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By the Stars Light
Chapter 14 Quincy Pride Goes Before the Fall
Hajime walked up to meet Gin. The only acknowledgement he gave him was a nod of his head. They began walking slowly toward their destination which Hajime still did not know but he had a good idea.
"So you told Lin you loved her." Said Gin in his usual aloof and indirect manner.
"You heard that huh?" replied Hajime casually.
"Why didn't you wait to hear her reaction? Who knows she could have loved you back and you could be in her arms right now."
"As much as I would like that if that did happen I would have been unable to leave her. Better for her just to know just in case I don't come back."
"You'll come back Hajime I swear it on my honor." He laughed. "As little of that as I have."
"You're one of the most honorable people I know Gin, maybe if you opened your eyes once and awhile and stopped smirking all the time others would see that too."
"Ahh but that's what makes me me."
"So true Gin so true." Hajime gave a small laugh. "But then again you've always been that way haven't you. Even at the academy."
"Ne Hajime do you remember how we first met?"
"How could I forget, if it weren't for you and the others I would have been a failure."
Flashback
A younger Hajime looking to be about 16 was facing another Shinigami in training, both wielded katanas, blunted ones but they still hurt like hell when you were hit. Hajime charged the other student and their swords clashed for a brief second before Hajime's sword was parried and knocked down by a painful slash to his shoulder it would defiantly be a bad bruise later. Hajime reeled back the sword dropping to the ground he held his left shoulder in pain.
"What's wrong Quincy?" the other student said in a mocking tone. "The renowned hollow killers of the human world and you can't handle a little swordplay.'
"If you knew anything about my people you would know we don't use swords this is only the third time I've held one." Hajime said indignantly. "No one has taught me a thing since I got here."
"You just don't get it Quincy, the academy will accept anyone we aren't allowed to turn people away. But just because we let you into our hallowed halls doesn't mean we'll let you pass. We'll go through the motions of training you but this is as far as you'll go forever an academy student until you give up."
"I'll show you." Hajime picked up the sword and ran at the other student but this attempt was futile as the older more experienced student sidestepped and hit him in the same shoulder the pain was excruciating causing stars to flash in his eyes as he fell into blackness. Hours later Hajime came to it was night and he was still in the field. "They couldn't even take me to the medic." He muttered. He managed to stand despite the fact that his left arm was practically useless and throbbing in pain. He walked a few feet before leaning against tree to rest, every step caused pain to shoot through his arm draining him rapidly that and the fact he hadn't eaten in hours. "So hungry." He happened to look up slightly and saw that he was standing underneath an apple tree and his stomach growled painfully. "Apples." He said longingly. For some reason ever since he arrived here he's had a craving for apples he never liked them when he was alive but apparently all Shinigami love apples. "If only I could reach."
"You look pathetic." Said a voice. Hajime looked up and reclining on a branch was a student about his age with closed eyes and silver hair with a wide grin on his face.
"Come down here and say that!" Hajime said threateningly but the image lacked with the grunt of pain he gave afterwards.
"Hey calm down now, wasn't trying to insult you; I just said the first thing that came to mind. I don't think clearly when I first wake up." He pushed himself up and jumped to the ground. "Need some help?"
"No I can do it myself." Hajime attempted to move but only managed to stumble. "Damn it."
"Well at least at this rate you should get to the building in a year." Said the boy with a laugh.
"Shut up!"
"Looks like we have only one other option." The boy raised his hand and chanted a quick Kido spell. Hajime soon found himself floating in the air unable to move.
"The hell?"
"It's a special Kido used for binding and transporting prisoners." He said for the first time in a non sarcastic manner. "Now come along little Quincy." He started walking away with Hajime reluctantly floating behind him.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Why wouldn't I? You're a fellow student and it is my responsibility; no my duty to help you."
"Really?"
"No I just hate that prick of an upperclassman who hit you; so I'm going to help you show him up." He said his smirk widening. "By the way I'm Ichimaru Gin."
"Sakuya Hajime."
End Flashback
"We made quite a team didn't we?" asked Gin
"That we did Gin, that we did." They had arrived at their destination. "Central 46, I should be surprised but for some reason I'm not." They opened the door and walked down into the main chamber at this Hajime's eyes widened. "Dead! All of them dead." He walked to the nearest body. "This blood is old this happened weeks ago." Suddenly darkness surrounded him and in a flash he drew one of his swords to block the blow of somebody sneaking up behind the clash of blades let out a deafening clang.
"Hello Hajime." Said the faceless mask now before him.
"Ryuk, I should have known you were involved in this."
"Now you die." And Ryuk faded back into the darkness leaving Hajime alone in the void. "You fear darkness Hajime, you have ever since that day, the day you met me." From the shadows came the giant form of Nightmare Wing. "Right boy?"
"I no longer fear the darkness nor do I fear you, you'll have to do better than that Ryuk."
"Do better I trust me I can do much better." Said Ryuk slyly. Once again another form came from the blackness. It was Soifon.
"Sakuya!" she yelled. "You are a traitor of Soul Society and so." She drew her sword. "I shall kill you!" she ran at him but Hajime showed no sign of moving and Soifon passed right through him.
"Your illusions are not real if I do not fall for them they cannot hurt me." Hajime heard footsteps running up behind him a hopeless sneak attack by Ryuk. He turned around and blocked the incoming blade once again. But this time Hajime noticed something Ryuk's zanpakuto was unreleased even though its power was clearly activated.
"Looks like you've noticed my zanpakuto you see Horoyume is an illusion, my power with illusion and shadow comes from me but if you want to see my zanpakuto I'll gladly show you." Ryuk jumped back and his reiatsu flared as he raised his sword. It was much greater than Hajime had expected and he flinched at it.
"It's so strong." Hajime noticed that the air had become statically charged his hair was actually standing on end.
"Storm clouds rumble, Thunder god bellows, Lightning cackles, Thunder god attacks." Ryuk's zanpakuto began to glow and it grew into a large medieval claymore that was as long as Ryuk was tall which meant it was a full four inches longer than Hajime's own height and at 6 feet Hajime was no small fry. But it was not the size of the sword that surprised him it was that he knew this sword.
"It can't be?"
"Hyakurai!" (Hundred Thunderclaps) at this cry the sword cackled with electricity. With one hand Ryuk lifted the huge sword with ease. "You remember this sword." He swung the massive blade down causing a streak of lightning to race at him. Hajime drew his second sword and without a word released Hayabusa directly to sword form and donned his Quincigami uniform. With a vicious torrent of wind he blocked the lightning blast.
"Who are you?"
"Your demise." He moved with surprising speed and was soon right next to Hajime and slashed at him; Hajime only just managed to dodge he retaliated but his swords met Ryuk's own when the swords met it caused a deafening high pitched clang that caused Hajime pain he jumped back a considerable distance away. "What's wrong Quincy? Didn't you always brag how you were stronger than me that you could toss me aside like I was nothing? Or will you admit that I…" he threw back his hood and ripped of his mask off. "…Hatsuharu Sayuki am better than you."
"I would but you are not Sayuki." Stated Hajime blankly. "You have his appearance and his zanpakuto, but the way you fight is not his style! He may have been a brute but he was no fool he knew that huge sword was a slow weapon that for him took both hands to wield; he would strike from a distance using Hyakurai's electric and sound attacks until the foe was worn down and only then would he move to close combat. Now tell me who are you really; how do you have Sayuki's zanpakuto?"
"Very observant Hajime-kun." The darkness that surrounded them faded Hajime looked behind him to see Aizen with Gin at his side.
"You led me into a trap Gin!" yelled Hajime angrily.
"Now, now Hajime-kun. Gin did not lead you anywhere and he had no knowledge of this attack. I wanted to test you. And you passed with flying colors not many could stand up to Gwin here even with the small fraction of power he is using and then you being able to tell that this isn't Sayuki."
"Look what is all of this? I'm tired of all the lies I want the truth and I want it now!"
"Straight to the point as always fine I shall tell you. My goal is to end all wars; to end the struggle between all spiritual factions, not so different from you. To end the fighting so that Hollow, Shinigami, Quincy and even normal humans can all live in harmony. But to do so I need an important artifact that was stolen from me. The Orb of Distortion."
"The Orb it was lost years ago stolen, but good riddance it was too dangerous."
"Yes in the wrong hands, but with its power I will break down the barrier between the factions."
"You mean to create hybrids like that Vizard." Hajime said pointing to Gwin.
"That's it!" roared Gwin. "It's bad enough to lumped in with arrancar but now the Vizard too." As he said this his form changed; black bled into the whites of his eyes and his irises turned blood red and his pupils disappeared. The scar above his right eye was covered in a bony ridge giving it the appearance of a broken hollow's mask. His hair starting at the roots began to turn black and slowly seeped into his hair turning it completely black, the final part of his transformation were black markings below his eyes similar to Ikkaku's red marks. "I'm much more." His voice was different well not really it was like two different voices saying the same thing simultaneously. His outfit changed began to change as well the long coat dissolved away and was replaced with a white jacket that was left open showing his torso; his hakama turned white as well. Hajime also wore silver bracelets on his wrists and around his ankles as well as a matching collar around his neck; each had a single chain link hanging from it. The final transformation the appearance of jagged black tattoo of the number zero on his chest.
"What are you then?"
"I am Gwin Worc and that is that."
"I believe I can answer your question a little more thoroughly." Said Aizen with a warm false smile. "Gwin Worc here is the result of my many experiments to create the perfect hybrid between Shinigami and Hollow. Unfortunately he is my only success. As you know the Shinigami is Sayuki, but the hollow on the other hand is rather unique; created from a Mod-soul using my own soul as the base he is a specially designed hollow who would once in his life be able to perfectly fuse with a Shinigami. That hollow is who you know as Nightmare Wing."
"You created Nightmare Wing? The hollow scourge he killed more Shinigami than any other hollow."
"Relax Hajime-kun, he no longer exists you see he died during the fusion as did Sayuki. I had originally thought that whoever had the stronger will would be in control but instead a brand new personality was born; Gwin Worc."
"Sayuki was your subordinate and he knew Nightmare Wing was going to be there. You were after me that day weren't you?"
"Yes it's true you were my original target, your prowess and skills as well as the fact that you are a Quincy made you the perfect target."
"What?" said Gin. "You told me that Sayuki had cut the communication so that help wouldn't come and then you would save him allowing him to trust you and getting him to our side."
"Yes that is what I said but Sayuki still screwed up and he paid for it with his life."
"You see he deceives even you Gin are you sure you're on the right side?" Hajime said with a laugh but suddenly stopped his face turning serious once again. "You said Aizen that Gwin was one of your experiments to create a hybrid but you did more. Tell me did you create the hollow that killed Shiba Kaien."
"Yes you see the process that created Gwin is slow I needed to speed it up and unfortunately there were casualties."
"Enough!" Hajime's reiatsu flared. "I came here to hear your side and I have." Connected his swords together to form Hayabusa's bow form. "I have heard a history lies and deceit; of a man who tries to surpass God himself; a man who sacrifices men like they were nothing more than trash. Among them was Shiba Kaien a fellow fukutaicho as well as my friend. You wanted to know if I would join you and I have made my decision." He brought his right hand to his left and gripped the spike on his sanrei glove. "I will stop you!" he snapped the spike and his reiatsu increased. "Bankai!" Hajime became surrounded by wind. "I swear I will bring you down, on the life of Kaien and the others you slaughtered. I swear it on the pride of the Quincy." The wind around him blew out with great force. When the dust settled Hajime stood wearing the same outfit as before but the color scheme had been flipped white where it was black and black where it was white. Gone now were the wrap around goggles. On his left wrist a silver pentacle had replaced the normal cross. But the most dramatic change were the pure white bird wings now sticking from his back. "Fujin Hayabusa!" (Wind God Peregrine Falcon)
"Impressive Hajime-kun, to think it would actually cause a physical change in your body."
"Just unique I guess." He held up his hands and two sword hilts appeared in his hands. From the hilts came blades made of swirling wind. "I'll end your reign before it can begin." Hajime readied to attack. Gwin gripped his sword tighter.
"Stand down Gwin I will handle this." Said Aizen drawing his sword.
"Die!" Hajime's wings spread wide and he flew at Aizen and slashed down with one of his swords which Aizen blocked. Aizen smirked and simply vanished. Hajime turned sharply to block Aizen who had been behind him; probably since the beginning.
"Very good Hajime-kun."
"Illusion won't work Aizen. With my bankai I am one with wind and can feel every shift of its currents every movement, every sound you make I feel it. And you will never touch me because right now. I am wind!" a great gust of wind blew Aizen away. The sword in Hajime's left hand changed into a silver liquid filled tube. "A silver rod strikes the five fingered stone bed.-Quintuple Restraining Frames." He threw the tube at Aizen which exploded into an array of five wind rods and pinned him to the wall. The pentacle on his wrist glowed and formed an ornate longbow gone were the bladed properties of Hayabusa's first form. He took his remaining sword and knocked it on his bow like an arrow were it began to glow white with spiritual power. "This is a true Quincy arrow Aizen. It will destroy your very soul." He drew back the bow. "Farewell." He loosed the arrow and it struck home hitting Aizen in the heart killing him instantly.
"Aizen-sama!" screamed Gwin
"It's over." But Hajime looked to see Aizen lift his head and smirked before vanishing. Hajime's eyes widened as a large gash appeared across his chest. He looked behind him briefly to see Aizen standing there his blood coating the sword. "Bastard." He swore before collapsing his wings dissolving feather by feather to spiritual energy.
"Ah so that's what your wings were, your reiatsu made into a physical form. Such beauty is the Quincy technique." Aizen said sheathing his sword. Let's go." Aizen turned to walk away be as he did he felt a surge of reiatsu flew at him and he moved to the side just as an arrow grazed the side of his face leaving a small cut.
"I'm not done." Aizen turned to see Hajime standing weakly his bow raised.
"Truly amazing Hajime-kun that technique you're using Heavenly Wild Puppet Suit it allows you to move long after the body has given up. A very high level Quincy technique."
"Shut up! I'm tired of your false praise and your warm smile! Show me who you really are!" Hajime loosed another spirit arrow at Aizen's head but was blocked by Gin himself.
"Shoot him, Shinso!" Gin's sword shot out and impaled Hajime through the chest. Hajime's eyes widened. The blade retracted.
"Gin." Hajime coughed up blood. "Why?"
"To protect Aizen-sama's dreams." But Hajime picked up on the remorse in his voice.
"Liar." Hajime smiled before collapsing on the floor. He could feel the others walking away but a voice came to him on the winds a whisper only he could hear.
"Stay down Hajime, stay down and live." Said the whispered voice of Gin. "After all Lin's waiting for you." Said Gin with a laugh. And then Hajime only knew silence and darkness soon followed as he passed out in a pool of his ever increasing blood.
Well that's another chapter done longest yet. If Hajime's bankai seemed weak remember he was fighting Aizen who with little effort defeated Hitsugaya, Komamura, Ichigo and Renji.
On another note this may sound strange but if my characters were in the show who would be their voices. In English I'm only familiar with a few seiyu like Aya Hirano (Hooray for Suzumiya Haruhi-chan) the only ones I can think of are Crispin Freeman for Hajime and maybe Steven Blum for Aizu but only maybe. See you next time but now it's time for…
Shinigami Encyclopedia
"Hello welcome to Shinigami Encyclopedia." Said Shomaru
"Yep, John-nii decided we weren't getting enough screen time so we're hosting this." Said Yonmaru
"Shut up your breaking the 4th wall!" yelled Sanmaru
"What's the 4th wall Sanmaru-kun?" asked Nimora sweetly.
"Well it's when fictional characters talk to the audience." Sanmaru replied pushing his glasses up Ishida style.
"Ooo can I try. Hellooo audience." She said waving happily at the readers.
"Shut up we're trying to do a show!" yelled Shomaru. "Alright each episode will feature an in-depth look at different Shinigami that John has created, including us. As well as the others you all know and love."
"Wait we're the figments of a 19 years old imagination." Asked Yonmaru
"It would seem so." Said Sanmaru
"Noooo!"
"Oh well join us next week or however long it takes to update as we take a look at Junni Aizu and his abilities. As well as our special guest…"
"Please be Shiro-chan, please be Shiro-chan." Hoped Nimora
"Inoue Orihime."
"Ahh sugar cookies." Swore (Sort of) Nimora
"See you next time!" they all yelled.