Chapter twenty-one- Retreat
I don't own bleach but I do own my OCs.
Toshiro gasped after receiving a deep blow from Hitomi's sword, he felt so weak he could barely stand at this point, even in bankai. He was about to send some ice surging towards her when he suddenly felt one of the reiatsu around him disappear. He stared, wide eyed before gulping. Matsumoto…
Matsumoto lay on the ground, panting heavily, her hand spread out, weakly grasping the hilt of her sword. "That was easy." Her enemy sniffed. She hadn't even used her resurreccion yet and her enemy was already bleeding on the ground at her feet. She held her sword pointing down and raised it, ready to deliver the final blow. Matsumoto stared up at it, although weak, her eyes were furious. The sword went down and suddenly the arrancar was sent flying back by a long, snake-like weapon. "Matsumoto!" Renji called, jumping in front of her and holding his weapon to the enemy arrancar. "The fight isn't over yet!" he shouted, sending Zabimaru flying towards the enemy. She gave a quick gasp before jumping over it and then ducking as it came back again. "Are you okay, Matsumoto?" Renji asked, glancing over his shoulder. She gave a slight nod, receiving a grin in return. "Good. I'll take you to Inoue after I Kick this arrancar's ass."
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down." Shunsui laughed, blocking the one millionth strong and reckless hit from his enemy. "Like hell I'll calm down! This is the most fun I've had in ages!" The enemy arrancar roared, landing more strikes on Shunsui's sword. Shunsui gave a sigh. Zaraki would have been thrilled if he had got to fight this enemy. Suddenly Shunsui's face turned serious as Matsumoto's reiatsu lowered, now dangerously low. "You don't have time to worry about yer friends!" the arrancar shouted, aiming a hard punch for Shunsui's stomach, he elegantly dodged it, his kimono blowing in the wind. Shunsui wondered how his lovely Nanao-Chan was doing back in Soul Society, whilst his opponent was giant sized, it was not difficult for Shunsui's mind to wander onto different subjects, including Sake, sake, and more sake, seeing as all the power went to his muscle, and definitely not his head. Shunsui was about to land another hit on the enemy when another Garganta appeared. He squinted up at the sky, more enemies? The enemy arrancar looked up and made an angry noise, "shit. Harribel-Sama wants us to return." He said though gritted teeth. "Don't think I'll let you-Argh!" Shunsui was flown back with such a punch that he felt as if his stomach was crushed, his straw hat flying off and blowing away in the wind. "What was that? I didn't hear you." The enemy demanded, spitting on the ground next to Ukitake. Shunsui made a distressed sound as he saw the other arrancar jump into the air along with his foe before disappearing into the Garganta. Strange. There were only five that retreated, so where was the sixth?
Toshiro glared up at the sky, his teeth gritted and trembling with a mixture between anger and disappointment in himself, he had been unable to beat her, and had just ended up with many cuts and having his power drained nearly completely. He remembered Matsumoto's condition, hoping she was alright. He was about to pounce into shunpo when a black butterfly, unmistakably a hell butterfly, fluttered past, a message in Urahara Kisuke's voice saying: "All Captains and vice-captains report to the Urahara Shop." Toshiro wasn't exactly comfortable with taking orders from him, but he obviously had no choice.
"So why did you join Harribel?" Yoruichi demanded, staring down at the tied-up boy arrancar with a grin on her face. "I-I don't know! I had nowhere else to go and…she was scary!" Isamu wailed his mouth a perfect O shape. "So will you go back to her?" she asked, bending down, her hands on her hips. Isamu rapidly shook his head, "I won't, I swear! Just don't hurt me!" he cried, trying to shuffle back from Yoruichi's grinning face. Kisuke appeared in the room, as usual the bottom half of his face hiding behind the fan. "Any progress?" he asked in the usual cheery Urahara voice. "Listen here, kid. If you give us every single detail on what Harribel's planning, we'll play nice. I think that's quite fair." Yoruichi suggested, the little kid nodded quickly, Yoruichi turned to Urahara, "We've made a lot of progress, Kisuke. Aw, bless, look at him. He's crying his eyes out." She said though there was not a drop of pity in her voice. There was a knock on the front door, "Ah. It appears they're here." Urahara said before gracefully pretty much skipping to the door, leaving Yoruichi and the sobbing child behind.
Once everyone was gathered, they discussed everything. Nearly everyone was lightly or severely wounded, and Urahara summoned Orihime immediately when he spotted Matsumoto, being carried by Renji. Once Matsumoto and Shunsui, the more severely injured ones, were being healed, their discussions continued. "Did anyone get the name of their enemies?" Urahara asked, fanning himself. There were replies from Toshiro, Kenpachi and Soi-Fon. "Well, we don't know why they retreated, but we have someone who can answer all of that for us." Urahara said, that being Yoruichi's cue for entering the room, holding a tearful and hopeless Isamu. "So, Isamu. What is Harribel planning?" Yoruichi asked. Toshiro stared at the wailing boy with a hint of surprise in his eyes, was that really one of the tough arrancar? Why, he was younger than him! He shook the thought out of his head, now even he was calling himself a kid? He sighed.
"I'll tell you everything! The reason we fought you was to test your strength! Harribel was planning on a war in about a couple of weeks' time! Y'know, 'round December. She didn't really tell us much about what was happening, just that we were doing it for vengeance. I didn't really care all that much about our goal, but she is one scary lady, so I had to follow along!" Isamu explained, his tears drying but his voice still whiny. "And what is the goal?" Soi-Fon asked, narrowing her eyes, too focused to even glance at Yoruichi, which was a shock. "She said somethin' about killin' all of Soul Society, or at least the captains and vice-captains. Like I said, she plans on holding the final battle in about two weeks, which you really weren't supposed to know…But I guess I've kind swapped sides, haven't I?" Isamu went on, gasping for breath at the end. There was silence, some people trying to understand what he had just said as he was talking way too fast, all of the words seeming like one massive and messed up word. "We have all of the information we need…I think we should return and report this to Soul-Society…" Toshiro said, his eyes narrowing in a manner similar to Soi-Fon. Everyone else agreed. Kira sighed, remembering his enemy. That was hard work. As Toshiro exited Urahara's house he paused as Kikyo flew into his mind, were they…still fighting? He closed his eyes and shook his head, No, that wasn't important now, the war in two weeks was what was important, and he had to remember that.
Omake:
Isamu: Lady…When can we go in? *Outside the room where the captains and vice-captains are discussing*
Yoruichi: Shh! If they hear you you'll ruin the coolness of entering at just the right time.
Urahara: And we have someone who can answer all of that…
Yoruichi: Now! So what do you know, Isamu? *walking into the room*
Isamu: Poser…
I hope you enjoyed that chapter! It'll get more interesting soon, and all you impatient people will probably be satisfied within the next few chapters! Thank you so much for still reading this now, I am so happy! Remember, reviews will make me even happier and if I get reviews I'll update faster! Hear that?
Me: I've run out of things to interview the characters about! No! I know! I'll interview you, instead! If you aren't too lazy, write in a review which bleach couples you like best, not involving Toshiro, and I may just pair them up! By Christmas, I'll see which couples got the most votes and they'll be paired!