I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.
Final Round
Rukia jumped into the air, stopping beside Sode no SHirayuki and took in the battle. Orihime had finally finished healing her and just in time judging by the scene. The Gillians were being slaughtered but a Garganta had opened above the massive thing Muramasa had become, which seemed to be some kind of a mushroom with a floating blueish white substance over it. Through the Garganta, hundreds of Gillians were pouring through as liquid then forming into individual Menos and attacking the Soul Reapers and Zanpakuto. The main problem was, the zanpakuto were all arguing with each other and the Soul Reapers weren't much better off.
"This is pointless if we can't stop arguing," Rukia growled as Halibel and Nel appeared beside her.
"You're right," Halibel nodded watching the edges of the Garganta slowly spreading wider and wider. "And with that Garganta spreading like it is, there's going to be an endless sea of Menos coming through any minute. And not just Gillians. Adjuchas and probably even Vasto Lordes will respond eventually."
Nel suddenly spun, slashing a Cero and launching it into another Menos, blasting it into dust.
"We don't have time for these arguments," Nel stated. "We have to deal with the Gillians and the Garganta."
"If we can get to the Garganta, it should be easy for us to close it," Halibel stated. "But we have to get through them."
She pointed at the hundreds of Gillians between them and the Garganta and Rukia nodded.
"Everyone!" Rukia shouted. "Focus! We have to get Halibel and Nel to the Garganta! Argue when we're done!"
"She's right," Hitsugaya stated. "We have to deal with this before it gets worse."
Everyone agreed, though most were unhappy about it, then they all moved to fight. Rukia switched to Shikai and she and Sode no Shirayuki fired a Hakuren together, freezing a massive group of Menos before the others tore into the Hollows. Hozukimaru and Ikkaku began to spin their Shikai around, bashing both ends into the Gillians rapidly as beside them, Fuji Kujaku and Yumichika shredded Gillians just as fast. Hitsugaya and Hyorinmaru both began launching ice dragons into the ranks of the Gillians, freezing them before Omaeda and Gegetsuburi smashed them. Soi-fon and Suzumebachi were both using their Homonka to kill Gillians while Soi-fon was also using Shunko alongside Yoruichi. Komamura used his Bankai to simply mow the Gillians down while Izuru and Wabisuke slashed those he missed. Momo and Rangiku, along side their zanpakuto, tag-teamed dozens of Gillians with fireballs and Rangiku and Haineko's dust Shikai.
Nel and Halibel slashed a pair of Gillians before stopping, nodding to each other.
"Hunt, Tiburon!" Halibel shouted, the usual water heart then vortex forming and falling away, leaving her in her Resureccion form.
"Praise, Gamuza," Nel stated, blue-tinted wind shooting up around her before clearing and leaving her in her centaur Resureccion form. "Let's go."
Halibel nodded and the two of them used Sonido to get to the Garganta, killing a dozen Gillians on the way. When they arrived, they entered the Garganta instantly, clearing a space around themselves before both began to spike their Spirit Pressure, attracting all of the Gillians to themselves but also forcing the Garganta to slowly seal itself. After another three minutes, the Soul Reapers and zanpakuto finished the Gillians and began to help, using their Spiritual Pressure to seal the Garganta. Three minutes after that, a smaller Garganta opened, this one lying flat and Nel and Halibel fell through, both in their sealed state again and both covered in deep gashes, burns, and both missing their lower bodies. Yoruichi and Soi-fon caught them and hurried them to Orihime who began to heal them.
"It's finished," Hitsugaya sighed. "Now for Muramasa."
Kurai awoke with a start as he crashed down in water. He flew upward, exploding into the air and looked around. He was in a dimension with and endless sea with broken and massive greek-style columns sticking out of it, some crooked and some straight up but all with a perfectly level and perfectly flat top that looked like they had all been cut in one slash each. A couple were, however, missing chunks, and they were all at different heights, making it look disorganized.
"Where the hell..." Kurai breathed but stopped as something hit the water and made a loud noise behind him, making him spin.
"Kurai Mori," Muramasa greeted from his place on the water. "I'm surprised to see you. How did you get here?"
"Not sure," Kurai admitted. "I'd assume that when your Spirit Energy swallowed me, I was dropped here. I take it this is your home from inside Koga's mind?"
"That's correct," Muramasa nodded.
"But Koga's dead," Kurai stated.
"I don't understand it myself," Muramasa admitted. "Did my reunion with Koga summon me here? Or is this a figment of imagination? In either case, it matters little. This place will soon fall apart."
As he said this, one of the columns crumbled, falling into the water.
"Whatever the case, I am grateful that you were brought here," Muramasa stated forming his zanpakuto. "Because it will allow me to finish our battle."
"But why?" Kurai growled. "You've got no reason to keep fighting. Koga died."
"That is true," Muramasa nodded. "But your power will be that which sustains me now. I will not stop fighting you until I possess the powers of the one true Hollow!"
"I see," Kurai nodded. "Alright. Let's do this right, though."
He held Natsumi out in front of himself in his left hand and the sword returned to its sealed state. A moment later, Haruko returned to her sealed state as well in his right.
"There's an ancient human tradition of dueling with blades alone to resolve personal conflicts between two individuals," Kurai stated. "So let's do that. Starting now, we'll use no Kido, no Spirit Threads, no Shikai or Bankai powers, and neither of these two zanpakuto spirits will interfere. Starting now, this battle is simply our skill with a blade. Sound good?"
"Yes," Muramasa nodded.
Kurai nodded and he and Muramasa both charged. When they met, Kurai slashed with Natsumi and Muramasa blocked it as Kurai brought Haruko upward at him from below. Muramasa shoved Natsumi away and blocked Haruko then crouched as Natsumi flashed over his head. He spun, slashing at Kurai from behind. Kurai flipped Natsumi over his shoulder, blocking Muramasa's blade then flipped Haruko to reverse grip and drove her backward at Muramasa. Muramasa spun sideways out of the way of the blade and raised his foot, spin kicking Kurai's left wrist, blocking a slash and sending Natsumi spinning away. Kurai blocked Muramasa's blade and Muramasa spun the other way, slashing at Kurai. Kurai bent forward, bringing his left heel up and planting the sole of his foot in the crook of Muramasa's elbow, making Muramasa's arm bend and stopping his slash. Muramasa flipped over Kurai, slashing at his throat but Kurai blocked it then shoved the blade away and kicked Muramasa, turning and flying toward Natsumi. At the last second, Muramasa appeared in front of him, slashing horizontally at him. Kurai flipped over the blade, slashing at Muramasa. Muramasa ducked under the blade and Kurai landed beside Natsumi, pulling her blade free of the column she had gotten stuck in. Muramasa spun, stabbing at Kurai but he knocked the blade aside with haruko and slashed with Natsumi. Muramasa ducked under the blade then jumped into the air, slashing downward at Kurai as he fell. Kurai blocked it with both swords and the impact blasted the column below them into rubble. Kurai crashed down in the water and Muramasa crashed down after him, slashing. Kurai blocked it with Natsumi, slashing with Haruko but Muramasa rocketed into the air away from Kurai. Kurai followed, slashing upward at Muramasa as he reached him. Muramasa blocked the blade then grabbed Kurai by the face and spun, hurling him away. Kurai stopped as Muramasa glared at him.
"I grow tired of this," Muramasa stated raising a hand.
"Don't even think about it," Kurai growled.
Muramasa smirked as Spirit Threads wrapped around Kurai, binding his arms and legs. Kurai looked down and saw the reflection of the Spirit Threads below them.
"Tell me Muramasa," Kurai sighed. "Did you truly think I never figured out how this ability works?"
"What?" Muramasa gaped as Kurai extended a finger, pointing downward.
"Cero Oscuras," Kurai growled.
The black Cero streaked downward, blasting through the water and disrupting the reflection, freeing Kurai.
"Your Spirit Threads are not invisible, they bind someone through their reflection only," Kurai stated. "If the reflection is obscured or disrupted, the ability is useless."
Just as he finished, the Cero Oscuras exploded, the blast not reaching them but it did launch all of the water below them skyward and it began to fall back down as rain. The columns were also blown into dust.
"Without the water, you have no way to use the ability," Kurai stated as the water around the new gap stopped as it hit a ring of Danku, keeping it from filling in. "It'll take probably five to ten minutes for the water to fill in enough to form a reflection, since it can't even out. And in that time, I'll kill you."
"Even though my abilities are useless, they are not the only powers I have," Muramasa stated. "But that is a problem for another time. Come. Let's finish this."
Muramasa flew forward, slashing at Kurai. Kurai blocked the blade with Natsumi but Muramasa shimmered and vanished, Kurai's left shoulder tearing open on the back. Kurai blinked as a dozen Muramasas appeared around him and laughed.
"I had you under my spell from the moment the fight began," the Muramasas all gloated. "You cannot fight me if you don't know which is real."
Kurai grinned then began to laugh, feeling a bit like Kenpachi Zaraki.
"Oh this is going to be so much fun," Kurai laughed. "Tell you what, I'll let you have the first move. Because after that, you're going to die."
Muramasa growled in annoyance as one attacked from his right. Kurai blocked the blade and the Muramasa vanished as another appeared behind Kurai, slashing at him only for Kurai to block the blade with Haruko. Muramasa growled and vanished as six all attacked at once. Kurai flipped over the blades, spinning as the real Muramasa appeared over him, stabbing at him. Kurai knocked the sword aside and slashed at Muramasa but he vanished and another appeared below him, slashing at him. Kurai spun, blocking the blade before Muramasa spun, kicking him downward into the ground below them. Kurai stood as Muramasas appeared around him at random, charging and attacking rapidly. Kurai blocked every blade that flashed at him, real or fake, before finally spinning and slashing in a circle, the real Muramasa appearing with a gash in his left leg.
"How?" Muramasa snarled. "How can you fight without your senses?"
"Simple," Kurai grinned. "Both of my zanpakuto are acting as my eyes."
"Then I'll take their senses as well," Muramasa stated holding his hand out.
Kurai made no move to resist as Muramasa took control of Haruko and Natsumi's senses. Muramasa growled in frustration and narrowed his eyes.
"Why do you look so calm!?" Muramasa demanded. "I have control of your senses and those of your zanpakuto! You cannot defeat me now!"
"Maybe I couldn't, if I hadn't fought someone with much more powerful illusion abilities," Kurai snorted.
"What?" Muramasa spat. "Who!?"
"Sosuke Aizen," Kurai grinned closing his eyes. "His zanpakuto allowed him to completely control all five senses of anyone he wanted effortlessly. But I was able to fight him using the same ability I will now show you."
Muramasa growled in frustration and Kurai grinned, sensing him to his left using his Arrancar second sight. He turned toward him, holding Haruko aimed directly at him. Muramasa's eyes widened as he sent a dozen illusionary Muramasas at Kurai. Haruko and Natsumi warned Kurai about them but when they slashed at him, they faded on contact and Kurai grinned.
"Your illusions can't effect me now," Kurai stated. "Shall we finish this?"
Muramasa growled and sprinted forward, slashing at Kurai. Kurai blocked the slash then kicked Muramasa backward. Muramasa flipped over and charged again, slashing at Kurai rapidly. Kurai blocked each slash, not returning any attacks for a bit. Finally, he flipped over Muramasa and slashed him vertically up the back, less than an inch to the side of his spine. Muramasa staggered forward then spun, slashing at Kurai, who was hovering upside down. Kurai blocked the slash then stabbed at Muramasa. Muramasa dove to the side, the blade carving a gash in his left shoulder. He held his hand over it, growling in frustration then flew at Kurai again. Kurai blocked a slash from his left, then right, then swept a stab sideways and slashed Muramasa across the chest. Muramasa backed away then flew at Kurai again. Kurai blocked his sword with both of his and the force of the impact shattered the Danku around them. Water surged toward them but both shot skyward, getting over it easily as the rain finally stopped and they began to slash at each other again. Kurai blocked Muramasa's bade and slashed at him but Muramasa ducked under it. He slashed at Kurai and Kurai blocked the blade with Natsumi, slashing at Muramasa's throat with Haruko. Muramasa pulled his sword back, blocking it and Kurai push kicked him, sending him crashing into the top of a column. At the same time, the world around them began to collapse, the columns all beginning to crumble and explode one after another and a massive tsunami rising off to one side. Kurai opened his eyes, looking down and saw that the bottom of the water had disappeared, leaving an endless void below the water.
"Muramasa, I understand your reasoning," Kurai stated as lightning flashed overhead and small lights, looking like pure Reishi began to float down from above as everything began to grow dark. "No matter what you did, or how faithfully you served, Koga never saw you as more than a weapon. Everything you did, absorbing hollows, freeing the zanpakuto, freeing Koga, it was all to earn the recognition you had never been given and to make your master proud of you for once. But Koga is gone, Muramasa. You have to understand that. There's no point in continuing this fight."
"What would you understand about it?" Muramasa spat. "You have been accepted and welcomed your whole life! And don't give me that Rukon District shit. Even then you had friends like Renji and Rukia."
"You're right," Kurai nodded. "I could never understand how you feel fully. But I do know that you can't make someone proud after they're dead and that Koga could never be proud of you anyway. He was too drunk on his own power."
Muramasa opened his mouth to respond but stopped when a Hollow hole appeared in his chest then closed again and his mask began to form again.
"Looks like time's up," Kurai sighed. "Let's finish this Muramasa."
Muramasa ripped the mask off and Kurai put Natsumi away, gripping Haruko with both hands and flying forward as Muramasa flew to meet his charge, the Tsunami drawing near enough that the roar it unleashed was deafening. When they reached each other, Muramasa stabbed at Kurai. Kurai blocked the stab, pushing it sideways then sliding Haruko along the blade before lifting Haruko's blade over Muramasa's sword's tsuba and slashing at him. Haruko's blade sliced through Muramasa's chest effortlessly, removing his left arm as it did. Then, the Tsunami crashed down on them. Kurai was able to resist being swept away but Muramasa was shoved downward and began to sink toward the bottomless void below them.
"Muramasa!" Kurai shouted flying downward into the water again and swimming after the zanpakuto.
Why...Why does your voice reach me, when Koga's could not? Muramasa thought. Why am I more connected to you, than to my own master?
Kurai grabbed Muramasa by the hand just as the entirety of the world around them shone blindingly bright and left them both on the small island where Koga had been sealed. Muramasa was on his back and Kurai beside him, still gripping his hand.
"Why...save me?" Muramasa asked.
"Because," Kurai smiled. "Everyone deserves a second chance and everyone deserves free will. Koga used his second chance to try to kill you and Byakuya. But you never got your second chance. So I'm going to give it to you."
"What do you mean?" Muramasa asked, lower body beginning to fade.
"Kurai, are you planning what I think you are?" Soi-fon demanded as the others landed around him.
"Should I not?" Kurai asked. "What's the worst that could happen? Our zanpakuto are no longer susceptible to brainwashing. And if need be I can stop Muramasa if he turns against us again."
"I agree with Kurai," Yoruichi stated from beside Soi-fon. "I think Muramasa deserves a second chance."
One by one, all of the others agreed and Kurai turned back to Muramasa, who had faded halfway up his torso already.
"Hear that?" Kurai grinned as Haruko manifested herself. "You'll get your second chance after all."
Haruko extended the grass of her sleeves, wrapping them around Muramasa and healed him. His body reformed and he blinked looking around before it began to fade again anyway.
"It was a nice thought, but without a power to replace Koga-" Kurai cut him off by forming a Cero.
"Absorb my Cero," Kurai said. "Mine will be the power that sustains you, but you will be free."
Muramasa stared at him for a moment before reaching out and absorbing the Cero, his body stabilizing again.
"It...worked," Muramasa breathed. "And the power isn't trying to take control like the hollows."
"Of course not," Kurai smirked. "It's just hollow power, not an actual hollow."
Muramasa nodded, smiling then looked to the others.
"I...I am truly sorry," Muramasa apologized, bowing and placing his forehead to the ground. "What I've done...I can never be forgiven."
"It's done," Yoruichi stated. "If you don't do it again, we'll forgive you, this time."
Muramasa bowed again then stood.
"Where am I to go?" Muramasa asked. "I have no master, and no place I belong."
"You have to come with me to explain to the Head Captain first," Kurai stated. "Then we'll let him decide."
Muramasa nodded and Kurai opened a Garganta but it closed again instantly.
"God damnit!" Kurai swore making everyone laugh.
"I've got it," Halibel laughed walking over with Nel, both fully healed thanks to Orihime.
She opened a Garganta and everyone headed through, most curious about what the inside of a Garganta was like and the rest just not wanting to bother with the Dangai.
Read and review. I saved Muramasa because I felt bad for him in the show and because with him still alive, the zanpakuto spirits will be able to manifest themselves permanently.