Chapter 21
AN-AAAHHH! A new chapter... like your weekly fix of animeness. First things first... I know Mayuri VS Uryu happens in the evening. I... KNOW! But you know what? For the sake of having a fight in the day I have changed Uryu VS Mayuri so that it occurs before the other events in the day... don't like it? Tough. I have the ultimate get out card... minuscule changes to the time line due to outside interference. TAKE THAT! I just won an argument with science!
Disclaimer: Bleach is the sole property of Tite Kubo... ANIME DAMN HIM!
BETA- Full beta credit goes to J. 586. (He is awesome!)
The next day I woke up for the coming fights feeling happy and relaxed. After Kasumi and Hayato joined the party, Kasumi, using her experiences from the Fourth squad, found the nearest sewer entrance and led us in. Hayato and me brought out all the food we had brought with us and Kasumi provided two large bottles of coke somehow. It was a nice last supper.
I explained my reasoning's to the cause of this fight and mine and Urahara's idea on who caused it. Kasumi was shocked at my declaration of Aizen's traitorous ways but Hayato was much more accepting despite having spent more time with him than the cute medic. I was sure that my friends were going to be pissed off at me for not telling them, or perhaps they would have been annoyed that I hadn't wanted to include them. I was even more certain that I would get a talking to about my revenge scheme concerning Aizen and Z. I prepared myself for the verbal bombardment which was sure to arrive and was thoroughly shocked when neither of my friends were pissed off in the slightest.
"We're partners... here to help." was Hayato's response to my asking on reasons to help. Kasumi was not so straightforward.
"Something important will happen soon." was all she said. "Not only are you my-my friend, I-I want to lower casualties, on both sides!" her eyes sparkled with determination at this moment. "I want to stay and help... important things are going to happen... to you in particular." she couldn't have been more right.
In fact, I wouldn't know how right she truly was until the end of my adventure.
As I said, I woke up feeling refreshed. Kasumi, before heading off to bed, healed up my minor injuries and that wound from Aizen using her healing Kido. Within five minutes of this she was asleep and snoring in her cute little way. A wisp of blonde hair was hanging in front of her face and every time she breathed it swayed in the slight breeze. She looked uncomfortable on the floor, so I took off my hoodie and put it under her head as a pillow... damn it was good to see my friends again.
I also remembered the conversation Hayato and me had after the third seat went to bed.
Flashback
Hayato and me sat in the abandoned sewer tunnel in front of the small fire we lighted earlier and tried to stay warm. For a while neither of us attempted to talk, that was how it was between us. His quiet and my willingness to not make him talk. People often told us that comfortable silence was a bad basis for a friendship and they were right. Other things made our friendship work so well. He was always willing to lend a hand and in return I tried to do what I could for him when I could.
Finally, instead of asking about Aizen, Hayato asked about my actual progress in the training I was supposed to be doing.
"I found Shikai," I told him "Pretty strong too, I found a few exiled reapers who taught me quite a lot. I sparred regularly with a Captain class fighter. My Kido has had improvements too."
Hayato looked at me with worry. "Are you strong enough?" he asked. "We are against the Gotei 13... when they come after us... will we die?" his eyes showed real concern. He didn't show it often but he did worry. He may never show his emotions but it doesn't mean that he doesn't have them. Because I already knew the outcome of this fight, the war we were going into didn't bother me. In my attempts to prepare my friend for the coming fight, I forgot something pretty obvious. He was only human, why should he have to deal with this shit? If he didn't know me he would be a simple 13thseat going about his business, there would be no danger to him from overpowered god modding psychopaths.
"I'm sorry" I told him. "I brought you into this mess. You openly fought by my side... there's no going back. I'm... I'm sorry."
Hayato said nothing and we sat in silence. Eventually he went over to me and poked me in the face.
"OUCH!"
"Idiot Marc... don't apologize... want to help." I looked into his eyes. (Not in the sexual way Javan... damn perv... he's a guy!)Anyway, I looked into his eyes and I saw deep, honest motivation. He wanted to help. All he wanted to do was to have my back. He was determined to fight by my side because he knew that if our roles were reversed I would do the same. In seven words and a single stare he was able to show the depths of his conviction. One more reason why his silence wasn't so bad.
"Thanks." I told him, a stupid grin was plastered on my face and I knew it. "I'm glad you're here Hayato."
"...No problem."
Flashback End
In the morning, after a breakfast of leftover crisps, I told the group my plan.
"Tha-that's CRAZY!" said Kasumi in shock and surprise.
"...Bit thick."
I told them that the general plan for today was to gather the attention of high ranking members of the Gotei 13 and then break into Rukia's prison cell in that stupid tower...and go through the front door.
"Listen to me guys!" I told them "Ichigo will succeed in breaking in later today! He will however, fail at getting her out! We are going in after him!"
"But the defences will be increased!" protested Kasumi. Hayato looked in thought for a moment before smiling.
"...So stupid it has to work."
"What?"
"Exactly!" I stated with a cocky grin. "After failing to go through the front door once... who would be stupid enough to do the same plan again?"
"Its stupid!"
"...Its brilliant."
"Lets go with the second one shall we." I sent an appreciative glance to my silent friend. He probably thought it was as mad as Kasumi did. "No one would expect them to do the same thing as the last lot did. We'll make our way to the tower slowly, arrive late on to give Ichigo chance and then brake in ourselves."
"...Anything else?"
I thought for a moment. I still had a small plan forming in my head to gain Uryu as an ally. "See if anyone else is in a fight and if so, help them out."
We put out the fire, prepared ourselves mentally and physically, and then the three of us left our little hidey-hole and began our trek across the rooftops.
XXXXXXXXXX
We carried on like his for a while. One or two Second Squad members came after us and threatened us with death, execution, torture, ETC.
"Nyeh. That dude with the moustache was stupid."
"Indeed." there was a guy with an annoying moustache by the way... I just felt you should know that.
Kasumi, being a Third Seat, beat them easily using her short katana and a series of precise thrusts.
"Heh... a series of precise thru-"
"GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE GUTTER!"
Hayato also appeared to have improved, when asked he said "Promoted... Previous Seventh Seat died in accident... could maybe face a Fifth... if lucky and in right conditions."
This put the total fire power of our rebellion at: One Captain level cat who will do fuck all until Bankai training, Ichigo's general bad-assery, my steadily increasing power, a third seat healer, a SUPER healer who is practically cheating, an okay Fullbringer, a Quincy doomed to loose his powers and a fifth seat if he's lucky. An okay team... I use what I've got.
Lunch passed without incident, it was only after we were stuffed with cheese and onion crisps that the shit happened.
We were passing by the Twelfth Squad (Hayato insisted it was a short cut) when I saw the flash of energy arrows. A barrage was sent upwards in the distance and I could feel the Captain and Vice Captain of Squad Twelve's Reiatsu in that area.
"U-Umm..." Kasumi appeared to be in deep thought as we stood there and watched the distant fight. "Are we going to help?"
To be honest, I wanted to. I know Uryu needed a new bow and HAD to loose his powers. I inwardly smirked. I knew that after bumping into Kurotsuchi, Uryu faces Tousen and looses in his weakened form to the traitor. If I tag in and give Uryu an assist, he likes me for helping, he keeps his powers until he is forced to use them against Tousen, the traitor hopefully dies, I get to beat up the annoying bastard, Javan gets to make a perverted joke about Nemu and everybody wins.
"YAY!"
"No need for sarcasm."
"...Fuck you man... I have enthusiasm!"
"Enthusiasm... for boobs."
"And don't you forget it."
"I know what you're planning."
"I don't know what your talki-"
"Seriously... don't do it."
"I SERIOUSLY have no clu-"
"You were going to do a harem joke... weren't you?"
"Of course not!" responded Javan with clear hurt in his voice.
"...Fine, I believe you..."
"..."
"..."
"Isn't the weather nice an-HAREM!"
"GOD DAMN IT!"
"Marc... do we help." the question brought me back to reality.
"Yeah." I said. "I have a single trump card for a Captain... okay, two uses." I then thought of said trump cards and smirked. It would piss Mayuri sooooooo off!
"Okey dokey!" said Kasumi enthusiastically, drawing her short silver katana with a yellow and black hilt. "Try for a sneak attack!"
"Got it!"
"Got it." said me and Hayato in unison. I summoned my blade while Hayato drew his own from his sheath. We shunpoed closer, I realized something. Didn't this fight happen in the evening?
"Who cares?! It wont effect the outcome... what will however, is you stepping in for a little bit of ego pumping. This is stupid? There's no need. You only want to step in so you get to fight a Captain. If you want to fight one... FINE! Do it without my Reiatsu... your on your own!"
Javan refused to speak to me then. I then knew things would be harder without a backup supply of power.
When we got close enough to see, I saw Nemu lying on the floor and Uryu bathed in blue light. Giant strings of energy held his body up and he visibly struggled to rise from his position on the floor. I waited for Javan's quirky reminder of the techniques name when I remembered he was sulking.
"That students name... was Uryu... ISHIDA URYU!" called out the Quincy. "THIS MAN... IS ISHIDA SOUKEN... MY TEACHER AND MY GRANDFATHER!" the Reiatsu being released was pretty intense.
"Oh, and?" asked the sadistic scientist with an evil grin worthy of Hannibal Lector.
"On the pride of the Quincy... I will kill you."
Mayuri then proceeded to explain that technique like the scientist that he was, giving the audience some insight into Quincy powers. Uryu declared his determination to avenge his grandfather while the Captain mocked him, at this point I knew what he planned to do. He raised his right arm while wearing a determined expression on his face. You had to give the guy credit, he knew that using that gauntlet would practically make him as useless afterwards as Rukia... no offence to violent midgets intended. I decided now was the time to act and used my minor trump card.
I used Hado No 74, hoping that Mayuri would not notice. I did my new... well newer version of it. Hachi, during our training sessions, helped me downgrade the attack. It sounds stupid, making a technique weaker but what I did instead was make it usable on a smaller scale. I used a smaller blade basically. It required half as much energy to use, and while admittedly it was weaker, Hachi assured me that the suicidal explosive properties to possibly harm a captain still existed. If necessary, I can even spam summon the wind swords of doom and do a series of attacks reminiscent of Archer from Fate Stay Night. Hayato looked shocked at the Kido until I silently gestured that it was safe.
I prepared to fire it when Kasumi did something amazingly out of character. She shunpoed at her fastest speed and yelled "DDDYYYNNAMMMIIICCC... ENTRY!"
She then kicked the captain in the face and sent him flying into a wall. I gave my best deadpan expression and dashed over with Hayato, the Kido weapon still in my hand. Kasumi blasted Mayuri with a few weak Kido's. She hammered him and gestured for me to deal with the Quincy.
Uryu stared and scowled at us. In response I said "What? I intended to throw a giant wind sword at him... it wasn't my idea to kick him in the face."
"Move." he weakly said, his gloved hand still extended. "I must do this... he had done a great wrong, I must kill him."
"Accept help." I insisted.
"No... on my pride as a Quincy I cannot allow any outside help."
"Idiot." I muttered, Hayato gestured for me to carry on.
"Did you jus-"
"SHUT IT!" I said loudly "I know what you are going to do with that glove. That should be a LAST resort."
"This is a pretty desperate situation. If you know what will happen, flee and escape so you are not caught in the blast. A thirteenth seat can't help here."
I raised an eyebrow at this. "You see this?" I said gesturing to my giant wind sword in my right hand. "This is an extremely high level Kido... an amazingly high level altered Kido. Amazingly self destructive normally, I have altered it to be able to potentially kill a Captain... don't doubt my strength you douche."
Uryu stared at me. "I have to do thi-"
"NO!" I roared. "Would that be what he would want."
"YOU KNOW NOTHING!" Roared Uryu angrily.
"YES I DO!" I bellowed, "My dad died in a shooting. I wanted to kill the bastards who robbed that shop but I couldn't. They were young, so they got minimal sentences. I VOWED to kill them... instead I testified against them for longer times and with the backing of the jury I doubled their sentences. Basically you can't do this alone! Let us share your burden! Use it if we fail."
Uryu stared for a moment before reluctantly agreeing.
"AAAGGGHHHH!" Kasumi's scream brought me back to the fight.
"NNOOOO!" I turned and saw that Mayuri using his Shikai had stabbed Kasumi. He looked pissed.
"YOU! A simple THIRD seat... DARE LAY A HAND ON ME! You will die slowly by my hand! My Ashisogi Jizo's poison had severed your neural impulses... but you will feel all the pain!"
"DIE!" I roared and threw my Kido like a throwing knife, except this throwing knife was the size of a normal katana. It shot towards Mayuri quickly. The Captain blinked. For a minute I think he forgot us. His eyes widened at the attack, with a second to dodge he managed to narrowly dodge it. The attack cut his arm slightly and detonated. As the smoke cleared his arm was destroyed.
"Oh, I forgot you three were there... interesting. You're that traitorous Ryoka? Hmmm, that was Hado No 74, wasn't it?" He didn't wait for me to respond. "I remember you vaguely attempting to use that Kido in that tournament. Failed, of course. That... THAT was different. It was shrunken down and condensed."
"Want to see a full one?" I summoned a full sized one, severely weakened through loss of incantation but still strong, I chucked it using my unique throwing method and again it surge forwards with a flourish. I forgot that Mayuri was a Captain though, he shunpoed out the way. The attack detonated against the wall, reducing it to rubble and dust.
"Oh? That was impressive." he began to clap, a grin on his face. "You improved that Kido, didn't you? That takes intelligence... tell you what, kill the Quincy and the other Shinigami. I will give you immunity from persecution, in return work for me."
I shrugged. "Sorry you sick bastard... I was terrible at science when I was in school."
"That is... disappointing." Mayuri took out one of his regeneration serums and took it to regrow his arm. I glared at Kasumi on the floor behind Mayuri. Her lower body and right arm was clearly unusable due to paralysation. As I settled into my sword stance and called out my Shikai, Hayato settled behind me, ready to be my second. Uryu leant against the wall, still using his puppet master technique. He prepared to fight as well.
"Now you will all di-"
"Target." whispered Kasumi from the floor as she stabbed her Zanpakuto into herself using her usable left arm. "Shibire Arashi Hime." (Numbing Tempest Princess)
The blade changed, while still stabbed into herself, she gritted her teeth at this. The short katana shrunk until it was a long dagger of about 18 inches. The blades shape also changed so that it was pointed and triangle shaped, still a silver colour. The hilt retained its yellow and black colouring but also has a single jewel at its base. No idea what that orange jewel is called but it was large and shone brightly.
"Oh, what is she planning?" Mayuri stepped back and allowed her to do what she was planning.
"Shibire... Gyakuten." (Numb Reversal)the jewel glowed for a moment or two. Something unexpected happened, she removed her dagger from herself... with her right hand. Mayuri's eyes widened at this.
"What?" Kasumi then managed to groggily stand up before staggering backwards a few steps. "IMPOSSIBLE! MY POISON WAS REVERSED! No one can do that!" he prepared to shunpo over to her, I was somehow quicker. I manage to shunpo first in front of her and activate one of my techniques.
"Tamashi No Odate!" The blue energy shield was erected and blocked the simple sword attack Mayuri attempted to inflict.
"HOW HOW HOW! NO ONE CAN STOP MY POISON!"
"I...I... I CAN!" raising her blade she spoke with unexpected steel. "Normally a poison would work on me, your mistake was the choice of poison! My Shibire Arashi Hime has the power to use electrical attacks by taking the natural electrical energy found in the body and releasing it. Consequently my Zanpakuto can also affect my own and others neural impulses!"
"OF COURSE! Neural impulses are made of electrical energy! It makes sense that you are able to reverse thispoison... have no fear, I can use others to kill you!"
"NO YOU WON'T!" I roared "TAMASHI SURASSHU!" One of my most powerful cutting attack was fired forwards, using the currently expelled energy on my blade to power it. The attack rippled forwards. Mayuri easily dodged. That was a distraction though.
Uryu fired some arrows at him from behind, while Hayato (Who had released his Shikai in the conflict) used Joki Sutorima Suiryoku to fire a steam lance at the Captain. Mayuri dodged Uryu's attack and blocked Hayato's attack with his bare hands, before he used that scythe thing attached to his ear and attempted to slice Hayato, who promptly dodged.
"Shibire Shokka." (Numb Shocker)white electrical energy gathered at the point of Kasumi's Shikai. I used a Sokatsui Beta to attract his attention while Kasumi attempted to strike from the side. My attack was useless but Kasumi's cut his arm.
"FOOLISHNESS! Iam a Captain! My powers revolve around the disruption of neural impulses. Of course it WONT work!"
"Wasn't supposed to." stated Hayato who just placed a weak Bakudo on our target.
"Try this!" I called and dashed into Mayuri's blind spot. I cut him weakly twice with basic attacks and quickly performed the start of my ABSOLUTE TRUMP! The wounds left an X mark on his back, directly in the centre of it. As I rushed back I gave Uryu a quick nod, he looked at the X wound and realised my plan.
"Was that supposed to do ANYTHING?! Don't mock me..." he begins to laugh; his spiritual pressure began to rise quickly.
"DAMN! Everyone he's going t-"
"... BAN-KAI!" the golden baby weapon of his opened its mouth and screamed. Everyone jumped back, a lot. Hayato and me stood in front of him, about 10 meters away, while Uryu and Kasumi were slightly behind.
A terrible red aura surrounded Mayuri. The weapon left his hands and grew rapidly into the giant baby, poison spewing, razor sharp teeth possessing, worm bastard thing we all loveand adore. "Konjiki Ashisogi Jizou... now you will die for your stupidity at obtaining an opening but only giving me a small wound! DIE!" the thing opened its mouth and spewed poison everywhere.
"Joki Sutorimu Senpu!" (Steam Stream Whirlwind) called out Hayato as he swung his rapier, despite the immense pressure he was feeling. The gathered steam formed a spiral of hot wind and was fired at the cloud, I saw his idea.
"Tenran!" my wind spiral joined with his and managed to blow away the worst of the gas, it also buffeted Mayuri's face. He had to stop and block his face. "NOW!" I yelled, urging the Quincy to make his move before the thing charged.
Ishida, using his puppet technique, appeared behind Mayuri, who's eyes widened at the sudden appearance behind him, he began to turn but-
"FOR MY MASTER! DIE!" a single shot from his bow shot forwards and struck the centre of the X I made.
"BACK!" I yelled, he complied and jumped back.
"AAHHH! That hurt but wha-"
"Simple." I looked at him and said "Captain Killer." what my team had forgotten, including myself at times, was that Urahara gave me TWO instant Captain level explosions in the form off the a small metal sphere.
"What the hell do yo-"
BBBOOOOOMMMMMMM! The explosive implanted in his back exploded with deadly force, sending of a blast of red energy the colour of Urahara's Reiryoku in all directions.
When I cut him, I got Javan (Who listened to my pleas for help) to attach one bomb to the edge of my blade with duct tape. (Don't ask how, the sphere was quite small) When my blade crossed the previous wound, I used the Reiryoku controlling powers of my blade to silently cut the duct tape with my energy and to propel the bomb into his body when he was too busy feeling the pain of my attack. All I needed was for someone to fire some energy there precisely (Why I shaped the attack as a giant X mark... DUH!) and BOOM! Instant KO. The best thing, Uryu did the final blow so his whole revenge thing is settled.
In the aftermath of the attack, Mayuri stood there, a giant hole through his chest. It was similar to how he was canonically defeated.
"What? But... how?" the Bankai dispelled. "YOU DAMN QUINCY! Y-Y-YOU WILL ALL PAY FOR THIS!"
"Shut it." I said.
"Yes... I have avenged my master." agreed Uryu, who dispelled his bow and fell to his knees.
"I'LL BE BACK FOR YOU!"
"And your damn dog too!"joked Javan.
Mayuri stabbed himself in the neck and exploded into green goo which covered the surrounding walls.
"I'm melting! I'm melting!"
"Not the time."
"Dodgy orga-"
"NOT NOW GUTTER BRAIN!"
"Wha?" said a stunned Kasumi, panting from the after effects of Mayuri's Shikai.
The gloop begin to cluster together into the form of a puddle. "So close... Quincy... One's last ace in the hole, should only be used after careful consideration."
"He kept that power hidden so he could escape?!"
"Clever bastard." I remarked. Uryu began to reform a bow; Kasumi put her hand on his shoulder.
"Mr Ishida... its no use."
"She's right." was all Hayato said as he watched the scene in disgust.
"In exchange for being unable to attack in anyway, I can not be attacked in anyway. I can't change back for several days but... In time I will reform and later I shall kill you. In the end I WILL win." the last of the slime escaped. I dispelled my blade and sunk to the floor in relief.
"Thank god that'sover!" I said, grateful that the fight was finished. Mayuri may have been one of, if not the weakest Captains in the Gotei 13 but that was still bloody difficult. Mayuri could have caught on and Ishida may have missed the black and white target I gave him. Add that to his abilities being better than me, add a bit more experience, Bankai, combat ability... it was a miracle we won.
"Last time... we do something thatstupid." said Hayato, frowning as well. "COUGH!" he coughed up blood. Again blood poured out of his lungs.
"SHIT!" what the hell? We used our wind attacks to blow away the damn poison... unless we missed some invisible gas.
"Brilliant... bloody brilliant."
I had the sudden urge to vomit; I failed to keep it down. Blood splattered on the floor. Uryu looked half dead as well now. Kasumi was the only one who hadn't seemed to be affected.
"I'm slowing it down but things don't look good."
"Quincy..."said a voice to the left. I saw Nemu still on the floor, I nearly forgot about her. "Behind the adjutant insignia on my left arm, there is an antidote." she struggled to get up. I began to move and help her but she said "No... no need for you to move." she then smiled despite her injuries. You can say what you will about Nemu but you can't deny that the constant beatings from her father is just sick and tragic.
"Rel-RELAX!" said Kasumi loudly. "I can get the antidote from Lieutenant Kurotsuchi!" Kasumi rested Nemu against the wall. She moved her hand to the insignia cautiously.
"Yes, just behind there." Kasumi took out the single brown bottle.
"Is that enough for all of us?" she asked.
"I think so, I am safe from the poison and you only received the poison from Shikai form, which will disappear on its own."
"And the others?" she asked, her eyes flickering from me to Hayato.
"You only received a weaker strain from the less potent poison sac's, split it equally and they will live."
"Marc will survive?"
Nemu smiled and strangely looked at me with affection. "Marc will be fine."
"Than you... Nemu!" said Kasumi with a smile. She passed the bottle to Hayato, he drunk from it before sealing the top again. He tossed it to me and I caught it from my position sitting on the floor.
As I was about to drink, Nemu said "Thank you." odd, she is supposed to thank Uryu for not killing Mayuri... oh... "Yes, thank you for not killing my father. If you implanted the explosive higher up, near the neck perhaps, you could have killed master Mayuri."
I sighed. "I reallywanted to kill him, domestic abuse is just stupid." Hayato agreed and nodded, I thought back to his abusive dad. "I needed a clean target for Uryu to shoot and the neck was too difficult to accurately aim for."
"...Either way, thank you Marc."
"Shouldn't you thank Uryu?"
"Yes... by the way, you talked to him near the beginning like..."
"Yes, he was going to use a very suicidal move on him which could have destroyed him easily."
"Marc persuaded me to save my trump card for later and to allow him to help."
"No need to thank us or anything." I added, with an eye roll of course.
"No... you are right. You went out of the way to help me. I could have won on my own but you went out of the way for me. I was wrong about you Marc, so thank you."
I was a bit embarrassed actually. "Yeah... thanks."
"I believe the expression is; I owe you one."
"Indeed."
I sat there with the antidote for a minute before drinking it. It tasted like vanilla, vanilla with an after taste of honey and sage. It was an odd taste. I passed the bottle to Uryu, who accepted it with a smile.
"Thanks." I said.
"Its the least I can do... you saved his life."
"I can't see why you can love him." I said. I loved my dad before he died, he meant the world to me. I looked up to him and respected him because he was kind to me and deserved that respect. An abusive father like HIM deserves no love, support or respect.
"Sometimes I wonder too... I was relieved though... when he survived." she gave me her sad smile. "You should go soon, other squad members will be arriving. I think you know two of them."
I extended my senses with Javan's help and sensed-
"Akimi and Daichi." Hayato took the words out of my mouth.
"Shit!"
"Shit."
"Sh-Shit!"
"Shit!" said me Javan, Kasumi and Hayato in synchronisation.
"You know them?" asked Uryu.
"Think Akimi's pissed?"
"Definitely." responded Kasumi.
"Fucked... aren't we?" I asked Hayato. He glumly nodded.
"Fine. Hey Uryu!"
"Yeah?"
"We'll be splitting now, good luck and by the way, if a Captain comes for your ass, do me a favour and kick his!"
"Got it. Good luck to your group as well." Uryu began to walk away, still using his puppet technique for support.
"Goodbye... Marcus D Solus." said Nemu with one last smile. I nodded to Kasumi and Hayato and we shunpoed quickly away.
XXXXXXXXXX
To avoid the crowd (And Akimi's inevitable wrath), Hayato persuaded us to go the long way to the Senzaikyu. We shunpoed for awhile and dinner was fast approaching by the time we neared the tower... I really missed having proper meals. In the distance, an hour or two ago, I saw a bright light in the sky. I can assume that a Captain forced Uryu to use his final form. In the end Uryu still lost his powers.
We had to loop round and try to approach the tower from another direction. It was just our luck that the path we chose, was the path HE took.
"Ryoka... It appears she has failed." remarked a surprised Byakuya Kuchiki, who probably wasn't expecting to literally bump into the Ryoka he was hunting. Internally me and Javan were shouting
"SSHHHHIIIIIITTTTTT!"
"SSHHHHIIIIIITTTTTT!"
TWO Captains in one day... we can't be THAT unlucky! I figured out why he was here though; in the distance I could vaguely feel two spiritual pressures entering the repentance cell. It was probably the Ganju and Hanataro break in scene... that meant I was keeping the Kuchiki from going off to kick Ganju's ass.
"No answer? You may turn yourself in and feel the mercy of justice, or you can fight me now and feel the pain of disobeying the law."
I sighed and inwardly face-palmed at the stupidity and unlikely-ness of the situation. "Sorry Captain Kuchiki... I sort of have things to do." I summoned my sword and released my Shikai. Hayato followed my lead with a glum expression, after all, this was fighting the guy with a 1000 blades... not KO-ing a cocky scientist. Best option: use my last Captain Killer. Kasumi retreated to the back to offer Kido support. She mouthed:
"Still a bit weak, its up to you!"
"If that is your choice..." He disappeared. My mind flashed back to my training, how Kensei and Shinji used to always fuck me over by shunpoing behind me then attacking. Remembering this, I managed to somehow swing behind me for the inevitable blade... and somehow I heard the clash of steel. I looked to my sword and noticed that I had barely blocked the attack from behind.
"Oh? You managed to block my blade... THIS is a first." again there was a flash and I struggled to see the movement. Javan helped me out by pumping some of his energy into me and by speeding up my reactions. Things slowed down for a moment and I saw the striking of the blade. I managed to throw myself out of the way.
SLASH! The sword struck above my head. "Again, you dodged. I will have to take you seriously now."
I jumped back and settled into a defensive stance, I glanced back to see Hayato visibly shocked that I managed to ACTUALLY parry his attacks.
"How strong...have you actually become?"
"Strong enough." I replied. "ATTACK!"
"Hado No 54: Haien!"
"Joki Sutorimu Danmaku!" (Steam Stream Barrage)Hayato covered his rapier in steam and thrust the space in front of him quickly. A rain of oversized, piercing steam bullets flew towards Byakuya.
"Tamashi No Sutoraiki!" I fired my spear of dark blue energy at his face.
Byakuya, of course, blocked the Haien, shunpoed out of the way of the barrage and then countered my attack with a high powered Sokatsui. My attack clashed with his and began to win the struggle, so the Captain added a second Sokatsui to increase the power.
"You can not win." said the arrogant noble.
"I hate to admit it but... he's right." admitted Hayato.
"NO! Just give me ONE opening." I told him.
"...Boom?"
"BIG boom!"
"Right!" agreed Kasumi, who raised her hand and prepared to chant. I would only get one clear shot with the Captain Killer. Hayato will have to detonate it this time.
"RIKUJOKORO!" I bellowed, the six rods slammed into Byakuya, they wouldn't hold him long. I began my run to the target. While I charged, my friends began to cast their best Bakudo.
"From bellow gods might, hate lurks beneath thy surface. Flee in terror at the pain which grips your heart in the devils own vice, as you sink into oblivion. Bakudo No 48: Sekka-Te!" (Petrifying Hand) chanted Hayato. The floor beneath Byakuya's feet crawled up his legs, sealing his movements in stones, the rock spread upwards. Kasumi's Kido hit at the same time as well.
"Dog's blood! Monkey's tail! Blood red fades to purple and the chains of blood pull thy soul down! Bakudo No 64: Murasaki Bondejichen!"(Purple Bondage Chains) purple chains burst from beneath Byakuya and gripped his arms, pulling them to his side, then wrapped around his petrified legs. He still held his Zanpakuto.
"YYAARRGHHH!" I called out the Captain Killer and threw it forwards towards the Captain "HAYATO NOW!"
"JUKI SUTORIMU SUIRYOKU!" Hayato's signature attack blasted forwards and struck the explosive in mid air.
BBBOOOOOMMMMMMM! The red energy flooded everywhere and a smokescreen was raised. When the smoke cleared, I knew I was fucked. A wall of pink cherry blossoms surrounded Byakuya, protecting him from the attack. The wall lowered and I saw that the Bakudo was still in affect. He must have released his blade silently and used his mass of weapons to block the attack.
"SHIT! WE'RE ALL OUT OF EXPLOSIVES! BYAKUYA HAS RELEASED HIS SHIKAI! WE'RE DDOOOOOMMMEEED!"
Doomed we were, that was my only real trump card to use. This isn't the situation for Hado No 80... By all rights, Hado No. 80 should NEVER be used.
As the Bakudo broke, Byakuya spoke "That was impressive... traitor. That attack was Captain level. I never expected you to be able to cut me." a single cut was on his cheek. "You have fought honourably, so give up now."
Things were looking bad... really bad. I did the only thing I could... bluffed like hell.
"Oh yeah, I still have a bunch of those explosives left, I could kill you." I lied smoothly.
"Then again, I could destroy you."
"I know, it would take time though, time you don't have. You need to head to the repentance cell, right? We knowthe first attack there will fail. Its better for our group if more of us get away in order to attack later on."
"Thus it is in my interest to kill you now."
"No its NOT! Its bad for you if Rukia gets out... there is the slight possibility that she could ACTUALLY escape."
"In your interest to stop her escaping." remarked Hayato.
"Fighting each other is beneficial to neither party! We don't want to fight you and you need to go. Let us be on our way... we can settle this later."
For a minute I thought he would rebut my offer, instead he accepted. "You are correct. Politically and strategically it is better for both of us to abandon this fight... goodbye, Marcus D Solus." Byakuya disappeared with a shunpo, but not before saying the ominous comment of "When you see Akimi... tell her that times nearly up."
XXXXXXXXXX
Dinner came and passed. Ever since our fight with Captain Kuchiki, Shinigami have constantly been on our tail. There were a few near misses and we missed the chance to have dinner.
As we ran, we re-evaluated our game plan. From afar we sensed the initial invasion of the tower fail. I noticed the giant raging Reiatsu, which was Ichigo Kurosaki. This means the three days of training start tomorrow.
We ultimately decided to scrap the original plan. Even if we did the unexpected and invaded again, we would still be dealing with one or two Captains... not a good idea. It was quite frankly a miracle that we managed to beat ONE Captain. Hell, the second wasn't even a draw for us. Best to stay hidden for now and deal with any unforeseen events as they come.
We were currently running into a spacious area amongst the impossible pathways when we sensed the Shinigami following us give up and turn back. Kasumi sighed in relief. We had been running non-stop for two hours now.
The sun was starting to set and I was ready to call it a day, we had just been waiting for the pursuers to give up. She had managed to shrug off the last of the poison but was still quite weak. I was just about to order a rest when BANG! A single gunshot rang out and a bullet came THIS close to killing me. The bullet shallowly drew blood from my head but did no lasting damage.
BANG! A second shot rang out, which I managed to dodge.
"DAMN!" I yelled, summoning my sword and preparing to fire a Kido. No one was nearby, who could have shot me? BANG! The shot came from behind I looked to one of the roofs and saw a Shinigami lying on the roof, wielding a large stick.
"SNIPER RIFLE!"
"Whoever it is, they're sniping us!" I snapped. Hayato nodded in agreement.
"Sokatsui Beta!" my Kido has quite a long range, so I fired it at the shooter. The figure got up and shunpoed quickly. I gestured for the others to prepare. The spiritual pressure came closer... very quickly.
A second pressure attempted to strike me when I wasn't looking. I turned and saw-
"Daichi?" I questioned. His answer was to swing his Zanpakuto at my head so I jumped back. "What the hell!" I yelled. Daichi... just tried to cut my head off... bit over the top.
SLASH! I turned to block another attack. The attacker was-
"Akimi?!"
"Shut up... I need to... no... have to kill you!" the long sword she was wielding shifted to the form of an axe. "Atarashi Fomu Ono!" the axe cut and I barely blocked the strong attack. Kasumi ran in with a strong attack to back me up, there was righteous anger on her face.
"What the hell are you doing!"
With a cold look, lacking in emotion, Akimi said, "Trying to kill him."
Daichi swept in with a quick hit and run but was stopped by Hayato.
"You!?" he said.
"Hey! I'm not the bad guy here! I only have to beat him up!" protested Daichi as he attempted to hit me again, only to be blocked by Hayato, now wielding his rapier.
"Targeting Marc." concluded the rapier user.
"Yes... we are. Atarashi Fomuhanma!" (New Form Hammer) her axe shifted to a large mallet style hammer. She lifted it effortlessly and tried to hit Hayato with a power strike. Kasumi managed to block the attack for him. The three of us stood in a triangle formation now, me at the front and Kasumi and Hayato behind for support. Akimi was outnumbered but she didn't seem to care. "Turn yourself in... if not I... well I... I have to kill you." she shifted her weapon back to a short blade and settled into a loose stance.
"Yeah!" agreed Daichi, a sad expression on his face. "We don't wantto fight you! But you turned traitor and shit! We have been ORDERED to kill you."
"You said you wanted to beat me up."
"Heeey!" he protested. "Preferably I want to beat you up."
"What about the others." I asked.
"... They have to be taken in too. You're the higher priority. My specific orders are to kill you... no matter how much I don't want to." stated Akimi with a sudden frown, before she made herself expressionless again.
"If you don't want to kill us then WHY are you fighting us?! You should be helping your friends!" demanded Kasumi. "WE- ARE- YOUR- FRIENDS! Friends don't try to shoot one another! Marc has bloody good reasons for joining the Ryoka... that's why I- I mean, WE, that's why WE are helping him!"
"DON'T I KNOW THAT!" shouted Akimi, dashing forwards in an attempt to strike us down. I blocked while Hayato countered. A weak Shakkaho fended off Daichi, who had been sneaking round.
"AAH! You threw a fireball at me!"
"You tried to stab me!"
"EVERYONE STOP!" Roared Hayato. I was so shocked that quiet Hayato was shouting that I actually did shut up. The others did as well. "Have reasons for attacking us, right? We have reasons for what we're doing. If you really want to stop us... we won't hold back. You started this fight, so despite being friends... no hard feeling when we beat you."
"Fine then!" agreed Daichi. "When I beat you, I'll be saving you from a MUCH greater threat."
"What?"
"A muscular dude with a sword."
"We'll settle things with our swords then." Akimi readied her sword form. "Free for all?"
"One on one." responded Hayato. "Easier... me VS Daichi. You VS Marc."
"What about me?" asked Kasumi with a pout.
"Still weak."
"Fine."
Hayato and Daichi used shunpo to take their fight to the rooftops while me and Akimi stared one another off. I removed my hoodie and set it on the floor, no need for all my clothes to end up bloody.
"I'm sorry... but I have to kill you."
"I understand."
"No... you don't understand." she ran forwards and I dashed to meet her sword. The fight was on.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Third Person POV)
Hayato and Daichi stood facing one another, each person sizing the other one up. Hayato stood in his one-handed rapier stance, ready to release his Shikai at the slightest notice. Daichi's form was much more loose and relied on flexibility and speed. Hayato concluded that while Daichi was the weaker fighter, he had more combat experience from working in Squad Eleven. Hayato couldn't underestimate his friend since the academy... he could fight dirty.
Daichi took the first move. With a burst of Shunpo, the scarf wearing Shinigami appeared to the side of Hayato. Hayato blocked the first attack, and then moved onto the offensive himself. His sealed blade thrust forwards but was parried by Daichi. The brown haired boy was definitely stronger than the last time the two fought. Then again, so was Hayato.
"Hado No 41: Kongobaku." the crimson ball of energy was fired from his sword point and blasted towards Daichi, who shunpoed out the way and used the chance to land a small cut on Hayato's arm.
Hayato jumped back, to think for a moment. Daichi didn't give him the chance. He mercilessly attacked again and again, getting into a rhythm of two strikes then blocking. Hayato attempted to change the rhythm of the fight and was rewarded with another cut.
Normally Daichi fought with some hesitation, he was naturally an non violence sort of person. This time however, he struck with not a single second of indecisiveness.
"Why are you fighting?" questioned Hayato as he parried a sudden elbow attack, used to try and catch him off guard.
"I have to... for Marc's sake." he sent his blade towards a gap in Hayato's defences, gap he had intentionally left. Hayato gained the upper hand and countered, before landing a single blow on Daichi' shoulder. The wound bled but Daichi showed no signs of caring.
"How is injuring him for the best?"
"Simple!" another round of parries and sword slashes occurred. "My Captain is worse than any Government!"
"What the hell do you mean!?" demanded Hayato, who used a Byakurai to force the brawler to retreat temporarily.
"My Captain... is a bastard. He only wants a strong fight. When he heard that Marc managed to break in, he..."
"You mean?"
"Yeah, Kenpachi Zaraki... the Kenpachi Zaraki, wanted to fight Marc. I don't care how strong he thins he is, he would definitely loose if Captain found him... he would definitely die."
Hayato used a Shakkaho in the hopes of inflicting some burn damage. "So you wish to defeat Marc to prevent Kenpachi doing it."
"Yeah, he said that if I beat him, as a lowly ninth seat, he would leave him alone. Its better for him to go to prison than for Kenpachi to get a hold of him."
"Stupid... better to fight Kenpachi than be taken in. if that happens he WILL DEFINITELY DIE! The courts here are corrupt, the puppet master won't let the chance go to waste." Hayato dashed in and the two fighters clashed blades.
"THEN WHAT THE HELL DO I DO!?" yelled Daichi, braking the conflict and jumping back.
"SUPPORT YOUR FRIEND! Help him and try your DAMN hardest to not let him die!"
"I WONT LET HIM DIE! I'LL BEAT YOU THEN HELP AKIMI!"
"SHE WANTS TO KILL HIM!"
"THEN I'LL STOP HER! CUT! TORA O IRAYASHI!" Daichi's blade shifted and shrunk, his gauntlet Shikai coated his arm and the ninth seats Reiatsu increased.
"Very well then... SHOW ME YOUR CONVICTION! Thrust and soar! Joki-Ryu Taka!" the katana became the rapier and the combatants face off at full power.
"FIVE!" roared Daichi as he charged. Three curved blades shot from the top of his wrist while two shot from underneath his wrist. The area beyond his fist was taken by the edges of the five sharp blades. Get hit with that and you won't get up. "TAIGAKATTA!" (Tiger Cutter) Daichi dashed forwards with the intent to kill.
"Joki Sutorima Muchi!" the whip of steam swung, but Daichi used his superior speed to shunpo out the way. Taigakatta was aimed at the chest. Hayato blocked with his Zanpakuto, he hooked his rapier between two blades to hold off the fist. The secret of Taigakatta activated. The five blades, previously clustered together, spread out, as if the blades were fingers and a hand was unclenching. This made the block useless as two of the blades cut his hand and the other three managed to reach the arm. Hayato only narrowly managed to get out the way of the fists second attack. The third punch however, hit dead centre, cutting his chest but not stabbing.
Hayato jumped back wincing in pain.
"DON'T MAKE ME HAVE TO KILL YOU! I-I-I don't want to hurt you! Please... your one of my best friends... just give up." Hayato was tempted by the pleading look in the newly promoted ninth seats eyes.
"I'm sorry but... I promised Marc my help. We need to stop things before a war begins, if we don't do it, who will?"
"So we fight."
"We fight. Joki Sutorimu Danmaku!" the barrage of steam missiles was fired at Daichi.
"Ten." five blades became ten, eight above the wrist, two below. "TAIGASUTOPPA!" (Tiger Stopper) the eight frontal blades crowded together, almost forming a single wall of steel. The two other blades turned so that Daichi could grip the blunt, flat side safely. He held his makeshift shield in front of himself and managed to block the attack. Both were panting from the effort of the fight. After the attack ended, Daichi dispelled blades until five were left.
"I... I... I can't go on... much longer."
"One... last... attack?"
"Sure." the two fighters gathered all their remaining energy and prepared to end things.
"TAIGASUTORAIKI!" (Tiger Striker) the claw like blades twisted until all five points were pointed together to form a five pointed, piercing point. This was Daichi's best piercing attack; the five blades together had cut through anything any opponent had ever thrown at him.
"Joki No Nagare Idaina Buredo!"(Steam Stream Great Sword) steam gathered from the point of the rapier, to the base. It covered and twisted the weapon, before condensing into the shape as a medieval Great-sword of nearly two meters. Similarly to Daichi, this was Hayato's best close combat attack. While Joki Sutorimu Danmaku took the place of best ranged attack, because of the quantity of fired strikes, Joki No Nagare Idaina Buredo was the strongest close combat attack because the heat generated from the steam was able to provide an almost elemental bonus in close combat.
"LET'S FINISH THIS!" Daichi roared as he ran at his rival and friend.
"YES! LETS!" Hayato ran to meet him.
"YAARRGGHHH!"
YYYAAAHHHH!" both fighters swung their weapons at once, the deadly blade of steam and the five pointed piercer.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Marc's POV)
She ran forwards and I dashed to meet her sword. The fight was on. After the opening clash, Akimi used her shorter sword to launch a series of quick attacks at me. My reflexes had grown greatly in the month of training and I was able to parry easily, despite having the longer weapon. Because of the longer reach, I took advantage of it and lunged forwards. Her weapons sudden change to a beautifully crafted lance was easily able to deal with the attack. Akimi switched her style and I was suddenly hard pressed to keep us with her. The constant lunges and leg sweeps were pissing me off.
"Shitotsu Sansen!" I called out. The yellow triangle of binding rushed forwards, so Akimi called out:
"Atarashi Katachi No Naifu!" to summon her knife. She quickly dodged the Bakudo and tried to stab my side, which I blocked. She jumped back and I took a moment to get my breath back.
"What... the... hell... Akimi?"
"Shut up Marc... there is no place for talking on the battlefield." she called out an axe and attempted to smash my face with it. I managed to block. I jumped back and attempted to call out my Shikai.
"Not so sure about that... I like a bit of witty banter, ya know?" another cut aimed for my face was the response. "Never give up. Fumet-" Akimi attacked. She wasn't going to give me the chance to release.
"I can't let you release. Mihane told me how strong it was."
"Mihane... Mihane... I think I beat her up."
"You did."
"That explains it. Never give u-" her axe nearly cut my arm off. "WHAT THE HELL!"
"I told you... I've been ordered to- to kill you." she scowled then.
"Damn fine scowl."
"Seriously? What the hell have I done?" I threw a week Byakurai her way.
"Nothing!"
"Then why the hell are you trying to chop me up with a giant axe?"
"Because..." she charged up a powerful attack, ten shunpoed behind me. "... I HAVE TO!"
SMASH! I only just shunpoed to safety as the floor where I was standing cracked.
I dashed back to gain space for Kido chanting.
"Atarashi Fomu Sandan Ju!" (New Form Shotgun) in her hands she held a long chrome shotgun.
"..."
"..."
"Seriously?!"
"Seriously!"
BANG! The shotgun fired and the wide spray of bullets went in my direction. Quick thinking saved my life. "Bakudo No 51: Hoga-Sha Hogo No Kyu!" the dome of clear white energy surrounded me. The bullets hit, but none penetrated.
"Yeahhh! Penetr-"
"NOT NOW!"
The shield gave me time to release my Shikai "Never give up! Fumetsu No Tamashi!" I burst through my dispelling dome and threw out a few weaker Tamashi Surasshu's.
"Atarashi Fomu Omoi Tate!" (New Form Heavy Shield) a thick chrome shield blocked the attacks. I shunpoed round to fire a stronger one. She barely shifted her shield in time to block.
"Too heavy for you, isn't it?"
"In... the fucking... NAME!" she wielded a light longsword and used a burst of shunpo to get behind me and slash... Hard. I underestimated her. She was a fifth seat now, after all.
"Crap!" I dodged another slash. This weapon was pretty damn fast. The most annoying thing about fighting Akimi was that her weapon stance was ALWAYS changing. You had to always be on your feet, which was proved further when she did a sneaky swipe at my legs, which I had to use a Reiatsu powered jump to escape.
"You never actually told me why you need to kill me."
"I told yo-"
"No you didn't. Why are you REALLY trying to cut me up like a shish kebab."
"I have ORDERS!" she showed her anger by trying to cut me... hope she doesn't show all emotions through violence... that would make sex reallyawkward for her.
"So you admit i-"
"ENOUGH WITH THE HAREM!"
My inner chat gave her the chance she needed to swap weapons again. I think she was wielding a Halberd now... you know... British weapon...mixture of a spear and an axe.
"DIE!" she thrust forwards and the spear section pierced my shoulder.
"AAHHH!" I responded. She removed the Halberd, looking a bit pale. I looked down and saw that I had a large bloody wound in my shoulder. It hurt just looking at it.
"Yeah... thank you Javan for numbing the pain." Javan inwardly rolled his eyes as he said this.
Blood continued to drop from my wound to the floor, I should be happy that I wasn't wearing my hoodie or else it would be wrecked.
"Looks like I'll have to use it." I said, taking out the Soul Candy that Nemu gave me all that time ago when I picked up my body for my visit to the human world. I swallowed one and left my body. It was a weird feeling, leaving your body. The last time it happened I was unconscious, so the feeling was new. It was like having pins and needles all over your body for a few moments while a force like gravity pushed your very existence out of the body.
I was now in Soul Form and as such, the wound to my shoulder was gone. I was dressed in the regular attire of all Shinigami but I had longer sleeves than before I left for Karakura Town.
"Wha- wha- WHAT!" spluttered Akimi! "There's TWO Marc's?"
"One actually." I said. "I just had to remove my soul from my body."
"You've been holding back?"
"Still am... not going to use a high level Kido on you, that's going to far."
"What shall I do master? Nyah!" said my body as it stood up.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"NOOOOO! DON'T TELL ME THAT THEY GAVE ME THE GIKONGAN THAT TALK'S LIKE A CAT! I'LL NEVER LIVE THIS DOWN! GO AWAY NYAH NYAH!"
Akimi began to laugh... a lot... she laughed so much she began to cry.
"Mood swings."said Javan.
"Period?"
"Period." the answer to all our question about women.
"Damn.." she said, still crying. "I don't want to do this."
"Do you think Iwant to fight?" I told her.
"You still don't get it! I have to do this."
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN!" I demanded. I was pissed off with the fact that she wasn't actually telling me why she was so determined to kill one of her only friends.
"I-I- I'm being blackmailed." she said, tears still flowing. I lowered my sword (still in Shikai) for a moment. Was this a trap or something? "My... my family is financially supported by the Kuchiki's... he... he... none of them everapproved of... of you, or the others." her hands clutched the Halberd. "When... when you joined the Ryoka, Captain Kuchiki said that I tarnished my families name by having associated with you and he- he gave me three days to kill you. LOOK!" she pointed to the setting sun, which was plunging us into the orange glow of twilight. "My times... my times nearly up."
"Akimi." I said as I took a step towards her.
"NO! G-GO AWAY! If I don't kill you now... he said I should never come back!" Akimi's tears continued to pour.
Honestly... Byakuya Kuchiki disgusted me. I never have liked him, but I still thought he had more style than making a girl fight her best friends... he also tried to kill his own sister... but that's beside the point.
"Akimi..." I tried to say again.
"NO! I can't let my family down. If I fail, my family goes down with me. DON'T YOU GET IT! IT'S YOU OR MY FAMILY! HOW THE HELL DO I MAKE A DECISION LIKE THAT!" the fifth seat cried. She dropped her Zanpakuto. I took this as a sign of surrender until she started to chant. "Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring."
DAMN! I knew this Kido. It's Raikoho. I began to shunpo but- "Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of empty spears fills the empty castle. Hado No 63: Raikoho!"
The ball of electricity from her hands shot towards me. Things seemed to slow down then. I could take the hit, let Akimi win. I could overpower it with a stronger Kido... that might hurt her though, I couldn't do that to her. The only other option was-
"To use the same Kido!" I spoke out loud. "RAIKOHO!" I bellowed. I had to hope that my incantationless Hado was equally strong as a chanted one. I tapped into Javan's power and hoped to god it was enough.
The attacks collided. The two blasts of electricity lit up the space between us as each attack struggled to overcome the other. Eventually both attacks gave and neither of us was hit.
Akimi fell to the floor in despair. I rushed over to her side. "Damn it! What the hell can I do?" she cried.
"I'll tell you what!" I said as I reached her. "This!" I brought her into a hug.
"Wha-?"
"Just... just stop... okay. It's over now. I don't care that you have to kill me. I don't care how much that bastard Kuchiki threatens you. I don't mind that you stabbed me. We can deal with that shit later... okay? I'm here for you, I'm your friend!"
"I don't... I don't deserve to have friends!"
"Friends fight all the time."
"Not... not with swords."
"We do."
"I- I stabbed you."
"Only a flesh wound."
"I... I don't know what to do."
"Jesus!" I cursed. "Relax already! Life is short, so do what you want! Screw Captain Kuchiki! If you really want to kill me, try again in the morning. For now... just let out all those tears, yeah."
"That was really romantic... *Sniff* I need a hankie."
"*Sigh* Shut up Javan... yer troller."
Akimi relaxed into the hug and sobbed her eyes out into my uniform. I sat there and held her as the sun set behind us.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Third Person POV)
The two figures watched the days events from afar... watching... waiting... deciding. They watched the conflict with Mayuri, they saw the fight with Byakuya. Both of them saw the conclusion of Daichi and Hayato's fight from afar and both of them kept watch while Marc and Akimi hugged. Some Shinigami nearly walked into the scene. Z dealt with it of course. What were one or two more corpses to the pile when compared with the amount of times he has and would kill. Later these deaths would not matter.
"When do we strike?" asked the female.
"Soon... tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes... I think it is time for the Second Wolf to die."
AN- HA! NEW CHAPTER OUT AT LAST! Sorry for the long update time! Firstly, it was a VERY long chapter. Secondly, I had to wait for my new awesome beta to get back to me with spelling corrections and stuff.
The poll about Marc's pairing is now... CLOSED! (Over the top fireworks!)
The results are now in:
Akimi- 9
Harem-9
Nemu-2
No one-2
Kasumi-1
Orihime-1
Harem and Akimi have tied for first place! If the audience wants girls practically chucking themselves at our hero, then awkward harem scenes will soon occur.
Javan: YES! THE HAREM IS FIALLY HAPPENING!
Me: Go away Javan! This isn't one of those author notes.
Javan: I WILL get my full screen time!
Me: Relax, your arc will arrive soon... eventually... in like, 100 chapters or something.
Javan: …...Hate you.
One note is that this story is NOT romance orientated. Romance will occur, scenes with the girls will happen but it will only be in the later stages that the full haremness will occur. I was going to do another poll to determine the chosen girls but then I said "screw it! I know who I want in the harem already!" If you really want a certain girl in it, send me a PM with a reason why and I'll think about it, or at least give you a reason why she can't be used.
Large thanks for all reviewers (Again)
Next chapter will be the last and FINAL chapter in The True Beginnings arc. Sogyoku Hill arc will show up afterwards.
Until next time, Undying Soul out!