The newly crazed Vannan is itching to kill, and his new release mode makes it a lot easier. Enjoy!
On a side note, due to the review I've gotten about people complaining about the lack of explanation of Ichigo's becoming of a captain, and due to shortness of the the Prologue, I have completely rewritten it into a very long chapter, more clearly explaining things that happened and fixing my mistake on Ichigo's lack of life. So go back and read it when you have the chance. =D
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. I only own my story and my own characters. If I did own Bleach, I wouldn't have time to be writing fanficion.
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21: High of the Fire Fox
Stark, Ukitake, and Kyoraku stared apprehensively as the flames started to lower. After several agonizing seconds, the flames disappeared and only smoke remained. Before the smoke fully cleared, Vannan lunged through the smoke at the three of them. All three reacted in time, and just as Vannan passed in a blur, Stark aimed one of his guns at him and shot. The arrancar disappeared in a flurry of red away from the three shinigami.
"That was close," Kyoraku said with a sigh, "didn't expect him to be so much faster in his release state."
"There's no telling what he's going to do," Stark stated. "Be on guard from now on."
Vannan let out a bone-chilling laugh. "So that's your release, eh Primera? A gun that can shoot ceros is pretty good; I'm looking forward to what's next."
"Crazy bastard…" Ukitake muttered.
All three shinigami captains looked at their newly transformed enemy. Surprisingly, nothing changed about his physical appearance. He was still the same height and didn't grow any bone armor. That didn't mean, however, that his new form was not menacing. While Vannan himself remained unchanged, he was now engulfed from head to toe in red see-through flames. The flames themselves took the shape of his body and looked reminiscent of a fox, complete with flames the shape of claws on his hands, flames taking the shape of fox ears on top of his head, and a flame tail that swished dangerously behind him. Vannan smiled behind the flames, revealing he had also grown fangs.
"I thought most arrancar grew in size when they release," Kyoraku said.
"It's true that most do," Stark explained. "There is, however, one type of hollow that retains a human shape at all times when becoming an arrancar. Those are called Vasto Lordes, the most deadly of all."
"Fantastic," Kyoraku replied with a sigh, "a schizophrenic Vasto Lorde. What more could we want?"
"Enough talk," Vannan interjected. "It's time for us to have some fun."
Stark, Ukitake, and Shunsui readied their weapons as Vannan got on all fours. With a snarl, he pounced towards the trio. Before he got too close, he disappeared and was suddenly right behind Kyoraku, one of his flame claws ready to strike. Kyoraku took a fleeting glance behind him and quickly jumped out of the way, making Vannan's claw connect with the ground. The blow itself left a large hole in the ground, along with a few flames flickering.
"Don't wanna get hit by that, that's for sure," Kyoraku light-heartedly stated.
Stark shot a cero at Vannan, who saw it coming, but didn't dodge it. After the massive explosion, it revealed the arrancar unharmed by the blast. "What?" a confused Stark uttered.
"The flames are a perfect shield for me," Vannan smirked. "It will take more firepower than that to bring me down!"
"Hado 63: Soren Sokatsui!"
Two blue beams shot out of Ukitake's hand towards Vannan. He was the danger coming and held waved his hand at the oncoming Kido spell. A wave of flames shot out of his hand and formed a wall between him and the oncoming blast. The wall easily stopped the oncoming spell and made Vannan give a small chuckle.
"Busho Koma!"
A large whirlwind appeared behind Vannan and successfully enveloped him. Kyoraku jumped up and stared, "Takaoni!"
"Didn't I tell you before…WIND JUST INTENSIFIES THE FIRE!" Vannan yelled, cutting the 8th Division Captain off.
A tremendous burst of energy was emitted from the arrancar, destroying the tornado surrounding him, and pushing Kyoraku back to the ground with magnificent force. He quickly recovered to see Vannan closing in on him at breakneck speed. He was prepared to counter when Stark appeared between the two and fired a quick cero at Vannan, effectively stopping his attack.
"I could have taken him," Kyoraku commented to the former Primera.
"Don't complain," Stark bluntly replied. "I just saved your ass."
Shunsui smiled and looked around for Vannan. Alarm showed when he sensed he was behind both of them. Stark felt it as well, as they both looked behind to see him standing there with a grin.
"All three of you work together like a well-oiled machine. I haven't had a challenge like this in a long time."
"You say that, and yet you're not taking any damage yourself," Kyoraku commented.
Vannan let out a chuckle as he stretched both of his arms in preparation. "You know, as much fun as I've had I'm afraid I must kill you all now; so goodbye."
At the blink of an eye Vannan was right in front of Stark. He quickly swung his claw across his chest, destroying his shirt and charring his chest black. He gave a roar of pain but gritted his teeth and aimed both pistols at his now close enemy. Stark pulled both triggers quickly and both large ceros hit the arrancar dead on, sending him flying back.
Vannan did a lightly jumped back and didn't receive any damage. He let out a large laugh and rushed at him again.
Stark saw him coming and quickly used sonido to get into the air. Vannan caught sight of him and leapt up after him. Stark shot both guns in rapid succession, sending several ceros at the flying arrancar. He reacted quickly and shot several fireballs at each cero, making them explode in the air. Stark used sonido to get back on the ground, but Vannan was already ahead of him with his claws poised to strike Stark quickly and quietly.
"Tei Touza (Air Current)!" shouted a desperate Shunsui while aiming his swords at Vannan.
A large burst of air shot from the swords and hit Vannan dead on, sending him flying away from Stark. He hit the ground hard before bouncing several times and finally stopping.
"I could have taken him," Stark said to Kyoraku.
The 8th Division Captain simply smiled and replied, "Now we're even."
Vannan stood up with anger stamped on his face. "I give you an opportunity to die quietly, but you just had to fucking push it didn't you. Well now I'm just gonna have to kill you all at once."
"And how do you intend to do that?" asked Ukitake.
Vannan smiled as he connected both hands index and pinkie fingers together to form the shape of a pentagram. A large cero started to form between both hands. "I'm sure you're familiar with this technique Primera, it was something only the Espada were allowed to use."
Stark knew what he was talking about and warned his fellow captains, "Shit! Ukitake, you can't block such a cero, just get behind me quickly!"
Both captains understood the urgency in his voice and complied. Vannan smiled as he separated his two hands from each other, shooting the blast while yelling, "Gran Rey Cero!"
The much larger version of the cero was sent barreling towards the three captains. Stark aimed one of his guns at it and said, "Cero Metralleta!"
Several blasts shot out of Stark's gun, but were not enough to stop oncoming blast. He grinded his teeth and quickly aimed his other gun as well.
"Doble Cero Metralleta!"
Both guns shot out a barrage of ceros that collided with the already weakened Gran Rey Cero. When they met, both blasts gave a massive explosion, the force sending all of them flying back with recoil. Kyoraku sat up holding his head.
"Ouch, that hurt a lot."
He looked at Ukitake, who was already wounded from Vannan's stab wound, on the ground in pain. "This is bad, Stark, we need to help Jushiro fast!"
He looked to see Stark not getting up as well. He was breathing heavily and looked at Shunsui. "Guess firing three Cero Metralletas really took it out of me. I'm almost drained."
Kyoraku nodded and stood up by to face his enemy. "I understand. You guys just rest, I'll take care of him."
He suddenly saw both Ukitake and Stark stand up behind him. "Don't be ridiculous," Ukitake smiled. "Your wind powers don't do much against his fire. You'll need our help."
Shunsui smiled lightly as he looked at Vannan. "Even Ol' Yama says we work best when together. I'm sure we can work out a strategy."
"While that is a nice thought I don't think he's gonna wait," Stark said to them both. "I'll hold him off while you guys think of something."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Kyoraku said with concern. "Your powers work as well as mine against him and you've got almost no energy left."
"Which is why I'm counting on you guys," Stark smiled. "I'm dead weight to you now anyways, and this is the only help I can be to you."
Before Kyoraku could protest, Stark used sonido to disappear from them. "Wait damn it!"
"Forget it Shunsui," Ukitake bluntly stated. "He's made up his mind about this, there's not stopping him now. We'd better hurry and think of something fast."
"Right…" the 8th Division Captain replied with defeat.
"Oho, I thought you were discussing a plan there, but you're going to be the only one to face me?" a surprised Vannan asked.
"You say it like it won't be a challenge," Stark coolly replied. "Don't worry, I'll give you good exercise."
"I shall enjoy carving you up like a goose," Vannan threatened.
Stark smiled at this, and then the two rushed at each other. Vannan quickly swung a claw at Stark, who deftly ducked and rolled away.
"With my current power I can probably only fire three shots; I'll have to make them count!"
Stark hopped back again as Vannan lunged towards him. He narrowly avoided a rake to his chest, but the head his arm gave off gave him minor burns causing him even more pain. Vannan grinned as he continued swinging at the tired ex-Primera. Fatigue started showing on Stark's face as Vannan tried to swipe at his head. He quickly ducked and aimed a gun at his chest, firing at point blank range before jumping back. The captain was breathing heavily as Vannan started laughing through the smoke.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Stark aimed both his guns at the silhouette in the smoke. He suddenly saw it vanish and appear in front of him. Without wasting a second, Vannan thrust his claw into Stark's shoulder, causing him to yell in pain. He got over the pain quickly and aimed his gun at Vannan's head and shot. He surprisingly didn't move from his spot and stared straight at Stark's face with a large grin. The pain of his arm being in his shoulder was getting the better of Stark. He gave a massive grunt of pain before quickly booting Vannan in the chest, causing him to retreat back and burning his foot in the process.
"A battle's no fun without some wounds, don't you agree?" asked a still smiling Vannan.
"One more shot…"
"It's not that bad," Stark replied with a straight face.
"I think I like you," Vannan laughed. "And I always take special care as to how I kill the people I'm interested in. Isn't that a relief knowing such thought is going to go into your death?"
While Vannan was talking, Stark used sonido to appear above Vannan with his right gun at his enemy. "So Lilynette, this might hurt to expend so much energy, but please bear with it."
Stark focused all of his energy into one last shot at the back of Vannan's head. Vannan was just turning his head when Stark fired, sending a massive cero to the arrancar. The impact was so great it sent Vannan flying to the ground with great force. Stark landed on his feet and was breathing heavily.
"That's all I got…if he doesn't stay down I'm as good as finished."
To Stark's surprise, Vannan rose fairly quickly. He turned the side of his head that the cero hit him in to Stark. The fire that was supposed to cover him there was missing and left Vannan's face wide open. He smiled wide at Stark as the fire started to slowly cover where he was hit.
"What a fucking powerful hit, enough to get rid of some of my armor. Too bad it regenerates, so it was useless in the end. Now am I right in thinking that you're all out of energy? If so, I'm gonna take my time killing you."
Stark could barely move, so he wasn't able to dodge Vannan's cleaving strike to his chest, causing him to scream. He tried his best to dodge, but Vannan grabbed his shoulder and kicked him in the chin sending him in the air. While midair, Vannan appeared above him and dealt him a powerful punch to send him to the ground. Still in the air, the smiling Vannan flew down to the grounded Stark and kneed him in his chest, causing blood to gush out of his mouth.
Vannan smiled as he readied to rip out Stark's throat when he felt a massive force send him off of Stark. Vannan quickly recovered to see it was Shunsui Kyoraku who sent him off.
"So now you'd like to die as well?" asked an angered Vannan.
Kyoraku ignored the comment and addressed Stark. "Remember how you've always wanted to see our Bankais? Even after the battle you kept annoying me saying you wanted to see it. Well this is your lucky day; you get to see both of our Bankais at once. So just sit tight and enjoy the show!"
Stark smiled at this and nodded. "Interesting," Vannan interrupted. "You've piqued my curiosity. I'll leave this trash for later." He kicked Stark over to the wall. "Now come on, show me what you've got. If you don't, I'll force you to."
As Vannan leapt towards the two captains, Ukitake said to his companion, "Let's do it!"
"You first buddy," Kyoraku said to Ukitake with a smile.
Ukitake nodded and stared at his enemy.
"Bankai!"
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It's time for the two captains to show what they're made of.
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