Chapter Fourteen: Cue Power Lust

Hikari

"Ah, Tsubasa Uryu," Waru called from the smoke, somehow surviving a dead-on Stahl-Adler.

"Waru Saisei, you are a fool. Not only did you have the nerve to attack the Seireitei directly, but you were intelligent enough to manipulate Central 36 into bringing the protective Shinigami back from Nova Karakura."

Tsubasa jumped down from the building, landing with one knee bent.

Wow, that looks cool; I need to take some notes.

"Unfortunately, I've already seen all of the possibilities, and there is no way you can win, Waru," Tsubasa had a glint in his eye.

"I may not have the numbers on my side, but I am still powerful enough to defeat all of you at the same time. You all are maggots that I will send to the fire."

Tsubasa chuckled, "Fine, Waru. But, I'm the only one who will battle you. You said it yourself, 'There is no Shinigami more powerful', so the greatest Quincy will defeat you."

Before Waru could respond with a snide remark, Tsubasa formed his spiderweb-like bow and shot an arrow. But, his arrow curved straight up at the last-minute.

Waru laughed, trying to say something, but Tsubasa moved in close, picked up Seele Schneider, and went for a slash. It may have been blocked, but it took a toll on Waru. I could see it in his eyes, even Waru Saisei had a limit to his power and stamina. Tsubasa's sword/arrow was moving faster than I had seen.

"Tsubasa," I shouted over the sound of clanging metal, "you've been holding out on me!"

I will not be outdone by him! I told myself.

I stood up a little higher, and strengthened my resolve.

"Tsubasa, I'm coming in!" I shouted.

"Wait, Hikari, don't!" Kori and Kurami yelled, breaking my tunnel vision.

"What!" I shouted, frustrated.

"Don't do this, Hikari, Tsubasa's got a plan, I know it," Kori stated emphatically.

"I don't know the guy – probably because I've been renegade for a while – and I want to get into it, too, but something seems strange."

I looked over, and saw something incredible. Tsubasa was actually pushing Waru back. Waru was exhausted, it was so easy to see. He had gone through an incredible gauntlet, I was surprised that he was still standing.

Then, everything changed. The entire atmosphere got thick. It was becoming difficult to breath, and the entire world got darker.

I saw my friends, already unconscious on the floor. Even Tsubasa was moving slowly. And, Waru was taking advantage of that. It seems like the thick reiatsu that was suffocating us was actually refreshing Waru.

Tsubasa was going to lose, and I was too slow to do anything about it.

Then, there was an epic roar, like a lion, and the sky opened up.

A dangerous-looking golden-yellow light shot down in a cylinder-shaped structure. I had no idea what it was.

"Tsubasa, move!" Kori screamed in terror.

My legs moved before my brain could catch up and I was literally charging directly into a fight. I could see the light falling right down. Pushing myself as hard as my battered body could go, I finally connected with the Quincy and tackled him out of the way.

"So long, gnats," Waru smirked, as the golden light fell on him, "I shall be seeing you soon. Ta ta…"

He was lifted into the sky, and soon floated out of view.

I rolled over, exhausted, feeling a strange combination of both relief and confusion.

"Is everyone alive?" I asked, trying to stand up.

Multiple confirmations in the form of "Mmmm" and "Yep" told me that no one had died.

Kurami laughed darkly, "Well, that went well. We all battled a maniacal mastermind and collectively failed."

Tsubasa, the only one who actually held his own, disagreed, "Do not place me, the greatest Quincy, in the same classification as you mere Shinigami."

"Oh, whatever," Kurami replied. "You know that you are as close to unconsciousness as the rest of us."

"Yeah," I piped up. "We're a team. We fight together, we pass out together."

Everybody laughed, even Tsubasa and Kori.

"Yes, everything's so funny, isn't it?" An unfamiliar voice called.

I looked up and saw Ichigo, Uryu, Renji, and another teenager with white hair. For some reason, the teen had on a captain's haori.

Instantly, we all stood up and stopped laughing. Bowing our heads in unison, I believe that we were all collectively waiting for our collective punishments.

"Sensei!" I called.

"Renji!" Kurami said, quietly.

"Captain Hitsugaya!" Kori shuddered.

Tsubasa just stood there, looking dead at Uryu, not breaking eye-contact.

"This is possibly the worst-possible scenario," Ichigo said. "Not only did our four students get beaten, they got beaten by a single guy."

"Head Captain Ichigo! Head Captain Ichigo!" A random Shinigami came running.

She whispered in his ear, probably giving a death toll or some sort of information on the enemy's hideout.

Then, she scurried away. Ichigo became frustrated, angry even.

"Now it makes sense," He said severely.

"What are you talking about, Sensei?" I asked, not sure that I wanted to know the answer.

"What was the target of this invasion?" Ichigo asked us.

"Umm, I thought that he was after Hikari," Kurami responded, unsure.

"Wasn't Hikari the target?" Kori asked back.

Tsubasa and I were silent. We both knew that I wasn't the target.

"Tsubasa, Hikari, who do you think the target was?"

I shook my head, "I have no idea, but I know that it wasn't me. If Waru wanted to kill or capture me, he would not have left so quickly."

"I know." All eyes turned to Tsubasa. "This attack was just a diversion, so all of the defenses would focus here, in the Seireitei. Now, for those of you paying attention, that leaves one place completely unprotected."

Instantly, I knew what he was talking about, but I didn't want to believe it.

"Since all of our forces were dealing with protecting Soul Society, Nova Karakura was left completely unprotected. As a result, the enemy's target was not Hikari, but Hikari's allies, Chiyo, Akira, and Temari.

I couldn't breathe. All of this information, all of this pressure. I couldn't breathe.

"I'm sorry, Hikari," Ichigo started. But, I wasn't listening.

I ran. As far as I could, in the complete opposite direction, I ran.

I ran outside of the gates of the Seireitei, far out past all of the poor regions of the Rukongai, into a distant forest.

Tsubasa

"What a wimp," I muttered to myself. "Running away like that."

"Did you say something, Tsubasa?" Uryu asked, genuinely.

I shook my head, not in the mood to explain anything to this man.

"Anyway, Tsubasa, you still have a lot to work on. If you cannot defeat a single Shinigami, then there is no way that you can dare claim the title of "Greatest Quincy"."

I frowned, "You know, why don't we spar? I need to wipe the floor off your smug face."

"I'm perfectly okay with that, why don't we go right now?"

"No," I shook my head. "Not now, I have something to deal with."

"Please, don't try to attach yourself to that Shinigami. He is just another obstacle to overcome."

I smiled, "I know, dear father. Why would I ever disobey you?" And with that, I turned and walked away.

Kori

"Kori, that was extremely dangerous! Why would you do something like that?"

I frowned as my mother yelled at me.

"Okay, I understand that you're upset, but you and Dad did things like this all of the time! This is nothing compared to that!"

"Why would you compare the two?" Mother asked, indignant.

"Because, these two situations are extremely similar and should be compared! It's not as if I am running away, creating haywire! I am being a helpful part of this squad and of the Gotei 13. Why can't you see that?"

Mother sighed, "I know, and maybe it's my motherly instincts, but something is dangerous about this situation. Maybe I was wrong, inserting you into my personal division."

"What!" I protested. "No, I am happy where I am!"

Mother instantly went into her 'abrasive mode'. "But, that's the point! You are happy here, comfortable. So, in order to help unlock your full potential, you have been transferred to the Tenth Division."

I would protest, but there was nothing I could do.

"Thank you, Captain Kuchiki, it has been an honor serving under you."

Turning on my heels, I ran as far as I could get from that building.

Kurami

"Alright, Kurami, you got your butt handed to you by that Waru guy." Renji decided at that moment to state the obvious.

"I know, I know, it was embarrassing. I mean, I am so far behind Hikari and Kori and even that Tsubasa guy. I just need some time to work on the techniques that you've shown me."

"We don't have that kind of time," He replied, seriously. "You saw how quickly they got here, who knows when they'll strike again. You need to be ready yesterday."

I shook my head at his attempt at humor, and just turned away.

"I'm sorry, Renji, I'm not the amazing lieutenant that you were, but I will be powerful. Don't worry, I will not be shadowed by my friends. Especially not that Kori."

I walked out of the room, then ran out, working on my stamina.

Ichigo

I sat in my office, waiting for a few minutes. Then, I pressed a button on my desk and three squares appeared on the wall, forming a triangle.

"So, how did everything go?" I asked.

Renji answered first. "I don't like doing this, Ichigo. If they hate us, I am coming after you."

Rukia was next, "It killed me to transfer Kori, but it was necessary. Toshiro is going to be her new captain, but I will still oversee some aspects of her training."

Uryu then spoke up, "Did everyone get them to run to the same location?"

"Yes," I answered, "Urahara placed a Kido around the Rukongai, sending those four specific reiatsu to the location. From there, they have to use what has been given."

"I just hope this doesn't backfire," Uryu said, unsure.

I shook my head, trying to clear my doubts.

"So do I, Uryu, so do I."