of Nirgge Parduoc and decided it best to confront him. The fool Marechiyo Omaeda was going to be the target of his objectivity. Crushing the foolish fat fuku-taichou would prove to be crucial in his planned assault.
For the instant that Kou disappeared in shunpo, his mind went into a raging flurry of pained cries, what the hell was he truly doing? He was helping the enemy defeat the Gotei 13, while they were not exactly the best sense of order, they still represented it! He was moving now on the bulky lieutenant, his face grimacing with the new confusion that his mind fed him. The Stockholm lull was starting to wear off once he realized just what he was doing, how much of an effect was he having on the battlefield? He was unsure of how best to call it, what would come of this clash?
'Nothing will come of this clash, I will not hurt him badly. He is going to be objective in helping me stall...I need a plan to handle Aizen.'
'You're playing a dangerous game you know, kid. The moment you get caught off guard, you're going to be finished.'
As if echoing words of measure, there was a single whisper by his ear that made him jump. He turned quickly and found himself face to face with the Onmitsukido Commander herself, someone that he hadn't counted on doing battle with at all. Giving off a cool face, he cleared his mind forcefully of all thoughts and did his best to keep his wits about him, with zanpakuto still drawn, he drew it back and allowed his left hand to close over the end of the blade's dull end.
"We'd heard rumors of a shinigami running with the enemy, beyond the traitors I hadn't guessed it to be true. But here you are, you treacherous dog...no that is too kind, but it does not matter your name, your reasons, or whatever will come. I am here to exterminate your petty existence. There will be no time to lament your betrayal." the cold words were followed by her drawing her zanpakuto and holding the short-blade reverse grip in front of her.
Kou didn't bother to respond as perhaps it was better to be thought of as a shinigami, she hadn't sensed his dark curve of energy, which he hid with a expert's grace. Ensuring that his shinigami reiatsu flared to life around him in a small navy veil surrounding his entire body. He did have a plan that was suitable to this unexpected turn of events. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise, the youth quickly tightened the aura around his body and wrapped a tight triple-fold of his flesh: something akin to scale mail carefully placed in order to protect vitals. He'd become ready just in time and found himself barely responding to the first pass that she gave, he'd never have a chance to turn and face her. All he felt was a sharp pain along his lower back that dragged straight up the edge of his spine. How lucky he was to have wrapped the reiatsu so tightly...
"Uhhph!" was the only sound that came from the shincy as his vision darkened...the difference between himself and a captain was this great? He could only imagine that he hadn't raised his level enough, there just wasn't enough time to do so: it had been just as she said.
Blood seemed to rise from him in ribbons, something of a convincing amount at least, the wound was truly there, just not fatal as the captain believed it to be. Kou didn't bother lowering his reiatsu levels, he let them fall and left his body to collapse from the air suddenly; as if some grim gift to the earth he fell wrapped in ribbons of crimson pouring from his back. His body fell into some nameless alleyway in the destroyed fake town, as if a befitting fate for someone worse than trash to fall. Was that how he thought of himself?
Never did he hear the cries of his name from the fraccion who had become attached to him, he had no notice of the expressionless face of the Onmitsukido who had been his 'executioner' during their brief encounter. All he could feel was some dull pain of his collapse into an alleyway that his body tumbled against. Slamming from wall to wall before finally settling into the alley's basin. His loss of consciousness was quick to follow suit, but his mental grasp on the reiatsu layers around him never gave way.
'Honestly...Kousou, you leave so much in our hands.' the near scolding from Kazashiryuu amused Yami-Kou.
'You have a death sentence or something...jeez, you could've put up more of a fight.' this was something that his inner-hollow relished the thought of.
'Heh...it hurts, but at least...we're alive right?'
'She seemed sure you were dead and you would've been if not for the shielding against your vitals.'
'Well she is Onmitsukido, they assassinate not kill with honor. I lucked out really...'
'Lucked out? You dumb bastard, you got lucky not lucked out. She nearly killed you!'
'Normally I do not agree with him, but had that third layer not been present, we would all be dead.'
'...Fair point, but now we need a plan. We can't fight for him...this is wrong.'
'Finally, you are making sense to me again. I missed that simple fact Kousou.'
'I sure as hell didn't, now he goes back to being annoying.'
'I just can't do it Yami-san, I cannot allow Aizen and his evil to rule here, I have to oppose him.'
'...'
'Pssh, so why get cut down?'
'I never betrayed Harribel-sama's trust either, I went down believing in her and the others.'
'Even though they kidnapped you and raped you over the duration?'
'I know that...better than anyone else. It happened and I hate them for it. But what of later?'
'Oh you mean the fact that part of you liked it and felt at home later? I love that part.'
'...I am screwed up, simply put, yet I'm going to make it work. It all stems from Aizen's interest in me.'
'In our power and its harmony...someone we two coexist with you, the Quincy you that exists between us.'
'And so be it, all I have to blame for this is my existence. I'm not ashamed of who I am, but this...came because of it.'
'Yeah, part of you relishes in it, you fear why you're attracted to it...the hollow-side.'
'Yami-san, you have it half right. I was attracted to it, I simply will embrace it...I am not that child I was coming into this.'
'...A life lesson you learned harshly, I apologize Kousou.'
'But why, Kaza-san?'
'A zanpakuto should be able to grant enough strength to protect her partner. Even with my Bankai...it seems we're incomplete. So in this regard I have failed you. Forgive me.'
'...Silly Kaza-san, it was my fault for not using you properly, just as it was my fault for my own emotions. I am a fool, but I will step forward, I will live on my accord and for once try to have things work out. I need you both for that...'
'Stupid kid, you know you just take my power, yet you always have the nerve to ask. That pisses me off about you, what a lame partner you are.'
'Unlike this knave, I appreciate your request and naturally my power is at your disposal.'
'Alright...its time to wake up, thanks...for holding my body together you two.'
'Pssh...'
'Of course, Kou-kun.'
Slowly his eyes opened slowly as he felt the numerous aches along his body's limbs, his knee flinched when he tried to move it, it didn't feel like it was in place. Grabbing his knee carefully, he pushed it back into its joint and flinched upon its realignment. He might want to take a little better care of himself should it ever come to this again.
"...?" Kou could smell smoke upon the air, as if some scorching explosion had hit the air, well it was still going on...whatever it was.
Resolving to see what it was, Kou grabbed his fallen zanpakuto and sheathed it before he began to scale the wall, not wishing to give away his position just yet. Through his sensory of the reiatsu levels remaining, a lot of the lieutenants were just alive, however he could not sense familiar reiatsu. He could tell what had happened, wasn't it obvious? They were defeated...no matter how strong they were, there was no true way to face off with the Gotei 13, the famous faces, the very experience. He did lament at the fact and moved off to find them. Even in death, he would at least bury them properly or gather them in the wing of all of this.
"...Unthinkable, the Captain-Commander stepped in on this?" the area where he remembered they were fighting held visible burn marks from a fire-type zanpakuto. This wasn't just any blaze. It was there that he found them, the three had been defeated with likely no effort at all.
"Mila-Rose...Sun-Sun...Apache..." he spoke their names gently and one by one, brought them to lay aside one another.
He could not sense anything from their bodies and left them to rest, paying them one final respect for what good they had done for him. The little good that had come from their odd bonds together, he was still uncertain of any of it and decided it best to ignore that. He wanted to remember them in good light, so finally turning from them he took to the air and allowed his reiatsu levels to burn to life. Wrapping several extra layers of reiryoku around his wound on his back, he hoped that he was not too late to finally go toe to toe with the man responsible for all of this.
-With Aizen-
Unamused by the battle that Harribel was having with the shinigami and vaizard pair, he'd decided that it was time to put an end to facade. "That's enough." the words marked the end of his patience and in a flash of speed, he disappeared using shunpo.
Appearing at her back, Aizen stood with a simple smile on his face, as if he were ready to praise Harribel's efforts so far. Even though something underlying could be seen within that gaze, what was present?
"Aizen-sama..?" the words of the Tres Espada came with some confusion, why had he appeared so suddenly?
For a moment there was nothing but cold silence between the two of them, just a smile that never left the shinigami's face as he drew his zanpakuto, and in a single instant slashed across the sole remaining Espada's chest. He left nothing to chance in the response, for what he knew was a fatal blow had been stricken and that was all that mattered.
"..W-Why...Aizen-sama..?" were some of the few words that she managed, watching him sheath his katana after coldly cutting her down.
"It's hard to believe that despite all of the effort I put into gathering you all...that I turned out to be so much stronger than all of you combined. Even if I forced you to sacrifice yourself, it would do nothing."
"..." the look on Harribel's face was in some surprise at the painful realization, had she been so blindly loyal not to see it?
"Your services are no longer required."
"...Aizen!" His callous words were met with a flicker of anger that filled the normally calm Espada, her fury was released in one last thrust of his Tiburon, which appeared to pierce his chest with some success.
"You're wasting your time." were all the words that the illusion of Aizen said to her, just in time for her to feel a sharp pain along the back of her shoulder as she turned to realize a blade had pierced her flesh.
"You will never raise your sword to me again." the matter-of-fact tone was followed with the finality of a tearing slash down adjacently along her back.
Feeling consciousness fade from her, the Espada fell lifelessly towards the ground below, where in a matter of moments a final crash resounded in the wake of her fall. While ignoring the stunned looks on the face of both Shinigami and Vaizard alike, the traitor announced the next stage was prepared: it was time that he had it out with all of those present.
"Well then shall we begin?"
As his wording attracted the attention of those Captains still standing and the battle-worn Vaizards, soon all eyes were resting upon his features.
"My Dear Gotei 13 and their Wannabe-Arrancar Friends."
Aizen's master provocation began and all minds remaining paid little attention to the fast approach of Kousou to the scene, as he approached his fallen leader amidst the ruins of the desolate building where she lay in wake of Aizen's calculated slashes.
-With Kousou-
Coming to the site of the Tres Espada and her fading reiatsu levels, the shincy made his way to her side and quickly went to work, he managed a calm look despite his urgency. He did not allow himself to speak another word, that could happen once he was sure that she remained alive. He took to the use of his near surgical talents for spiritual sewing, the knowledge that would match a means here and now, he quickly leaned his mind to work and drew the forces of spiritual thread along her wounded body, binding her hierro was very difficult since it was so thick, but he'd had no intention of stopping. One wound at a time that would require all of his efforts, he refined his spiritual needle and commanded it as his spirit weapon in place of his bow. The needle stitched quickly but with a surprising effect, it seemed he was unwilling to allow it measure of moving slow. The stitching would be the best effort, but it would at least work.
Once Kousou was sure that he'd stitched her gaping chest wound closed, he gently lifted Harribel's body and turned her onto her side and spying the absurdly deep slice in her back, he placed the needle's tip into her hierro and began the painstaking efforts of stitching her back closed. With the amount of blood loss that he'd witnessed present did not leave margin for error, at the very least the threading would remain as long as she didn't do anything too strenuous. Making the greater of his efforts closing the back of his friend, yes...she was a friend to him. One of the few who had not done anything to him.
"Harribel-san, I will take care of your wounds better once I do something...I must confront my very fears. The man responsible for it all, that man...I cannot believe how easily he torments those he controls." his words spoken to presently conscious Espada.
Once he was sure that he'd sewn her wounds closed and that they were stable, he took her into his arms and started carrying her to something of a better enclosure. He just didn't feel that it was proper to leave her out in the open, making some quick pace using shunpo he managed to find a mock house that was still standing. He would have to be thankful later and was quick instead on entering the house and moving to a bedroom where he lay Harribel on her back. His old leader, the one who's ideals he'd respected...a lot of things went into that. It seemed as if she was the only thing in the past few months that was not cruel to him in some way, as if there was no evil present with it, and in the moment he considered it, he considered it truth.
"Do not die needlessly, Kousou Yuushin, you were a valuable fraccion and a good friend during the term of your stay. I hope we shall meet again under better circumstances...you have saved my life, I will not forget what you've done. Life is precious and that must always be observed." the words were meaningful in nature, acknowledging his heroism, but considered his decision for battle against Aizen at his level: suicide.
"Thank you, Harribel-san...for your kind words, but I realize this chapter has passed in my life. I must face it to its end, even the darkness that was responsible for all of it. I will fight Aizen Sosuke, but I will not die needlessly." the last of his words almost cryptic.
As the shincy took off in a quick step of shunpo, once more taking to the blue sky while he headed to stand against the man responsible for so many deaths, nay...he was no man, he was simply a shade that posed as something greater. What had he missed while stitching up Harribel? He could feel the few reiatsu levels looming in the sky and found himself frowning more, he hadn't been gone that long...where was everyone? Almost certain that there should be more, he instead found a lot of spiritual pressures that were scattered around the base of the unmistakable presence of Aizen. He almost thought it improbable that so many could lose and yet...the result was as he felt.
He could feel a familiar pressure on the air and felt there was some hope: it was Ichigo! That was all that he'd needed, as he began to build pressure upon entering the zone of battle, the shincy stood proudly appearing from nowhere and finally at the side of his school friend. It felt good to see Ichigo and gave his heart a little hope, perhaps Ichigo was every bit as strong as he'd hoped, to fight with so many and to hold his own so well, what would it be. There was no word that he could put to the lasting impact, but he knew that he should need to not hold back; for once all would be forth. How much effort could he put out? Very soon that would be no doubt in his mind.
"Ah, the boy of interest, it seems you survived. I'd assumed you finished by the Onmitsukido, it seems she was kind." the words that calmly addressed the new intruder upon the site; he made no effort to show him more than a single glance.
"There was no kindness in her actions, I survived so that I would come and face you, Aizen Sosuke." the resolve in his speech was present and strong, he would stand his ground against the force before him.
He knew that Ichigo was full of question, the look in his eyes seemed that was aghast with question. But simply a small nod to his lunch companion, they were at least good friends in school. Why the hell was he here and how as a shinigami? There was no time to ask, only a means to show one's resolve, through which Aizen would be defeated. Kousou would join him and together they would defeat him, it was reason enough to bolster his soul.
"Bankai!" with a sudden crackle of raw power, Kousou's meager reiatsu began to raise drastically, as the swirl of navy reiatsu gained a line of gold, something along the center of its violent spin; while the energy built and the sky began to change from within. Clouds grew darker by the second and a change from light to darkness, an incoming tempest had set upon the field.
The pressure caused the air in the surround space to tremble violently, as if so suited to his very changes over the past few months. It had been some time since the youth slated more than practice use of his Bankai, but heavy training was what he'd undergone in order to maximize the skills of combat: every fiber of that training would have its place when facing an opponent greater than anyone he had ever faced. As the swirling flow of reiryoku tore through the streets below and clouds above began to fuse together, a line of thickening gold reiryoku forged a kind of halo around the massive thunderhead that had forged itself in wake of the gathering energy, while from upon the thunderhead a large Fu Dragon came into view, as if it had always been there; the 50 meter dragon let off a terrible roar and glared towards Aizen from its perch. While the sweeping whirlwind of reiatsu began to finally die down and reveal the large dragon tattooed haori that rested over Kousou's navy blue and white shihakusho, accompanied by the two large headed yari hand spears that rested in his hands.
"Daibaishin no Sansai Kazashiryuu (Grand jury of the Flood & Storm, Wind Dragon)."
The grand show of the transformation was over and within a matter of minutes, the newly enhanced power was creating a variable surge in the storm cell which was responding to the sudden increase in Kousou's pressure. It was an impressive improvement versus the first time the infantile Bankai had been used against Wonderweiss Margela when he was training. Aizen's interest in the youth before him was at least warranted for the period of time: as a lifetime spent training with his parents and the near-death situations he'd faced while in Hueco Mundo had marginally increased his strength, it still left him no match for the amused ex-captain.
Ichigo was visibly impressed by the fact that Kousou even knew what Bankai was, yet here he had one and was at the ready for battle. Perhaps it was possible for them to do this, he wasn't alone in this endeavor. Kousou wasn't quite near his level of power, but it hardly mattered since the effort might make all the difference. Why was Aizen looking at him so intently? The questions had no place, the orange-haired hero prepared himself to shatter this enemy as he had in the past.
Making the first move, Ichigo rushed towards Aizen with his hyper pace, unleashing a brief flurry of precise slashes. The response from Aizen was to block each as they came: a horizontal slash, an overhead slash, an angled lower thrust aimed for his hip, and and a second thrust aimed for his midsection. The crossing of their blades was a fitting distraction, he could see through the apparent tactics of the ryoka boy. He was trying to give Kousou an opening in which to attack: it was a sound move with the help he had at least.
After a few sloppy slashes aimed for Aizen, Kou found a good synchronization of openings and making use of times to strike, this knowledge aided him in searching for what mattered: Ichigo's paths of attack. The following motions were becoming smoother and soon the boy was making full use of his lightning speed and shunpo to throw more attacks out, while considering the proper time to make use of his Bankai's true force.
"Impressive ryoka boy, you are working rather well with that experiment." the taunts never seemed to cease.
"Shut your mouth and fight." Ichigo wasn't in the mood to hear anything the traitorous shinigami had to say.
The clashes of reiryoku sent shocking channels throughout the surrounding space, while Aizen casually met Kousou's yari-spears and swiped at him, sending him back in his tracks while Ichigo came from above and slashed at the top of his head. Which Aizen blocked with his katana with a fluid deflection despite Ichigo's great speed, while his right hand rose up and formed a wordless kido barrier that bent Kou's lightning bolt around the arch of his side. The mighty pair clashed with Aizen on numerous passes, trying to find an opening in the smoothly executed defense of the incredible strength of Aizen. It was almost unreal to believe that someone was so powerful that fighting two Bankai empowered beings meant very little to his overall strength.
"Ichigo, can you use Hollowfication?" the question was quiet, very meant to reach a point.
"How did you...-er...yes I can." Ichigo was puzzled to hear him mentioning it, what was this to mean?
"Then let's give it a try against Aizen...I am not nearly as strong as you have become, but I think if we hollowfy we might be able to break his ease. Maybe I can create an opening for you. Together we can definitely break through against him. Let's make the time count okay?" Kou's words were optimistic in the least, he knew that Aizen's strength was incalculable by what he'd seen.
The truth was that Kou knew he was no match for Aizen's might, but perhaps he could plan something out well enough and open Aizen to the prospect of Ichigo's hollowfied form gaining a clear shot was the whole plan. He was not sure what Ichigo would do, but he knew that as long as he supported his actions that it would bolster his spirit. This was something that Kousou had learned from interacting with Ichigo, his friends were great inspiration for spirit or the will to win. He was hoping to provide not only an active role, but also to play an efficient means for the stronger teen to realize his power and use it without fear. Even if that meant using himself as a tool, he was fine putting himself forward for the sake of Karakura Town.
"Let's do it, Kousou. It's time to put Aizen out of business." the words were full of determination, a growing confidence that Kou was happy to hear.
"Alright!" almost immediately after he'd said this, his reiatsu-levels drastically began to raise again.
Both citizens of Karakura Town, teenagers, vaizards in league with the same purpose: defeating Aizen definitively was their goal. They would take him down and put an end to this battle, there would be a happy ending before Aizen could try to ruin it. Kou donned his festive hollow mask, drawing the golden outlined white mask with blue highlights over the edge, and the burning navy reiryoku took a darker gold shade that outlined the evenly dark navy which created a dense pressure within the air around him. Something that Ichigo matched as he donned his mostly white mask which bore two inverted crimson lines that extended from top to the cheeks and ended at the base of the mask's edge. The space around him was a thickened black with crimson outlines. With the change in pressure, both were ready to engage their opponent.
Kou started before Aizen could comment, whipping his left hand spear in Aizen's general direction and sent a navy reiryoku slash wave towards him, before disappearing in a flash of shunpo with Ichigo following closely. There were no words of communication between the two, as Kou appeared at Aizen's left with Kazashiryuu ready to be whipped up; as if it were always natural for their sync; Ichigo to appear at his right with Zangetsu raised above his head. The two brought their respective partners towards Aizen while releasing a powerful channel of reiryoku towards him. The resulting blasts met in a violent explosion, while Aizen appearance at Ichigo's back momentarily surprised him; though his raised zanpakuto was used to slice a cero arrow in two. It was here that Ichigo bore witness to Kousou's surprising speed as he moved towards Aizen, firing both reishi arrows and navy blue/dark golden arrows in the direction of their foe. While this was an instant in time, Ichigo's stunned expression left his face while he swept his nodachi in a rising adjacent angle in hopes of cleaving the mad shinigami in two, even though it fell short of that action it forced him back.
"You two are certainly interesting, and though I must admit that you are starting to become a true nuisance, it is time to put an end to this game."
As if only a precursor to the efforts of the inevitable, Aizen appeared in front of Kousou and attempted to slice him in two. Something that Kou blocked with both yari hand spears, throwing the attack away from his body before responding with one of his enhanced attacks.
"Enrai(Distant Thunder)!" the initial attack had been used to counter one of Aizen's slashes aimed at his waist, while the second spear was aimed for Aizen's face and neck, it too was deflected by the simple vertical raising of the blade of Aizen, which resounded from the clash of blades and thunder that followed. Kazashiryuu snorted and stomped the cloud, picking up a crackle of thunder as Kousou expertly parried thrusts aimed for his neck and chest vitals, even as he missed a dual aimed swipe-slash for Aizen's body, he found that he only hit air. After the use of shunpo, Aizen brought his katana down to slice Kousou in two; something that was blocked by Ichigo's blade as he interrupted Aizen's assault.
"Banrai(Heavy Thunder)!" moments after he'd spoken the word, he spun around and darted at Aizen, who was thrown off by Ichigo's violent push against the traitor's zanpakuto. The way that he'd planned it was to pressure the almighty shinigami and open him up with his tactics, he hoped that Ichigo would catch wind of an opening fast; if it lasted he knew it wouldn't be for long. Even though the efforts were sound, it had not worked out the way Kou hoped. As Aizen turned and slashed the large dragon's claw at its center, wounding Kaza enough that she cried out a pained roar and drew her large claw back up. While Aizen freely met Ichigo and Kou halfway in their aimed slashes, that taunting smile of calmness ever present on his face.
"A very inconvenient Bankai, Kousou-kun. She is only as strong as you are and that means it won't be enough to reach me."
It was something that Kou waited for him to do, make a mistake of opening his mouth and while he'd done so, the shincy jumped into action and made use of his enhanced speed, and moving as fast as shunpo could take him to get at Aizen's back. His speed was anything but slow given that he moved at the pace of lightning and revealed it just now! The sudden appearance of him at the upstart's blind side with an attack already in motion, surely this would hit him wouldn't it? Not even he could dodge at this range with Ichigo still clashing with him.
"Hyakurai(Hundred Thunderclaps)!" it was something that he was quick to unleash, a violent flurry of high paced thrusts charged with lightning reishi and sound that was formed around the bladed edges. The crashes of thunder that were hitting were heavy resounding, but this was the clear sign for Ichigo to act! He'd opened Aizen up and at least now had him distracted. He looked to Ichigo with a look, it was encouraging the already activating attack. It made him feel accomplished to know that finally they'd had a clear shot at him.
'Here goes nothing...please work...please work!' even if a silent wish for something to work that was just to him, he hoped that it would work in his favor.
"Getsuga...Tenshou!" the pitch black reishi lined with a bloody crimson struck at the point blank range. Exploding violently between the two, Kazashiryuu let off a loud roar and appeared to be charging something. Acting of her own accord, despite the rapid spilling reishi that was a result of the two attacks meeting at that range; there was nothing but reishi spilling from the attack's center, as if a navy blue and black waterfall...the attack hadn't finished.
What had become of Aizen in all of this?
(End Chapter)
Here we have a new style cliffhanger that I wanted to try with all of you. I think you might appreciate my increased pace of battle at points and of course I do realize that I kind of skipped around, but the rest of the war wasn't as important to me since it wasn't around Kousou. It might seem a bit centered on him right now, but of course this is a crucial period. I hope this chapter was a surprise! I did have address his changes, will he still end up with the fraccion at the end? ohh...heh I think I'll let you all wonder. Worry not I should be writing that new chapter relatively soon.
Till then adieu,
-Quentix