Chapter 21: Cobra vs. Mongoose (Finale)
Kenpachi swung down his zanpakuto and slashed Omoitsu right across the chest. This time Kenpachi wasn't playing around, trying to prolong the fight so that he may get enjoyment out of it, no, this time he meant business and he was going to kill Omoitsu once and for all.
"Is that all you got?" the former fourth division captain asked panting heavily.
"No," Kenpachi said curtly. "If that were all I got, I'd be done for. But as you and I both know, I need to kill ya."
"Oh you do, do you?" Omoitsu responded.
"Yeah. I need you dead so you won't bother Retsu again."
"Is that so?" Omoitsu rose up, drawing up his zanpakuto. "You think I'm a bother to Retsu? Funny I was going to say the same thing about you!" the snake man lunged forward, aiming to strike Kenpachi in the heart, however a ringing came from the spike haired captain's zanpakuto that sent the former fourth to the ground. "What the hell is that?"
"Ah . . . beats the hell out of me," the tall taicho shrugged. What the hell was that? He asked his zanpakuto.
Snakes use vibrations to hear, see and smell their surroundings. By producing this ringing, Omoitsu will be confused and thrown off his senses. You will surely be able to defeat him.
With all due respect, I don't want to handicap him just so I'll win.
I know how much you love a "fun" fight Kenpachi but you don't have time for all of that. You are bleeding profusely and have expensed much of your spirit energy. Your name may mean, "He who can not die," but even you cannot evade death. Death knows no name.
Nag he thought to himself.
I heard that! his zanpakuto shouted in his head. Since I exist in the consciousness of your mind, I can hear everything you're thinking!
Alright. No need to yell. You know it's really loud when you do that.
My apologies but I only say all this for your own good Kenpachi. You can and may very well die. Are you prepared to handle that?
That was a good question. Was he really ready to die? When he started this fight he most certainly was willing to die. It was his lifelong dream to die in a great battle, but now, now that his zanpakuto had brought it up, he wasn't so sure. He didn't think he was actually ready to leave Yachiru and he had just finally got things started with Retsu, he wasn't ready to leave her yet. Would he ever be able to leave them?
Kenpachi, the ringing is beginning to wear off his zanpakuto interrupted his thoughts.
What do you mean wearing off?! You're a zanpakuto, shouldn't you be able to keep this up? he snapped back.
I could if I weren't using so much reiatsu to sustain your life! You're a big guy remember. You require more spirit energy than most. And don't use that tone with me! she shot back.
What are you my mother? he retorted.
Would you actually talk to your own mother that way? she fired again.
Yet while the two souls were arguing, the ringing had completely stopped and Omoitsu was able to gain back his senses, lunging straight for the giant, spike haired captain.
Kenpachi look out! his zanpakuto warned him.
The eleventh division captain spun around just in time to grab the snake-like captain by the throat and slammed him into a nearby wall.
"Pfft. I had it under control woman. It will take more than a sneak attack to get the better of me," the giant shinigami said aloud.
Well excuse me his zanpakuto said while rolling her eyes.
Well now I don't like your tone Kenpachi chuckled lightly.
"And just what is so funny?" Omoitsu rose from the debris of the wall he slammed into, dusting himself off. "You think you've won or something and all because you averted my attack? Don't be so cocky you bastard!" Omoitsu charged for the tall captain again, zanpakuto aimed and ready to strike but Kenpachi dodged before grabbing him by the tail and tossing him into a nearby pillar.
"Pathetic," he grumbled. "Is that all you got? I know I'm already gonna kill ya but you could at least put up a decent fight. Or are ya done fer and I should just kill you now?"
"Bold talk coming from a man bleeding to death and who was just moments ago in my belly," the former fourth slithered himself upright and began summoning all his reiatsu. "I will end you Kenpachi Zaraki!" the snake man screamed.
Kenpachi just scoffed. He was hardly intimidated by the former captain's threats. Throughout the entire fight he had been claiming to end Kenpachi and he had barely come close, despite all the blood Kenpachi was losing. This fight was nothing compared to all his other fights but play time was over. It was time to end this.
Hey, you think you can gather up all my reiatsu and keep me alive? he asked his zanpakuto.
Yes I can. However, I can't guarantee that you'll win without dying. Are you sure you want to do this?
This snake needs to die. I can't allow him to live and hurt my family anymore Kenpachi replied.
Very well then. Kill the bastard dead.
Ha ha ha. Now you're starting to sound like you could be my zanpakuto he laughed as she summoned all of Kenpachi's reiatsu, drawing all his power into one final attack.
"Prepare for your demise Kenpachi Zaraki," the former fourth said as he drew his sword over his head and charged for the giant, spike haired captain.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Kenpachi replied as he held his ground, steadying himself for the attack and placing his other hand on his zanpakuto.
Kenpachi had never really liked the use of kendo. He felt it made the fight boring and quite honestly he could fight better with one hand than with both hands on the sword. But as Yamamoto-soutaicho explained to him when he taught Kenpachi the two handed technique, he was stronger when he had all his defenses covered and could easily overcome any opponent's strength.
Kenpachi didn't believe or rather didn't want to believe but as always the captain commander proved him wrong.
"Take a stance Zaraki-taicho," the old, long beard general told the eleventh division captain. "Since I can't seem to get you to understand through words, maybe actions will be a better teacher for you. Now draw your sword and take your stance."
The tall, spike haired captain rolled his eyes but did as he was told. He withdrew his zanpakuto into his right hand, then spread his legs apart, centering his weight before aiming his sword at the head captain.
"Ready when you are Yama-ji-san," Kenpachi called to the old taicho.
"I am always ready Zaraki-taicho. The more accurate question is, are you?"
"Heh. Oh yeah. Just don't hold back old man," the giant captain chuckled.
"As you wish," the head captain spoke as he tapped his cane down on the ground and his zanpakuto manifested itself before the two captains. "Prepare yourself Zaraki-taicho," the captain commander said as he slashed his sword down very quickly and landed a cut on the giant captain's chest.
Kenpachi barely had time to dodge the attack, let alone register that the captain commander was attacking him yet he did manage to side swipe the attack a little and soften the blow.
"Well, I can't say I am surprised. You are the great Kenpachi Zaraki, he who cannot die. Such an attack as this, you could easily dodge. However, do you see my point Zaraki-taicho in that you leave yourself open for attack the way you handle your sword," the captain commander spoke.
"Lucky shot old man Yama," Kenpachi spat back. "You attacked before I even had time to notice. Even if I had both my hands on my sword, you still would've got me. I just wasn't paying attention was all."
"Yeah Kenny was just distracted was all!" a small, cheery voice said from behind him.
"Yachiru!" Kenpachi turned and looked and saw his pink haired lieutenant and somewhat daughter. "Didn't I tell you to wait back at the barracks?!"
"Awww but Ken-chan," Yachiru jumped down from her perch and landed safely on Kenpachi's left shoulder. Then she continued to whine, "I wanted to see you fight Yama-ji-sama."
"Yachiru, I said—"
"Let her stay Captain Zaraki," the old captain interjected. "Maybe she can learn something."
"Tch, whatever old man," he spoke to General Yamamto then directed his attention back to Yachiru, "Go watch somewhere safe til I get ya kid," he grunted.
"Okay Kenny." And off she went.
"Take back your stance Zaraki-taicho, however this time, use the kendo technique. See the difference between your strengths," the captain commander said.
Again, Kenpachi did as he was told, spreading his legs apart and placing both hands on his zanpakuto. And no sooner had he done so, the captain commander was charging towards him with an attack. But Kenpachi blocked it by thrusting his arms upward and angling his zanpakuto downward, thus stopping the attack from hurting him.
Kenpachi really hadn't seen the head captain attack and yet somehow he was able to block. Did he just get lucky or was it that his senses were heightened? Did this technique really make it easier to defend against his opponents?
"Do you now see Zaraki-taicho?" the general commander spoke, breaking Kenpachi's thinking. "You were able to block my attack without really trying because you were well guarded. If an enemy attacks from the front, even from at an angle, they will not be able to get past your defenses. This type of fighting, while less entertaining Zaraki-taicho, will save your life in the end and allow you to defeat any opponent that opposes you. Learn the basics, and you can master any technique," old man Yamamoto finished.
Kenpachi remembered the head captain making him do it several more times that day until he could strike the soutaicho down in one blow. He never did strike him down, however, he did actually draw blood and even put Yama-ji-sama on the defensive. But Kenpachi never forgot that lesson that day.
The snake like captain was still coming at him when he snapped out of his reverie. But Kenpachi was prepared. He had both hands on his zanpakuto and this time he would defeat Omoitsu once and for all.
Thus Kenpachi began to charge for the former fourth division captain, his zanpakuto upright before him, ready to pierce the snake-man through his cold, reptilian center.
Both captains rushed for each other, each aiming to run the other in the heart, stopping him dead. Omoitsu thrust forward, his zanpakuto piercing Kenpachi in the chest, while Kenpachi struck through Omoitsu, his blade lodge in the snake's heart.
"I never thought you'd win," the former fourth said, dripping blood from his mouth. "I guess you really are one who cannot die, Kenpachi Zaraki." Then the shinigami snake fell backwards, slipping off Kenpachi's zanpakuto and letting go of his own, lying dead beneath the spike haired captain's feet.
"Tch," Kenpachi coughed blood. "Some victory, you idiot, I'm dead," the giant shinigami fell to his knees, ripping his former opponents zanpakuto from his chest before falling forward to lie beside the dead man.
As he lay there, bleeding to death, Kenpachi did not feel the joy and satisfaction he normally felt after a great battle. For one thing, it was not a great battle. Well, he did discover his zanpakuto and that was something. A shame he was dying and he would never unlock its true power. And then there was Retsu and Yachiru. He would feel so much better about dying if he knew Retsu and Yachiru were going to be okay. But he guessed he couldn't worry about that now. Besides, he knew Retsu would make a good mother for Yachiru, so his adoptive daughter really was in good hands. Nothing left to do now but wait for death to finally come.
"Kenny!" he heard the high pitch cry of his so called daughter and fukutaicho of his squad. Well soon-to-be taicho. He chuckled at the thought. She was so small but he knew she'd whip his men into shape. She always had really.
He looked up, seeing little legs come his way, then he looked past them, to see long legs walking slowly and he darted his eyes towards the ceiling. Sad blue eyes stared back into his brown orbs before his eyes lids slid down, his world turning black.
At least I got to see them one last time. Goodbye Yachiru, goodbye Retsu. For the first time in my life, I will truly miss something. I will truly miss you both. Then he lost consciousness.
So how was that? I know, it's been so long. I do apologize but I am an adult now with a full time job, thus I am not always able to write. But a new fan, Lady Masquerade9, has recently found my work amazing and I wanted to live up to her like of it. She got me so moved, I wanted to write and finish something for you all.
There should be one more chapter after this. Should but who knows where the story will lead. Forgive my lateness and please, as always, read and review.
I love each and every one of my fans and I will do better in the future to show my love and return yours. Goodnight.